Can't make gluten free cheesecake or nanimo bars or smores without graham crackers. It's far more economical to make them than buy them at $6 a box, yikes!
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup of milk (low fat okay, non fat not okay)
1 1/2 cup all purpose Gluten free flour (I use Bob's Red Mill)
3/4 tsp xanthan gum
1/3 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add honey, vanilla and milk, mixing after each addition. Add flour, Xanthan gum, salt, baking soda, baking powder until well combined.
Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Roll out between two pieces of plastic wrap (may need to separate into two batches). Rechill in fridge for another 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into squares, and poke tops with a fork. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes, until the crackers are crisp. They puff up a bit but don't spread out too much. All them to cool completely before handling.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Cheesecake!
(Anything this good deserves an exclamation point)
I made a batch of gluten free mini cheesecakes for Christmas. It all started with the graham crackers. I had to make gluten free graham crackers, which didn't turn out too bad but sadly I did not get a picture of them. I borrowed a food processor from a friend (yay for communal sharing) and made the crackers into crumbs. I will post the graham cracker recipe after this post.
Cheesecake
3 cups of graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp of soft butter
Mix in a large bowl. Line mini cupcake pans with paper liners, not using the liners will result in the cakes sticking to the sides. Spoon a bit of graham crumbs into the bottoms and press down to make it flat.
In a mixing bowl, soften;
two 250gr packages of plain cream cheese
Add:
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix and then add:
2 eggs
Mix until smooth. This is when I divided the mixture into three separate bowls and added food colouring. Spoon into lined cupcake pan. These do not expand much so no need to worry about them overflowing while baking.
Bake in a 350F oven for 20 minutes, for mini cakes, 40 minutes for a whole pie-sized cheesecake.
Refrigerated for minimum 3 hours before serving. You can add a berry sauce on top before serving or keep them plain like I do for easy entertaining.
I made a batch of gluten free mini cheesecakes for Christmas. It all started with the graham crackers. I had to make gluten free graham crackers, which didn't turn out too bad but sadly I did not get a picture of them. I borrowed a food processor from a friend (yay for communal sharing) and made the crackers into crumbs. I will post the graham cracker recipe after this post.
Cheesecake
3 cups of graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp of soft butter
Mix in a large bowl. Line mini cupcake pans with paper liners, not using the liners will result in the cakes sticking to the sides. Spoon a bit of graham crumbs into the bottoms and press down to make it flat.
In a mixing bowl, soften;
two 250gr packages of plain cream cheese
Add:
1/2 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix and then add:
2 eggs
Mix until smooth. This is when I divided the mixture into three separate bowls and added food colouring. Spoon into lined cupcake pan. These do not expand much so no need to worry about them overflowing while baking.
Bake in a 350F oven for 20 minutes, for mini cakes, 40 minutes for a whole pie-sized cheesecake.
Refrigerated for minimum 3 hours before serving. You can add a berry sauce on top before serving or keep them plain like I do for easy entertaining.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Staying Active
This winter I have resolved to stay active. I plan to walk or hike whenever I can and have signed up for Yoga classes at a local studio. Today I intended to take my kids to city hall for a skate around the circular rink they have out front. In summer it's a beautiful water fountain, the perfect back drop for the farmer's market. We drove by yesterday on the way to the library and saw people skating. The kids begged me to go so since we already had skates, all we needed was for them to be sharpened. Well I decided to buy a pair for myself.
My kids were very excited. I was very nervous. I had visions of epic falls with bones cracking and people crying (me). But no, I did fine. Like getting on a bicycle. I wasn't fast or very pretty but I did it. And my legs are feeling funny, good, but funny.
We plan to go every week now until the ice melts. It should be a great way to keep moving even when the snow threatens to keep us inside.
My kids were very excited. I was very nervous. I had visions of epic falls with bones cracking and people crying (me). But no, I did fine. Like getting on a bicycle. I wasn't fast or very pretty but I did it. And my legs are feeling funny, good, but funny.
We plan to go every week now until the ice melts. It should be a great way to keep moving even when the snow threatens to keep us inside.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Natural Attitude
Since I began this long journey to live more naturally, I have noticed a phenomenon amongst like minded people and I must say I am not pleased about it. When I started I expected that when I met an individual with similar goals and aspirations that they would be supportive and helpful. I thought we were all there to help each other understand things and start making progress toward a more sustainable life. I actually thought I could find a community of people that I could bounce ideas off and garner support.
What I found was vastly different.
The economic downturn has brought urban homesteading to the forefront or mainstream and now it seems everyone is doing it. On one level this could be very good. Canning supplies are flying off the shelves. There are tonnes of new books being published on the subject. These are all great things for the most part but I also think it's created a new sense of competition. Instead of vying for the best gadgets or biggest house, now we are comparing pantries and garden plots.
Every time I meet like minded individuals the conversation quickly devolves into who has a bigger garden, how much jars have been put by and how natural a person's life is.
"Oh my kids NEVER eat sugar!"
"I would die if I had to live in the suburbs!"
"We NEVER exchange gifts during the holidays."
"That's not the best way. I do it this way..."
No support, just judgement. I don't even think people realize they are doing it. It's not only the things people say directly, but there seems to be an air of arrogance in a lot of people when it comes to living naturally. They know the way. They are better read on the subject, more experienced and better equipped than most. They are in essence more self sufficient.
I must say I have been flabbergasted at the number of conversations I have had recently that have left me feeling grossly inadequate and more or less the equivalent of a faker. It doesn't matter what I accomplish, someone has done better. Someone has a bigger garden, a more stocked pantry and a more simply life. Or at least they pretend to. Sigh.
This would all be very discouraging if it weren't for the simple fact that I am not doing this to impress people. I am not living simply and naturally so I can show everyone else up and act as if I am better. I am doing it for my family's health and the health of the planet. I have been on this simplicity journey for over three years and love it. Each year I learn more and get closer to my goals, as fluid as they are.
If homesteading is in the mainstream to stay then I would hope things will settle down and people will stop being so competitive about it. We need to just live and be a source of encouragement for others who are trying to do the same.
What I found was vastly different.
The economic downturn has brought urban homesteading to the forefront or mainstream and now it seems everyone is doing it. On one level this could be very good. Canning supplies are flying off the shelves. There are tonnes of new books being published on the subject. These are all great things for the most part but I also think it's created a new sense of competition. Instead of vying for the best gadgets or biggest house, now we are comparing pantries and garden plots.
