Vegan Pecan Pie Bites

When the pie was opened

The birds began to sing;

Wasn't that a dainty dish,

To set before the king.

NURSERY RHYME

I love pecan pie. It's one of those holiday foods that is non-negotiable. It was one of the first holiday recipes I searched for when Mr. Peasant decided to go vegan. But making a vegan pecan pie seemed way too complicated. Here is a delicious vegan pecan pie alternative that is super simple.  It only takes 15 minutes to make! Plus, they are bite-sized so perfect for a party.


Vegan Pecan Pie Bites

Makes 15 bite sized "pies"

1 TB Earth Balance Vegan Butter Spread melted
1 tsp Ground Flax Seeds mixed with 2 tsp water
4 tsp Brown Sugar
2 TB honey
1/4 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup chopped Pecans
1 package Athens Mini Phyllo Shells (15 shells)

Preheat oven (or toaster oven) to 350 degrees.

Mix butter, flax "egg", sugar, honey and vanilla in a bowl. Then add chopped pecans and mix well. Place mini shells on a baking sheet. Fill each shell evenly with the mixture. Place in oven for 10 minutes. (Shells come precooked, so keep an eye out on them to not burn.) Once cooled, they are ready to enjoy!

I hope you try this recipe for the holidays! Thank you for reading and please keep praying for Mr. Peasant!

Does Your Family Know Their Natural Supplement Regimen?

 They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. 

For I came not to call the just, but sinners.

MARK 2:17

Mr. Peasant had a nightmare that we got into an argument, and I left. He was telling me how upset he was in the dream about our break up. He also said that in the dream he thought to himself, "Now I'm going to have gout attacks again." He thought this because he doesn't know what supplements he takes. That got me thinking. What if something happens to me? I place out a small dish of supplements in the morning and in the evening. Mr. Peasant has no idea what is in each pill. He trusts me and just takes them.

Our road to herbal healing involved hours of researching books, devouring hundreds of articles, and good old trial and error. We have found some things that work and some things that didn't. After finding good results, it would be a shame if I didn't write down his "prescription" just in case. I have a folder with all my email passwords, account log-ons, phone numbers, bank pins and other important information just in case something happens to me. What about his healing plan? Isn't this just as important?

Please think about and write down what herbs and supplements your family members take. List where you buy them, why they are taking them, and the dosage. If you make your own blends or seasonal syrups, jot down the recipes. It is great to be a a wealth of information regarding natural healing, but it is so important to share the instructions to our loved ones especially the ones who just trust us blindly and gobble down the remedies quickly without knowing the details of their healing plan. One day, we may not be around. I think this is very important.

Thank you for reading and please keep praying for Mr. Peasant!

Avoid Debt by P.T. Barnum

The greatest enemy of financial well-being is not poverty but debt.

KENT NERBURN

Young men starting in life should avoid running into debt. There is scarcely anything that drags a person down like debt. It is a slavish position to get in, yet we find many a young man, hardly out of his "teens," running in debt. He meets a chum and says, "Look at this: I have got trusted for a new suit of clothes." He seems to look upon the clothes as so much given to him; well, it frequently is so, but, if he succeeds in paying and then gets trusted again, he is adopting a habit which will keep him in poverty through life. Debt robs a man of his self-respect, and makes him almost despise himself. Grunting and groaning and working for what he has eaten up or worn out, and now when he is called upon to pay up, he has nothing to show for his money; this is properly termed "working for a dead horse." I do not speak of merchants buying and selling on credit, or of those who buy on credit in order to turn the purchase to a profit. The old Quaker said to his farmer son, "John, never get trusted; but if thee gets trusted for anything, let it be for 'manure,' because that will help thee pay it back again."

Mr. Beecher advised young men to get in debt if they could to a small amount in the purchase of land, in the country districts. "If a young man," he says, "will only get in debt for some land and then get married, these two things will keep him straight, or nothing will." This may be safe to a limited extent, but getting in debt for what you eat and drink and wear is to be avoided. Some families have a foolish habit of getting credit at "the stores," and thus frequently purchase many things which might have been dispensed with.

