Posts Tagged ‘food budget’

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Food Stamps Cooking Club: Could Your Head EXPLODE?

August 31st, 2010

You won't BELIEVE what is happening to our healthy choices!

SOMETIMES Mother Connie is sure her head may explode!  Get a load of THIS:  There is an advertising campaign which takes baby carrots, packages them like junk foods-e.g. chips, cookies, etc-and trots them out to tempt children!

Oh, this is fraught with issues.  #1, it’s probably a clever concept and someone will likely be handsomely paid for thinking of it.

#2, I have serious issues with baby carrots.  Yes.  Baby carrots are NOT healthy, NOT nutritious and in some cases they are downright dangerous.

#3, is it kosher for people to appeal to kids in this way?  It makes me squeamish.

The reason why baby carrots are not good is that the clever food processing people take all the ugly, misshapen carrots and make them look perfect because after all, we eat with our eyes first.  Right?  Right.

The problem is that after they get them shaped just so, they dunk them in a vat of slush that purports to keep them sanitary.  That vat has CHLORINE in it in order to kill the bad guys that might be growing there.  Those carrots sit in that brine from the time they go in to the time you use the little critters.  Didn’t you ever notice how LONG those things keep and HOW SLIMY THEY ARE? Yuck!

The manufacturers can dress them up any way they like to sell more stuff.  But if you dress up a pig and put lipstick on it, IT IS STILL A PIG.

Does Mother Connie make herself clear, people?

Families who are managing their food dollars with the help of WIC or SNAP and an EBT,  need to have accurate information about the food they purchase.  For people who use Angel Food Ministries, for those who have items from a food pantry or use food commodities, these are important considerations.  If you have goods from a Farmer’s Market or are just plain frugal and you love food, especially comfort foods, you need to have good information about the food you and your loved ones consume!

Good food is good food.  It should be good FOR you, not just perfectly pretty.

If you have REAL carrots, with their imperfections and all, I want to share a prep tip with you.  And if you get your kids involved in shopping or growing or digging or cleaning the produce the chances of them EATING it are much, much greater.  Here’s what’s really good:

COOKED CARROTS

1 pound of real carrots, scrubbed, not peeled.  Do cut off the end pieces for your stock pot.

Cut the carrots the way you want them to look.  They can be grated, cut crosswise, chopped into chunks-however you like them.

Put them in a heavy saucepan and add some water and salt.  Bring them to a boil; reduce the heat to a simmer and allow them to cook till fork tender.

Drain them, add a spoonful of butter to them and let that melt.  Add 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar and a sprinkle of nutmeg.  These will smell divine, taste so elegant and those kids will beg for second helpings!

DON’T EAT THE BABY CARROTS, NO MATTER HOW THEY ARE PACKAGED!

Mother Connie

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly.

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Food Stamps Cooking Club: Is It ALL About the Money?

August 31st, 2010

Everywhere you look, people are fighting for the money it takes to survive!

According to USA Today there is grim news.  According to an article that appeared yesterday-thanks to Sandra for bringing this to our attention-more than 40 million people are using an EBT card for SNAP to feed their families!

I can tell you for certain that there are also people who NEED this assistance but for whatever reasons they do not qualify for benefits.

People who have Medicare-50 million of us-may have those benefits but paying the bills not covered by Medicare can leave the food budget in a shambles.

Hopefully this page will help you to hone your survival skills, particularly if you  use public assistance OR NEED IT; if you use food commodities or visit a food pantry.  Mother Connie wonders seriously and aloud if the Soup Kitchens of the 1930s will soon reappear.

Someone asked me this question yesterday:  “Why do you wake up every day?”

People who need help with feeding their families propel me out of bed every day.  Scouring newspapers, cookbooks, newsletters, articles online and speaking with neighbors and friends to pick their brains in order to help families manage their food dollars and keep their dignity intact is my main push.

There are a great many factors at work in the world.  Politics, greed, fear, natural disasters and of course, the stinking economy.  It doesn’t matter WHY the issue exists; what matters is that people can feed their loved ones and be well!

Bringing you food ideas, recipes, tips and including you in our circle is critical to all of us.  We want to teach your children the best ways to create meals as well as memories.  We want to help you learn better and better ways of preparing foods in order that you can be well and happy and do it all within your means, no matter how meager.

We cannot do this alone.  We need one another in this Club.  We must have one anothers’ backs in order to bring out the best in everybody.

Today is the last day of the month.  If your house is anything like ours, your cupboard might be looking bare.  Your canisters may be low or empty.  The fridge sounds hollow; so does the freezer.  It is so easy to run out of food dollars before the end of the month.  I want to share a simple dish we turn to on EOM (end of the month) days:

Eggs with Zucchini

1 small onion, chopped

1 rib celery, chopped

Saute these in a bit of oil in a skillet until the veggies are “sweaty”.

