Homemade Veggie Stock Experience and Date Lady Syrup and Karitex Shea Buttter from Vegan Cuts

I was so excited to add another food saving thing to my repertoire. I haven't mastered it but it made my soup tastier.

So after searching the internet I used celery leaves, onion butts and garlic butts that filled one full gallon bag. I kept it in my freezer until I was ready and then I put it in a slow cooker on high for four hours. Then I sifted out the pieces over a bowl. I transferred the broth to containers and let them cool before putting in fridge.

When I made my soup it wasn't flavorful enough and I had to add a bunch more spices but I could tell it added some depth.

Maybe next time I will make sure I have more onions and garlic in it. I have another batch going.

I just bought some Date Lady syrup from Vegan Cuts. If you haven't heard Vegan Cuts is kinda like Groupon for vegans. For stuff not restaurants and businesses. So I got the syrup for $7.50 (12 oz) and their store sells it for $10. Good deal to me. Well, I mean bulk organic sugar is cheaper but I'm trying to eat more whole foods and I'm trying out dates so I thought this would be great since I don't have a high speed blender.

The date syrup is perfectly blended into a little thinner than molasses feel. And it actually reminds me of molasses when I eat it straight, but when I used it for my hot cocoa it was perfect!  So now lucky for me I have a "healthier" version of my hot cocoa. Water, Westsoy soymilk, and Wilderness naturals cocoa powder are the other ingredients. And sometimes I add Dandies jumbo marshmallows. Which has lots of refined sugar. Oh well!

I also got some Karitex Shea Butter. It was 1 lb for $13. I love shea butter and coconut oil. I use shea butter for my hands and feet and coconut oil for everything else. I also use some Desert Essence lotion from time to time when I don't feel in the mood for greasiness. Shea butter blends into my skin better than the coconut oil I feel like. It came in a baggy which I thought was cool because it used less packaging. It seems fresh too. I am already thinking I will order it again because shea butter is usually $20-28 at my local store. Which I love supporting local but I also want to support Vegan Cuts! :) I do what I can.