Download Your Free Seasonal Produce Savings E-book!

I have a serious love affair with fresh produce! In January and February, citrus fruits go on sale at fantastic prices across the Midwest. This happens every year at this same time because the new crop has just ripened in Florida and California.

 By late February or early March, it's strawberries which become the star attraction as they hit all time low prices.
As I was pondering the every increasing great deals on fruit, it occurred to me that a seasonal savings guide just for fruits and vegetables would be helpful to you. So, I designed one!

Yep! And since I love to give things away for free, it's another FREEBIE! That's right! You can download it for absolutely free -  just for you for being a faithful Under the Median reader!

What's in the Produce Savings Guide? 

 

I'm glad you asked!  Here's a sneak peek!

In the Under the Median Produce Seasonal Savings Guide you'll find:

• An overview of what produce to look for in each season

• Lists of the most common in-season fruits and vegetables each month

• Ideas on how to store produce

• Tips on extending the shelf-life of late autumn produce

• Tips on "putting by" produce for the winter months

I can't wait to share it with you!  

You can download it by clicking on the photo or by clicking on this link.

Want some more freebies?

I have some for you! Here are our other current freebies! Click on the photo and it will take you right to the download!

Download #1:

Use our gift giving list downloadable to create a customized 2019 gift-giving binder. You can track all of your special gift-giving occasions, set your gift budget, and track what you bought and where you have it stored. Here's a special post with detailed instructions on how to use this download.

Download #2:

This handy one-page download tells you when to look for super clearance prices on a wide range of gift items. You'll know exactly when to look for those magical 75-90% off clearance prices.

Download #3: 

I absolutely LOVE this resource! It's an 8 page e-book, which tells you how I saved an average of 75% on the price of retail clothing for my family. There is a chart for each season, telling you what to look for at major clearance prices and exactly when to shop.

You'll get a special download link to our popular: Under the Median 2019 Clothing Seasonal Savings Guide when you sign up to follow us by e-mail on the main page of the blog. You'll see the sign up just under the image of the Clothing Seasonal Saving Guide on the right hand side of the main page.

Let me know what you think!

Did you find the produce guide helpful? Would you like to see more Under the Median E-books? What topics would you like to see covered in an e-book? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope

Menu Planning When Your Fridge Is Empty!

This is an actual photo of what my fridge looked like this morning! I thought about heading to the store, but, then an amazing (and slightly crazy) idea occurred to me. Why not challenge myself to make an entire week's worth of food, using only what I had on hand?! I proposed this concept to my 14 year old sous chef and he enthusiastically gave two thumbs up - which means either he has great faith in our ability to prepare meals out of practically nothing, or he has the same crazy notions as his mother!

Here are the steps I take when I really need to use what I already have in the house to make meals for the week:

Step 1: Take inventory.

I'll start by showing you what my cutting board looked like when I cleaned out the fridge and added the items that I had sitting out on the counter.

The basic ingredients: 

1. 2 large carrots
2. 2 stalks celery
3. 1 really big red pepper
4. 1 fresh pineapple
5. red and white onions 
6. 9 - sweet potatoes
7. 1/2 gallon of unsweetened plant based milk (not pictured) 
8. 1 medium plum tomato
9. Bottled lemon juice (not pictured) 

That's it! I would need to add items from the pantry and freezer to combine with these basic items to create enough dishes to feed us for a week. 

It is super helpful to be aware of what you already have in the pantry and freezers. Here are my  tips and ideas on how to organize your pantry.

A couple of things you should know:

1. I have plenty of apples, oranges, and grapes on hand to last us all week .
2. I have frozen veggies to add for side dishes. 
3. I have bagels and bread to make sandwiches for lunches. 
4. I have a big bag of greens. As a whole food vegan, running out of greens is pretty much the only thing which will result in me running to the store as soon as humanly possible. 

Step 2: Find Recipes.

I have a lot of cookbooks. I grab three or four of my favorites, plus a cup of coffee, a pen, and my bulk cooking forms. Click here for a free download of my bulk cooking organization template. My goal is always to find 3 soups, 3 main dishes, and 2 sides that I can make for the week.

I also have my computer on hand. If I find no inspiration in the cookbooks, I begin Googling recipes by main ingredients. I have never failed to find dishes that I can make, using what I already have in the house. 

You may have to do a bit of ingredient substitution. For instance, I knew that I had brown rice in the pantry. So, I immediately made a triple batch in the rice cooker. I looked for a rice salad recipe, using some of the red onion, and red pepper. I found a perfect recipe, which used lime juice in the dressing. I didn't have limes. But, I did have some bottled lemon juice in the fridge. So, I substituted lemon for the lime. (Please, no "bottled lemon juice judging". I have a child who loves to add lemon juice to his water. I'd go broke letting him do it with actual lemons. Besides that, I like a little lemon in my water, too!) 

