My Vacuum Really Sucks and Budget Haul Part One

Well, I'm sure everyone is dying to know what happened with the clog at the end of the vacuum. After many tears, much frustration, lots of cussing, and some temper tantrums I did find the clog, and Humpty is back together. I don't ever want to see a screwdriver again in my life! There are still two screws that are just mystery screws, but why shouldn't my vacuum be like me! Ha Ha.
I didn't do my full budget shop yesterday, but I did go to Fred Myers hoping to find a few bulk grains, but other than quinoa they didn't have anything. I was hoping to find bulgur wheat for tabouli salad. Quinoa even in bulk is not a grain for such a tight budget. It wasn't a wasted trip though, because they had a few awesome sales in the produce section, which made me really happy, because I thought I wouldn't be able to have much in the way of fresh.

Raspberries, beets, pineapple,potatoes, and some of Chunk!

I almost fainted when I saw they had raspberries for ninety nine cents! They aren't organic, but we can't be perfect. They also had pineapples for only $1.99, as well as organic beets, and organic Yukon gold potatoes! So, ten dollars down. I probably should have gotten only one pineapple, but I love them so much and that is such a good price I just had to have two! So, that leaves me with twenty five dollars. I plan on using some or all of that today when I go to Safeway. I will be looking for rice, beans, and hopefully bulgur but that's kind of a pipe dream I think. Also, some type of bread, because I feel like lentil Joe's and burgers might be in my near future!
Since I'm going to be eating a budget this week, I decided to treat myself last night and try the garlic fries I found at Trader Joe's. These things are AHMAZING, and seriously these need to be in every potato and garlic lovers life! I was surprised at first, because it's just plain fries, but they have a sauce packet that you defrost while the fries are cooking! The sauce is basically garlic, parsley and oil. So, these aren't healthy fries, but they are sooooooooo worth the calories! Like I'll work out an extra two hours to eat these! After the fries are done cooking, you mix them with the sauce and serve. The sauce soaks into the hot fries and it is just pure magic.

These made my mouth so happy. The smell when you first pour the sauce on the hot fries is enough to make you just shove your face in the bowl. I feel like these fries would be a great side with a big falafal gyro! These are one of my new favorite Trader Joe's foods! Not on a first date though, because the sauce is intensely garlic-y!
Tomorrow I will have everything I ate today on a budget, what else I found, and how I'm going to do this challenge, because I've added a second part to it.
Happy Tuesday!

Just Thousand, Just Cats

I was waiting until I made a beast burger to try this new thousand island from Hampton Creek, but I just couldn't wait to try it! I am a condiment junkie for sure. I made some potato wedges and heated up the last of the tots I had and got to dipping. It's really creamy, and super tangy which I love! They weren't skimpy with the pickles. It reminds me of tarter sauce to be honest, I feel like this could easily sit in for tarter. Isn't thousand island tarter sauce with ketchup? I think it is. If you would have told me fifteen years ago that when I decided to go vegan, I would be loving some vegan ranch and vegan thousand island, I would have died from laughter. I used to have a severe attitude towards thousand island for a funny reason. In all my years of serving at every kind of restaurant you can imagine, people who ordered thousand island were always either super mean senior citizens, or how can I put this politely, they lacked a certain amount of couth, and seemed like they should be somewhere eating fried butter dipped in thousand. I also know for a straight up fact that people who say Italian dressing as I-talian are always going to run you ragged, and leave the worst tip of your shift. Again, there are exceptions to every rule, but this is something I've studied and experienced for more years than I care to admit.
Wow, can I get sidetracked or what? Back to this dressing/sauce. It is so tasty, I was wishing I had some gardein fishless filets! I can only imagine how good the ranch is. If you like tarter, or thousand, look for this! It was at Target right with all the other shelf stable dressings.
Vacuum update.. my vacuum is now Humpty Dumpty. I took it apart, and can't get it back together. I have six screws on my bookshelf that came out of the vacuum, but I don't know how to get it all back together. I miss the days of vacuums with bags. I know I know, they're less sanitary, but you have to have a freaking Master's degree in vacuum repair to pull it apart! I watched a few videos on YouTube which were helpful in pulling it apart, but not putting it back together. The men who were showing you what to do had excellent beer bellies though. It put my own personal battle with the bulge in perspective. Although, in my heaviest drinking days, I probably looked like a female version of them! If only I had the vacuum knowledge!
I also have an idea for my challenge, I did a lot of brainstorming with myself yesterday! I have a few more ideas that I'm adding, but I'll save that for tomorrow, because I have been a super chatty Cathy today.
I have to leave you with two of the cutest pictures. Sometimes it's almost distracting being surrounded by so much cuteness!