It is all very well to say; "I have got trusted for sixty days, and if I don't have the money the creditor will think nothing about it." There is no class of people in the world, who have such good memories as creditors. When the sixty days run out, you will have to pay. If you do not pay, you will break your promise, and probably resort to a falsehood. You may make some excuse or get in debt elsewhere to pay it, but that only involves you the deeper.

A good-looking, lazy young fellow, was the apprentice boy, Horatio. His employer said, "Horatio, did you ever see a snail?" "I—think—I—have," he drawled out. "You must have met him then, for I am sure you never overtook one," said the "boss." Your creditor will meet you or overtake you and say, "Now, my young friend, you agreed to pay me; you have not done it, you must give me your note." You give the note on interest and it commences working against you; "it is a dead horse." The creditor goes to bed at night and wakes up in the morning better off than when he retired to bed, because his interest has increased during the night, but you grow poorer while you are sleeping, for the interest is accumulating against you.

Money is in some respects like fire; it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master. When you have it mastering you; when interest is constantly piling up against you, it will keep you down in the worst kind of slavery. But let money work for you, and you have the most devoted servant in the world. It is no "eye-servant." There is nothing animate or inanimate that will work so faithfully as money when placed at interest, well secured. It works night and day, and in wet or dry weather.

I was born in the blue-law State of Connecticut, where the old Puritans had laws so rigid that it was said, "they fined a man for kissing his wife on Sunday." Yet these rich old Puritans would have thousands of dollars at interest, and on Saturday night would be worth a certain amount; on Sunday they would go to church and perform all the duties of a Christian. On waking up on Monday morning, they would find themselves considerably richer than the Saturday night previous, simply because their money placed at interest had worked faithfully for them all day Sunday, according to law!

Do not let it work against you; if you do there is no chance for success in life so far as money is concerned. John Randolph, the eccentric Virginian, once exclaimed in Congress, "Mr. Speaker, I have discovered the philosopher's stone: pay as you go." This is, indeed, nearer to the philosopher's stone than any alchemist has ever yet arrived.

Mr. Peasant's Vegan Crock Pot Chili

Chili is one of the great peasant foods. It is one of the few contributions America has made to world cuisine.

REX STOUT

This is the recipe I use for my vegan chili. I prefer to use a Crock Pot which is still the best $20 I ever spent on a kitchen appliance. The Crock Pot eliminates the need for frequent stirring and the possibility of burning things on the stove.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons of chili powder

2 tablespoons of hot sauce

1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon of salt

4  6oz. cans of tomato paste

3 cups of water

1 onion diced

1 green bell pepper diced

1 cup of uncooked lentils

1 can of dark kidney beans

1 can of light kidney beans

1 can of pinto beans

DIRECTIONS

Sauce
Combine chili powder, hot sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, tomato paste, and water in a standard size Crock Pot. Stir until fully mixed and liquefied.

Lentils
Cook the lentils separately until tender.

Chili
Combine the cooked lentils, rinsed canned beans, onions, and peppers in the pot and stir. Cook on high until the mixture begins to bubble. Reduce to low and allow to simmer for three to four hours.

Additions/Substitutions
Black beans
Navy beans
Corn
Diced tomatoes
Yellow and red peppers
Hot peppers

Serve
Pour into a bowl with a bottle of hot sauce handy and some saltine crackers. Can also be served with white rice. Can be chilled and reheated in the microwave or pot. Tastes even better the second day.

Thank you for reading!

Thankful Leper

And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us. Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean.  And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.

And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.
LUKE 17:11

Mr. Peasant almost died Tuesday. Someone hit him while driving on his job. The hit caused his work truck to flip. It rolled into the ditch flipping multiple times, hitting trees and then the cab caught fire. He crawled out of the truck and his partner was rescued. Both are alive and well. Mr. Peasant was in the hospital for a tiny brain bleed which will hopefully heal on it's own. His head is covered with bruises. It looks like someone took a baseball bat to his head. He has a black eye and stitches over his eyelid. He is very sore, and he has a cracked tooth. He is a miracle. Our faith has increased. How can we ever put into words how grateful we are to all the prayer warriors in our lives lifting him up in prayer to our Father. We have encountered so much love and kindness throughout this nightmare. We have the most beautiful friends and family. I have no words except God our father is with us. He held us in His arms.

