A Cheap Meal and Money Talk

The sun is shining here, which often is a sign of a great day!

Last Tuesday we received another huge head of cabbage in our CSA (community supported agriculture) box. I decided to find a vegetarian cabbage soup recipe. However even this large crock pot full of soup only used half of the cabbage!

I forgot to take pictures until after I ate and started putting away the leftovers. There was so much left over that I put two containers into the freezer.

This is a very cheap meal because of the simple ingredients: cabbage, vegetable broth, onion, carrots, garlic, and a can of white beans.

I found this recipe for French White Bean and Cabbage Soup in Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker: 200 Recipes for Healthy and Hearty One-Pot Meals That Are Ready When You Are. The recipe is also available in a limited preview of the book on Google Books. Just go to Google Books and search for the title of this book and then search the book for cabbage. It is on page 38.

I have been trying to do some extra things to make some pocket money while I am in between jobs. I am still collecting unemployment compensation. At my unemployment rate, I am able to earn a little over $200 a week and still receive my full unemployment compensation payment. So that is why I found a job at Ann Taylor Loft to keep me busy and allow me to maximize my weekly income.

Here are some other things that I have done to make money or save money:

• Spent 1 Saturday set up at an outside flea market and made about $100.
• Listed and sold some old clothes that I no longer wear on ebay. I have sold 3 auctions to date.
• Listed old text books, novels, and video games on half.com. I have sold 4 items so far.
• I have tried to list a few items on craigslist, however I wasn't successful there.
• Cut coupons weekly and tried to only buy items with a coupon or that are on sale.

I have also tried to keep up with my lawyering skills by reading legal publications and volunteering at a pro bono clinic called "Ask the Attorney". I meet with individuals for 20 minute sessions and discuss their legal issues and offer some advice.

What are some suggestions you have for earning extra money during hard economic times?

Check out my guest post on Healthy Ashley's blog! Thanks Ashley for letting me discuss a proud healthy moment!

Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage

If you didn't enter my Nana's Vegan Cookie Giveaway, check it out. I will pick a winner on Friday at 9 am Eastern Time.

Last week we received a purple cabbage in our CSA box. My husband is a great cook and a couple years ago he modified his stuffed cabbage recipe to make it vegetarian.

We started by steaming the cabbage in boiling water and then cooling it down in a bowl of cold water.

While the cabbage is boiling, saute a large onion, Morningstar Farms Crumbles, salt and pepper in a little EVOO.

You also will need some brown rice. We used some minute rice that we picked up with a coupon. This is four servings of rice.

Once the onion and Morningstar mixture is done (the onion should be soft) mix it with the rice in a bowl. We tried to use a flax egg (ground flax and water) to bind the mixture, but it didn't quite work (maybe I need more of it), so Steve also added two egg whites to this mixture.

Then gently pull leaves of the cabbage off of the steamed cabbage, fill it with the mixture and roll it.

We use a slow cooker and cover the bottom with crushed tomatoes then place a layer of stuffed cabbage.

After you have a layer of cabbage, add some more crushed tomatoes and continue to layer until all the cabbage is rolled.

We cooked it on low for a couple hours and then just kept it warm until ready to eat. I topped mine with a little organic vegetarian cheese and had a 1/2 of food for life sprouted grain english muffin.

We enjoyed the left overs from this meal for several days.

Does anyone have any other good vegetarian cabbage recipes? We have another large cabbage from Tuesday's CSA!