We love Latin food in my home and one of our favorite dishes is Guacamole. My husband created his own recipe based on one from one of your favorite eating spots. Enjoy it with the Plantain chip recipe we added in this post too.

Costa Rican (spicy) Guacamole

1 -2 large ripe Florida/Caribbean avocado, peeled, halved, and pitted
OR
4-5 California avocados, peeled, halved, and pitted
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/3 cup fresh diced tomatoes
3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
2-3 large serrano chilies seeded, chopped
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

When you take a trip or run your errands do you ever think about grabbing a few vegetables for the road? Instead of picking up fries or a bean burrito that may be fried in the same oil the non-vegan foods have been cooked in, why not try veggies on the go right from your fridge?

photo credit: WordRidden

Contrary to popular belief, veggies don’t need any dressing up to make them taste good. Nature has done that all by itself. They are picked fresh from the earth filled with succulent taste. The best vegetables that you can purchase are organic and found fresh in stores, at farmer’s markets, or even better, your own garden.

A homemade version of a fun breakfast idea.

Whip up a batch of pancakes and freeze them in short stacks of three. Just a package or two of vegan sausage links is all that you needed to create this quick and economical meal idea. Thaw out a stack of pancakes. Heat up three sausages in the microwave. Wrap a pancake around each sausage.

Voila!

You’ve got an instant pig in a blanket. Eat it as you watch the last of your favorite morning show or as you walk to the bus stop. It can be eaten in the car without too much fuss or mess. For a sweeter taste and less mess, add a little maple syrup or agave nectar to the batter when makingthe pancakes.

Ever wonder how your mother always seemed to have food on the table even when the going was
tough? Have you ever asked yourself what is the secret?

The fact is that it isn’t a secret at all. It was actually good planning and preparation on their part. If we follow suit and heed the non-verbal actions of our savvy mothers then we too can see our dollar stretch further.

What we have on hand will determine how far our food will go. Filling your pantry with a few useful staples can be the difference between a trip to the grocery store every week versus once or twice a month. With a few key staples you can create wonderful meals.

Saving on vegan foods can be a challenge in today’s economy. Items like soy milk and vegan meat substitutes are at astronomical prices these days.

How does a vegan family save while eating the foods they are used to? You improvise of course!

Instead of buying a pack of Boca burgers or crumbles, why not make your own. Items like beans, rice, flour, and even masa flour can make great burgers. You can also make a “meat” loaf with many of the same items. You will save a few dollars and have even more control over what you feed your family.

When we think of holiday dinners we think of turkey, dressing, yams, mashed potatoes and ever popular green bean casserole. But you know sometimes we want something different. We don’t want to eat the same old foods and have the same old leftovers. Guess what?

That is ok.