Trash Chili

One of my favorite practically free meals is Trash Chili. Don't let the name gross you out; it's actually a tasty meal.

I have a half gallon container in the freezer. Whenever I have a bit of food that would go well in chili, I toss it in. If I have a bit of leftover pasta, in it goes. I save  bits of tomatoes (fresh, stewed, diced, however), onions, beans, and peppers. I also save small amounts of leftover cooked ground beef. If something is going to go bad in the refrigerator before I can use it, I cut it into appropriately sized pieces and put it in the freezer. When I use a jar of tomato sauce, I rinse it out with a little water and dump the rinse water into the container. Once it is full, I make chili.

I pull the container out of the freezer the day before so it can thaw completely. Before I head out for the day, I dump it all into the slow cooker. I add whatever it is lacking. If it is a little too thin, I add a can of tomato paste. If it's bland, I add some jalapenos. I season with whatever it needs: hot sauce, chili powder, oregano. I let it cook on low for 6-8 hours.

A few weeks ago, I made some cornbread that was really crumbly. Utter fail. Rather than throw it away, I crumbled it into a container and placed in the freezer. When I have chili, I can add a bit to the top shortly before serving.

A batch of Trash Chili costs $.50-$1.50 depending on what is lacking. It makes enough for around four meals for two, bringing the cost of each meal to as little as 6c. Most of the ingredients would have been thrown away otherwise. I reduce my contributions to the landfill and I save money.

07/21/2013: Update: Today I made a big batch of trash chili in the crock pot. I had lots of dehydrated veggies in the pantry so I decided to add some of them to the batch. I dumped them in dry and let them rehydrate during cooking. I didn't add any extra water to the chili. Usually, since I use the tomato sauce jar "rinse water" as the liquid in my chili, it is usually a little on the thin side. With the dehydrated veggies rehydrating in the chili, it thickened up perfectly.


I call it Trash Chili. My friend calls it Feral Soup. What do you call it?

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Homestead Abundance Tuesdays #8

Homesteader's Hop






Reposted on: Homegrown.org

Stocking a pantry

Winter is coming. Food prices are rising. Job security is waning. The zombie apocalypse cometh.  These are all good reasons to start stockpiling food. I'm not one of those nuts that hoards years' worth of food. I simply prepare for those little (and big) crises that always seem to strike. If everything starts to fall apart, at least we can still eat.

When the recession of 2008 first hit, my business took a plunge, leaving me with very little income for a few months. Fortunately, I had a filled larder. I fed my family from the stockpile and our grocery bill was around $10 a week. It lasted us until I was able to find work. During winter storms, it is wonderful to stay out of the grocery stores where mobs of the unprepared are snatching up bread and milk. As food prices rise, I take comfort in knowing that I have purchased food at a good price and can wait until I see a good sale to buy more.

Before you start hitting the stores, find a good place to store your food. A traditional pantry is amazing to have, but if you don't have one, look to cabinets, closets and shelves. You can also hide them in random places throughout the house (the top shelf of my linen closet is filled with bargain-priced cereal). Make a list that you keep in the kitchen so you can find what you need when you need it.

When first building your stockpile, you need a plan. Don't blindly follow the lists of necessities that work for other people.  For a couple of weeks, keep track of the meals you prepare. Make a thorough list of the ingredients you use most. Collect coupons for these items. Plan to take at least a few months to build a thorough pantry.


Scan your grocery ad and look for your listed items on sale for less than the price you typically pay. If possible, combine the sale with the coupon. In this way you can often find rock-bottom prices, and that's when you stock up. Check salvage grocery stores and dollar stores for the occasional amazing find.

Stockpile enough to last you for up to a few months. If the pasta sauce you like usually costs $2.50 but is 10 for $10 this week, you might want to buy 10 jars. I never pay more than $1.50 for salsa, but when I found jars of cilantro salsa for $.10 a jar, I bought 20 (I use it often). Know your limits, however. If you only eat pasta a couple times a month, don't stock 30 boxes, but if you eat it a few times a week, it would not be excessive to have a few dozen boxes.