Lift up praise to the Lord with us. He has given us a miracle. 

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall be always in my mouth. 
In the Lord shall my soul be praised: let the meek hear and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me; and let us extol his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles.
Psalm 33:2

We love you all and thank you for all your prayers. Thank you, Jesus!

50 Thoughtful Christmas Gifts For Under 10 Dollars

I think we have lost our everloving minds with Christmas gift giving. I just read an article on how people are still paying off their debt from Christmas last year! Let's think this through. We are celebrating the birth of our Lord, the Son of God who humbled himself to be born in a dirty barn and slept in a feed trough covered in cattle slobber. So, to honor this profound gift every year we get into massive debt and go full blown magazine cover decadent.  We say it's the thought that counts. Do we really mean that?

Here are the most commonly requested presents from 1913:

1. Candy
2. Nuts
3. Rocking horse
4. Doll
5. Mittens/gloves
6. Toy train
7. Oranges
8. Books
9. Handkerchiefs
10. Skates

Here are fifty simple and thoughtful gifts that I think anyone would love.  At around ten dollars each, it won't break the bank. Let's reign in the over the top Christmas spending and keep it simple. Christmas is not about the things but about the thoughtfulness.

1. A good quality classic pair of socks.  No novelty colors or silly holiday types.

2. A crocheted sock hat.

3. A pair of nice kitchen or bathroom hand towels.

4.  Make a fleece throw with 2 yards of fabric and a pair of scissors.

5. A silicone baking mat and a sugar cookie mix.

6. Plastic mason jar lids.

7. Magnetic Shopping/To Do lists paper pads for the fridge.

8. An Anchor glass pitcher and a box of Raspberry Zinger tea.

9. Silicone oven glove or pot holder. (Most can withstand heats up to 400 degrees.)

10. A garlic press, a pastry mat, pepper mill or some other small kitchen tool that they would use.

11. A magnetic recipe holder for printed out recipe sheets. 

12. Make a sprouting kit: A bag of alfalfa seeds, a wide mouth mason jar, metal jar ring and a plastic needle point sheet or a screen cut to fit. See how here.

13. A kitchen herb potted plant, a jar of bullion, and your favorite soup recipe using the herb.

14. A potted plant.  Propagate a plant from your garden or buy an aloe.

15. A specialty pack of seeds and some jiffy pots to start planting for spring.

16. Bring over a simple flower arrangement. Use a vase/jar and inexpensive flowers from a grocery store. Who doesn't love fresh flowers?

17. A bag of gourmet coffee beans.

18. A jug of apple cider and a bag filled with cinnamon sticks, a clove studded orange (aka a pomander), and this spiced cider recipe.

19. Hot chocolate mix and some firewood.

20. Jar of local honey and a box of nice tea or chai mix.

21. Home-made cinnamon candied nuts, classic Chex mix, or puppy chow.

22. An old school popcorn tin and a five-dollar-bin classic movie.

23. A box of chocolates, a sweet treat from the local bakery, or a tray of homemade cookies.

24. A bottle of wine. There are many that are award winning and inexpensive.

25. Six pack of a holiday beer or hard cider. A single bottle of Delirium beer or raspberry Framboise.

26. A pack of smokes, some lighters, and a scratch off ticket.

27. Make Thank You notes or blank cards with envelopes and add a book of  pretty stamps or nice pen.

28. Reusable straws and a travel mug.

29. An outdoor suction cup window thermometer. To answer that age old question--Is it cold outside?

30. Electric bathroom scrubber brush.

31. A handmade soap or a six pack of Dove bar soaps.

32. Hair ties or scrunchies, microfiber wash clothes, and a face mask packet.

33. A face oil like apricot, sweet almond, or argan.

34. Sugar scrub or a hand lotion.

35. Make a bookmark and place inside a great used book.

36.  A magazine subscription.  We love Mother Earth News (12.00).

37. A classic Moleskine notebook.

38. An audio book for children or adults. What's better than being read a story in the dark under the covers?

39. Elderberry concentrate here to keep them flu free this winter.

40. Smelly things like a car scent and a candle.

41. Pepper spray.

42. A LED hurricane lantern. This light is a life saver when the power goes out.

43. Two cups of gas station coffee/hot cocoa, Christmas music playing on the radio and a drive around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights.

