Tomato Sauce

Let's take it back to the basics. Today I was having one of those days, where I just couldn't figure out what to make. So, I decided to keep it simple. I love coming back to the basics because it brings comfort and warmth to my heart. As, it was the end of my grocery week, and I was low on ingredients, I had to find something that I could make with what I had left. I realized I had all the ingredients for tomato sauce, and nothing is better than home made tomato sauce in my books. You can use it, on pasta, spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, use as a base to any stew, curry or chili. It can, also, make for a great pizza sauce, or be added to a soup. Honestly it's uses are endless, so many options become available with this one sauce. I make a huge batch of this sauce, almost every week. It is definitely a staple in my house hold and I think it tastes 10 times better than store-bought (I'm biased), Trust me, this one is worth it!

What you need:

• 4 medium carrots, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 28oz can organic tomatoes
• 3 medium roma tomatoes, chopped
• 10-15 leafs fresh basil
• 1-2 tbsp coconut sugar
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

The how to:

• Sauté onions and carrots on med-high heat, until onions are lightly caramelized. Add garlic and sauté for 2 more minutes. Add canned and fresh tomatoes. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Throw in basil and remove from heat. Transfer everything in the pot to blender and blend to desired consistency. Pour back into the pot and add sugar to cut acidity. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Eating on a Budget

Something I get told/asked a lot is; "Isn't it really expensive to eat healthy?" To be completely honest, I just never thought about it that way. I personally put food so high on my priority list. I always put my money there, before I put it anywhere else. Food is what nourishes me. My body is my home, it's the only place I have to live in for the rest of my life. I want to give it only the best, most nutrient dense foods I can. But in saying that, with everyone feeling the huge economic down turn, saving money anywhere and everywhere is more important than ever. This combined with the rise in produce prices can make it more difficult to afford all the food for a healthy diet. Here are 3 ways that has helped me keep the budget down.

EAT LOCAL. Eating closer to home can be part of the solution. Shopping locally cuts down enormously on fossil fuel consumption, tends to be cheaper, and supports our local farmers and the local economy. Shopping locally, also, brings with it a, strong, sense of community. I feel that, the sense of community, surrounding the food industry, has been lost, in our generation, to large corporations such as the McDonalds and Walmarts. Here in Calgary, we are fortunate enough to have some amazing farmer's markets which make it a lot easier to shop locally. The one I go to on a weekly basis is Calgary Farmers Market.

FOOD BUYING CLUBS. This could be the most convenient way to get a good abundance of food, for a really good price. The, one and only, downside of food-buying-clubs is that you don't get to choose your produce. I, personally, don't mind this at all. I love getting a big box of the freshest, most scrumptious, produce! Buying this way keeps me thinking outside of the box by incorporating new fruits and veggies when preparing food for my family. Every summer I try to find, at least, 12 people, who are interested, in committing to a food buying club with me. This way you're guaranteed a variety of fruits and veggies each, and every, week. Nom nom nom! For reasons above, I always buy from clubs that support our local farmers; two birds with one stone, I'd say thats a win win. 

GROW A GARDEN. This is, by far, my favourite, and the most fun way to keep the money in your wallet! Growing a garden is great for sustainability, and you can't get any more local than home. A home garden allows you to connect with your food,  and to spend quality time with your family. I don't know why, but when you grow it yourself, it tastes sooooo much better. In the spring, I will be sharing a post on gardening. Whether you live in a house, duplex, townhome, condo, apartment or cardboard box you can grow your own garden. If you're looking for help setting up your own garden my friend Landon owns a company which helps with the dirty work. Check out his website here. From the Ground Organic Gardens