Every time I meet like minded individuals the conversation quickly devolves into who has a bigger garden, how much jars have been put by and how natural a person's life is.
"Oh my kids NEVER eat sugar!"
"I would die if I had to live in the suburbs!"
"We NEVER exchange gifts during the holidays."
"That's not the best way. I do it this way..."
No support, just judgement. I don't even think people realize they are doing it. It's not only the things people say directly, but there seems to be an air of arrogance in a lot of people when it comes to living naturally. They know the way. They are better read on the subject, more experienced and better equipped than most. They are in essence more self sufficient.
I must say I have been flabbergasted at the number of conversations I have had recently that have left me feeling grossly inadequate and more or less the equivalent of a faker. It doesn't matter what I accomplish, someone has done better. Someone has a bigger garden, a more stocked pantry and a more simply life. Or at least they pretend to. Sigh.
This would all be very discouraging if it weren't for the simple fact that I am not doing this to impress people. I am not living simply and naturally so I can show everyone else up and act as if I am better. I am doing it for my family's health and the health of the planet. I have been on this simplicity journey for over three years and love it. Each year I learn more and get closer to my goals, as fluid as they are.
If homesteading is in the mainstream to stay then I would hope things will settle down and people will stop being so competitive about it. We need to just live and be a source of encouragement for others who are trying to do the same.
Snowballs- Gluten Free Naturally
Snowballs
2.5 cups white chocolate chips
2/3 cups of whipping cream
Place in a bowl over boiling water (or double boiler) and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of almond pieces. Stir until combined.
Pour in a greased 8x8 pan and place in the fridge for an hour.
Here's a homemade Christmas chocolate recipe that is always a hit.
Once cooled, and somewhat solid, scoop out with a spoon and roll into a ball with your hands. Roll the ball in coconut and set on wax paper. Once all the balls are completed place in fridge or freezer. These chocolates are so good when frozen but you could leave them on a tray for guests and they will be a hit.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Getting Ready for Christmas
I am a planner, but I wasn't always this way. I use to get by (barely) by just throwing in some of this, a sprinkle of that and pray that everything turns out. I wasted a lot of time and A LOT of money doing this in my early days of homemaking. Christmas was especially bad but over the years I have tweaked a system for Christmas, especially for the huge amount of baking I do.
I do A LOT of entertaining over the holidays. We are invited to lots of potlucks and special activities but I don't always have the time to make homemade christmas treats for all these occasions. A few years ago I started the season with one big bake. I do all my cookies and squares and freeze them. If I need a quick tray of treats for a party I just pull them out and dethaw. The big bake doesn`t all happen in one day. I start with one thing one day and another thing the next. Sometimes recipes lend themselves to pairing so I do them together. I
The baking season begins when I sit down with my recipe books, and a notepad and decide which goodies I want to make. This year was especially interesting because I wanted to focus on recipes that were naturally gluten free. I did not want the added expense of tonnes of gluten free flour, especially for people who aren't necessarily gluten free. I needed recipes that would be good for my celiac husband and kids and yummy for our guests.
This year I decided to make:
Mint Fudge
Snowballs (White chocolate, almonds and coconut)
Nanimo Bars (with homemade, gluten free graham cracker crumbs)
Magic Bars (more GF graham crackers)
Mini Cheesecake (and again more graham crackers)
Sugar cutout cookies (our one and only recipe that requires flour. I will probably make two batches, a gluten free one and a regular one)
I also plan to make Christmas Cookies in a Jar for quick gifts for my daughter's Girl Guide Leaders, my son's Aikido instructors and the neighbours.
So with this list I wrote out all the ingredients I needed using tally marks to indicate the number of cups I need for each item. I'll need 5 cups of sugar, 6 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, 4 cups of coconut and so on. This makes my page look super messy so before I go shopping I write out the entire list with a price beside it, indicating how much money I should spend on each item.
Then, I hit the shops. I am heading out this afternoon so when I get back I will debrief you on the success of my mission.
I do A LOT of entertaining over the holidays. We are invited to lots of potlucks and special activities but I don't always have the time to make homemade christmas treats for all these occasions. A few years ago I started the season with one big bake. I do all my cookies and squares and freeze them. If I need a quick tray of treats for a party I just pull them out and dethaw. The big bake doesn`t all happen in one day. I start with one thing one day and another thing the next. Sometimes recipes lend themselves to pairing so I do them together. I
The baking season begins when I sit down with my recipe books, and a notepad and decide which goodies I want to make. This year was especially interesting because I wanted to focus on recipes that were naturally gluten free. I did not want the added expense of tonnes of gluten free flour, especially for people who aren't necessarily gluten free. I needed recipes that would be good for my celiac husband and kids and yummy for our guests.
This year I decided to make:
Mint Fudge
Snowballs (White chocolate, almonds and coconut)
Nanimo Bars (with homemade, gluten free graham cracker crumbs)
Magic Bars (more GF graham crackers)
Mini Cheesecake (and again more graham crackers)
Sugar cutout cookies (our one and only recipe that requires flour. I will probably make two batches, a gluten free one and a regular one)
I also plan to make Christmas Cookies in a Jar for quick gifts for my daughter's Girl Guide Leaders, my son's Aikido instructors and the neighbours.
So with this list I wrote out all the ingredients I needed using tally marks to indicate the number of cups I need for each item. I'll need 5 cups of sugar, 6 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, 4 cups of coconut and so on. This makes my page look super messy so before I go shopping I write out the entire list with a price beside it, indicating how much money I should spend on each item.
Then, I hit the shops. I am heading out this afternoon so when I get back I will debrief you on the success of my mission.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Making a Wreath
I made a new wreath for my door and I am quite pleased with the results. I used a newer product called "Poly Resin Deco Mesh". It's a plastic type of mesh-like fabric that comes in all sorts of colours and styles. I found some reasonably priced rolls at my local green house that also specializes in greenery for the holiday season.
Using a 50 per cent off coupon for Michael's, I bought a wire wreath form and some floral wire.
You start by bunching the mesh and tying to the wire wreath with the floral wire. Billow the mesh and tie another bunch to the wire wreath making sure it is very close to the first tie. This makes a nice tight billow of fabric. As you go around the wreath try to make sure the billows are consistent so the wreath looks even.
I also bought some Christmas balls and tied them together with wire. I placed these throughout the wreath.