44. Make a copy of a really great old photograph you know they don't have.

45. Make a music compilation CD. It could be holiday themed or maybe Classical, Oldies, etc.

46. Give them something special of yours you want them to have. Include the story behind the item in a card.

47. Buy $10 worth of odd treats from an Asian grocery store.  It's a fun way to try new foods and drinks.

48. A $10 gift card to Taco Bell or some fast food place, a craft store, a coffee shop, or a gas station.

49. Magnetic tool strip. Great for organizing tools in the garage, kitchen or craft room.

Mr. Peasant's Picks:

50. Casio F91W, a classic watch.

51. J5 Tactical Flashlight $15.

52. Opinel #8 Knife with wooden handle. Lovely. $15.

Okay friends, what gift would you like to receive that's under $10? I'd love to hear your ideas of thoughtful affordable Christmas gifts. Thank you reading and Merry Christmas!

'Tis the Season

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

MATTHEW 6:19-21 

I can feel the anxiety of the season coming. I love the holiday, and yet every year, I let the consumerism and the fact that I stink at shopping steal my peace. I want to give everyone a very special, thoughtful, beautiful gift that is homemade or from the heart. I want to ship it to them on time to show them how much I love them. I want my godchildren to know I am thinking of them as well as my sisters and brothers and parents and friends. It quickly gets overwhelming to me. I feel evermore convicted that today more than ever, Christmas is to be holy. It must not be stolen and gutted like any other secular holiday. Am I guilty of handing it over to its ruin? Am I participating in their Christmas without Jesus? No, I must not forget our Savior. And so I am going to try to do two things this year: 

1. I am going to keep it small.

2. I am going to keep it sacred.

Ideas of things to keep it small:

1. A beautiful Christmas candle center piece made from garden leaves or buy a cheap poinsettia for the kitchen table.

2. Get the house smelling great with a Christmas scent jar with lights or simmering spices on the stove.

3. Make a pomander.

4. Listen to a good holiday music play list like this one or the classic Charlie Brown Christmas Album.

5. Watch your favorite Christmas movie. Mine is  Ziggy's Gift. Mr. Peasant's is Die Hard. The Happy Prince and The Selfish Giant are two amazingly heartfelt old animation movies (from Oscar Wilde Stories).

6. Drink hot things like mugs of apple cider, hot chocolate, pumpkin lattes or Chai tea.

7. Use your oven. Bake with people you love as much as possible. Share your recipes!

8. Make and send out Christmas cards. Let everyone know how much you love them.

Ideas to make it sacred:

1. Don't shop on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Let everyone spend time with their families and with God.

2. Call an old friend or a family member you haven't spoke to in a while.

3. Invite someone over to dinner or bring food to someone.

4. Make peace with someone you are fighting with. Pray for them and forgive.

5. Use the symbols of our faith in decorating. Candles, lights, evergreens, nativity scenes, angels, star, bells, wise men, advent wreaths, the color red (blood he shed) and the color green (life eternal he offers us). Find more symbols here.

6. Fill your house with the singing of religious Christmas Carols. This is the only time of year when we can sing poorly without feeling self conscious. Let's enjoy it!

7. Give gifts of prayer, offering up a lunch fast, saying a novena or a rosary for our loved ones.

8. Go to church. Let the activities of the church fill your calendar this month. From the children's play to the choir performances, spend time in God's house.

9. Dedicate time to reading God's word. Focus on Jesus' birth or on the Song of Mary- Magnificat.

Now no man lighting a candle covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it upon a candlestick, that they who come in may see the light.  --LUKE 8:16

Let's shine.  Let's light up this dark world. Let's fight for a holy, sacred, peaceful and simple season. Let's show the love of God to everyone we meet and lets spend more hours in prayer than in stores. The Christmas gift has already been picked out, paid for and delivered to us. What we need to do is rejoice! Our Savior has come!

Frugal Tactics: Ask Yourself, Can I Do Anything With This?

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

MATTHEW 25:20

Before you throw anything away, ask yourself a question. Can I do anything with this?

A food container, a jar, an overripe apple, a sliver of soap in the tub, a dish of leftovers in the fridge. A piece of fabric, a holey sock, a shampoo you hate, a stained shirt, half an onion from yesterday.

