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Tuna Fish Stew

The Story

This recipe is a masterclass in efficiency and using every last asset. It's another "pantry stew," built entirely from shelf-stable or long-lasting ingredients: canned tuna, potatoes, and celery. Hard-boiled eggs add a crucial protein boost, another "store of value" that could be prepared ahead of time.

But the most important part of the original recipe is the last line: "Serve over stale bread." In a resilient household, nothing is wasted. "Stale bread" is not "waste"—it is a future asset. It becomes the "shingle" for Chipped Beef, the base for this stew, or the bulk for a meatloaf. This mindset is the key to economic survival.

The Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2-3 ribs of celery, chopped
  • 3-4 medium potatoes, chopped
  • 2 cans (5 oz) canned tuna fish (in oil or water)
  • 2-3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 2-3 cups milk
  • Water (as needed)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • (Optional: 1 Tbsp. butter or lard)
  • Stale bread or toast, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a soup pot, sauté the celery in butter or lard (or a little water) until about halfway cooked.
  2. Add the chopped potatoes and just enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the potatoes are tender. Do not drain.
  3. Reduce the heat and pour in the milk. Stir to heat through, but do not let it come to a rolling boil.
  4. Stir in the canned tuna (drained) and the chopped hard-boiled eggs.
  5. Let the stew heat through for another few minutes.
  6. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  7. Serve hot over slices of stale bread or toast.

The Economic Lesson

Principle: In a resilient system, there is no "waste," only under-utilized assets.

The "stale bread" is the most important part of this story. A centralized, top-down system defines it as "waste" and discards it. A resilient, grass-roots individual sees it as an "asset" and transforms it into a core part of a new product. This is the fundamental mindset of freedom.

A person who sees "stale bread" as an asset can never be truly poor. They see opportunity and value where others see only trash. This God-given dignity and ingenuity allows them to build a standard of living from the "scraps" of a broken economy. This is the definition of adapting to our current society: stop accepting the official definitions of "waste" and "value," and start creating our own.

Learn more at The Trading Post →