The store also sold pre-made ones for $30 or more, but mine only cost $12 because I did it myself. There are some Youtube videos put out by the companies that make the product and I found these visual tutorials very helpful.
Using a 50 per cent off coupon for Michael's, I bought a wire wreath form and some floral wire.
You start by bunching the mesh and tying to the wire wreath with the floral wire. Billow the mesh and tie another bunch to the wire wreath making sure it is very close to the first tie. This makes a nice tight billow of fabric. As you go around the wreath try to make sure the billows are consistent so the wreath looks even.
I also bought some Christmas balls and tied them together with wire. I placed these throughout the wreath.
The store also sold pre-made ones for $30 or more, but mine only cost $12 because I did it myself. There are some Youtube videos put out by the companies that make the product and I found these visual tutorials very helpful.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Pressure Canning Workshop
A few weekends ago I attended at Pressure Canning Workshop at my favourite organic farm, Everdale. I found out that I am totally screwed in the canning department. While I had fun and could see myself attempting some concoctions at home to compliment my water-bath canning and freezing preservation techniques, I am not sure I can participate.
Meet my nemisis:
A glass top range that came with the house. I never had any particular liking to glass top but would take it if it was here. This is not good. Not if I want to pressure can. I learned that glass tops are not sturdy enough to handle the weight of the canner and filled jars. Pooh!
I could purchase a hot plate, but I am afriad even that would damage my glass top or counter tops. The instructor suggested I use a concret garden stone to place the hot plate on but again I am worried about my countertops.
Had I known I would have saved our oven/range from the old house (instead of selling it) and stored it in the garage for use when I am pressure canning. Hindsight is always 20/20. So this project must go on the back burner (ha!) until I can figure out an alternative.
In the meantime I have this lovely soup as a reminder of my class. It looks almost too good to eat...almost.
Meet my nemisis:
A glass top range that came with the house. I never had any particular liking to glass top but would take it if it was here. This is not good. Not if I want to pressure can. I learned that glass tops are not sturdy enough to handle the weight of the canner and filled jars. Pooh!
I could purchase a hot plate, but I am afriad even that would damage my glass top or counter tops. The instructor suggested I use a concret garden stone to place the hot plate on but again I am worried about my countertops.
Had I known I would have saved our oven/range from the old house (instead of selling it) and stored it in the garage for use when I am pressure canning. Hindsight is always 20/20. So this project must go on the back burner (ha!) until I can figure out an alternative.
In the meantime I have this lovely soup as a reminder of my class. It looks almost too good to eat...almost.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Around The House
Everything is packed away in preparation for winter's inevitable arrival. We spent time last weekend putting the garden to bed. Today we stashed all the outdoor patio furniture in the garage. The only thing left out are the two bird feeders I plan to keep stocked this winter now that the birds have discovered we are giving away perfectly good food. Last winter I saw no birds which led me to believe perhaps the suburbs are not bird friendly. We have quite a few large trees so their absence baffled me. Maybe now they will come more often since we have been feeding them all summer.
We made our last trip to the farm stand for the season. We picked up a 50lb bag of potatoes, some pumpkins, peppers, and apples. I had hoped they had broccoli or cauliflower but no. I'd love to do some more blanching but I am afraid my freezer is jam packed. This predicament has brought the need for another freezer to the fore front of my mind. I'd like an upright one, the ones that are like fridges but are all freezer space. It would take up less floor space and be a bit more accessible for me to find what I need.
After some research I found out the least expensive upright is about $500. A savings plan is now in order. Even though I know appliances usually go on sale during the Christmas season, I have promised myself to hold off. No doubt there will be another good appliance sale in February or March, and that will give me more time to save the cash. In the meantime I will research and window shop for the right make and model.
My birthday is on Wednesday so I hope to get in some fun stuff to enjoy the day. Friends are gathering here on Saturday to celebrate both my husband's and my birthdays because his birthday is exactly seven days after mine. I shall have to find a gluten free cake recipe for the party.
Halloween is creeping up on me though. I plan to spend tomorrow morning sewing my daughters Alice in Wonderland costume. The pieces are all cut so now I get to do the fun part. This may be my last year making her a costume. She is getting older now, and needs more and more fabric each year. This is getting expensive. I told her next year she may want to consider making the costumer herself. And surprisingly she thought it was a great idea.
Other than that things are pretty much same old, same old. I am having a hard time finding things to write about that I think you all would be interested in. Is this the beginning of the end for this blog?
*** pictures were taken during a recent visit to a heritage village we visited on Thanksgiving weekend.
We made our last trip to the farm stand for the season. We picked up a 50lb bag of potatoes, some pumpkins, peppers, and apples. I had hoped they had broccoli or cauliflower but no. I'd love to do some more blanching but I am afraid my freezer is jam packed. This predicament has brought the need for another freezer to the fore front of my mind. I'd like an upright one, the ones that are like fridges but are all freezer space. It would take up less floor space and be a bit more accessible for me to find what I need.
After some research I found out the least expensive upright is about $500. A savings plan is now in order. Even though I know appliances usually go on sale during the Christmas season, I have promised myself to hold off. No doubt there will be another good appliance sale in February or March, and that will give me more time to save the cash. In the meantime I will research and window shop for the right make and model.
My birthday is on Wednesday so I hope to get in some fun stuff to enjoy the day. Friends are gathering here on Saturday to celebrate both my husband's and my birthdays because his birthday is exactly seven days after mine. I shall have to find a gluten free cake recipe for the party.
Halloween is creeping up on me though. I plan to spend tomorrow morning sewing my daughters Alice in Wonderland costume. The pieces are all cut so now I get to do the fun part. This may be my last year making her a costume. She is getting older now, and needs more and more fabric each year. This is getting expensive. I told her next year she may want to consider making the costumer herself. And surprisingly she thought it was a great idea.
Other than that things are pretty much same old, same old. I am having a hard time finding things to write about that I think you all would be interested in. Is this the beginning of the end for this blog?
*** pictures were taken during a recent visit to a heritage village we visited on Thanksgiving weekend.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins
I am trying to get back to my old kitchen tricks which hasn't been easy since finding out 3/4 of my family has Celiac Disease. I had success with a loaf of bread last week so yesterday I took a stab at muffins. Apples are all over my kitchen at present so they were a natural flavour to use right now.
These muffins have a nice nutty sugar topping which also makes them lovely to behold. This recipe would also work for regular bakers, and not just gluten free ones. Simply use your own flour and exclude the Xanthan gum.
Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Muffin Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour)
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
2 tsp of cinnamon
3/4 tsp of Xanthan Gum
Mix.
1/4 cup of shortening
Cut in the shortening until none of the pieces are larger than a pea.
Add;
2 eggs
2/3 cups of milk
and mix. If the dough is really thick just add in a bit more milk.
1 cup of apple pieces
Spoon into muffin cups until 2/3 full.
Topping
1/4 cups of brown sugar
1/8 cup of almond slices
2 tbsp of oats (if you can tolerate them, oats are on the fence for Celiacs)
2 tbsp of butter, soften to mix
Sprinkle topping over unbaked muffins and place in the oven at 350 degrees F. bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy!
These muffins have a nice nutty sugar topping which also makes them lovely to behold. This recipe would also work for regular bakers, and not just gluten free ones. Simply use your own flour and exclude the Xanthan gum.
Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Muffin Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Flour)
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
2 tsp of cinnamon
3/4 tsp of Xanthan Gum
Mix.
1/4 cup of shortening
Cut in the shortening until none of the pieces are larger than a pea.
Add;
2 eggs
2/3 cups of milk
and mix. If the dough is really thick just add in a bit more milk.
1 cup of apple pieces
Spoon into muffin cups until 2/3 full.
Topping
1/4 cups of brown sugar
1/8 cup of almond slices
2 tbsp of oats (if you can tolerate them, oats are on the fence for Celiacs)
2 tbsp of butter, soften to mix
Sprinkle topping over unbaked muffins and place in the oven at 350 degrees F. bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Enjoy!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
First Loaf of Gluten-Free Bread
Last weekend was Thanksgiving and I was desperate to still have turkey with homemade stuffing. As convenient as buying bread off the shelf is right now, paying $6 a loaf for gluten free bread is not my idea of a good buy so I decided to finally take a crack at making my own gluten free loaf.
It worked! There was this amazing freshly baked smell, something I had been missing and it actually seemed a bit easier to make than regular bread, just with a few extra ingredients. The stuffing turned out wonderfully and we had our regular Thanksgiving dinner. I used cornstarch in the gravy instead of flour. The only thing missing was a apple dessert of some sort. We opted for ice cream because I just didn't have time that weekend for dessert making.
It worked! There was this amazing freshly baked smell, something I had been missing and it actually seemed a bit easier to make than regular bread, just with a few extra ingredients. The stuffing turned out wonderfully and we had our regular Thanksgiving dinner. I used cornstarch in the gravy instead of flour. The only thing missing was a apple dessert of some sort. We opted for ice cream because I just didn't have time that weekend for dessert making.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Not Quite the Same
Apple season lacks that bit of spark this year. In years past I would take over the kitchen with my bushel of freshly picked apples and endeavor to make apple crisps and unbaked pies for the freezer. One year I made 10 of each and that entire winter we were in baked apple heaven. I won't be doing that this year and it makes me very sad.
Remember this summer when I stopped eating wheat after a holistic friend recommended it to me? I worked wonders for my energy and weight. My husband was impressed and joined me. He soon found out, after years of elimination diets, food journals and excruciating pain that he has Celiac Disease. He has suffered (not so silently) for 16 years with major stomach pain, frequent bathroom visits and doctor visit after doctor visit. He was erroneously diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Sydrone a few years ago but never found relief from his symptoms until now. It's confirmed. Gluten is out.
Slowly but surely I am adapting. I am discovering new family favourites and converting old favourites if I can. It has been a big change for me who is used to baking bread and treats without much thought to anything but cost. Now these things, baking from scratch, are no longer cost effective and have, for the most part, not found a new place in our diet. A batch of rice flour cookies won't be on our menu any time soon because 1) it costs too much and 2) it's not the healthiest anyway.
That means those oddles of pies and crisps are out of my seasonal routine. As is bread baking, muffin making and most methods of stretching our budget with regard to home baking. I just don't do it anymore. I have however rev'd up my processing of fruits and veggies knowing that our diet consists mainly of this food group.
We went apple picking today but it just wasn't the same. We purchased half a bushel which will last a few weeks until we head out for another batch. I am getting used to this but it feels like all those years of getting into a homestead routine are for not, because I will have to rely on imported rice flour, potato flour and the like just to make a loaf of bread. I am hoping one day I won't notice the change, and that it will become second nature but for now I am finding it difficult.
Remember this summer when I stopped eating wheat after a holistic friend recommended it to me? I worked wonders for my energy and weight. My husband was impressed and joined me. He soon found out, after years of elimination diets, food journals and excruciating pain that he has Celiac Disease. He has suffered (not so silently) for 16 years with major stomach pain, frequent bathroom visits and doctor visit after doctor visit. He was erroneously diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Sydrone a few years ago but never found relief from his symptoms until now. It's confirmed. Gluten is out.
Slowly but surely I am adapting. I am discovering new family favourites and converting old favourites if I can. It has been a big change for me who is used to baking bread and treats without much thought to anything but cost. Now these things, baking from scratch, are no longer cost effective and have, for the most part, not found a new place in our diet. A batch of rice flour cookies won't be on our menu any time soon because 1) it costs too much and 2) it's not the healthiest anyway.
That means those oddles of pies and crisps are out of my seasonal routine. As is bread baking, muffin making and most methods of stretching our budget with regard to home baking. I just don't do it anymore. I have however rev'd up my processing of fruits and veggies knowing that our diet consists mainly of this food group.
We went apple picking today but it just wasn't the same. We purchased half a bushel which will last a few weeks until we head out for another batch. I am getting used to this but it feels like all those years of getting into a homestead routine are for not, because I will have to rely on imported rice flour, potato flour and the like just to make a loaf of bread. I am hoping one day I won't notice the change, and that it will become second nature but for now I am finding it difficult.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tomato Season
I came home from a 10 day vacation expecting my garden to be toast. I had canned 8 jars of tomatoes before we left so I figured I would be lucky to be able to do a few more once I got back. The plants looked a little worse for ware, all limp and brown with only a few tomatoes left on the vines but once I started rooting though and picking good (as in non-squishy, non-rotting) tomatoes I filled basket after basket. All the baskets were full and I had only gone through half of the garden.
So the last 5 days have been a flurry of blanching and canning. I processed 10 more jars of tomatoes and then I made 13 jars of salsa.I also picked another wicker basket full but I ran out of canning jars. I think I probably have enough for 15 or more jars.
