Your Money Ceiling

Sometimes saving money isn't about all those discounted prices on goods you "can't live without". Using coupons is good only for those who already have the appetite for the things they can be redeemed on.

If you suddenly found you were without money, all those decisions about which one and what color to buy of the latest gizmo would be laughable. It would be much easier to decide that it's impossible to buy, considering your current circumstances.

Ah, but you say, "I have a credit card, no problem". The fake money ceiling of credit makes you feel like the sky is the limit. In actuality, your real money ceiling is much lower, for some very very low. Nothing like realizing that it's right above your nose. You have no room to budge.

What I'm talking about makes sense to some of you. Then there are those of you who have been "playing the Pharaoh"...living in denial (the Nile). If you really live within your means (less than your income), then this makes total sense, does it not?

You've probably heard a famous person say "I've been fat and I've been slim...Slim is better." Well I say, "I've been in debt and I've been debt free...Debt free is much much better!" There's nothing like knowing that you owe no one...for anything. Your whole mindset changes and you can sleep at night.

I realized recently that after 4 months in the US with no work for my husband, that we may be in for more belt tightening. Times are tough for those out of work. I can relate.

What I challenge everyone to do is to reconsider the things you want and only consider those that you need. Who knows, maybe your situation will take a downturn before you know it. What are you going to do? Where's your emergency fund?

Better Butter

Recently I attended a seminar based on a vegan diet that uses a high percentage of raw foods in their diet. I gleaned a few recipes that I'd like to share with you. This one is very tasty and one that most people would want a substitute for when going vegan. There is Earth Balance that I've used before, but this one is raw and can be made at home - two things I love!

This recipe is from "Eating Without Heating".

Better Butter


1/2 cup pine nuts
1 Tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon Udo's Oil (if available)
1/2 cup coconut oil


Blend all together except the coconut oil until smooth. Add more water if needed. Add the coconut oil and blend again. Chill in refrigerator or freezer.

For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy's Recipes.

And the winner is....

...Shannon! Congratulations! Shannon, please email me: Vegan Footprints at gmail dot com (in regular address format with lower case letters) with your name and address, so the juicer can be mailed to you!

Shannon's raw vegan food idea/recipe is a great veggie idea and a "cookie" idea. Thanks to all those who entered. There are some wonderful ideas on there that I may highlight in the coming weeks, because they were all great ideas. I'm excited to try all of them!

To view all the great entries scroll down to the comments section on the original giveaway post.

Shannon said...

My favorite snack:
(More of an idea than a recipe)
I slice jicama, carrot, avocado, red pepper, and whatever other veggies I have on hand. Place in a bowl and sprinkle with grated ginger and sunflower seeds, and then squeeze half a lemon over it. Wrap it all up in butter lettuce leaves. Yum!

My other idea, if you don't mind eating dried fruit, is to stack a dried apricot with a whole, raw almond. The two eaten together is like a cookie!

I lost my juicer in our last move, and haven't been able to replace it. I would really enjoy fresh juice again, since store bought raw juices are so expensive. Thanks for the chance!

Shannon

Last call to enter...

the contest!

You must enter tonight or you'll miss you chance to win the juicer!

See here for details.

Only 2 more days to enter!

Calling all of those who want to enter the giveaway for the free manual masticating juicer....

Enter now before it's too late!

I have only seven entries so far - so the odds are really good right now. Remember, you do not have to have the best or greatest entry with a raw vegan recipe or raw vegan food idea. I will only draw one winner by random. See the rules for entering in the original post here.

(You must have a USA address for the juicer to be sent to, should you win.)

So enter today and check if your name is the winner on Friday, December 12.

Hubby Help

I am so tickled with my husband. I attended a funeral Saturday morning with my parents while he watched our two children at home. I called him to let him know that we'd be staying at the church to have lunch.

He was busy at home: having lessons with our son, potty training our daughter, and making lunch for them. I got home and saw there were leftovers of his meal (I only had the raw veggies at the church lunch). He had made a cashew cheese sauce with great northern beans mixed in. It tasted like a really creamy and cheesy version of refried beans, only light in color.

I had some with soft warmed corn tortillas and romaine lettuce. I rolled it like a taco and ate a few. Yummy! I will have to post the recipe sometime. He didn't have everything or the full amounts the recipe called for, but he did a great job at improvising.

Bravo, Honey!

Not to mention his great help with teaching our son at home and potty training our 2 year old. That's wonderful! He left for an afternoon with our son and went to the library for a much deserved break while I put our daughter down for a nap. Thanks, Honey!

For my Mother...

Happy Birthday, Darlin'!

(See my mom's recipe for granola here.)

Only 5 more days to enter!

I am hoping for some more entries for this giveaway. Remember there's no need to be fancy, it can be a very simple vegan raw food idea/recipe. I will not be judging. I will draw (by random) a name from the eligible entries.

Remember it must be a raw vegan food idea or a raw vegan recipe. This means it must be free of all meats/fish, dairy ("regular" milks, creams and cheeses), eggs, and gelatin, etc. Generally, it can contain nuts, sprouts, fruits, vegetables, seeds and seaweed (any plant based foods).

Again, here are the guidelines for the contest:

1. Only readers who have a shipping address to the USA can enter... (the company, 877MyJuicer.com's rules).

2. To enter you must leave a comment with a vegan raw food idea or recipe...the ingredients must all be raw.

3. Only 1 entry per person.

4. Please leave only your first name and your vegan raw food idea/recipe with any comments you wish about wanting to win the juicer in a comment on this post (entries can be rejected if deemed unsuitable for Vegan Footprints blog content).

5. Entries must be submitted on or before December 11, 2008 and will be picked by a random drawing.

The winner will be announced on December 12, 2008. The winner will then need to contact me (Vegan Footprints at gmail dot com) to give their full name and shipping address only. The juicer will then be mailed directly from the company. They assure me that the winner will not be added to any mailing list whatsoever.

If you have questions, you can leave a comment on any of the giveaway posts or email me directly at Vegan Footprints at g mail dot com.

You can also view the original giveaway post here.

Thanks. =)

Ginger Cinnamon Cookies

"These are vegan? They are really good!" This is something I hear when I make these cookies. They are soft and lend themselves to many variations. The original recipe called for molasses for the sweetener, which I have replaced with maple syrup. You could use other sweeteners as well, just adjust the recipe for the changes appropriately.

Ginger Cinnamon Cookies

1 1/2 cup maple syrup (or molasses)
1 cup (or less) oil
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoon (or more) ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon (or more) ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon baking soda
4 cups wheat flour (or other whole grain, finely ground)

Mix ingredients well together. Dough will be soft. Chill dough for a few hours (can freeze dough for use anytime). Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll into walnut size balls and if desired can roll in additional cinnamon in a bowl (see photo of finished cookies made this way) before placing on ungreased cookie sheet. Leave about 2-3 inches between cookies - they will spread flat. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until done. Cool on paper bags cut open and laid flat.
If storing, put wax paper/parchment paper between cookies to keep them from sticking together.
Can replace a some of the oil with some ground walnuts or pecans. Can use coconut oil.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway if you live in the USA!

For more kitchen tips, visit Tammy's Recipes.

Time is running out to enter contest!

Remember the contest will have a winner drawn by random. That means that any vegan raw food idea/recipe could win. The entries will not be judged, just entered into the contest. But you can't win unless you enter. Please make sure you have read how to enter.

Only 10 days left!

Need ideas?

Salads, desserts, main dishes, sides, beverages, snacks...anything raw and vegan!

For all contest details, click this link to the giveaway post.