Vegetable Ratatouille | Casserole | Stewed Vegetables

You might want to check out my easy recipe for Ratatouille Stewed Vegetables, which is so easy it cooks up in an hour! Mediterranean diet friendly !

Want a way to get your kids off of the couch and save some money at the same time? Start a family vegetable garden. It seems that kids spend most of their time indoors playing video games or watching television these days. Once the joys of your harvest have produced, put up some vegetables in the freezer for other seasons.

You can even make this easy Ratatouille stew in a crockpot I like to put up in Once a Month Cooking Glass Food Storage Containers for OAMC Freezer Cooking. 

When I was a child my family always planted a vegetable garden out in the "way back" yard.  We were growing cucumbers,  fresh lettuce, eggplant, peas, green beans, and radishes.  To this day, I still enjoy a fresh-picked hot radish, roots and all attached.  I now get  bunches from the farm stand, take them home, wash them, salt and enjoy  just as is!

My daughter and charming son-in-law recently purchased a new home, and it's obvious that at one point in time the previous owners had planted a vegetable garden.  There's a small picket fence around a now neglected small plot of land that I'm sure at one time supplied the family with plenty of fresh veggies.

My husband was never the type to enjoy tilling the earth, so I'm hoping that my daughter, hubby and the grandkids will plant a garden next year so I can put on my gardening shoes and stop over and "help."

Freeze or give away extra vegetables. You'll have enough for the months when nothing is growing. Sharing your vegetables with friends and neighbors, or bringing them a homemade recipe dish such as Mock Crab Cakes from Zucchini, a dessert or bread  from your extra zucchini or fruits might inspire them to begin their own vegetable garden!

Do you want a family activity that's environmentally sound and saves money? Start a family garden using the tips above. Also contact your local cooperative extension office or State Department of Agriculture for more information on gardening.

Easy cleanup with Handmade Dish Cloths from Moomettes Crochet Shop !

Buy these pretty Handmade Dish Cloths Set directly via Paypal https://py.pl/DuUhk

Ratatouille Stewed Vegetables

3 onions 1 eggplant, peeled 3 or 4 green and yellow zucchini squash 3 or 4 cloves of garlic 1 can tomatoes, drained (or use several fresh) 1 tsp dill 1 tsp oregeno 1 tsp basil Saute onions and garlic in EEVO olive oil until tender. Add peppers, zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes (chopped in chunks). Simmer for about 1 hour. Makes own juice. This recipe can also be made in a crockpot or slow cooker, or make it ahead when you prepare your freezer cooking meals. 

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© Frugal New England Kitchen 

Louisiana Beef Stew | Crockpot Beef Stew | Church Supper Recipe

Here's an interesting stew recipe featuring molasses, raisins, and a hint of ginger. Make this Crockpot Beef Stew for a busy weeknight supper, or simmer on the back burner for Sunday supper.

Old Fashioned Beef Stew

We like to use plenty of molasses when baking here in New England. Traditionally molasses are used in cookie recipes. We also like to think we make the best beef stew.

I know many people are using an Instapot to cook meals, but I prefer to stick with my trusty Crockpot, and I've had many over the years! My mom and aunts used to use a pressure cooker, but my comfort zone is with a slow cooker.

However, Mardis Gras is coming up, and rather than a seafood stew or gumbo, try this old fashioned beef stew recipe version with a side of homemade dumplings or biscuits.

You can get a faster start on this beef stew recipe by using some freezer cooking tips. I just got a Food Saver sealing bag machine, which is perfect for freezer meal prep. 

If cooking in a dutch oven casserole dish, cook for 2 hours.

Try some of my other easy Crockpot meals and desserts - 
Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore 

Crockpot Beef Vegetable Barley Soup

Crockpot Butternut Squash Soup

Crockpot Molton Lava Pudding Cake

Serve with Crockpot Bread Pudding and hard sauce for dessert.

Clean up your kitchen with my crochet handmade Dish Cloths from my Moomettes Crochet shop!

Crockpot Beef Stew

3 Tbl. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. ginger
3 lbs. beef chuck, cut in 2" cubes
2 Tbl. cooking oil
1 16-oz. can tomatoes
3 medium onions, sliced
1/3 c. red wine vinegar
1/2 c. molasses
1/2 c. water
6-8 carrots, cut on diagonal
1/2 c. raisins

Combine first 6 ingredients and sprinkle over beef cubes.
Brown beef in hot oil.
Remove to crockpot or slow cooker and add tomatoes, onions, carrots, vinegar, molasses and water.
Cook on low about 4 hours.
Add raisins and simmer about 30 minutes longer.

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© Frugal New England Kitchen 

photo credit: Back to the Cutting Board via photopin cc

Adapted from: Yankee's Main Dish Church Supper Cookbook