This is very exciting. I have never had such a prosperous garden. Some things went wrong this year but a fair number of things went right. I still lost a fair amount when we went away and those tomatoes are waiting to be worked right into the soil for next year. I still need to harvest my carrots and parsnips. I am also happy to report 6 smallish pumpkins have turned orange.
So the last 5 days have been a flurry of blanching and canning. I processed 10 more jars of tomatoes and then I made 13 jars of salsa.I also picked another wicker basket full but I ran out of canning jars. I think I probably have enough for 15 or more jars.
This is very exciting. I have never had such a prosperous garden. Some things went wrong this year but a fair number of things went right. I still lost a fair amount when we went away and those tomatoes are waiting to be worked right into the soil for next year. I still need to harvest my carrots and parsnips. I am also happy to report 6 smallish pumpkins have turned orange.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
My New Glasses
I finally got glasses. It took me a while to find the right frames and even when I found these and paid for them, I still was not sure. I think they suit me now that I have them.
My son said, "Mom, you look really smart."
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Can It!
This post is long overdue but hey, better late than never. In July I attended a canning workshop at my most favourite organic farm, Everdale. I have taken a bee keeping course there, a soap making course and now I can add canning to my list. I have been canning at home for a few years now but wanted to take the course to pick up a few pointers I might not have already known. This water bath canning course is a pre-requisite for the Pressure Canning workshop they are offering in November so it's a win-win.
During the day we canned Garlic Scapes. I have never tried these before, hadn't even heard of them before and I must admit I am a little scared to try them. They look lovely in the jar though. The process of these is similar to pickles, with raw food going in the jars and then adding a brine.
We also made rhubarb strawberry jam which tasted de-lish during our end of session taste testing, so I can not wait to open the jar I was allowed to take home.
The workshop was exactly what I needed to jump start my canning season and get me back into my canning. I am gearing up to do some tomatoes before we leave on our vacation in a week. I am headed to the States for a writers retreat which we have tacked on a family vacation. I am fairly busy right now with writing critiques and working on my novel. I hadn't accomplished as much canning as I would have liked and I have sadly neglected my garden beds. There is always next year.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Me on a diet
No, I'm not actually on a diet, just changed my diet. You may remember a few posts ago where I explained my new raw food kick. It's been nearly two months now and I have to say I am feeling pretty good about myself. I have more energy than every before. I sleep better. I perform household tasks with more interest. I have never felt so good, so energetic, so alive.
I have pretty much been able to avoid wheat, a stance which has morphed into avoiding gluten. Sugar as well, though this is harder to avoid for a chocoholic like me. The hardest part of my dietary change is visiting others. I never know what is going to be available to eat and it's been a challenge to remember to bring my own sustenance. For instance, I went to a child's birthday party recently and heard the dinner was to be take out pizza. Red flags went off in my brain. I knew if I ate the pizza, even a single slice that I would be passed out on the couch either sleeping or in complete agony with my stomach rolling and turning. I was able to run out and grab a store prepared salad but I felt awkward, different, maybe even a bit like a "difficult person". No one wants to be difficult. I certainly don't but I also don't want to keep gaining weight like I have been or be in constant agony because of wheat.
After learning I had lost 11 lbs a friend asked what I eat because from her stance wheat is in everything. And she's right... well almost everything.
I have a smoothie for breakfast most mornings and have been known to whip one up and take it with me in a travel mug if I need to be out the door in a hurry. These smoothies are pure energy with four servings of fruit and sometimes yogurt. I don't drink coffee, or tea. Ever. I had cereal once a few weeks ago to try to break up my routine which had turned into a rut and I will never do that again. My stomach does not like it and my blood sugar gets all goofy so I learned my lesson quick. I guess I had been so use to the pain and discomfort when I eat wheat every day that now that I am off wheat I can really notice how my body responds.
For lunch I will have a baked potato, or leftovers from the night before. I am always snacking on carrots, grapes, cheese, milk as the day goes on that some days I don't eat a lunch. For dinner we'll have burgers (no bun for me) and a salad, or rice pasta with salad. I can have shepard's pie, chicken ceasar salad, chicken and rice etc. With the cold weather coming we will have more soups and chilies. After dinner I might have ice cream, or popcorn, or rice cakes or fruit.
That's pretty much it. I try to walk or do some physical activity in the garden every day. Now that I feel like I have my energy back it is easy for me to accomplish my task lists whereas before it felt like I had lead in my feet. I can't express to you the difference I have felt. I no longer feel lethargic or sleepy. I feel good for the first time in years. Next I want to lower my consumption of meat but in the meantime I am content with changing one aspect of my diet, that way I don't overwhelm myself with too much change.
I have pretty much been able to avoid wheat, a stance which has morphed into avoiding gluten. Sugar as well, though this is harder to avoid for a chocoholic like me. The hardest part of my dietary change is visiting others. I never know what is going to be available to eat and it's been a challenge to remember to bring my own sustenance. For instance, I went to a child's birthday party recently and heard the dinner was to be take out pizza. Red flags went off in my brain. I knew if I ate the pizza, even a single slice that I would be passed out on the couch either sleeping or in complete agony with my stomach rolling and turning. I was able to run out and grab a store prepared salad but I felt awkward, different, maybe even a bit like a "difficult person". No one wants to be difficult. I certainly don't but I also don't want to keep gaining weight like I have been or be in constant agony because of wheat.
After learning I had lost 11 lbs a friend asked what I eat because from her stance wheat is in everything. And she's right... well almost everything.
I have a smoothie for breakfast most mornings and have been known to whip one up and take it with me in a travel mug if I need to be out the door in a hurry. These smoothies are pure energy with four servings of fruit and sometimes yogurt. I don't drink coffee, or tea. Ever. I had cereal once a few weeks ago to try to break up my routine which had turned into a rut and I will never do that again. My stomach does not like it and my blood sugar gets all goofy so I learned my lesson quick. I guess I had been so use to the pain and discomfort when I eat wheat every day that now that I am off wheat I can really notice how my body responds.
For lunch I will have a baked potato, or leftovers from the night before. I am always snacking on carrots, grapes, cheese, milk as the day goes on that some days I don't eat a lunch. For dinner we'll have burgers (no bun for me) and a salad, or rice pasta with salad. I can have shepard's pie, chicken ceasar salad, chicken and rice etc. With the cold weather coming we will have more soups and chilies. After dinner I might have ice cream, or popcorn, or rice cakes or fruit.