Add 2 cups of peeled and grated zucchini.  Be sure to squeeze out excess moisture before you add the zukes to the other vegetables.

Let these hang out in the skillet until the zucchini is soft.

Add 1 cup of cooked rice, quinoa, oatmeal or barley

Stir well until everything is heated thoroughly.

Add 4 beaten eggs and cook on medium low heat until the eggs are cooked.

As soon as the eggs go into the skillet, season the whole shootin’ match with salt, pepper and curry powder (or whatever else your gang likes best!)  to taste.  It won’t take much of any of it.

If you have toast and jelly to go with this dish, you have a total meal and everyone will be too full for dessert!

Speaking of dessert, it’s apple season around here.  Find yourself a neighbor with an apple tree.  They are most likely to be happy to share the bounty.  If you HAVE an apple tree, please look for someone who could benefit from your harvest. You might even make some new friends under the apple tree!

This horrible economy and all our serious needs could really turn out to be a blessing in disguise, people, as we come together for a common cause and help one another in every way possible.

And, club members, if nobody has TOLD you yet today, please understand that you ARE loved and you ARE appreciated!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly.


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Food Stamps Cooking Club: End o Summer EZ Do?

August 28th, 2010

Who wants to spend the last, lazy days of summer in a hot kitchen?

We are experiencing the last dog days of summer.  The nights are cool enough for delicious sleep and rest but the days are humid, breezy and way warmer than we feel is comfy.

One of my guilty pleasures is listening to Lynne Rosetto Kasper’s radio show that’s designed for people who love to eat.  She talks about food and how to prepare ordinary things in interesting and creative ways and it strikes my fancy.  Her food ideas are always simple and easy to duplicate.  Best of all, her concoctions never send me out to buy something special that I won’t have on hand!

As I am wont to do, I reworked one of her summertime supper notions and it is uber divine! I think it falls under the umbrella of “comfort foods.”   Here’s what’s for dinner tonight at our house:

MOTHER CONNIE’S VERSION:

PASTA, TOMATOES AND CHICKPEAS

1 ripe tomato for each diner.  Peel them if you like, or not.  As you prefer

1 clove garlic, finely minced-I only had garlic powder on hand

Salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon balsamic vinega

1 tablespoon basil-I used dried sweet basil from my pantry shelf

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Combine the tomato pieces with the garlic, salt, pepper, basil and oil in a large bowl. Add the chickpeas. Stir and adjust the seasonings to suit your palate.   This can stand, macerating all those lovely tomato juices for a few hours before you cook the pasta.

I cooked regular old $.99 cent sale priced spaghetti.  If you want to use the whole wheat or other styles of pasta products it would work just as well but might not be as cost effective.

We had freshly baked Foccacia bread with this and it was a big hit with The Normanator.  It’s hard to impress that man, so I took that as a very positive sign!

If you are swiping an EBT card from WIC or SNAP, this is a dish that will be very easy on your food budget.  If you happen to have goods from a food pantry, it is very likely you could easily put this together.  Maybe you’ll even put your own spin on it.  If you use food commodities, this dish will help those commodities to stretch as far as your month. For users of Angel Food Ministries food or Farmers Markets food, this is a superb way to manage those resources.  And for all those frugal, thrifty types-this will be very kind to your food budgets!

Besides,  who wants to hang out in a hot kitchen at summer’s end?

Maybe you would like to learn more about healthy eating.  Mother Connie Sez has some big ideas about how to get and stay well.  Her rhetoric and rants can be found on the Mother Connie Sez blog

It might even be that YOU should like to rant and rave.  You can leave us your comment-we’d be pleased-or you can send an email to foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com.

You are most welcome to visit the sponsors of this blog: Saving Dinner, Rapid Cash Marketing and ToothSoap, too.  Each has interesting ideas and there may be possibilities for extra income for your family that you’d find appealing.

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  If you should click on them and sales result, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting business online or offline.  Do business only with those you trust implicitly.

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Food Stamps Cooking Club: Patty Came to Dinner?

August 21st, 2010

Guess who came to dinner? PATTY!

Mom always maintained that if you did not get to the grocery store you’d just have to make do in order to put a meal on the table.

Chef Shawn Bucher recommends that most meals consist of protein, sides and dessert.  He also puts a high priority on sauces.

Today I satisfied BOTH of those folks’ requirements and felt proud as punch in the process.