Most of your stockpile will most likely be shelf stable so you can store it in random places throughout the house. Shelf stable items also have long life so you can stockpile more without fear of it going bad. It is good to stockpile some perishable items as well. My freezer holds bread, meat, cheese and seasonal veggies. I mark each package with the date so I know what to eat first. When I find a great markdown in the meat department, I snag a bunch and then re-portion and repackage for the freezer.

Create your own list based on the items you use most. Some items that are on my stockpile list are:
* pasta
* pasta sauce
*dry beans and some canned beans
* some types of canned veggies
* breakfast cereal
* salsa
* baking supplies (flour, sugar, molasses, yeast)
* coffee, tea
* some meals in a can for sick or busy days
* meats that are less than $1.50/lb (usually manager markdowns)
* seasonal fruit (frozen for smoothies and desserts)
* dressings, condiments
*all sorts of tomatoes-whole, diced, stewed, paste, sauce

Once you have a fully stocked larder, it will be easy to lower your grocery bill. You will never have to be subjected to regular price again. You will be shopping to restock the pantry rather than for the night's dinner, so you can wait until the next big sale. You won't have to run to the grocery because you don't have a vital ingredient. Should disaster (natural, job, illness) strike, you can rest assured that your family will still have plenty to eat.

Happy living!

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Eat for Free!

I'm one of those nut jobs that thinks that profit and food don't mix. Food is a basic human right, and so I don't like that 14.6% of Americans struggle to put food on the table (One in six families in my city lives in food insecurity). Not okay. Then there are those of us who don't struggle to keep just any food on the table, but instead struggle to keep the right kinds on (junk food tends to be cheaper than healthy foods, unless you really know how to shop). Or we have money to eat, but it takes away from our ability to pay for other needs (health insurance, gas for the car, new shoes).

Dandelions are edible from root to flower top.

The fact is that American households spend an average of $6372 on food each year, which is around 13% of their income, and European households spend far more. Cutting the expense by even a modest 10% can help a lot. So I have made a list of ways that you can eat free. Some you may find gross, immoral, too time consuming or weird, but I'm sure you can use at least a couple. Enjoy!

Dandelion roots can be eaten as a
vegetable or roasted for a
coffee-like beverage.

Plantain seeds are great for adding
to baked goods.

Eat wild foods. Wherever you live, there is something edible growing nearby. Mushrooms, berries, nuts, fruit, greens and flowers are all possible. One of my favorite foods is dandelion which is probably growing in your yard; I eat it as a pot herb, a soup, a fritter, a wine, a tea and a coffee substitute. Get a good, local plant guide and make sure that you positively identify anything before eating it.

Eliminate waste. Even though you've paid for it, by rescuing food from the trash, you basically get free food. Americans waste around 14% of the food they buy. Using the numbers from above, that is around $892 a year. Tell me you couldn't use that kind of money. Plan to use leftovers before they go bad: have a buffet night or use for lunches. Take inventory of the refrigerator every other day and plan meals around food that is about to go bad. Don't buy more than you can use.

To cubes of dried bread, add seasoning and just enough
 stock to moisten then bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes
 for out f this world stuffing.

Eat your trash. Some parts of foods that are commonly thrown away can be eaten. Save veggie scraps (onion skins, potato and carrot peels, celery leaves, etc) in a container in the freezer until you have a good quantity. Then save the bones and skins from a chicken. Simmer together and strain for some out-of-this-world stock. Radish and beet leaves can be eaten as a cooked vegetable. Potato skins can be made into snacks. Juice apple peels and cores left over from making applesauce. I keep a container in the freezer for bits of foods such as tomatoes, leftover pasta, beans and onions and use to make Trash Chili. Stale bread can be made into any number of foods such as bread pudding, croutons, or breadcrumbs. Roast pumpkin seeds from your jack-o-lantern. Make cake pops out of dry cake.

Combine sales with coupons to get free stuff. With a bit of planning, I frequently get free food from the grocery. For example, I get a $1 coupon (say for pasta), then wait until it goes on a 10 for $10 sale in a couple weeks. When a new product is being rolled out, it is not uncommon to find coupons for a free product.