That's pretty much it. I try to walk or do some physical activity in the garden every day. Now that I feel like I have my energy back it is easy for me to accomplish my task lists whereas before it felt like I had lead in my feet. I can't express to you the difference I have felt. I no longer feel lethargic or sleepy. I feel good for the first time in years. Next I want to lower my consumption of meat but in the meantime I am content with changing one aspect of my diet, that way I don't overwhelm myself with too much change.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Corn on the Cob
Nothing beats fresh from the farm corn on the cob but blanching and freezing that corn is a good second best. I started blanching and freezing locally grown corn a few summers ago. Once I figured out the technique I was blanching everything I could find.
Blanching is like semi-cooking food, halting enzyme production which ultimately spoil food over the long run. It is a better technique than just washing vegetables and throwing them in the freezer. Blanching creates a nicer texture while simply freezing vegetables can make them stringy, too soft and just not palatable.
So here's what I do:
De-husk corn and remove silks. Wash and set aside.
Boil a large pot of water on the stove. Once at a rolling boil add as many corn as you can fit. Let corn sit in the boiling water for 2 minutes, no more. Then immediately removed and plunge in ice cold water to stop the cooking process.
Now you may cut the corn into niblets or leave on cobs and freeze whole. I use to use individual bags but found it very wasteful so now I use larger freezer bags.
These two bags equal approximately 18 cobs of corn. I did the math last summer and found this to be very cost effective vs the frozen corn purchased from a store.
Monday, August 15, 2011
When Good Tomatoes Go Bad: Round Two
I have made an unpleasant discovery among my tomato plants this week. The ones which turned orange first have an unmistakable rotting spot on the bottom. I picked nearly an entire basket of rotten tomatoes from my 30 plants and just about cried. I still have more ripening as I type and upon inspection they all seem to be doing fine, so what the heck happened to this first round of tomatoes.
Apparently I have a crop suffering from Blossom Rot, which is a condition brought about by lack of calcium in the plant and surrounding soil. This can also be an issue for plants experiencing a higher than normal dry spell because moisture helps the plant soak up calcium.
I don't think my problem was the soil, more than likely the root of the cause (no pun intended) was the three week period when we had a municipally imposed watering ban. For nearly four weeks in July we experienced less than 2 inches of rain fall. This would not have been an issue had I installed rain barrels but as it is, rain barrels are on my extremely long list of household needs and I simply had not gotten there yet.
As I was canning pickles and jams, I let my canning "bath water" cool before spreading it over my plants. I did whatever I could to keep them alive and prayed for rain lest I loose my whole crop. It seemed to work because the plants are alive but the fruit is lacking calcium.
A suggested cure is sprinkling Epsom salts while planting next spring. Another source suggested egg shells. I shall have to try this in the future and see how my tomatoes fair. For now I shall watch and wait, hoping I get enough to can whole or even mix in to make salsa. Only time will tell.
In other news I harvested some more goodies from the garden; a cantaloupe (musk melon), three green peppers and some more onions hiding in the dirt. Not all is lost. It's still been a great year.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thrifty Find
I bought this lovely soft yellow stock pot at Goodwill last week during the 50 per cent off sale. This had got to be the most beautiful pot I have ever seen. I have been using it to cook and blanch corn but I also plan to use it as a secondary canning pot. It cost me $5.
The wooden spoons were also a nice find at fifty cents. They are decorative since I am not sure they are food grade but they will fit in nicely with my primitive decorating scheme.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
My Cats
We have four cats...they were all strays at one point and either showed up at our door or begged us to take them home with us. They have been a great source of entertainment all these years. I love them dearly.
Augutus "Sneezer"
Ember
10 foot drop...this is his favourite hang out.
Mortal enemies. Ember behind the chair, Theadora sleeping unaware...this can not turn out well.
"No cats on the table!"..."I'm not on the table. I'm in the basket!"
Augutus "Sneezer"
Ember
10 foot drop...this is his favourite hang out.
Mortal enemies. Ember behind the chair, Theadora sleeping unaware...this can not turn out well.
"No cats on the table!"..."I'm not on the table. I'm in the basket!"
Friday, August 5, 2011
Garden of Eatin'
I am amazed at how much food my garden has provided me this summer. I spent a number of hours in the spring building raised beds, hauling soil and planting but after that, harvesting is the easy part.
This is a basket I brought to my sister with homegrown potatoes, onions, and carrots. I included some jars of homegrown, home canned pickles and jams.
Last week I harvested my onions. The tops fell over signalling their finished state. I let them dry on my deck at first but then brought them inside because of threatening rain.
The tomatoes are almost ready and the melons too. Corn is nice and tall but I think I planted them too close together so next year I will spread them out more.
Pumpkins
cantaloupe
The potatoes have finished as well. I waited for them to flower but they never did. The green tops just fell over so I dug them up. They are very tasty and ever so easy! I am definitely planting more next year.
I also found a fully grown apple tree in my backyard. This was a delight to find. We planted three trees in the front (and two pear trees) but currently we only have two apples on one of the trees. They will take a while to produce. This one in the backyard is bending under the weight of the apples. The apples are small and I think the tree needs to be pruned but it's still a young tree, no more than 7 years so I should be able to bring it back to life.
All in all, my new garden at my new house is doing excellent!
This is a basket I brought to my sister with homegrown potatoes, onions, and carrots. I included some jars of homegrown, home canned pickles and jams.
Last week I harvested my onions. The tops fell over signalling their finished state. I let them dry on my deck at first but then brought them inside because of threatening rain.
The tomatoes are almost ready and the melons too. Corn is nice and tall but I think I planted them too close together so next year I will spread them out more.
Pumpkins
cantaloupe
The potatoes have finished as well. I waited for them to flower but they never did. The green tops just fell over so I dug them up. They are very tasty and ever so easy! I am definitely planting more next year.
I also found a fully grown apple tree in my backyard. This was a delight to find. We planted three trees in the front (and two pear trees) but currently we only have two apples on one of the trees. They will take a while to produce. This one in the backyard is bending under the weight of the apples. The apples are small and I think the tree needs to be pruned but it's still a young tree, no more than 7 years so I should be able to bring it back to life.
All in all, my new garden at my new house is doing excellent!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Apple Chips
Slice two Granny Smith apples with a mandoline or other tool that will provide consistent thickness.
Spread out on parchment paper on cookies sheets in a single layer. Set oven to the lowest temperature. 115 degrees F is ideal but mine only goes down to 170, so I do that.