Chunk and Kanye all loved up!

Scrappy and Afro with an Etta creeper!

Look at the fur on my carpet! Fingers crossed I can figure out how to fix it today, or I might become a furball!

Sunday Stuff

Warning, this video is not vegan, but it isn't really meaty either, it's more Kraft mac and cheese-y. But it's a great example of what a lot of people think you have to eat if you're on a super tight budget. I don't claim to be an expert when it comes to many things, but eating on a budget is something that I know like the back of my hand. Lentil soup makes you feel sooooooo much better than Top Ramen. I've always felt like Top Ramen not only gives me no nutrients, but oddly I feel like it sucks life out of me. I guess I'm lucky in that I wasn't allowed to eat stuff like that as a kid, so it's not a fall back for me like it is for a lot of people I know. It's funny, as a kid I just wanted our family to eat crap like everyone else, but now as an adult I am so GRATEFUL that I was raised by a health food fanatic. Usually, when you're super poor, you're working really hard trying to get not so poor, so filling your body with junk makes life harder and makes you weaker.
Today is going to be a shorter post because my vacuum cleaner has a clog in it, and I have to find a way to unclog it! I sent an Email to Hoover, because this vacuum has been problematic from the jump, and the response I got was so RUDE and also sterile, in other words it was very corporate. They informed me that clogs aren't listed in the warranty, which I never asked about because I didn't know I had a clog!They were very defensive, and it almost made me feel like I was in the wrong or something, when all I did was explain what was going on, and asked what should I do? Anyway, they have decided I have a clog, and I need to pull this thing apart to try to get at the clog, and I have to be honest, I am scared. I barely know what a screwdriver is, and I'm scared that maybe I'll get it apart, but won't be able to put it back together. I already have a few mystery screws that have come out, and I don't know where they go. Anyway, it's really not cool. They mentioned checking a belt, and a brush, and taking the tube apart, and I mean I'm not a repair person, ya know! Not to mention, these kind of projects are always super fun with nosy kitties.

This was my dinner last night. Kind of boring, but I had one of those days where I needed a hug from some mashed potatoes.
Happy Sunday!

Random Saturday

So I realized today that it's been a little bit over three weeks since I started upping the intensity of my workouts. And I've got the sore muscles to prove it! My pants haven't started fitting differently or anything like that, but I do feel a lot stronger, and I do notice some definite muscle definition. I've been trying to use common sense, and listen to my body when it comes to pushing myself. I was a little scared that I would get obsessive about working out. Back in my eating disorder days I worked out REALLY hard, and was very obsessive about it. Working out is something I'm learning to enjoy, not use as yet another way to punish myself. I've been stepping up my yoga too, because tight achy muscles are not cool.
I'm not going to lie though, some days it is a battle when I put on my jeans and once again they feel no different. There are days when I really want to throw in the towel and the yoga mat. But, I am working so hard on being positive, and that includes being positive towards myself, so I choose to focus on how strong I feel, and how proud I feel when I've completed an exercise that I never thought I'd be able to do. Anyway, just thought I'd give a little fitness update, I'm still doing it!
And here are some recent eats I've eaten. Last night I was randomly craving tofu scramble, but I had no bread for toast, and I am a scramble on toast kind of girl. I did have tortillas, so I made breakfast tacos! Pretty tasty for a thrown together meal!

Tapatio really pulls a meal together!

I saw a video on YouTube where the person was making and eating a rice congee dish. I had never heard of congee before, and it looked interesting. In the version I saw, they used red lentils and rice. I kind of made my own version, but in the end it's really nothing like the vide I saw, but it was inspired by it. In mine, I used red lentils and rice, with turmeric, smoked paprika and curry. When it was done I added the rest of some coconut cream I had in the fridge and let all that simmer. So, it was like a curry congee? I don't know but it was tasty and also soothing, and I needed the food hug!

This will probably pop up again when I am doing my challenge, because this was like a handful of rice, a handful of red lentils and some spices. And the coconut cream was leftover.
And of course, since it is Caturday, I thought I'd leave you with this cute picture of Animal. She has been full of life, and completely back to her old self after her unfortunate medical scare, and I'm so happy!