Mother Connie is not a fancy-schmancy cook; has no formal training and certainly is no high priced expert when it comes to the culinary world!

I made a meatless ‘meat’ patty!  Here’s how I did it:

MOTHER CONNIE’S PATTY

2 potatoes, scrubbed and quartered.  I had 1 white and 1 red tater.

1 small zucchini, peeled and cut to match the size of the cut potatoes.

I covered the potatoes and the zucchini with water, sprinkled them with salt.  I brought them to a boil and let them simmer til the vegetables were fork tender.

While those cooked, I chopped a small onion and set it aside.

I combined 3 small eggs, 2 slices of bread made into fine crumbs, the chopped onions and 1 teaspoon of curry powder.  I salted and peppered the mix, as well.

When the potatoes and zucchinis were cooked I drained and mashed them, skins and all, and added that combination to the eggs, crumbs, onions and seasonings.

I was eager to see if my combination would be fit to eat, so I took a page from Rachel Ray’s book and made a teeny sample sized patty to fry.  When it had browned on both sides I borrowed a hint from Anne Burrell, who is big on QC  or Quality Control-as in TASTE.

Well, let me tell you:  I thought it was MOREish, which means there may not be enough! grin

While the patties browned in hot olive oil I made a beshemel sauce.  That’s only a fancy word for white sauce.  I used 2 Tablespoons of melted butter, a slurry of 1 teaspoon of corn starch in water and stirred it all together.  Before it thickened I added about a cup or so of milk.  When it came together I salted and peppered it and added about a half a bag of frozen peas.  I flirted with the idea of adding spinach but the peas were more appealing to me.

You can see for yourself that it made for a pretty dish, spread all over a luncheon plate.  I had some beets-they had sat in a rice vinegar brine for most of the afternoon so I sliced them and used them as a garnish.

Next time I make these goodies, I’ll hope to have celery and corn on hand.  Oh, and beans.  Mashed beans could replace the potatoes and help to bind the vegetables together.  Carrots, cabbage-any combo of foods would work well with this method.  And the curry is just ONE of many ways to season things.  That’s where the creative cook can shine.

Fooey!  Even young children or picky husbands who don’t like anything but chicken nuggets will enjoy these yummies!

Oh.  About dessert.  I hate to admit it.  We had green gelatin.  Well, like Mom said, you have to use what you have in the house…I have no idea why we have gelatin in our house because it has no redeeming nutritive value.  It does LOOK cheery, though.

If you are users of Angel Food Ministries, visit a food pantry or use food commodities; if you have an EBT card for SNAP or WIC, we hope “Patty” will be YOUR new best friend forever!  This is also true if you have food from a Farmers Market or you are just thrifty and pinching your pennies to make your food budget last through the month.

Leave your comment on our doorstep or shoot us an email at foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com.  We ADORE hearing from you!

PS/We hope you have scoped out The Dinner Diva’s ideas, too! They are spectacular!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly.


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Food Stamps Cooking Club: SNAP Users Are UP?

August 5th, 2010
The numbers of people in need is growing!

The number of people in need of food assistance is growing!

According to Boston.com  the number of people who are receiving public assistance for their food requirements is staggering and growing!  This comes as no surprise to your humble blogger.  As one who is acutely and painfully aware of rising food costs and works with those in need, this brings a tear to Mother Connie’s eye.

According to the aforementioned website, 19% more people in the USA are using SNAP.  Some of those are first time users.

If you stay with the article long enough to read the comments you realize how these facts incite anger in people. It would seem to be reasonable that there should be outrage that this need EXISTS.  No.  People who commented COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF THE RECIPIENTS!  Incredible!

To those insensitive commenters I would pose these questions:  “What about the behavior of greedy CEOs and stockholders?  Does that affect the price of food?  Has the fact that many American jobs have been shipped across the pond affect our ability to earn a living to feed our families?  As Americans, isn’t it our duty to help one another?  And what about all the VALUES we hear politicians brag about?  Don’t we value one another enough to see so everyone in this country is well nourished?   Shouldn’t each of us be responsible for his/her own behavior?”

So Food Stamps Cooking Club, hopefully, is a soft place for you to fall.  You have to eat, for heaven’s sake.  If you have children to feed it is imperative that you have help in doing so.

We love you unconditionally, dear visitor.  We want to help you learn how to stretch those food dollars as far as possible.  We understand you might be working long, thankless days for little pay and you are dog tired when you get home.  We hope to help you create meals and memories that will bond your family and help you along life’s way.

Here is an idea I pulled together yesterday that might be of help to you:

BEAN SOUP-AGAIN

Soak a package of beans overnight.  DO NOT SALT.  Drain and rinse the beans after they have soaked and cover them with cold water.  Set on medium heat, cover, bring to boil, and reduce the heat to a simmer.

