When Chris and I first decided to go vegan, transitioning to our new lifestyle was like venturing into a whole new world. We (I) had to learn, not only how to cook and prepare vegan food, but how to efficiently plan out our meals, research the new items/ingredients we needed to purchase, figure out how to make all of this happen in a timely manner, and work within a budget. Due to the fact that I'm not a natural-born housewife, born with the knowledge of how to do these things, this process was a little crazy crazy and stressful. We relied a bit on processed foods, much more than we do now, and of course, that ate up a large portion of our budget. I would spend hours in the kitchen to create an inedible mess that ended up being thrown out. There were small amounts of leftovers (too small for a full serving/meal) that were saved with good intentions, but ended up going bad due to us not having a clue what to do with them. Now, though I probably go to the grocery store a few times a week, I don't buy as much and we don't end up throwing as much out. I'm able to plan out our meals effectively, and know what we'll use the rest of that bunch of cilantro or other half of bell pepper in. It was a long journey, full of trial and error, but we finally got there.
Mastering The Art of Vegan Cooking: Over 200 Delicious Recipes and Tips to Save you Money and Stock Your Pantry is the newest publication from Annie and Dan Shannon, the duo behind the fun, welcoming, and warm vegan blog, Meet the Shannons, and if it had been published way back when we were first starting out, our transition to veganism would've likely been much more seamless.
Though they'd been vegan for many years, after an unfortunate and painful event, the Shannons found themselves having to reevaluate their lifestyle and learn how to still eat well on a vegan diet while on a smaller budget, which is a situation I'm sure many of us are in or have been in before. Taking notes from Julia Child, Betty Crocker, and the war brides of World War II, Annie and Dan created a guide for creating wildly delicious vegan meals, living sustainably, and staying within your budget.
While the book is filled with recipes I'm looking forward to trying (Cinnamon Peach Skillet Rolls, BLT Mac and Cheez, and Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake Cups), what I really love are all the little treats for the reader, which are peppered throughout the book. I love all of the stories and anecdotes which are not limited to the headnotes of each recipe. I love that each of the recipes show the cost per serving. I love that with most of the recipes in the book, there is a list of other recipes you can use leftover ingredients for (i.e. If you have mint leftover from making the Turkish Pizza- Lahmacun on page 163, there's a list of four other recipes in the book that also use mint). I love that there is an entire chapter dedicated to leftovers (recipes using leftovers from other recipes!!!). I love that there is a section for DIY weddings and other special occasions, demonstrating how/what to prepare for these particular events and stay within your means. There is such a wealth of information in this book, that even though I set out to write this review three hours ago, I keep getting distracted by the book and have to stop and pour through it some more.
As can be expected from the Shannons, the recipes are super tasty to boot. I had the pleasure of trying the Simple Korean Kimchi BBQ Burgers and could not have been more pleased. The recipe calls for a ground meat alternative (Lightlife Gimme Lean or Match Meat) so it had an extra meaty texture. The BBQ sauce was ridiculously simple and I loved the addition of sesame seeds. And any day that you can eat kimchi is a good day, in my opinion. While I did have troubles keeping the burgers together while cooking them (I am assuming it is because I used the gluten-free Match Meat, which although it tasted wonderful, isn't as "sticky" as the Lightlife brand), these burgers were kind of out of this world. They were some of the best burgers I've made in my own kitchen. The ginger in the burger and the sauce is what really takes these bad boys over the top. I so highly recommend them that, with the publisher's permission, I'm sharing the recipe with you today!
Ingredients
- 2 cups Lightlife Gimme Lean Burger or Match Vegan Meats Burger
- 1 green onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses
- ½ teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
- Dash of vegan liquid smoke
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
- Dash of vegan liquid smoke
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha or Thai chili sauce
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar
- 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- ¼ teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 4 whole wheat hamburger buns
- 1 cup vegan kimchi (read labels to make sure yours is vegan as some contain fish sauce)
Instructions
- Make the burger - In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together the vegan beef, green onion, molasses, ginger paste, soy sauce, vegan liquid smoke, onion powder, and garlic until blended. The molasses is really sticky, so this is kind of messy and weird, but it’s totally worth it. Promise.