Happy Caturday!

Potatoes Wrapped in Lettuce is a Thing

I think I'll be starting my five dollars a day challenge next week. I want to finish off the produce and stuff that won't last a week before I start. It doesn't make sense to waste food ever, let alone when doing a money saving challenge.I'm feeling pretty good, I have some ideas jotted down already. I also was looking at different articles for recipes for poor college students. I think as it has been for most of my life, lentils are going to be my best friend in this challenge. You can do so many things with them, and save yourself from dying of boredom. I guess they're like that perfect pair of jeans, and you just need some little accessories to "change the look up".  I was looking at some websites where people have done this challenge, and some where they've done it with less. Here is a very detailed example. Math is not my game, and I am not a super organized, write everything down, break it down and all of that. So, I'm doing it the super relaxed way. Seven times five is thirty five, so that is what I get to spend for seven days. It will all even out in the end, even if one day I eat six dollars worth of food, and one day I might only eat two dollars worth of food. I'm going to do my best to have variety, and refurbish leftovers. I remember being super poor as a kid, and we sometimes would go weeks of eating the same thing over and over. I've said it before, but you will never see me eat quiche, even if it is vegan ever again in my life. So, variety is going to be my main mission.
I made another budget friendly meal last night. I wrapped some potato wedges in lettuce leaves and dipped in FYH ranch and bleu cheese. Potato wedges wrapped in crunchy lettuce is really a delicious combo if you haven't tried it.

I checked Target yesterday to see if they had the Just ranch yet, and they are still sold out! Which is of course awesome, but yet annoying. It must be really good though. And I notice that they are always on the verge of being sold out of the vegan Ben&Jerry's. It's only a matter of time before we have vegan Haagen Daz!
Happy Friday!

Getting Ready to Be Challenged!

I've decided that I'm going to do a seven day challenge, which will be eating a healthy, vibrant vegan diet on five dollars a day. I might even do three dollars, I'm still undecided. I'm going to try to be really fair and realistic, and go to a regular grocery like Fred Meyers or Safeway, not Trader Joe's and Grocery Outlet which aren't available for everyone. There are so many high profile vegans out there promoting the diet/lifestyle, and everyday there are new vegan foods popping up, but the bottom line is that a lot of vegans eat a somewhat expensive diet. Or, they live in California where there are year round huge farmer's markets with all the produce. And a lot of the vegan specialty foods come at a high price too. And all of that can be a turn off. I hear "but isn't eating vegan expensive?" as often as "what do you eat/ where do you get protein?" Like any diet, eating vegan can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. I'm not going to let myself use anything in my pantry, except for spices and oil. I'm either going to do this next week, or the week after. It depends on how prepared I feel. I want non vegans to feel like a vegan diet is doable for the long term, regardless of your income.  When I lived in Erie, I lived in what I would call a food desert. The only store in my neighborhood was a terrifying bodega that was questionable at best. Not even a banana was sold at that store. The closest grocery was about two or three miles away, and that was the Co-Op. Don't get me wrong, loved the Co-Op but it's not where you buy all of your groceries if you're on a budget. The next closest store was much farther, and it was Giant Eagle which was not the greatest, and their produce left A LOT to be desired. There were no farmer's markets ever, like even in the summer. Erie is actually in the top three of unhealthiest cities in PA. I remember I looked it up once. So, anyway, I say all of that to say that this challenge is for everyone who might be stuck in unhealthy cities, and dealing with a budget. The wage for servers in Erie is STILL $2.13 an hour! Talk about unhealthy. Anyway, I have never not been on a budget my entire adult life. I'm not talking about a "budget" where you're planning for your future, I'm talking about living paycheck to paycheck, and digging in your couch for change type of budget, so this challenge will feel like home! I loathe and detest menu planning, it makes me want to give up on food, so I'm going to just jot down some of my fave cheap meals, and ideas for more cheap meals and then do a shop.
I had a budget friendly day yesterday. I used up some leftovers and scraps I had laying around. I made a green juice with some stems from broccoli and kale, along with spinach, pear and cucumber.
I drank it while reading an article about what gets served to sick people in hospitals. Spoiler alert- It's total crap!

I said it the other day, and I'll say it again, this issue of VegNews is really great. They can be a hit or miss with me, and this one is a hit!
I also had a budget friendly meal of curried lentils over rice. I got super crazy and used red lentils and brown/green lentils!