In a saute` pan, put:

1  onion, chopped

2  carrots, chopped

3  ribs celery, chopped

After the vegetables are tender, add a pinch of red pepper flakes and add that mixture to the beans.  Taste occasionally to make sure you have great flavors.

If you have chicken broth, add some of that.  If not, no worries.

When the beans are tender, add salt and pepper to taste.

**For variety, add a package of thawed spinach after you have squeezed out the excess water.

***Another variation: Toss in 1/2  cup of toasted barley or 1/2  cup of rice.

This soup is very good when served with cornbread.  For dessert, if you provide a rice pudding, you have given your family  complete protein on a very tight budget!  You can stand back and be proud of yourself!

As for those complainers–they would complain about the price of a free dance!  Pay them no mind.  Now go hug your loved ones!

For users of SNAP, WIC, food pantries or food commodities, we invite you to sign up for our series of cooking tips and occasional messages.

If you are just frugal or thrifty, we extend the same invitation to you!

You are welcome to send your ideas and comments to foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com or leave your message at the end of this post.

And please remember that you ARE loved and appreciated!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should they be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Always do business with those you trust implicitly

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Food Stamps Cooking Club: Sandra Discusses Cukes and Zukes?

July 20th, 2010

Do you recall the “almost oopsie” Mother Connie had with using veggies recently?

That post prompted one of our faithful Members to send this comment.  We chose to offer  it here as a mini blog post because it is so comprehensive and valuable.  Thanks, Sandra.  We appreciate that you are so generous with your ideas!

“Wow!  Mother Connie, that sounds wonderful!  I usually just roast my zukes in the oven with some salt and pepper.  But I have a friend who marinates hers and then dehydrates them.  So they turn out like chips but are healthier.  Imagine some zukes chips flavored with italian dressing, balsamic vinegar, or even bbq sauce.  Yum Yum!  And zukes are so easy to grow.  :)

I also love to use zukes in veggie fajitas a few times a summer.  I just cut zukes and yellow squash in long strips and saute them with onions, peppers, and peeled tomatoes.  Then I serve them in tortillas with some sour cream and cheese.  Yummy and healthy!  :) “

Even though we just pushed ourselves away from the dinner table, these ideas are mouth-wateringly appealing!

Thanks again, Sandra!

Anyone who is frugal, anyone who uses WIC or SNAP or Farmers Markets; even users of Angel Food Ministries can benefit from these helpful ideas.  If there are folks reading this blog who simply yearn for comfort food, want to better manage their food pantry food or food commodities, we hope this is a helpful place to come.  Whether a person loves to cook or hates to cook, we hope to offer some assistance.

A message was sent out today about cooking with beans.  Here’s hoping you found that beneficial, as well.

I’m guessing YOU ALL have better ideas than Mother Connie…I surely hope you’ll all take a page out of Sandra’s book and share with the whole class.

Another point to consider:  Chef Shawn Bucher and Chef Joshua Stokes left comments for us on the post that featured their work!  (We were as excited as teenagers being invited to a Prom!)   They were also kind enough to send personal messages via email.  No doubt they like having Food Groupies…grin

The offline Cooking Class will be happening on THURSDAY!  We will keep you all in our loop!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know that there are links in this post.  Should those links be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Always do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Do business only with those you trust implicitly.


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Food Stamps Cooking Club: We’re STILL Full of Beans…

May 20th, 2010

If soup costs a dollar, does it have BEANS in it?

Your humble blogger still has beans on the brain.  It’s all Sandra’s fault. Grin…  I found a recipe for something I love but not everyone in our family is so crazy to have…HUMMUS.  It is just the BEST, in my humble opinion.

YUMMY HUMMUS

Try to say that quickly three times!

  • 1 can of chickpeas *You can use your own dried, soaked and cooked beans with some of the cooking liquid.


    •

  • 2 tbsp of olive oil


    •

  • 1/4 cup of lemon juice


    •

  • 1 clove (1/2 tbsp minced) of garlic


    •

  • 1/2 tsp salt


    •

  • cumin to taste  *The smoky flavor is wonderful; I’d suggest using about a palm full.


    •

  • up to 1/2 cup of water

It works best for me to use my food processor to make a smooth paste of all the ingredients but if you don’t have one, not to worry.  The Kitchen Police are not picky; you can use a tater masher if that’s what you have.  I have a friend who uses a fork in a shallow bowl.  MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU.

If your family is not fond of garlic, you may certainly omit that.  You may choose to add chopped cilantro or parsley for some variety.  This is your chance to experiment and shine!