Ask yourself, can I do anything with this?

Can I eat it today?

Can I freeze it for later?

Can I give it to someone who can use it?

Can I mend it?

Can I rip it into rags?

Can I use it in a different way?

Can it be transformed into something else?

If you can't come up with anything on your own, do a quick google search. I can't count how many new ideas I've gotten and how much money I've saved just by searching for a new use for an item I was going to throw away..

I've made delicious quick breads with the 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce left over from Thanksgiving.

I've insulated our windows in the winter with the bubble wrap from our Amazon orders.

I made cloth napkins from old plaid shirts and rags from really worn t-shirts.

I've turned my old scrub pants from my hospital job into comfy Capri pants by cutting them.

I dried orange peels to simmer with cinnamon sticks and cloves on the stove this winter. I never knew of that idea until I googled "What to do with orange peels?".

I am not advocating saving everything or hoarding. But I do believe that being mindful of what you have and using it up if possible is wise. Lets be good stewards of the little things.

Thank you for reading!

The Best Vegan Thanksgiving Recipe Ever

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
COLOSSIANS 3:17

I have to confess that the first few vegan thanksgivings we celebrated were blah. We had the old stand-by boxed Tofurky Roast with potatoes, and it was nice. But Thanksgiving should be a feast-- labor intensive and decadent. It is a celebration of thankfulness. I love this recipe because it has all the holiday tastes in one dish.  I hope you try it. You and your non-vegan guests will love this.

THANKSGIVING VEGAN WELLINGTON

Serves 6 people

INGREDIENTS: 

1- package Prepperidge Farms Puff pastry (in the frozen pie section)
1- 8 oz package of white mushrooms sliced
1 1/2 cups dried Pepperidge Farms Herb Seasoned Stuffing (cubed or classic style)
1/2 cup diced yellow Onion
1 package of Tofurky Slices (oven roasted)
3  Leeks (use the white parts)
6 cups of kale chopped
1 medium sweet potato
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup Earth Balance original spread
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp vegetable oil to grease pan

INSTRUCTIONS: 

PREPARE EACH PART TO STUFF THE WELLINGTON:

1. Stuffing-  You will need about 2 1/2 cups of prepared stuffing for the Wellington.

Slice mushrooms and sauté in pan with a little olive oil. Season with salt.

Place diced onions in glass measuring cup with Earth Balance spread. Microwave 30 seconds or until butter melts.

In a large bowl, combine sauteed mushrooms with the mushroom juice and onions with butter and 1 1/2 cups dried stuffing mix. Stir well. The goal is to have the stuffing moist but not wet. You can add a little water or more butter if needed.

2. Leeks- Slice the white parts of the leeks and sauté in approximately 1 tbsp of olive oil until caramelized (about 20 minutes.)  Add sugar if you want more sweetness. Season with salt.

3. Kale- steam kale until it is bright green (about 5 minutes. ) Then drain it.  Pat dry with paper towels.

4. Sweet Potato- Peel and thinly slice (about 1/8 inch thick.)

TO ASSEMBLE THE WELLINGTON:

1. Place the frozen puff pastry onto parchment paper to thaw. This can take 20 mins.   When thawed, unfold both pieces. Place them side by side with one sheet overlapping the other and roll out into one large sheet.

IF YOU WANT TO EAT TODAY- Place the pastry onto a large greased cookie sheet.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE AND FREEZE FOR LATER- Slide the parchment paper with the puff pastry onto a large cookie sheet.

2. Layering your Wellington: Place each layer onto the puff pastry. All the ingredients should be cooled to room temperature.

The first bottom layer is the Tofurky slices. ( I layered mine like a deck of cards fanned out.) Then press two cups of stuffing into a mound and sprinkle the caramelized leeks evenly in a layer. The next layer will be kale. Finally, add the raw sweet potato slices fanned.

3. Bring the ends of the puff pastry upward and then pull in the sides of dough so the veggies are completely covered. Score the top and poke a couple of holes in it so steam can escape.

4. Chill the wellington for at least an hour before baking. It can also be frozen at this point (no need to thaw before cooking.)