- Form the mixture into 4 patties about the size of your hand. Place them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the BBQ sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all the BBQ sauce ingredients. Set aside.
- In a cast-iron skillet or frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil over medium heat. Working in batches, fry the burgers until lightly crispy around the edges, then reduce the heat to low and brush the burgers with BBQ sauce. Flip and coat the burgers a few times to get a nice saucy patty, but watch out for the hot oil. Repeat with the remaining burgers, adding the remaining oil after the first batch.
- Toast the burger buns while the burger patties are cooking.
- Serve each burger in a toasted bun with lots of kimchi on top.
Notes
Excerpted from the book MASTERING THE ART OF VEGAN COOKING by Annie and Dan Shannon. © 2015 by Annie and Dan Shannon. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Life and Style. All rights reserved.
While I think you should all go out and buy a copy of Mastering the Art of Vegan Cooking right away, you can also enter to win your own copy here today! All you need to do is leave a comment below, telling me your best tips on saving money while being vegan! The giveaway is open to US residents only and will run until 11:59pm on June 18th, 2015. Good luck! Congrats to Lana, the winner!
Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and to Annie and Dan Shannon for letting me review this book! Thank you, all of you crazy-wonderful people, for stopping by today!
What are your best tips for eating vegan on a budget?
Disclaimer: I was given this book to review but all thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Photography by Chris Miller
Jacky
Buy dried beans instead of canned and cook them in a pressure cooker. Buy frozen vegetables whenever possible - they roast really well and you can't tell they were ever frozen. Make seitan, almond milk, and vegetable broth yourself - it's so easy!
Deanne O'Donnell
My best tips for eating vegan on a budget are: When possible buy in bulk, and always shop seasonally and plant a garden, big or small, take advantage of farmer's markets and stands. Also, make a large batch of a recipe and freeze what you will not need immediately. Grow your own herbs on a windowsill or terrace or whatever you may have, they add so much to cooking and are costly at the grocery and you can grow them for pennies.
Kelsey R
My lifesaving ingredient is nutritional yeast - which I'm sure most vegans have heard of! Adding a little bit of nutritional yeast to MANY dishes has saved me from having to buy alternate ingredients!
Paula
My best tip for saving money as a vegan is to avoid processed/convenience foods. While it's awesome that some of these products exist today, they're generally pretty pricy. Stick with whole foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, & grains--your budget will thank you!
Sally
CSA or farm share - you get a full week's worth of produce for about $15. Frozen berries are awesome in pancakes, baked goods, and as oatmeal toppers - and much cheaper than fresh.
Sally
I forgot the most important ones! Meal planning, and avoiding Whole Foods especially whrn hungry.
Casey
Mine would be to use the bulk bins as often as possible, you end up saving money in the long run. I also recommend avoiding pre-packaged/processed foods when trying to save money. I also make my own staples and condiments (they're healthier and cheaper).
Samantha
Buying in bulk, buying what's in season and going to my local farmers market are my cost saving tips.
Bianca @ Sweet Dreaming
I love buying beans, lentils, chia seeds, quinoa, and brown rice, etc. in bulk!! Maybe chocolate too 😉
Shannon
My best tip would be to buy from the bulk bins and get only the exact amount you need for recipes.
Beth R.
I buy from bulk bins and cook with dried beans. But, I also freeze my vegetable scraps to make broth, mill my own flours and even save my kale stems for smoothies! All in the name to save a few pennies!
Sue
My newest money saving tip is to prepare/cook everything myself. From dried beans to bread to tortillas, they have all been handmade by me for the past 2 weeks! (It's sometimes tough when working a full-time job).
Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It
My favorite money-saving tips for being vegan are buying things in BULK. Beans, nuts, legumes, you name it!
Wendy
I know I can't win the giveaway since I'm outside the US, but I just wanted to say that having green smoothies every day for breakfast has really helped me cut down on food wastage. I throw in all kinds of things I need to get rid of: cucumbers, carrots, zucchini, fresh herbs, etc. And of course fruit! I even tried onions a few times, though I don't think I'll be doing that again.
Aimee B.
I try to avoid purchasing processed vegan foods and instead make my own burgers and such. I also buy a lot in bulk. It can save lots of money. Buying seasonal produce is generally cheaper as well.
Ali @ Chickpeas & Change
Buy in bulk! 🙂
Sarah H.
We buy everything that we can in bulk, especially spices! It's so much more inexpensive that way. My partner is also religious about ensuring that she's buying in season produce that is priced well. She'll go to several stores to make our dollar stretch 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Buy in bulk and buy on sale!
Michelle
Buy seasonally and readily available at your local farmer's market. Just last week I snagged an enormous bag of fresh spinach and froze one half and used the other right away.
Kathleen
Cooking at home vs eating out saves lots of money at our house. Also a good weekly plan keeps me from buying extra stuff I'm not likely to use. So Friday is pizza and action movie night. Monday is weekend leftovers night (or pantry raid if there's none leftover). Tuesday is a smoothie and a workout night. Wednesday is a big salad night. And Thursday is soup and sandwich night. This way I don't have to think too hard and can save my creative cooking for Saturday and Sunday when there's usually ore time.
KathyD
Make your own as much as possible - make beans from scratch, make your own seitan, veggie burgers, hummus, saald dressings, etc. and eat simply. You don't have to try to create a faux version of everything that normally is made with animal foods. Learn to enjoy simple foods.
Stevie
Join a CSA for fresh veggies and use lots of beans and lentils to make whole foods instead of processed foods.
Becca F
Buy in bulk, especially for spices. Also don't rely to heavily on vegan substitutes or make your own if possible
Janel
I find some great deals at ethnic grocery stores in my area. I bought a big bag of baby bok choy today for about 1/3 what it would cost at my regular grocery store.
valerie sobus
my most used tip for saving money whilst being vegan is actually the same tip i'd offer to anyone do meal planning whether they are vegan or not!: find recipes with overlapping ingredients and share them between recipes. 🙂
Carla
Tacos and Salad bowls. Such a great way to use up leftovers especially those 'small amounts' and once you add salsa or a dressing the whole thing is a wonderful unified tasty meal. That and finally learning how and what to freeze.
Greg
Buy from the bulk foods section, especially grains and beans. Watch for sales. Stores like Sprouts have good weekly sales, try to plan meals around that. If you enjoy the commercial products like Gardein and Beyond Meat, sign up for their emails. Beyond Meat sends a monthly coupon.
Christine
It helps to determine which things are cheaper to make yourself. Ketchup, for instance, might be cheaper than homemade if you're buying generic, while bread is generally less expensive to make from scratch (unless your store is selling a six pack of pita for 10 cents, as mine sometimes does!).
Michelle L
I think the best way to save money is to cook your own food and avoid processed foods.
Lindsay
Stock up on pantry items such as beans and lentils. They are great, cheap ingredients for any vegan dish.
Mary Britanak
I got a small second hand freezer. Now I can freeze portions and not waste leftovers. Also I save vegetable scraps in a plastic bag to make my own broth.
Janel M.
Since vegans typically eat lots of grains, beans, nuts, spices, etc, I've always saved money buy using the bulk bins at the grocery store. Especially for recipes that call for a tsp. or two of something, it's awesome not to have to buy a whole package or bottle.
diana @ veggienextdoor
To save money, I pack my breakfasts and lunches for work everyday. On the weekends I bulk-cook the recipes which often include budget-friendly ingredients like oats, beans, and rice.