Look for neglected food in your neighbors yard. If your neighbors have fruit or nut trees in their yard that they obviously don't plan on using (the mulberries are staining the sidewalk) ask if you can harvest it for them. Offer to split it if you want, but often they'll just be glad to get rid of it. Many older homes have fruit trees left over from a more self sufficient time, and their new owners can't be bothered to harvest it all. I get lots of pears, mulberries and apples this way.

Dumpster drive. I know what you're thinking, it does sound gross. Often, however, food in a dumpster is often just as safe as it was in the store. Once food reaches its sell-by date, it's tossed, but it's not as if that date is magic and the food will instantly spoil at midnight. It's probably fine. I only take food that is in sealed containers and non-perishable (whereas others have eaten meat, produce and dairy with no ill effects). I don't take anything that leaks or bulges. Bakeries that bake everything fresh daily have wonderful dumpsters; you can fill the freezer with any excess you find. Obviously, it is a safer bet to dive a store's dumpster than a residential one.

Get online freebies. Many websites have lists of free samples that you can request from manufacturers and stores. My favorite is thunderfap.com. You just enter in your info and in 6-8 weeks, you get a mini-sized product. I've received spices, sauces, cereal, candy and granola bars. A plus is that you also receive coupons.

Ask. If you can't afford a food that you really enjoy (or need), it never hurts to ask. Write a letter to the manufacturer and ask for coupons. They'll often send them to you. As a thank-you, write a glowing letter that they can use on their website. Also, writing letters with questions, compliments or complaints will often net you great coupons.

Accept all freebies. If you are hungry, you should always say yes if offered food. Go to free community meals, such as those at churches or community centers. Sometimes chain cafes offer free coffee and samples. Sample all the goodies at the grocery store on Saturday morning.

Take advantage of work freebies. Some industries as a rule provide more in the line of free food than others (restaurants vs. construction), but it's often possible to find something. If you work in the food industry, you know all the ways to find free food: meal vouchers, discounts, discontinued products, leftovers and mistakes. Definitely make sure that you have your boss's permission first. Don't lose your job over a broken bread stick (it happened to a former coworker of mine). If you work in other industries, you may still find free food in the break room or at company parties or meetings. One of my previous employers would supply all employees with tickets to most local events. I often got tickets for pancake breakfasts and spaghetti dinners.

Regrow your trash. A lot of vegetables can be regrown from scraps to get more food just for a bit of water and effort. Green onions in particular are easy to regrow. Just place the white bulb of the green onion in a small glass with water covering the bottom. Place in a sunny windowsill. Change the water every day or so and it will grow new greens. You can also experiment with regrowing romaine lettuce, celery, bulb onions, lemongrass, potatoes, beet greens and bok choi. If you plant a single clove of garlic from the bulb, it will regrow a whole new bulb. (Thanks, ioianthe, for the tip!)

By using some of these tips, you can easily cut your grocery expenditures by 10%. If you really want to, you could even eliminate your grocery bill all together. If you are living with a very low income, don't be too proud to ask for help (government, community or family), especially if your children are hungry. In this civilization, there is no reason for anyone to go hungry.

Use It Up: Food containers

Many things are tossed into the garbage can when they still have lots of good life left in them. Use It Up is a section on how to use this "trash" to make new, useful items for your home or to re-purpose items to avoid a purchase.

Many store-bought food items come in reusable containers, but we tend to just throw them into the recycling bin, or worse yet, the garbage can. Even recycling, while better than throwing away, is wasteful. It takes energy to recycle the raw materials, and if you buy storage containers, you have lots of waste in the manufacture, advertising, and retail of the items.

When I buy an item, I opt for a reusable container whenever possible. Rather than buying my pasta sauce in an aluminum tin, I buy it in glass jars. By shopping sales and using coupons, I can pay the same amount for the nicer brands in a glass jar as the aluminum tin of store brand. I also use wine/whiskey bottles with a screw top, pepperoncini/pickle jars, or condiment bottles.

