I'm becoming a fan of Sandorkraut

Last week I came across a blog post somewhere, I forget exactly, that mentioned a book called The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved by Sandor Ellix Katz aka "Sandorkraut". That title alone was enough to send me to the library website to see if it was in our local library system. It was, along with the above book, Wild Fermentation. I decided to reserve both. I thought I would read The Revolution first, but I was more drawn to Wild Fermentation for some reason. I have almost read it cover to cover now, and it is on my Amazon wish list.

Lately I am into ideas that challenge the "official" nutrition information we receive; information such as eat less fat, saturated fat is bad, cholesterol is bad, etc. Not only do Katz's books reject such information, with good documentation, his writing style is a joy to read. This guy is passionate about life, has a great sense of humor, and does not burden the reader with "common sense" reminders like "after you make this wonderful beer, remember to enjoy in moderation".

Katz's philosophy of food draws on ancient methods and wisdom, not modern food science. It rejects industrial farming and processed fake food. And it is not just about food; it is about a way of life that is less automated and sterilized, more alive. That goes along with the life I am trying to create here under the blue roof.

Do people know how to buy real FOOD anymore?

The other day at the convenience store end of the grocery store in town I was waiting to pay for gas. There were two parties ahead of me; one cashed in a couple of lottery tickets, but I am glad she didn't insist on scratching the new tickets right then and there.

The other party was a young couple with a toddler and a baby. They bought a bag of food, including milk, on WIC vouchers, and then, to lengthen the transaction, bought some other stuff with a debit card. I do not know and will not presume whether it was a food stamp thing. Anyway, they bought some frozen appetizer type things, and some plastic bottled vitamin water stuff.

I feel sorry for them. I don't think they know how to prepare real, nutritious food, or even how to get the best value for their obviously limited budget. I think they are a product of the convenience food generation, whose mothers were "liberated" from cooking real, nutritious meals and never looked back.

Monday's meal plan

Hotdogs. (With homemade buns!) Nachos. Crackerjacks. Coca-cola. And a 23 ounce Summit beer.

It's the Twins season opener. PARTY!

got eggs?

Apparently we've been a bit lax in the egg collecting department. Starflower and I collected these from the chicken house today. These are just the cleanest ones. What a colorful bunch, and not a white one anywhere!

Starflower says she'll take on egg collecting duties. For an allowance, of course.

Quiche anyone?

She's come undone!

I have been stepping up my efforts to get my family to make good food choices lately. So much, in fact, that The Hermit has started calling me "Sarge". Perhaps I have some control issues?

It's difficult, however, when I'm not the only one grocery shopping. When I shop, I usually make a list and stick to it. Sometimes I even get a bit neurotic about items on a list, and stand there in the aisle reading labels and thinking "do I go with the organic brand from California or is it okay to save a buck?" And yes, sometimes in a moment of weakness, I'll buy a bag of Doritos.

The Hermit is a bit more impulsive at the grocery store. I try to let most of it go in the name of marital harmony, but I have been scrutinizing receipts and letting my opinion be heard on certain items, like the perfect looking strawberries from California. NOT good. After all, it's my grocery money too, and I hate to see it wasted on less-than-desirable food.

This morning I had a meltdown over pancake mix. Blueberry pancake mix. I should know better than to read labels after a few too many cups of coffee. I nearly hit the ceiling when I saw "imitation blueberry bits". You don't even want to know what is in them. Nothing edible, that's for sure. I decided then and there that we would not be having imitation blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Luckily we had a bag of real blueberries in the freezer, which I added to some pancake mix that had passed my inspection at the grocery store.

I don't want to know how much money was spent on that box of imitation blueberry pancake mix, but I won't waste it. The box will go to the local food shelf, for some family who does not have the luxury of making food choices.

It makes me sick thinking that the only food some people can afford is not real food.

A change of name, and revival

How embarrassing. Six months since my last post here! But I have been busy...

Since I now live under a blue roof, I decided I should change the name of this blog to reflect the most distinguishing characteristic of my new domicile. We are settling in, things are getting in place, and this year I think will be a big one for advancing towards the life I want to live.

I approach all of this with thankfulness. In these tough economic times, many people are hurting. The Hermit and I may bitch about bills, and paying up all the improvements we made last year, but in reality we are doing quite well. For now. You never know what lies ahead, and I want to be prepared by adjusting my lifestyle, and that is what this blog will focus on. But I also want to include ways to keep on living the good life in tough times; simple abundance, good cheer.

May I post at least once a month in 2009! :)

Black bean soup

This is one of the few recipes that I've had so long, I can't remember where I got it. I wrote it in longhand on a quarter piece of paper that I reused from my office; the date of the original printout, visible on the back, was 06/03/94, so it was some time after that, but I was most likely still in my twenties. The recipe has been made many times; the paper has countless spills and stains on it.

With my interest in simple, whole foods stronger than ever, as well as my interest in recipes with ingredients I can grow myself, black bean soup deserves a much more frequent rotation in my cooking repertoire. It takes some time, but it is very adaptable to cooking in the slow cooker, or even on top of a wood stove, while I do other things.

Black bean soup

16 oz (2 cups) black beans, soaked (overnight, or boiled 1 minute then soaked 1 hour)
6 cups chicken broth (I use store bought organic broth, although I don't like all the packaging)

Bring to a boil in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; simmer 1 1/2- 2 hours until beans are tender. I did this part in the slow cooker yesterday, 5 hours on high, and the beans weren't quite as tender as I would have liked. I like them when they are almost falling apart.

2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 diced jalapeno, optional

Saute these while the beans are cooking. After a few minutes, add 2-3 garlic cloves, smashed and minced, and saute a few minutes more. Add to the beans and broth. Then add:

1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 medium potato, shredded
Splash of red wine
Salt and pepper to taste

Simmer one hour. Serve with fresh bread or garlic toast.