Flip the slices once after an hour or so and replace in the oven. Should be done within 4 to 6 hours depending on thickness.
Ultimately a raw food is any food not cooked above 115 degrees F, this includes dehydrated food. A commercially bought or home built solar dehydrator is best for these types of recipes. I plan to continue experimenting before plunking down $130 bucks for one.
They taste like sweet apple-ly chips... how else can I describe them? My daughter and I devoured them in 5 minutes so now I have to make some more!
Spread out on parchment paper on cookies sheets in a single layer. Set oven to the lowest temperature. 115 degrees F is ideal but mine only goes down to 170, so I do that.
Flip the slices once after an hour or so and replace in the oven. Should be done within 4 to 6 hours depending on thickness.
Ultimately a raw food is any food not cooked above 115 degrees F, this includes dehydrated food. A commercially bought or home built solar dehydrator is best for these types of recipes. I plan to continue experimenting before plunking down $130 bucks for one.
They taste like sweet apple-ly chips... how else can I describe them? My daughter and I devoured them in 5 minutes so now I have to make some more!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Smoothies
I bought a blender recently and have been making smoothies non-stop. This recipe is my favourite.
2 cups frozen strawberries
2 cups of orange juice
2 bananas
1/2 cup of yogurt (if desired)
Blend.
This makes enough for my two kids and I. I usually take my portion out before adding the yogurt, since I am avoiding diary products. The orange juice I have been using is calcium fortified so it make up for the loss in calcium. This is the perfect, most complete breakfast I have ever had!
Essentially you can use whatever fruits you like, and the juice can be milk or another type. Get creative.
Experimenting with Raw Food
Tired of feeling sick and tired? Yeah, me too. I decided recently that I can make a few small changes every day and it will do wonders in helping me feel more energetic and alive. I have been lurking on Raw Food forums, websites and youtube channels collecting data and experiences. I have a few friends within the homeschooling community who participate in the Raw Food Lifestyle and they all look amazing. Women with two, three and seven kids who are attentive to their bodies and the nourishment they need. Now why can't I be like that?
Making the switch to a diet prominent in raw food takes a bit of warming up to. I have been stalling and procrastinating for sometime even though I know the benefits are worth the discomfort. It's only uncomfortable because it's not what I am use to. I crave sweets without realizing it. I am never full and always lethargic. Here's how I have started my journey to healthier eating.
I bought a blender and eat a fruit smoothie every morning (recipe to follow). I plan to change it up and try new ingredients. All in all, this is a great energy boost with lots of good fiber and just the right amount of sweetness. Last year at about this time I was making juice concentrate and canning it. Never again. Even then I knew all the goodness was being stripped and all I was left with was coloured sugar water. I am going to be taking that recipe down off my blog.
I have ready fruits and veggies in the fridge that have been washed and slice. It's easy to grab a handful when I have the nibblies.
The most important thing I have done is swear off bread products and severely limited my diary intake. At some point I may just do away with dairy all together but we shall see. I am truly just listening to my body, recognizing how it feels after eating certain foods. I am not counting calories or fat grams. I am, however, keeping a food journal. I can tell you already I feel amazing! I have energy to spare. I am getting more done in my day. I can think clearly and love that I am not struggling like I used to to get through the day.
I can't say I will go 100 per cent raw, of course it depends how my body responds. I can say that there is enough inspiration out there to keep me motivated.
Making the switch to a diet prominent in raw food takes a bit of warming up to. I have been stalling and procrastinating for sometime even though I know the benefits are worth the discomfort. It's only uncomfortable because it's not what I am use to. I crave sweets without realizing it. I am never full and always lethargic. Here's how I have started my journey to healthier eating.
I bought a blender and eat a fruit smoothie every morning (recipe to follow). I plan to change it up and try new ingredients. All in all, this is a great energy boost with lots of good fiber and just the right amount of sweetness. Last year at about this time I was making juice concentrate and canning it. Never again. Even then I knew all the goodness was being stripped and all I was left with was coloured sugar water. I am going to be taking that recipe down off my blog.
I have ready fruits and veggies in the fridge that have been washed and slice. It's easy to grab a handful when I have the nibblies.
The most important thing I have done is swear off bread products and severely limited my diary intake. At some point I may just do away with dairy all together but we shall see. I am truly just listening to my body, recognizing how it feels after eating certain foods. I am not counting calories or fat grams. I am, however, keeping a food journal. I can tell you already I feel amazing! I have energy to spare. I am getting more done in my day. I can think clearly and love that I am not struggling like I used to to get through the day.
I can't say I will go 100 per cent raw, of course it depends how my body responds. I can say that there is enough inspiration out there to keep me motivated.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Community & Homeschool
There is this prevailing belief that homeschooled children do not partake in community. It is believed that my children and I stay home in our humble bubble with no care of the community that exists outside our walls. This is not true. We are highly active in our community participating in both homeschool events and non-homeschool events. I strive to keep a balance and am assisted along the way by other like-minded homeschool mothers.
By in large, we function as a community. Each mom organizes an event, class or what have you and invites others to join in. We plan things we think our kids would enjoy and benefit from a reduced price since we take the time to organize a group, collect payment, book the event, send out email etc. We take turns. I may only plan one or two events a year but as long as people are stepping up to the plate there is never any shortage of stuff to do. For the most part, this works.
Trouble arises when one mom proclaims that her quoted price for an activity includes a handling fee, a small profit for the organizer. Her time is precious (as is mine) and she can not afford to organize her plethora of activities without receiving some remuneration. On the surface this seems reasonable but I object for many reasons.
As a homeschool community we all partake in some planning and organizing. For example: My kids want to do skydiving, I want them to have a discounted rate so I organize a group of 20 or more, get a percentage off for all of us. Another mom organizes something, we partake without the hassle to organize and so on. We all organize something and the kids get an opportunity to do everything. The community thrives because everyone is doing something and no one is burdened with all the planning.
When one person expects to be paid, it drives the cost up for those activities and more. Why should I offer an activity at my house for free for your kids if you are doing your activities for profit. I know I 'could' ask for payment but I won't because it's not what this community is about.
I expressed my concerns to this mother but I doubt much will be done. As a society we all speak in dollars and cents. Suddenly everything that was once benevolent is tainted. My attempts to keep our homeschooling community healthy is all for naught because someone has decided it is not enough to do it for the kids, she must get paid for it too.