Clean them out very well before using. Soak in warm water for awhile so you can scrub off the label, if desired. Scrub the inside and outside and take pains to clean every last bit of food from the lid to avoid mold. Sometimes a bit of scent remains if the jar is from a strong-tasting food such as pickles or salsa, so I take this into consideration when filling the jars with bulk-purchased or home-made food items. For example, I don't store loose leaf tea in a pickle jar or sugar in a tomato sauce jar. I will, however, store rice, TVP, or beans in the more strongly scented jars. These items are not negatively affected by the scent, but absorb the smell so I can use it for something else in the future.

Tiny glass jars are great for spices. I was once given a tiny 2 ounce sample jar of peanut butter spread. This jar is the perfect size to store a frequently used spice near the stove for easy access. A fun space saving idea is to save baby food jars with metal lids. Screw the lids onto the bottom a cabinet. Fill the jars with spices and screw in. Your spices will be easily accessed while you cook, and don't take up any valuable counter space.


I once found a bottle of salad dressing with a spritz top at a bargain price. I cleaned it out very well, then refilled it with olive oil. When I pop popcorn in my air popper, I can spritz a small amount of heart-healthy olive oil onto it, rather than dousing it in butter, or pouring on too much oil. Any condiment bottle with a thin neck and a screw top can be used for homemade dressings and sauces.


When I buy cream cheese, it is the same cost to buy it in a plastic container as it is to buy it in a little box. These containers are the perfect size to freeze an individual portion of soup. This makes packing lunch for work a breeze.



An old wild-mouth jar stores bacon grease in the refrigerator to add a bit of flavor to cooking.

Wine bottles make excellent vases.

A collection of bottles of various sizes and shapes can make for a nice country decor. Fill with foods of different shapes and colors: veggie pasta, beans, TVP, rice, etc.

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Wildcrafting Wednesdays

Lovin' the Local Music Scene

I heard that my favorite band is passing through town, so I decided to check out ticket prices. The cheapest I found was $80!  This is common for national acts. The average concert ticket price for 2011 is $31.57. The last few times I've gone to big concerts, I've been uncomfortable because of the huge crowds, and the drink prices were high enough to make anyone go straight-edge.

That's why I go to local concerts. I get a bigger bang for my buck and enjoy some local bands as much as the national acts. Despite what some critics say, this is not necessarily second best. Some of my favorite bands are locals.

The  obvious advantage is the price. A high end local concert usually doesn't exceed $10, whereas the cheapest national act is never so cheap. Often, I find shows for $5 or even for free. I can choose venues where there are drink specials, or everyday low prices. One of my favorite places has $1 beers and free shows, so I can have a night out for a few bucks.

As a locavore, I don't like seeing my hard-earned money going into the pockets of billionaires somewhere far, far away. I would much rather see it go to a person that lives right here. By going to a local concert, my money is going to a local bar owner, concert promoter and band.

My city has an amazing scene. There are many, many talented musicians that it has been my pleasure to see. Once, my favorite local band actually brought me up on stage and sang to me for my birthday! I doubt Alice Cooper would ever do that!

I also buy CDs from local musicians. The price for a new local CD is about the same as a used CD online, and, again, I'm supporting individuals.

Comparing a national act to a local act, there really is little question which is the best deal. Seeing my favorite national act is $80, seeing my favorite local band is $5. Would I really enjoy seeing the big-guy 16 times more than the local one?

Literary Savings

The cost of books has risen to an astonishing level. It's hard to feed your lust of the written word when a new book costs $25. Fortunately, there are some great ways to save some money while reading as many books as you'd like.

Amazon.com is my first go when I have a specific title in mind, but I don't order from Amazon. Instead, I check out the Amazon Marketplace where I can buy used and new books from individuals. Some books are still pricey, but others can be found very cheap. Some books (especially older bestsellers) can be found for a penny; with shipping it's $4 for a book. This is a great deal if you are looking for a specific title.

Paperbackswap (paperbackswap.com) allows you to give your books to other readers and then pick out books for yourself. When you sign up, you are given 2 credits. After that, to earn credits you list your books to trade. When someone requests a book, you ship it at your expense. Then when you order a book, you pay nothing for shipping. This is even cheaper than Amazon, as the shipping is usually around $2.50.

