Well, the Slowdown Challenge has officially ended (well at least the email updates have), but I am going to continue posting about it through the month. Even though I don’t get the daily encouragement from the writer himself, I still get encouragement from others and it’s something I NEED and WANT to work on.
Also, my friend (BLEND) Jess will be doing a guest post for me next week about Life After Blogging. Whoa, talk about major slow down and in AN AMAZING WAY! So stay tuned for that.
“If you’re not putting yourself out there, somehow risking rejection, you aren’t really inspiring. You’re performing”.—> @jeffgoins
So here’s to SHARING & KEEPING UP with the SLOWING DOWN… Hmmm, ironic yes? But I plan on SAVORING, NOTICING, Letting LIFE get INTERRUPTED to be PRESENT, and FOCUSING on ENJOYING.
If you want to revisit the daily challenges, go here—> Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5.
Hope you will stay with me the rest of the month.
Now, let’s do a big 180 and talk FOOD. Mmm, k?
We’re on a wee budget these days. Heck, when are we not? But lately we’ve been trying to get more bang for our buck when it comes to ingredients. I mean the gluten free kind.
THEREFORE I have…..
- Stocked up on Jasmine rice, polenta, and Grits for the rice cooker
- Eggs, eggs, and more eggs
- Canned Salmon and Tuna for Main meals (you’ll see what I mean)
- Getting creative with gluten free bread- toasted GF hoagie bread. One with turkey, BBQ sauce, and chili pepper. One with Egg salad and cottage cheese mixture (sriracha to top).
- Stocked up on COSTCO SIZE Udis Glutenfree bread. Perfect for French toast!
One of my favorite FRUGAL dishes to make is Indian Spiced Tuna Cakes. It’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s tasty, and a little GOES a LONG way. More Bang for your buck. Making the most out of your ingredients feels good, eh?!
[print_this]
Ingredients:
2 cans wild caught Tuna
2-4 tbsp coconut flour
butter or coconut butter
2 eggs
fresh herbs – lemon pepper, garlic, black pepper, curry powder (1/4 tsp each)
handful of broccoli slaw
Chilli pepper
peri peri sauce
Cultured yogurt
Directions:
Mix your tuna and eggs together, then add your coconut flour (or other GF flour)and cabbage. Mix again and add herbs and spices. You can add curry in this batter too if like, but it’s optional. Then form into patties then fry in coconut butter. A couple minutes on each side.
For the sauce, just mix plain yogurt with 1/2 tbsp chili pepper flakes and curry powder. Sometimes I add a little hummus to thicken it. Top the cakes with the yogurt sauce and peri peri sauce. If you don’t like spice, feel free to use tomato sauce or mild salsa. [/print_this]
How to make the most of your go-to ingredients?
Cheers!
LC
Loving your food! 😀 Peter and I have a small budget as well, so we buy gf whole grains, legumes, veggies, nuts etc, and that’s what I make most things from. Herbs and spices are key to create delicious meals out of it, and by now we make most things ourselves, including gf bread (which is sooooo expensive), granola, jam, and so on. Tastes good and works very well! 🙂
I love how creative you are in the kitchen! I think you should contract yourself out to families, go to their houses, and teach them some of your ways. You’d make a killing and really positively impact people’s health and wallets!
Umm, can I just tell you how excited I am that Jess will be guest posting??!?!? I’ve missed her voice. And Costco has giant Udi’s? Gotta make a trip!
So onboard with the eggs, eggs, and more eggs. Everyone in my house likes them, they’re nutrition-packed, vegetarian, versatile, and quick. Done. Ian and I are fans of tuna/salmon…the kids, not so much. Quinoa is another go-to for me. Ian can’t eat it, but the kids love it (even plain). So we’ve been whipping up random things with it when he travels. All about frugality!!
just bought peri peri spice and am now addicted to it! It is SO good!!
I meant to email you earlier this week – I got the bites!! I didn’t get a chance to take a picture….because they are already gone. 😀 I made the mistake of opening the package when I got home and a couple friends were here after we’d finished a long bike ride. I had to share. Boo to the sharing, but they really hit the spot after a sweaty ride!
oh good to hear! You were my guinea pig with those vegan bites. they probably melted too. Squishy balls? LOL! no need for pics, just glad i could share. xxoo
Costco has a big thing of Udi’s bread? What? I need to see if my local Costco has it!
where do you live? they are slowly releasing it in different areas. Maybe yours will have it !!
I ate the most delicious canned tuna yesterday, thanks to Bumble! They have flavors like sun-dried tomato packed in OLIVE OIL and it’s sexy WHITE TUNA. It was bomb… HOWEVER, I was eating it in my car yesterday and well… Lets just say Wolfie (my car) smells a bit like…. Cat food. lol
been there, done that. Worth the smell for sure! hope you had tic tacs.
I love the slowdown challenge!! I’m working on it… I can’t wait to read that guest post. Right now some staples are quinoa, rice, lentils, and bananas!
now that is a loaf of bread 😉
french toast – yum!!
we are still doing out best to slow down, like today – we took some time for ourselves 🙂
You are reminding me to keep doing the slowdown challenge too. It is so so good!!! And you are so creative with these meals, I must try canned salmon in some way, I bet I would love it if I made it the way you do, these look awesome my friend, as always!
we are in it together! <3
We can continue to be slow together xo
I’m right there with you woman! It’s fun to get creative with what you have and sometimes that creativity with little goods end up being spectacular. Love when that happens. XOXO
That’s super awesome you’re continuing with the slow down challenge. I think it sounds like such a great thing for you right now! And it probably helps a lot sharing too.