5. Place wellington on a large greased (canola oil) cookie sheet, Bake at 425 for 15 minutes then reduce the heat to 350 for 30 to 45 minutes or until puff pastry is nicely browned.

This recipe is labor intensive so you should go ahead and make two. They freeze great!  I make mine weeks before Thanksgiving and freeze them. We eat one wellington for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. I also prepare and freeze the stock for the gravy. On Thanksgiving morning, I pop the frozen wellington into the oven. I serve my wellington with gravy (see below), green beans, the pan of stuffing and jellied Cranberry Sauce from the can. That's it. A simple delicious Thanksgiving meal.

TO FREEZE: Assemble your wellington on a parchment lined large cookie sheet. Then, you can just wrap the parchment around the wellington. Then, wrap it in tin foil. The wellington is odd shaped so it doesn't fit in a regular freezer bag. I place the wellington in a grocery bag and tie a knot. I place it in another grocery bag and tie a knot. I do this 5 times to make 5 layers of grocery bags. I have kept one in the freezer for two months without freezer burn.

VEGAN GRAVY:

I use this recipe for an awesome vegan gravy. I freeze the gravy stock in a plastic container until Thanksgiving morning. For the gravy, I make a rue (Earth Balance and flour) in a small sauce pan. Then, I dump the frozen brick of stock into the sauce pan and stir slowly as it melts.

I hope you try this recipe. It is an absolute game changer. You will never buy a Tofurky Roast Box again. Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for reading!

Vegan Gravy

This is a vegan gravy recipe I found online, and I modified it a bit. It is the perfect companion to the Vegan Wellington. I hope you enjoy it!

VEGAN GRAVY
Serves 6, Makes 1 1/2 cups of gravy

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
8 oz package of button mushrooms, cleaned and roughly chopped
2 Medium onions roughly chopped
2 Medium carrots thickly sliced
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp brown sugar
3 cups vegetable stock
2 celery sticks, thickly sliced
1 Tablespoons coffee (we use Cafe Bustelo)
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp of apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

3 Tablespoons of Earth Balance Original Spread
3 Tablespoon all purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) In a large pot, heat the oil over a high heat. Add the mushrooms and fry until the mushrooms caramelize- about 6 minutes. Once they are brown, you can start to stir them. They will release some liquid. Continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated and the mushrooms are thoroughly browned. Remove mushrooms from the pan and keep to the side for later. Do not clean pot, keep all the browned bit on the bottom of the pot.

2) Now add a Tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the chopped onion and cook until golden. Then add the carrots and herbs and cook till all the vegetables start to brown. Don’t worry if there’s browned bits in the pan. This add delicious flavor to the gravy.

3) Pour in the vegetable stock. Return the mushrooms back into the pot. Stir and scrape any bits from the pot bottom.

4) Add the celery. Bring up to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Add the coffee, cider vinegar, brown sugar and soy sauce. Stir again. Now remove the pot from heat.

5) Taste the stock. Now add salt and pepper to your taste.  You can add a little more coffee, if you like, to give it extra depth or you can add more (another 1/2 tsp) of apple cider vinegar to sharpen the flavor.

6) Place a colander over a large bowl. Strain the liquid into the bowl. Take the strained vegetables, and place to the side for soup*

7) Heat a small sauce pan to med heat. To make the roux, place 3 Tablespoons of Earth Balance into the pan until melted. Now add 3 Tablespoons of Flour stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until the butter is absorbed in the flour and the mixture turns golden.

8) Now pour your broth into the sauce pan stirring until well mixed. (If your broth was frozen drop the broth brick into the pan and stir while it melts). Bring the gravy to a simmer. Stir and then remove for heat. The gravy will thicken as it cools.


IF YOU WANT TO USE THE STOCK LATER.  You can cool the stock and freeze the stock in a plastic container until you are ready to make the gravy. Then start on step 7.

**I take the strained gravy vegetables and make a delicious soup by adding a can of diced tomatoes, a cube of vegetable bullion and some water. Add some bread and you have an easy dinner.