Thrift stores don't usually have an amazing selection, however the price is right. Chain thrift stores usually charge around $1-2 per book, but the smaller stores sometimes offer them as low as $.10. Even with the limited selection, I occasionally find a specific title that is on my wish list.

Yard sales have an even poorer selection, but prices are good. Sometimes I'll find a box full of similar books (romances, mystery, etc) and will make an offer. Once I got a box of 100 books for $5.

Library sales are great. The selection is usually pretty good, and it's sorted by genre or topic. Prices are usually $1, or less for children's books. At my library, the last day is bag sale day where I can fill a bag for $3. I carefully fit the books into my bag and can get between 30 and 50, more if they are smaller kids books.

The library itself is the obvious go to. Any book you want is there or can be requested from another library. There are books, children's books, audio books, magazines and more. You can enjoy it all for free. I always read a book from the library before adding it to my wish list.

Sharing with friends is great if you have a similar taste. You might want to write your name in the cover so it doesn't get confusing. 

Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/) is a wonderful online resource that boasts free access to 36,000 books. You can read online, with your portable device or listen to audio books. A link to affiliates gives you access to over 100,000 books. You could be reading for free for a long time with that.

Amazon offers some free Kindle books. If you don't have a kindle, you can still download the free Kindle app. A search of "free ebooks" pulls up many, many websites. Also, if you are subscribed to any e-newsletters, check their websites for any free ebooks.

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Early Winter Preparation

I know, I shouldn't be talking about it. It comes quicker every year. Like it or not, winter will be here soon, but it is never too soon to start getting ready. I start preparing for winter early on in the season,  to keep my family warm, safe and comfortable. There are many little steps that can be taken and most will not take much time at all. Start now so that when winter comes, you are warm and cosy.

* Caulk around drafty windows and doors. To check for drafts, close all windows on a windy day, then hold a lit candle up. Move it slowly around the border of the window. If the flame flickers, you've got a draft.

* Make draft busters for all doors. These can easily be made by using a leg from an old pair of pants, tying on end closed, stuffing (with anything from a rolled up towel, scraps of yarn, old rags) and tying the other end closed. Just lay them at the bottom of the door-either the outside door, or to a room that you want to keep warm (or cool) so air doesn't move between rooms.

* Start shopping for more blankets. Thrift shops and any yard sales still going on will have them at good prices. If you wait until winter is here, the selection (and price) will be less desirable.

* Make blankets. If you craft, make an afghan, quilt or blanket.Since it takes forever to crochet an afghan, starting now will allow you to cuddle under the length of it while you finish it later.

* Stockpile food. You don't want to be one of those people crowding at the grocery because there's a storm on its way. Stock up when you find something on sale and have a coupon. Fill the freezer with meat and veggies. Have some canned foods that can be heated for easy meals if you can't get to the grocery.

* Evaluate your wardrobe. Do you have warm pants, long sleeved shirts, flannels, warm socks, scarves, a good coat with no rips, winter boots that will repel water and keep your toes warm, ear muffs, hats, and gloves or mittens that actually block the wind? Find your weaknesses and fill them with thrift store finds. Once November gets here, you won't be able to find this stuff easily at thrift stores and you'll be forced to buy new.

* Take care of the house and lawn. Any odd jobs that need done around the homestead should be done sooner rather than later. Mend the fence, fix the roof on the chicken coop, clean out the dryer vent. Get it all out of the way so you won't have to think about it when it's cold.

* Get a new apartment. If you are in the market for a new apartment that you'll be in this winter, it is worth considering your utility bills. Since heat rises, look for a second or third story apartment so you can take advantage of your downstairs neighbor's lost heat. Consider if the bedroom is against an interior wall or an exterior wall, as the exterior walls allow a lot of cold in. Consider where the air will flow in when you open the door. In my current apartment, the front door lets in a lot of air directly into the room I sleep in, which will not work during winter.

By getting a few of these little jobs out of the way now, you can lower your bills and increase your comfort levels during the frigid months.

Happy living!