I am afraid "community" has gone the way of the dinosaur. Today the idea of doing things for personal reasons outweighs the need to function as a village thus creating an isolating existence where each person is only in it for themselves. I want to be proven wrong but each day my hopes diminish and I am reminded that personal profit is the new god.
By in large, we function as a community. Each mom organizes an event, class or what have you and invites others to join in. We plan things we think our kids would enjoy and benefit from a reduced price since we take the time to organize a group, collect payment, book the event, send out email etc. We take turns. I may only plan one or two events a year but as long as people are stepping up to the plate there is never any shortage of stuff to do. For the most part, this works.
Trouble arises when one mom proclaims that her quoted price for an activity includes a handling fee, a small profit for the organizer. Her time is precious (as is mine) and she can not afford to organize her plethora of activities without receiving some remuneration. On the surface this seems reasonable but I object for many reasons.
As a homeschool community we all partake in some planning and organizing. For example: My kids want to do skydiving, I want them to have a discounted rate so I organize a group of 20 or more, get a percentage off for all of us. Another mom organizes something, we partake without the hassle to organize and so on. We all organize something and the kids get an opportunity to do everything. The community thrives because everyone is doing something and no one is burdened with all the planning.
When one person expects to be paid, it drives the cost up for those activities and more. Why should I offer an activity at my house for free for your kids if you are doing your activities for profit. I know I 'could' ask for payment but I won't because it's not what this community is about.
I expressed my concerns to this mother but I doubt much will be done. As a society we all speak in dollars and cents. Suddenly everything that was once benevolent is tainted. My attempts to keep our homeschooling community healthy is all for naught because someone has decided it is not enough to do it for the kids, she must get paid for it too.
I am afraid "community" has gone the way of the dinosaur. Today the idea of doing things for personal reasons outweighs the need to function as a village thus creating an isolating existence where each person is only in it for themselves. I want to be proven wrong but each day my hopes diminish and I am reminded that personal profit is the new god.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
ARCHIVED: Freezing Summer Fruits
Busy time of year. Here's a refresher on how I freeze fruits for my family in the summer to enjoy them all year long. The process is the same for all summer berries.
Enjoy!
Archived Post:
We've been busy the last few weeks, picking, canning and freezing strawberries and raspberries. Blueberries will be ready soon.
By August my freezer is always packed with numerous frozen summer berries. We use them in cereals, yogurt, pies and my personal fave, smoothies!
I use the flash freeze method for berries. Using a cookie sheet you pile on the berries in a single layer and place in freezer uncovered. Once frozen, pull out the cookie sheet and place all the berries in a large freezer bag. This method keeps the berries from clumping together allowing me to remove only as much as I need at one time.
Be very gentle with the berries, raspberries especially are highly delicate. Next up, blueberries!
Enjoy!
Archived Post:
We've been busy the last few weeks, picking, canning and freezing strawberries and raspberries. Blueberries will be ready soon.
By August my freezer is always packed with numerous frozen summer berries. We use them in cereals, yogurt, pies and my personal fave, smoothies!
I use the flash freeze method for berries. Using a cookie sheet you pile on the berries in a single layer and place in freezer uncovered. Once frozen, pull out the cookie sheet and place all the berries in a large freezer bag. This method keeps the berries from clumping together allowing me to remove only as much as I need at one time.
Be very gentle with the berries, raspberries especially are highly delicate. Next up, blueberries!
Monday, July 4, 2011
Book: On A Dollar A Day
I recently finished On A Dollar A Day, a book by Kerri Leonard and Christopher Greenslate, two teachers in California who embarked on a journey to live like the majority of people in the world. They decided for a month they would live on a $1 a day food budget per person. Their experiment was eye-opening and led the way to two other food related projects: one to sustain themselves on the monthly allowance for those receiving food stamp benefits in the U.S. and the other to eat healthfully while keeping their budget in check.
At first I thought I picked up a book on frugality, one of my favourite subjects and then I realized it was a book about another of my pet projects, studying the state of our current food system and all it's failures.
This book is packed with great insight and thought provoking conundrums. It asks questions pertaining to the poor, their ability to access good, wholesome food and how this relates to other food issues like obesity. As full time teachers, they struggle with making even simple meals from scratch but only because they are counting every penny.
I remember the days when the food dollars never seemed to stretch as far as they should and I remember the lethargic, hazy feeling that coincides with extended periods of hunger. In this book they talk about their minds not functioning optimally. Their tempers flare and the stress mounts. This is the reality for many in our world.
While moving into the Food Stamp experiment (they calculated the average amount of dollar value given in food stamps for a childless couple and used their own funds for this experiment) they thought going from $1 a day to nearly $4.13 was going to be fair bit better. However the increase in available funds did little to provide wholesome meals and they struggled with this experiment as well.
I don't believe there could be a better couple to have written this book. Alternating chapters, Christopher and Kerri reveal their experience with whit, wisdom and passion. It was an very enjoyable read and reminded me of the many people living in North America who still do not have enough to eat.
Now, I am reading The Moneyless Man, written by Marc Boyle who ventures to live a whole year without using money for ANYTHING. I think he's nuts but I'm only two chapters in so I will let you know once I am finished.
At first I thought I picked up a book on frugality, one of my favourite subjects and then I realized it was a book about another of my pet projects, studying the state of our current food system and all it's failures.
This book is packed with great insight and thought provoking conundrums. It asks questions pertaining to the poor, their ability to access good, wholesome food and how this relates to other food issues like obesity. As full time teachers, they struggle with making even simple meals from scratch but only because they are counting every penny.
I remember the days when the food dollars never seemed to stretch as far as they should and I remember the lethargic, hazy feeling that coincides with extended periods of hunger. In this book they talk about their minds not functioning optimally. Their tempers flare and the stress mounts. This is the reality for many in our world.
While moving into the Food Stamp experiment (they calculated the average amount of dollar value given in food stamps for a childless couple and used their own funds for this experiment) they thought going from $1 a day to nearly $4.13 was going to be fair bit better. However the increase in available funds did little to provide wholesome meals and they struggled with this experiment as well.
I don't believe there could be a better couple to have written this book. Alternating chapters, Christopher and Kerri reveal their experience with whit, wisdom and passion. It was an very enjoyable read and reminded me of the many people living in North America who still do not have enough to eat.
Now, I am reading The Moneyless Man, written by Marc Boyle who ventures to live a whole year without using money for ANYTHING. I think he's nuts but I'm only two chapters in so I will let you know once I am finished.
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