I've Got Corporate Trust Issues

I found a piece of glass in my bowl of spaghetti dinner last night. Thank God I didn't eat it. Of course I have no clue whether we ate any smaller pieces. We ate it Sunday and then Monday night leftovers. First, I went into the trash to check the jar and the jar itself was not cracked or chipped. I went through all my drinking glasses- thinking maybe I broke a glass. I didn't find any chipped drinking glasses. The piece looks like the rim of a jar, about an inch long, with some threading and curved. Again, the sauce jar I opened and dumped into the pasta pot was not chipped or cracked. I am concerned. Our meal consisted of a box of noodles and then I dumped the sauce into the pot and stirred. I can't think of any other way the glass shard got into my dish.  I wanted to let you know. I would hate to find out anyone got harmed by swallowing glass and I didn't say anything. This has killed the possibility of ever buying your products again. I've never contacted a company before. I just want a clear conscience.

submitted to the Ragu complaint website 9/4/2018

I don't know the ramifications of swallowing a one inch piece of curved glass. I can't even google it. I would rather not know. I imagine the sound of biting down on glass and then I stop myself. I can't imagine its destruction would be minimal as it slides and slices through my soft digestion track. Or what if it tore my ass? We could've played detective at the ER with our 3500 dollar deductible PLUS picking up another 40% of the remaining tab of a glass shard bender. All of this over a $1.50 pasta sauce.  I'm shaken up. I never thought my spaghetti sauce could kill me. It opens up an entire new level of trust issues. Can there be trust between a huge corporation and consumers?

The self-driving car future. The robot factory future. The anti-well-paying-factory guy who took pride in his work and who retired after working there 25 years future.  Sounds like we'll be eating a lot of glass, folks.

P.S. Does anyone have a good marinara recipe?

UPDATE: I waited to publish this in order to see the process through. The company contacted me quickly and paid a courier service to pick up my jar and glass piece within three days. I was told by the Consumer Engagement Team that they would investigate. They apologized in a generic letter that was unsigned. They enclosed three coupons for free pasta sauce for my inconvenience. As of today, no recall as been declared. Perhaps my jar was the only one with glass? My experience with the company was very professional, but I still can't shake the thought of how easily and often this must happen.

Shopping Strategies : Squirreling Away Today for Tomorrow

IN a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.   

  “Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”   

  “I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”   

  “Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “we have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food, and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

“IT IS BEST TO PREPARE FOR THE DAYS OF NECESSITY.”

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

We have been saving for 6 years for a house. The process is slow because we don't have high paying jobs. I know one thing when you are saving. All the little bits add up. Sometimes, it can be depressing. But after awhile you will see the progress. If you don't think you can save anything at the end of the month, here are my shopping strategies.  Even if you don't have these stores in your area, the take away idea is to buy in bulk when there is a good sale. Forecast future needs and buy when you can get it at the best prices. Here are some sales I stock up on.

1. Friends of the Library Book Sale for Used Books- If you are a reader, find out when your Friends of the Library book sale happens in your county. Ours happens once a year. All books are $1 a piece. I buy 90% of my books to read for the year at this event. It is worth investigating. You do not have to pay to be a member to go to the book sale. I actually left early from work to go. I lost $25 of pay and spent $13 on books that if I bought used on Amazon would have cost me $130. Take out the middle man and buy your books at the book sale in your town. Plus, you are helping to support your local library. Win, win.  I like to look for books as Christmas gifts.

2. Big Lots Friends and Family Sale- 20% off sales pop up about 4 times a year at Big Lots. I stock up on toilet paper, plastic wrap, foil, parchment paper, freezer bags, soap, tea, beans, deodorant, honey, white vinegar and tampons. Shower curtains, bath tub mats, pillows, batteries or even a mattress are also good things to replace during these sales.

I can honestly say the Big Lots rewards card is one of the reward cards that I think is worth signing up for. I also get a few random $5 off any $15 purchase coupons emailed to me a year. Between the 20% off sales and the coupons I easily save $80 a year. The best part is the discount is on whatever you want to buy.

3. Food Lion- Quarter Back sale- This sale is for my Southern friends. It happens usually twice a year- once in October and once in March. For every store brand item you buy, you get a quarter back. So you can get a $10 coupon on your next purchase if you buy 40 items. This is a great way to get a discount on stuff that NEVER goes on sale. Maple Syrup, tea, mustard, ketchup, bbq sauce, tomato paste, diced tomato, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, oatmeal, flour, canned pumpkin, pie filling (for dump cake), baking soda, and paper towels. I try to stock up for 6 months worth of canned goods, oatmeal, etc. The sale also lines up nicely with Thanksgiving and Lent food bank drives at my church. With the money back coupon, I can buy even more food for the poor.