Mason
Contrary to popular belief being vegan is NOT costly! Focus on whole foods and use a slow cooker to cook your own beans, grains, soups...
Kim Henrichs
My tip is using your local farm markets. Some can be pricier, but in my area for the most part they're very affordable and the quality is amazing. Also use a meal plan - you won't waste anything that way.
Logan C
Hi, the burger looks great, never tried kimchi but look forward to the experience. I know your book giveaway is only open to folks from the USA, (I'm just North or more correctly West of Mt Vernon Washington on Vancouver Island) I just had to add my budget tip - nothing surprising or ground-shaking, but was something when I became a Vegan that took me a little while to figure out. Dried beans and Legumes!! totally cheap when bought in bulk or large quantity. I have a collection of 9 5 gallon buckets with lids each holding a different dried bean or legume. this saves huge $$$ over buying canned ones...
Namaste
Justina
Plan a menu for the week, make a grocery list for that menu and stick to it when shopping. Eat at home before you shop!
Bethany W
I am fortunate enough now to not have to worry as much as I used to about how much we spend at the grocery store; but I hate being wasteful and I usually keep my spending in check (unless of course I am at Whole Foods while hungry, as another commenter said!). To save money we #1 limit our eating out which costs a fortune and leftovers don't last more than a day, if that, and #2 keep our grocery cart green. Buying mostly produce is dirt cheap, it's when I start adding that darned grapeseed Vegenaise, Chao cheese, and Kite hill cream cheese that my bill skyrockets. I try to make those items a treat rather than a regular purchase. Love shopping for, cooking, and EATING vegan
Bethany W
Oh yeah, and #3 which should actually be #1---MAKE YOUR OWN HUMMUS!!! I have been known to spend $30+ In one trip on various flavors of tiny containers of hummus
Kelsey
instead of buying ready made foods and meals, make your own!!!
Stacy
Best money saving tip is to grow your own garden, get into canning or freeze over abundant veggies, make vegetable broth from all of the left over veggie parts you don't eat.
Glenn
stick to non-processed foods. Staying with whole foods is typically less expensive than processed foods.
Sarah
My local farmer's market stand has a sale section where they put out produce that is going "bad". I scour it a few times a week and usually end up getting 20-30 lbs of fresh produce for around $10-15. Anything that is over ripe, I freeze right away so it can still be used. The rest I'll use for lunch and dinner over the next few days.
Liz
My tip--- plan ahead! I like to plan out my meals for the week on Sunday so I know exactly what to buy at the grocery store and then I don't have leftover veggies rotting away in my fridge!
Wendy @ Plantivores
My best money-saving tip is to shop at your local Asian market. We always laugh when we come home and say "I just bought 8 bags of groceries for $37". At Whole Foods, the same things would cost $200! They have lots of wonderful produce, a wide variety of foods and very unique foods you can't find anywhere else.
linda
1.) I love frozen fruits and veggies, also canned beans, corn, tomatoes and mushrooms.
2.) I also shop at asian or international food markets, because what is novel and pricey at whole foods (like korean gochujang or giant shitake mushrooms) is standard fare at asian stores and is often sold at deep discount.
3.) Last but not least, I think it's important to resist the temptation to buy "fake" everything. Fake burgers, ground beef, cheese, ranch, etc can be pretty expensive. My goal is to embrace the real flavors of fruits and vegetables.
Nicollette D
I am so excited for this book! I keep my costs low as a vegan by relying on cheap whole foods, like beans, rice, and frozen veggies, as the staples of my diet & use specialty ingredients sparingly.
Carolyn
Grow your own produce!!!! Nothing is fresher or tastier, and there is truly nothing better than going out to pick that nights dinner
Natalia M
I go to the farmers market every weekend. I truly believe eating local and what's in season is the best way to go. I try new veggies all the time, and when I come home I'm challenged to be creative and try something new. This keeps things exciting, and dresses up the usual staples like potatoes, rice, beans and grains such as quinoa. Experimenting in the kitchen never gets old, makes cooking a fun acivility instead of a chore.