I had a little mini pita in place of Naan, which I've just accepted that I will never be able to eat again. It is never vegan! This is an example of a meal that is super cheap, makes lots of leftovers, and doesn't have a ton of specialty ingredients and superfoods. But, it is rich and satisfying and certainly doesn't feel like a  budget meal. I've recently been using coconut cream in my curries, because it's cheaper than coconut milk and it takes only like one or two tablespoons for that creamy coconut flavor you want. So, one can or box goes a long way!

Vegan Trader Joe's!!

Yesterday I saw a picture/post on Instagram of a new product at Trader Joe's, vegan marshmallows! And from the picture it looked they are only $2.49 a bag! I saw this post after I had gotten home from there, so next time I go I will look to see if the Joe's I go to has them. So exciting, and as Unknown pointed out, just in time for S'mores season! In other new vegan product news, I saw an ad in the new VegNews for daiya's new line of salad dressings! In the ad they are showing a creamy Caesar, ranch, and a blue cheeze. The ad doesn't say if it is refrigerated or shelf stable, and I went to their website and did not see that info either. The Just mayo dressings and mayo are on the shelf , but the FYH dressings are kept cold, so I don't know. But be on the lookout. I don't even feel like I've been vegan that long, and I just can't believe how many new foods are available! I thought I would never have blue cheese dressing again, and I had made peace with it, and now all of a sudden there are two options! It's just so amazing and inspiring!
Here is my vegan marshmallow-less haul from yesterday! Tuesday is so much safer than Saturday!

Cabbage,green onions, red peppers, cucumber,Romaine hearts, lemons, pears,and potatoes!

Tahini sauce,coconut cream, mini pitas,red lentils, garlic fries, lavash,curry powder,black and garbanzo beans, and tofu

Soy ice cream sandwiches,and raisin and pecan dark chocolate bar and booch not from Trader Joe's.

 I was so tempted to get a spicy red lentil wrap from their prepared food section, but I didn't want to pay the cost. Instead, I bought the ingredients to make my own. So much cheaper!!!

It's not exact, but it's pretty dang close, and I have lots of lentils to keep trying till I nail it!

For dinner I had the usual, oven fries with Ranch and BBQ. I seasoned my fries with curry, garlic and turmeric. The usual.
Happy Wednesday!

No Cheesiness Required

I had to run to Target yesterday for dish soap, and I could not leave without getting a Curry Tiger burrito.(or two) Once again, I didn't have my camera or phone with me to get a picture, but I noticed that Sweet Earth now has frozen meals! They're more like bowls I guess. A lot of them were vegetarian, but they had a few vegan ones. I'm sure as the vegan meals gain popularity, they'll make even more varieties. I can't say enough about these burritos. They definitely don't taste like something that came from your freezer. I can't vouch for how they are cooked in a microwave, I've only cooked them in an oven, and they always come out perfect, without that weird damp mushy feeling that some frozen burritos have.

I had a bag of gardein beef-less crumbles way in the back of my freezer that I found, so I decided to add some black beans and call it a taco night. I used up the last of the tofutti sour cream that was stressing me out. I don't think I'll be buying it again, I think I lost the taste for vegan sour cream, or at least tofutti. It's funny how our taste buds change the longer we're vegan. I try to explain that to non vegans when they say they could never give up cheese. I was like that, and man it was very hard for quite awhile. Even when I was over the worst of my cravings, I would still sometimes look longingly at cheese-y things my friends were eating. Now, I have no desire, and it just looks like a big blob on people's plates. And even my use of vegan cheese has greatly decreased. I've grown to love things like pizza, pasta, and even quesadillas without cheese. Vegan cheese is awesome of course, but I just don't feel a need to always have some on hand.
I've recovered from my little funk I was in, so that means PRODUCE! I am going to get some lovely fruits and veggies for my poor fridge, which right now has a few leftovers, but mostly condiments! Ha, I'm such a bachelor!