4. Tax free weekend- Our state has a tax free weekend right before school starts. In South Carolina they wave the 6% tax on school supplies and clothing. We are not big clothes shoppers, but I always look around and see if we need anything. I try to go that Friday night of the weekend and look for shoes, socks, and underwear. I like to buy printer paper and ink cartridges during this weekend.

 5. Burkes/ Bealls Outlet-  15% off on Fridays. You will need to sign up for a rewards card. I don't go often but I try to go the Friday of the Tax Free weekend. The combo of the 15% off discount with the tax free (6% off) makes for 21% savings on our shoes, underwear and socks!

6. Office Supplies- Once school starts, you will start seeing all school supplies on clearance--notebooks, pencils, paper, pens, etc. I try to buy any office things we may need for the year.

7. Great Clips- They send me coupons in the mail for $7.99 haircuts usually a few times a year and I always go in to use them. I also ask to get 3-4 inches off. I want to make each haircut count!

8. Walmart after Valentines Day Flowers- Tulips, mini roses in pots, and huge bouquets are all half off are more the day after Valentines Day. It may sound lame but I insist that Mr. Peasant buy me flowers the day after. We don't have to spend a lot of money, I know Mr. Peasant loves me. Plus, I get the most gorgeous flowers for cheap! Win, win.

9. Black Cherries-I buy 20 pounds of cherries when they go on sale for 1.99 or less. I spend a few hours  pitting and freezing them.

10. Walgreens Dental Supplies- Once or twice a year Walgreens has a buy two get one free sale on all  oral care products. Toothpaste, mouthwash, tooth brushes and dental supplies. This sale is worth while to grab toothbrushes and mouth washes for the year.

11. Amazon Prime- We don't have Amazon Prime. We take our time and fill our cart until we reach the amount needed for free shipping (typically $25.00 or $35.00). So that is $100.00 a year we can spend on actual items and we still NEVER pay for shipping. The whole next day thing seems a little wasteful and extreme. I don't need my Nutritional Yeast overnight-ed next day. Nothing in my life is that pressing.

With these 11 Strategies we save about $450.00 a year. Keep your eyes open for sales at your local stores and stock up. Even if you can only afford to buy one extra item on sale, do it.

Once again I have to plug my two favorite websites for saving. Southern Savers and Flipp. If you'd like to hear more about why I love these two sites, check out my post about Saving at the Grocery store here. See Tip # 6.

Thank you for reading!

Frugal Flower Arrangements in the Home

Where flowers bloom, so does hope.

LADY BIRD JOHNSON

I am not much of a decorator. I've always lived in rundown apartments, and my budget for aesthetics was close to zero. I can think of nothing more cheerful than flowers in your home. Unfortunately, the art of flower arranging has fallen out of favor. Buying flowers can be expensive for frugal people. Here are some inexpensive ways to bring joy into your home with flowers.

Cheap flowers from your garden in a jar:

Zinnias in a honey jar.

Zinnias, mini roses, basil flowers, and sage leaves in a spice jar.

Yellow Zinnias, Basil flower and Sage

Zinnias and Tomato Blossoms in a spice jar.

Weeds in the office space.

Johnny Jump Ups

Cheap herbs and vegetable blossoms:

A tomato branch.

Beautiful yellow tomato flowers.

Nasturtium branches in a maple syrup jar.

Pink Zinnia, sage branch and flowered basil.

Silver sage branches in water on either side of Mary for Christmas.

Morning glory vines on windows:

I plant cheap morning glory seeds in tin cans. I punch holes in the bottom of the cans with nails and a hammer. 

I take white twine and drape it along my windows and then wrap the vine around the string.

The vine will grow happily around the windows. I love how it looks like hearts.

Morning glory blooms.

 $4.00 flowers from the grocery store:

I hope this inspires you to grow and cut flowers to bring indoors. It doesn't take much money to make a simple, happy arrangement. Thank you for reading!