This is one of my favorite go-to meals when I need something easy, cheap, and nutritious to put out on the table.

A nice vegetarian alternative for a traditional meat sauce. Rich and flavorful, just enough spice. Basic, inexpensive ingredients. Served on a bed of whole wheat pasta (or even brown rice) makes a complete protein.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 medium onions
5 cloves garlic
2 1/2 cups dry lentils
6 cups water
2 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes (with basil)*
1 small can tomato paste
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp dried parsley

salt to taste (optional)

Directions:

Slice onions into very thin rounds (or chop finely) and saute in oil until tender. Dice garlic and add to onions, cooking for another minute or two.

Add the lentils, mixing to coat with the seasoned oil, and then the water. Allow to come to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for approximately 30 minutes.

Add crushed tomatoes and all seasonings. Add salt if desired. Mix well. Add tomato paste a spoonful at a time, mixing well after each addition.

Lower heat and allow to cook for at least an hour to allow the the tomatoes to lose their raw taste and for all the flavors to meld sufficiently.

* If using unseasoned canned tomatoes simply add 1/4 tsp dried basil, or a few fresh chopped basil leaves.

Serving:

Enough sauce for up to 2 pounds of pasta. This is enough to feed my family of 5 (3 adults, a teen and a tween) twice.

If your diet allows, serve with grated Parmesan or Romano cheese to sprinkle on top of each serving.

Adapted from:

American Wholefoods Cuisine

You might also like:

Enemy Of The Steak: Vegetarian Recipes To Win Friends And Influence Meat-Eaters

The Complete Italian Vegetarian Cookbook: 350 Essential Recipes for Inspired Everyday Eating

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I could sit here in stressed silence and say nothing, like I’ve been doing for the past few months.  But, it occurs to me, that I am not the only person to go through something like this – especially now, in the current economy here in the US.

It occurs to me that as I figure out ways to slash our expenses, tighten our pursestrings, and pinch every penny until it squeals that there may be something of value learned to share with others.

One of my family’s (probably most families) biggest monthly expenses is food, and unfortunately this is an expense that has only increased in the last couple of months as I switched Accolan and I over to morning smoothies, and made grilled & roasted vegetables the star of our dinners.  So the first things to attack is the food budget.

I was on my way out to the supermarket when my husband pulled me aside to break the news to me about the sudden decrease in our income.  I immediately put my keys down and hit the pantry to see what I could make for the week to come without having to go out to the store at all.

I made a batch of pasta sauce.  Granted the last thing that I, or anyone in the house, wants to sit down and eat on a sultry summer night is a plate of pasta.  But, food is food and goodness knows I still have a lot of pasta stored up.

I defrosted some pork chops (purchased in a B1G1Free) and tossed them in teriyaki sauce to marinate before grilling them for dinner today.

I cooked up a batch of vegetarian taco filling.  This is one of our family favorite dishes and, best of all, is seriously cheap to make.

I made a batch of potato and egg salad, using the rest of the 10 lb bag of taters I’d purchased in advance of the Fourth of July.

I whipped up a mess of baked beans in my crockpot.

I served breakfast for dinner, using up some frozen waffles and breakfast sausage that had been taking up freezer space.

I still need to go buy a few small things: produce, white bread, and milk.  But, I should be able to get out of the store for very little.

Wish us luck!

Blessings

Jia

image thanks to Txfish

Today Accolan had to break it to me that suddenly, and without any warning, that his disability payments were cut off effective immediately.  Not only are there no more checks coming in the months to come, but this month’s check – our last – was shortened by about a week’s work of “income.”

This decision was based on his last “independent medical exam” – a Dr. paid by the insurance company – and they told him only yesterday that he was deemed fit to work, despite being in significantly worse shape than when he was first approved for benefits nearly 9 years ago.

What does this mean?

First and foremost we plan to appeal.  This means calling lawyers and seeing if we can find someone to help us.

In the meantime, our monthly income has been cut in half and I have to quickly find ways to both slash our expenditures and prioritize who and what gets paid.

We are going to have to list our rental property for sale, to avoid having to eventually go into foreclosure (I simply can’t pay the mortgage without his income).

I have to find a second job.

It won’t be enough.

I keep telling myself that the worst case scenario is that we declare bankruptcy.  That we start over.

I keep reminding myself that its just money, its just stuff.  That we still have each other.

I’m just barely holding it together.

Blessings

Jia

image thanks to raven_inthemoment