Corporate Vegan

I have been a fan of Sweet Earth natural foods for awhile. I first discovered their delicious burritos in Target in Erie PA. of all places. It was such a welcome, unexpected surprise. I also remember that the same Target had some of Sweet Earth's veggie burgers on sale, and I remember I really enjoyed the flavor I tried. I believe it was the Za'atar flavor. And their Curry Tiger burrito is seriously one of my favorite things ever. I always look for sales when I'm in Target. I also tried their Benevolent bacon, also while living in PA. In my opinion it's the best faux bacon out there. And, it doesn't look insanely weird. So, I was pleasantly surprised to learn some new things about the company, thanks to an article in VegNews magazine. I learned that the founder, Brian Swette was the former chairman of BURGER KING!!!! And now he runs a company that is making amazing vegan and vegetarian food. So inspiring! He says he didn't have a specific light bulb moment when he mad the switch to becoming vegetarian, but it was a series of events. His daughter who is an environmentalist became vegetarian while in high school, and really learned about cooking, and nutrition started blowing his mind with delicious vegetarian food. And he also had taken a meeting with someone from PETA and was able to be open minded enough to realize they were making some valid points. And that led to he and his wife deciding to start a plant based food company. I love stories like that. He said he was expecting PETA to be very aggressive and judgmental, but he said they were thoughtful and direct. I found that to be a pleasant surprise!
He's a corporate kind of guy, and so a lot of the article was stuff that usually either makes me gag or puts me to sleep, but since it was corporate speak that benefits animals I loved it! He was asked about Ben&Jerry's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell offering vegan options, and he said what we all know, these companies are in it to make money, and they will follow the marketplace, if a little on the slow side. And of course, as each place has success more will follow.
It was a very interesting article, and very uplifting in a very corporate way. I recently had someone ask me why I would support a company who is offering a vegan product for the wrong reason, making money. I said of course I fully support 100 % vegan companies always, but we have to show these mega corporations that they should be selling vegan products, we will buy them. That's how we are going to save animals. Anyway, it's the June issue of VegNews, and it's a good one. Magazines are too pricey for me, this was a treat, but worth it!
I took it easy yesterday and hung out with my feline family and took a ginger detox bath, and ate some potatoes!

Oven fries with smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, turmeric, and S&P.

Like a hug from someone light and fluffy

I tried the Road's End Golden gravy this time. I think it is maybe supposed to mimic poultry gravy, like turkey or something? It was pretty good, not my fave but I'm glad I tried it.
I also had a green smoothie with spinach, frozen mango and banana. And I made a really great grilled cheese with rosemary bread, supremely spicy hummus, daiya, and banana peppers. Hummus make a really great spread for grilled cheese,  it adds flavor and even more creaminess!
Happy Monday!

Mental Health Day

Although I was feeling a little better yesterday, I just couldn't handle Trader Joe's on not only a Saturday, but the day before Mother's Day? I almost cried just thinking about it. I just ran to Grocery Outlet and Safeway for a few things to get me through the weekend, and then I will do a proper shop that includes more fruit and vegetables. Sometimes you just have to take care of your mental health.

potatoes,lemons,booch,pinto beans,ground ginger,ground turmeric,ocho candy bars,and a superfood smoothie

Grocery Outlet had the Odwalla superfood smoothie for ninety- nine cents, I had to get it. I haven't had one of these in a thousand years! I also found these veggie stock things. I like the cubes, or smaller things like this over the cartons because I don't use veggie stock every day, and it just sits in my fridge stressing me out.

Yes, I found a five pound bag of organic flour for $2.49!  Because of all of my savings, I treated myself to the new Veg News magazine.  As you can see on the cover, they talk a lot about pizza, which inspired my dinner last night. I decided on a whim to try a cornmeal crust pizza using some masa flour mixed with AP flour. I used this recipe. I used masa flour instead of cornmeal, and I also didn't add any oil, which I think was a mistake. I'm still getting the hang of the oil thing. I have no desire to go strictly oil free, but I have been trying to cut back, and to be honest I feel like a lot of recipes use too much when it isn't needed. But, sometimes a small amount is needed, and in the case of this dough I would say oil is needed. Taste wise it was a little strange at first to have that corn flavor in a pizza dough. I went with a taco like pizza, so it worked but if I were making a more traditional pizza with red sauce I would skip the corn flour.

I used salsa as a sauce, and put red onions, pinto beans and daiya on top. After it was done baking, I sprinkled green onion and cilantro on top. It was pretty dang tasty. I forgot that salsa is excellent on pizza!
Today is a drizzle-y grey day here in Seattle, I plan on being low key and doing a little cleaning and podcast listening and taking a ginger detox bath with some epsom salts to relieve my achy body from all the high intensity cardio I've been doing. I don't know if it's helping me lose weight, but it sure is making me feel strong! What are your plans for this mother of a day? ( I know I'm unbearable)