I always love your budget tips, since I seriously need to get myself on a foodie budget:)
it’s definitely helping to share. accountability, right?
Yum! Is it bad I’m a huge canned tuna/salmon fan? No! How have I not seen that bread at Costco? I will scour the place next time I’m there. Need to catch up on the slow down challenge. Haha!
not at all, this actually works with diced chicken or beef too!
Yay! I love these budget-friendly tips! As you know, I’m also trying to stick to a more reasonable grocery budget so I’m excited to get as many tips from you as possible! I WISH I had access to a Costco…that would make things MUCH easier!
another reason you should move here
I’m so glad you are continuing to post about the slow down challenge. It has been a great reminder for me. When am I not on a food budget too? College has taught me to really budget and meal plan so now that I am in the “real world” I certainly do my best to plan what I am buying. Canned beans are great for lunches and I try to buy one squash a week for some carbs. I do love produce but I am learning to only buy in season.
yes, love that combo!! so savory!
I ate SO much canned tuna and salmon when I was in college. It was so easy to just put it on top of a salad or in a wrap. It’s all about cheap, good eats with loans piling up 😛
see, you’re already a pro!
That tuna looks amazing. I am looking forward to that guest post. It’s the unspoken question.
Oh and anything is better with jasmine rice! 🙂
i think you will like it!
I have been working on slowing down, especially with my recent broken bone injury! And it has been rather nice. I hope to continue to be mindful of slowing down and enjoying each moment as it comes. Thanks for the posts and encouragement on this.
i’ve beent thinking about you friend. And glad you are seeing the good in your injury. Rest. <3
These are all fantastic ideas, especially when you’re on a budget. Gluten free products do have a tendency to be on the expensive side sometimes, but there is definitely away around, as you’ve shown. Love it!
yes, we just gotta plan a little more and look for deals.
I loved following the slow down challenge – I’m really working on remembering to slow down and savor my life!!! Thanks for the reminders and tips on making that a little easier!
that’s so good to hear kim!!
LOVE your slow down challenge – I so am working on this & like everything else, a work in progress & always learning.. it is tough when you have to make $$ to survive but life is short as they say…
LOVE your Costco bread pic! 🙂
keep me posted on life friend. been thinking about you!
I have loved reading about your experience with the slow down challenge! It’s a great reminder to just stop and look around and ENJOY life!
Can’t wait to read Jess’ post. And I love that very first quote. So, um, what are we eating in Branson???
haha, we will have a cooler full of food for sure. Race weekend snacks and more!
We are on a TIGHT budget, so seeing all of these ingredients is giving me good, healthy, INEXPENSIVE options. Thank you! 🙂 BTW – you look like a model for Udi’s….I see a magazine ad in your future! 😉
haha, thanks Mo! now, can i get paid for that pic? LOL!
We tend to eat out a lot BUT share dishes and make it inexpensive – it’s been tough with vacations in between training BUT we also have our veggie shipment coming in today – Lord help me get back on track!
I try to re-purpose leftovers a lot! (I tend to make too much sometimes, haha) so packed lunches, or using leftovers as salad toppings, etc. is one way I try to maximize my groceries!
salad topping for the win!!! you are so right!
You know I’m so with you on the slowdown challenge. It seems the faster life gets, the more mental slowdown I need. I really believe that in those brief moments of slowing down, you really grow and appreciate why your moving so fast all the other times. At least that’s what I’m learning to do. Do I have the time to blog and talk about my life right now…no, not really. However, I know in time things will settle down for me again (or at least even out a bit) and I will have the time to share more. Oh and we are with you on the wee budget too! Tony’s chickpea vegetable soup and other assorted canned meats, rice and potatoes really do help that out. Your sandwich looks killer!
you will have the time when it’s right. I’m just glad i can still stalk you via text. haha
I LOVED that pic of you and the UDIS when I spied it on … facebook I think?
and I love your face and how it reminds me to sloooooow dooooown.
xo
maybe you should plaster me on your fridge as a reminder? JK. I thinks the BIRKS help slow down life. yes?
YUMMY and Yay for slowing down and gluten-free!
I was so slow, I missed the Slow Down Challenge . . . .
you’re naturally speedy. 😉
all your food looks so good! tuna is such a great protein source and a cheap one too! 🙂 🙂
I think we should slow down forever. Even if we are in a hurry or in a mess, slowing down always helps and keeps our minds sane, right?
I love that pic of you with that huge bread 🙂
And whoa, that recipe!! I never thought of combining tuna with coconut flour, genius!!
try it! i think you’d be hooked!
I’m glad you’ll be keeping up with the slowing down because it’s something I need to be constantly reminded of as well. Hopefully they weren’t lying when they said that it takes ~21 days to make something a habit, because that means we only have a few more weeks to go before mindfulness starts coming more naturally!
yes, that’s what i thought too! 21 days! i need to keep it going!!
You said French toast. And now I want! 🙂
Love all the gf frugal finds. My favourite go-to for this is overnight oats…mostly because I can jam in a whole lot of goodness into one bowl, easy, fast, and lasts for a few days 🙂
love the slow down challenge today too, totally reminds me of what I just wrote about taking the long way. 😉
yes, i remember you said that! long way can be worth it. Indeed!