Step 3: Arrange your ingredients in separate bowls.

Chop your base ingredients (carrots, celery, onion, and garlic) and place them in individual bowls, one bowl for each recipe. I have bulk cooked this way for many years. When you are low on the basics, like onion, garlic, celery, and carrots, you must "dole them out". I dice every item and then allocate a certain amount to each recipe. If you find that you have leftover carrot, you can always add more. If you don't have quite enough, you can gather a little from each individual recipe bowl. Do this before you add any of these basic ingredients to the pots and pans. If you don't, you may find that you are totally out of one of these ingredients when you get to the last two recipes and have to do a last-minute reconfigure of your menu plan. 

Step 4: Cook! 

I did a series of posts a couple of years ago on bulk cooking. Here are the reasons that bulk cooking saves you time and money,  tips and techniques, and a photo gallery and recipes of a bulk cooking day.

So, what did I make today?

I made 3 soups, 3 main dishes, and 1 side dish!

Items I added from the pantry:

1. 1 large can of tomato paste 

2. 2 pounds of dry black beans (I cooked them in the pressure cooker in 30 minutes!) 

3. 3 cups of brown rice  (9 cups cooked)

4. 1 pound dry pinto beans 

5. spices 

6. soy sauce

7. liquid smoke 

8. 1 can of corn

9. real maple syrup

10. Raisins 

11. Walnuts 

12. Vinegar
13. 1 can of kidney beans

Items I added from the freezer: 

1. 4 cups Cubed roasted butternut squash (from last year's CSA share)

2. 1 large Poblano pepper 

What I made: 

Soups: 

Poblano-Ginger Butternut Squash Soup

I used this recipe for the basic idea for my soup. I added some unsweetened coconut-almond milk after I pureed the soup. Oh, my goodness! It tasted amazing!

Black Bean Chili in the pressure cooker

 I cooked 2 full pounds of black beans in the pressure cooker for 23 minutes and then released the steam. This filled my six quart pressure cooker to capacity. I removed 4 cups of the beans and then made this fantastic soup with the broth and beans, which were left in the pot. (The beans which I removed, became spicy black beans and rice.)

Black bean soup is a family favorite, which I make about three times a month. Being a person who views a recipe as a "suggestion", I often use whatever items I have on hand to add to the beans in the soup pot. 

It cooks beautifully in the pressure cooker and freezes well. If you don't have a pressure cooker, a crock pot on "high" for 4 hours or "low" for 6-8 works fantastically. 

Smoky white bean soup

This is my own, original soup recipe and it's undoubtedly the more requested on the blog. You can download a free PDF of the recipe. Here's a link to the blog post, containing the PDF. Enjoy! 

Main Dishes

Sweet potato stir fry

I used this recipe from Tasty, but added some fresh pineapple and kidney beans instead of black beans. I also added two cups of  cooked brown rice to make it go a little further. It was, indeed, what the website said it was, "Tasty". 

Moroccan Sweet Potatoes 

These were glorious baked bits of heaven! Seriously! The flavor! We tend to think of sweet potatoes as something bathed in sugar and marshmallows. Yuck! This recipe pairs interesting Middle-eastern flavors with the simple goodness of sweet potato. I served with with rice salad for supper and it was very filling. Do give them a try!  

 Spicy black beans with rice

Here are the 4 cups of black beans, which I removed from the pressure cooker earlier in the day. This recipe be two meals, the first served over salad greens and topped with some salsa and homemade dressing, the second rolled up in tortillas and toasted in the oven. 

Side Dish

Rice Salad with lemon dressing

We made this recipe up as we went along. I added some red onion, red pepper, raisins, walnuts, a tomato, and a little celery. Then, my 14 year old sous chef whisked together a simple lemon dressing. Here's a very similar salad.

 What else am I making? 

• tuno salad for lunchtime sandwiches

• baked apples for a dessert one night

• homemade hummus to spoon on top of the spicy black beans and rice salad

Your turn! 

What are your "go to" dishes when there's not much in the fridge and you really want to use items you already have in the house, rather than trek to the store? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below. I'd love to know your tips and tricks!

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope

Guest Post: Imperfect Produce Is Perfect for Me!

I've talked on this blog about the travesty of throwing away food just because it isn't the right size, shape, or color to suit American's need for perfect produce. In my review of the movie, Wasted, I introduced you to The Daily Table, a grocery store in the inner city of Dorchester, Massachusetts. They sell imperfect produce at perfect prices!  I have also told you several times about HyVee's Misfit Produce program, saving over one million pounds of produce from hitting the garbage heap.  Both of these companies have impressed me with their dedication to our environment and avoiding food waste.  