Emma
Eat local and what's in season. Also buy in bulk, make things from scratch, and pack your lunch!
Jenn Logan
I buy in bulk at the store. I also take advantage of the buy one, get one half off sales on Vitacost's site and stock up on oats, canned goods, etc. Local Mexican and Asian markets have amazing produce that is less than, and better than, the grocery store. And I check for coupons for things like almond milk and processed vegan treats before heading to the store.
Lana
As many told before, I shop at local ethnic supermarkets, buy bulk, cook beans, and don't buy processed substitutes. Also, I shop for condiments online. I buy from Iherb and Vitacost.com, when I need to find something really fancy at a smaller price
Kimberley
Meal planning and buying items like quinoa, dried beans, and raw nuts from your local groceries bulk aisle. It's very cost effective and helpful to have items like such in your pantry to plan yummy meals and snacks.
Your Partner in Passion Kait
Meal planning remains my #1 money saver. And meal planning in a way that we don't have those random tidbits. Also: grain bowls. Saute up whatever leftovers we have and make it work!
Corrine
I call the companies of the products I like to buy and many of them will mail out coupons.
Lydia Claire
Both Costco and Trader Joe's carry many vegan products. With Costco it can be kind of hit and miss with specific items but one time they had Field Roast Sausages but I only saw them once there.
saniel
Cut up vegetables and freeze for later such as onions and peppers. Buy dried beans and in bulk. Thanks
saniel
Purchase Fair trade items too
Jenny
I don't know why it took me so long to get into this routine but the past year or so I started consistently crock potting a batch of dried beans every Sunday to be used throughout the week. Not only does it save us a TON of money but they taste so much better and I don't have to think twice about what kind of preservatives and other icky chemicals are involved in the canned version. We also love to vegetable garden spring-fall. We strategically grow the things that are more expensive at the farmer's market and don't grown the things that are cheap and easy to buy. That saves garden space and water usage. It amazes me how much less expensive the farmers market can be compared to the grocery store!
Jennifer
My husband and I are part of a CSA, which if you eat a lot of veggies can really help budgeting. I think we pay about $20 per week for our share, and cuts out $20-30 from our weekly groceries. Plus we get organic food, and some produce is more expensive than others, such as berries or red bell peppers. We pick up our produce than plan the meals around that.
Michelle
I've found the best way to save money is to buy what's in season and to buy locally.
Terri Cole
Our membership at Costco pays for itself many times over! The big bags of organic frozen fruits & vegetables alone make it worthwhile.
charj
I save money by growing my own sprouts and microgreens instead of buying them in stores. I have much more variety too.
Alina CE
I try to save money by not throwing away leftovers but reusing and remaking them into new dishes. This book sounds so useful. I'm still in the trial and error phase and I have thrown away many a batches of food that didn't turn out so tasty. I could really use some more advice on how to save even more money. Thank you for the chance to win this book. Good Luck to All 🙂
Megan J
This books looks great! My tips for saving money are to view store-bought vegan cheeses and meats as an occasional treat and to make baked goods and desserts from scratch.
Linzy
I know this seems counterproductive, but I buy one or two convenience products. I know that if I plan to make everything from scratch, I will end up caving and ordering out.
Catherine
The farmer's market! The veggies and so much cheaper (and better!) than the grocery store!
Kayla C.
I save money eating vegan by starting with a salad or rice base and building up from there! Chop raw, or steam/stir-fry/bake some vegetables and throw a protein on top (tofu, bean, leftover veggie-burgers etc). Then, get some avocado or saucy-topping to tie it all together. I use everything from salsa, to chickpea-nutritional cheese sauce, vinaigrette, miso-lemon-garlic sauce, BBQ sauce, or a quick peanut sauce. It's always generally cheap, speedy, healthy, whole, and honestly - once you get to know your own taste - often better tasting than anything you'd ever get take-out.