But, there is another new kid in town and, from what my friend, Sarah Reynolds has shared with me, it's one that we should be be watching! When I found out Sarah was getting fresh. delicious produce delivered to her door at terrific prices, I asked her to write a guest post. 

Let's hear about Imperfect Produce from Sarah!

What is Imperfect Produce?

I first discovered Imperfect Produce a few months ago, researching for a school project about food waste. I was poking around social media to see what people were saying about food loss and food waste, as well as what educational materials might be available for free online. I excitedly checked out their site and learned more about what they were doing, realizing this was exactly the kind of service that was needed. 

Imperfect Produce purchases produce from farmers and producers that is not pretty enough to be sold in traditional grocers at a steal, supporting this network of farmers and producers by buying “their unloved produce” and passing it along to customers who don’t mind, value the environment, and/or are looking for a good deal.

Delivery to your door for less than you'd spend at Aldi!

Although getting organic produce delivered right to your door screams luxury, it is actually extremely affordable – even cheaper than normal prices at ALDI, which is saying something. It also allows more customization for portion sizing, which is helpful since I'm generally just cooking for one or two, whereas ALDI is plentiful family sizing. Whereas at ALDI I’m left to buy a couple dozen mandarin oranges that I am unlikely to get through before they go bad, I can buy them in multiples of three with Imperfect Produce, making it easier to get just the right amount so I don’t pay for more than I can eat. 

Here's an example! 

"Ink" checking out the great fruits and veggies

This week I got:

• 5 limes

• 1 bunch of broccoli

• 6 mandarin oranges

• 2 navel oranges

• 2 pears

• 2lbs carrots

• 3 apples

• 2 avocados

• 1lb russet potatoes

• 1lb yellow potatoes

• 4 lemons

• 1 package grape tomatoes

• 1 butternut squash

• 2 cucumbers

• 1 acorn squash

• 1lb beets

• 1lb red potatoes

What does it cost? 

 This box was $31.62, including the $5 delivery fee. I get my boxes every-other week to reduce the cost of the delivery fee, and plan out produce accordingly. More time-sensitive produce, like oranges and broccoli, get eaten during the first week, but produce items that last longer, like squash and apples, can make their way well into the second week until I get my next box. 

You can select the type of box, produce mix, and frequency of delivery at the website.  

It all adds up to savings!

On average, I am saving about $15 a week compared to what I would spend at ALDI, and wasting far less as I can better control the portions that I am getting! They offer both organic and conventional produce, including fruits, veggies, and even some fresh spices and herbs (such as ginger and thyme).  

The biggest thing to remember is that, despite the name, the produce is all perfectly fine. It is not bruised or wilting, it is not lacking flavor or nutritional value, it’s just not “pretty” enough to match conventional standards. As you can see from the pictures in this article, there’s no significant damages, only a few color variations in the skin or odd sizing.

They all cook well and I have gotten nothing but stellar produce that lasts just as long as, if not longer than, normal produce from the grocery store. They even send a chart with where to store different types of produce to extend their shelf life, and share helpful recipes that include the produce they are sending out!

A reminder of the environmental impact of your dollars. 

To see if they deliver in your area and order your first box, check them out here: http://imprfct.us/ltBHW  

About the author: Sarah Reynolds is a university student who is passionate about communications, writing, and saving money. She lives in the Chicago area with her Jack Russell Terrier mix puppy, Ink, and will graduate with her BA in May of 2019 and pursue a career in social media management. She loves all things soft and fluffy, being a dog mom, making music, and sipping warm drinks from her favorite mugs.

What are your thoughts? 

Is Imperfect Produce in your area? Have you heard of it? If it comes to your area are you going to maybe give it a try? Leave your thoughts in the comments section. 

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Hope

  

Reach Your Fiancial Goals! Follow These Three Steps!

I just wrote about using a snowball to knock out consumer debt.  But, what do you do with all that leftover money now that you've paid off your creditors? How about starting a savings snowball?

What is a savings snowball? 

I really like Dave Ramsey's analogy, comparing a snowball picking up speed as it careens downhill to our strategy for paying off debt. So, I decided to keep it around and use it to envision saving for short, medium, and long-term goals.  

 

Step 1: Make concrete goals. 

I made this handy form into a FREE downloadable document for you! Click on the photo or here to access it! 

It is vital that you keep a written list of short, medium, and long-term goals.If you are living on a modest income, you don't get a "pass" on goal planning. In fact, if anything, it is even more important that you have specific, concrete goals.