Kayla C.
Forgot to mention, sauces and veggie burgers are home-made can be fast and cheap. You can make a quick burger with any mix of beans, spice, and a splash of oats&flaxmeal. Bake on each side for 10 min and thats it. Sauces - I just look at what I have and google an idea or ingredient to find a quick recipe to blend up!
Michelle
I try to make as much from scratch as i can and shop at Costco and Trader Joe's.
Kristy
My best tips for saving money is to buy local, in season produce from the farmer's markets or the grocery store. Often, in season produce is on sale and affordable. Also, buy dried beans instead of canned. You get way more for your money.
kimberley
I go to the market and buy everything in bulk, that's the cheapest way to stock up!
Jill
I've learned to garden since moving to the Pacific Northwest. A little garden plot grows enough to share, and then your friends share back!
Gillian
BULK BINS. So much win.
Stacy @ Nourishing Health
Hi Kristy! I shop locally at my Farmers Market or with a CSA box. Often I'll go together with friends to get produce from the Farmers Market in bulk or better prices from the farmer and we have the added bonus of enjoying seeing each other more frequently throughout the week and sharing recipes and food tips as we exchange produce we've picked up for one another. It makes eating healthy all the more enjoyable!
JW
I use a lot of the tips people have mentioned. Buying dried beans is a big saver. Using some of those to make your own hummus, etc. is great. I also look for opportunities for cheap fruit, so if you can get a big box of peaches or whatever at the farmer's market for a good per # price and then freeze or can the extras. The local Kiwanis sell blueberries the start of each summer and I'll buy the boxes (10# each). What we don't eat fresh gets frozen and then we have blueberries for smoothies the rest of the summer at less per # than TJ's or the other markets.
Marie
I think I would love this book. Unfortunately I'm living in France so the giveaway is not for me ^^ Anyway I will take a look at it!
Gina
If I buy fresh veggies and fruit I usually eat some of it right away then I freeze the other half.I often do this with whatever is in season.Almost any of it can be frozen including herbs.The same goes for anything I might make for dinner the other half gets frozen if possible.
Corrin
The best way to save money while eating vegan is to plan, eat seasonally, and plant a garden. I get so much produce from my garden that I am able to share with friends and family, and they with me. And in the off season, I do a little scavenging at my local Whole Food's dumpster....
Pixie @ Cheerfully Vegan
Spending a little extra time making things from scratch has helped us budget with a family of six to feed as vegans. When we started, there wasn't much on the internet for recipes. Now it helps so much to access ways of making delicious, simple foods.
This recipe looks just amazing and I can't wait to try it.
Kait St.
Buy in bulk. Try stores that sell things like flour and nooch out of large batches, and always bring coupons!
Jennifer Harmon {Peppers and Peaches}
I am a huge advocate for buying my frozen veggies, fruits, rice, etc in a bargain store. Then, to find the odd vegan fare that regular grocery stores don't sell, I spend the money I saved at the bargain outlet and go to my local vegan friendly store. I am lucky enough to have an extremely local store next to my house that even has a hot bar. I cannot afford to buy my whole grocery list there, but due to my money saved I am able to support local while getting all my veg head needs!
Steph
I save money by making things from scratch especially pizza dough and bread. Buying dried beans is another cheap staple at our house. I have also found many resources in our town like the community garden at our local health food store. Another way to save money is by talking to local veggie garden growers and swapping produce. I recently found a gardeners program (through Craigslist) where you can get free produce!! All free! They work on a 'take only what you need' basis and it is wonderful and an awesome way to spread the veggie love to everyone!
sarah
dried beans are so so cheap!
Hypnotherapy Adelaide
My partner lived in Korea for 9 years and has then since become vegan. She is going to be so happy when I make it for her. Thank you 🙂