Here are some items to consider:

• Are you working on an emergency fund?

• Will it be  3 months or 6 months equal to of all your budgeted expenses?

•  I like an emergency fund which is equal to 6 months of "emergency budgeted expenses".

•  Take into consideration how solid your job security is. If your job is volatile, then you need closer to 6 months rather than 3 months. 

•  Once you determine your savings goals, write them all down. 

• Brainstorm and dream. You can always go through your list later and delete items, which don't make the "cut". But, why not dream big and write them all down anyway? 

• When goals are broken down into smaller monthly chunks, they don't look so unattainable.

• Don't get rid of your master goal list! You may be able to re-add items at a later date that don't make the "cut" this time. It's nice to have as a reference the next time you do your brainstorming process. We make a new list once every 12 months. But, depending on how soon you begin to meet goals, you may find that you need to do it either more or less often.

Step 2:  Make a chart.

Put it right in front of your eyes, ideally somewhere you can see it daily. I'm a real fan of charts. 

This is a pie chart that I recently unearthed while looking through my budget folder. It was from several years ago and showed each of our short-term goals: wisdom tooth removal,  braces for our son, college fund for two of our sons, and car replacement. The chart covered a period of time from January 2012 to December of 2018. I had just $300 each month to put toward these goals. 

I began at the bottom of the chart, with funding wisdom teeth and braces. We began by dividing up the allotted $300 per month, putting $100 a month in the "wisdom teeth" account and $200 a month toward the braces. In six months, we had funded the wisdom teeth removal. That additional amount was then put toward the next goal, braces.  The chart showed how much we put toward each goal each month and what date we would reach each goal. 

Here are the advantages of funding goals in this fashion. 

• It works like a debt snowball in reverse. 

• It's a savings snowball.

• Defines concretely the amount of time it should take you to meet each goal.

• You can mark your progress on the chart.

• Starts with a smaller, quickly attainable goal first, so that you build "steam" and stay encouraged in the process. 

• As you meet one goal, you can put that additional amount each month toward the next goal on the list.

Step 3: Make it automatic. 

You never miss money that you don't see. Have the bank deposit a certain amount every month into a separate account for each goal. Then don't touch it until the it's completely funded and ready to spend. 

We have done this for years with our car replacement fund. We generally keep cars about ten years before replacing them. So, as soon as we bring a new one home, we begin making preparations for replacing it. We divide the total amount which which we intend to spend by the number of months we want to save for it. Then, we have our investment company, withdraw that amount from our savings account every month, placing it in a moderate risk account. We are not limited by our investor as to the number of separate funds we can have. Right now we have three, all funded monthly.  

As soon as you meet one goal, move to the next. Just like a debt snowball, you'll gain momentum as you reach each goal.  

Your turn!

What about you? Have you found a method that works for you in saving toward short, medium, and long-term goals? Tell us about it in the comments section. 

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope

After HyVee Price Matches, My Total Plummeted Nearly 50%!

Nearly every item in my cart at HyVee this week was price matched! I absolutely love the convenience of going to one grocery store, instead of three or four to cherry-pick the best deals. HyVee price-matching is the best thing that happened to my grocery shopping in a long time!

Check out today's haul! 

Before any discounts, the total would have been $31.60.
After the discounts, my total plummeted to just $17.55.
My savings was $14.05.
That's a savings of 45%!

Let's look over the specifics of what I bought and how this week's price-matching went.

HyVee Sale Prices

Pineapple 99¢ 

Fresh pineapple on sale for just 99¢ through Monday, February 10th! 

Kroger Price Matches 

 Red Peppers: 99¢ each

Red peppers were on sale at Kroger for just 99¢ each. Once they were price-matched, I got all 4 of these huge red peppers for $3.96. 

 Here's how big they were! We love red pepper and these will figure prominently in this week's menu. 

8 oz. cheddar cheese - $1.88 each

Although HyVee already had this cheese sale-priced at $2.00 each, Kroger offered them for 12¢ less. So, I had them price-matched at $1.88 each, saving 24¢ on two packages. 

Aldi Price Match

Red Grapes 99¢ per pound

These weighed in at just under 2 pounds. I paid $1.90 for this package of sweet, red grapes. 

Organic Spring Mix - $3.99 

This 1 pound container of organic spring mix was price matched at Aldi's $3.99 price. 

Strawberries - $1.39 

 

This is the third time that I have had HyVee price match other local grocery store prices on strawberries. I got two pounds today. 

Your Turn!

What were your best grocery store buys this week? Leave a comment below and let us know! 

 

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Do all to the glory of God, 

Hope