This spread is wonderful to top toasted bread slices.  Or you might like to use it to fill celery ribs.  It is an ideal sandwich spread-preferable to the soybean mayo products we have come to think of as standard.  Hummus makes a wonderful, healthy and filling snack for youngsters or  adults who wait impatiently for their dinner!

Hummus is a standby staple for people who love comfort food, people who use food commodities and food pantries, and folks who utilize Angel Food Ministries or Farmers Markets Coupons.  It’s cheap, nourishing and tasty.   It’s also very quick and easy to prepare.   That’s a combo that’s hard to beat.

We have BEAN writing a great deal about beans.  We’ll see who sends us more suggestions.  HINT, HINT, SANDRA! Just drop something into our inbox: foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should those links be clicked and sales result, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Do business only with those you trust implicitly.


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Food Stamps Cooking Club: How Have You BEAN?

May 20th, 2010

 

Have you BEAN eating well?

 

One of our many faithful Club Members left us a note the other day with a message about beans.  She reminded us that they are great on their own and can even be sprouted.  She offered a  super reminder.  Thanks, Sandra!

Users of food commodities and food pantries, fans of SNAP, WIC, Angel Food Ministries and those who keep a close eye on their food budgets are likely to use beans in a wide variety of ways.

Or, NOT…sometimes we cooks get into a rut and just have the same old things fixed the same old ways.  It happens, all right.

This week I had a partial bag of dry red beans on the shelf.  I thought it would be interesting to pair them with some rice and add some spices to see what I could create.

I chopped some onions and celery and sauteed them in a bit of olive oil.  The fragrance filled the house and soon faces peered into the kitchen to wonder aloud if there were a need for “Taste Testers.”

The beans had been rinsed and drained; they had soaked overnight.  They bubbled along in a rich, tomato-y broth when the sauteed veggies went into the pot.  Then I discovered the barley!  I toasted a half cup of it, tossed it into the mix and added some rice, along with plenty of water so the grains could absorb that, along with the fragrant flavor.  A touch of garlic powder went in with the other goodies, followed by a pinch of red pepper flakes, and of course there was salt and pepper. Sea salt is the only type of salt Club House shoppers ever buy, for health reasons.

The resulting soup was a huge hit with those who put their toes under our table!  Some even begged for seconds!

This bean dish could have easily been prepared using the crock pot.  Since I was home to stir and taste and babysit the soup I opted to cook it on the stove top.

A simple salad of lettuce garden-fresh radishes, onion, celery and cabbage coated with a sweet dressing made for a filling and nourishing meal that was under budget.

Canned beans are wonderful to have on hand to add to salads, stir fry dishes and to use as a side dish.  One of our favorite snacks is an open faced pork-n-bean sandwich!

Another big rave in the Club House is the pork n bean dish with a chopped apple added in!  That combo sounds implausible but I promise you, it tastes really good.

Chef Shawn Bucher recommends that every meal should consist of a protein, a starch and a vegetable.  When you make your meals, consider beans for your starch.  When beans and grains are combined it makes for a complete protein.  The variety of beans that are available are pretty, tasty, and fun to create in your kitchen.

Getting the small fry in your household involved in choosing, preparing and eating these delights will do much more than fill young tummies:  you will form bonds and make memories; you will have fewer fussy eaters because they will feel invested; they will be contributing members of the family and that will enhance their self esteem.

By using beans and teaching your children to grow bean sprouts, choose varieties for the family meals and help to prepare bean dishes for the family you’ll create comfort food, happy tummies, and super kids!

Beyond that, you will have BEANED all that take out food, too!

Connie Baum

The FTC wants you to know that there are links in this post.  Should these links be clicked, resulting in sales, your humble blogger or your guest blogger will be fairly compensated.  Always do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Only do business with those you trust implicitly.

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Food Stamps Cooking Club: Is the Coffee Ready?

May 19th, 2010

Brew up some coffee!  We have PIE!

Leave it to the Club Members!  Even after being away from the Club House, the mail continues to pour in with loads of food ideas for those who are keeping close watch on their food costs.

Today’s recipe is timely because rhubarb season is in full swing!  Even if you get a hankering for a good rhubarb dessert after the season passes you know the freezer is likely to have a stash that will satisfy your longing for a yummy dessert.

This family favorite comes from Sadie’s daughter, Sheila and we share it with our best wishes:

“MOTHER’S RHUBARB PIE’

From Sheila Davis with a nod to Sadie, God rest her soul

1 cup sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tablespoons butter       
1 egg beaten
2 tablespoons milk

Mix this and press into 9″ pie plate


3 cups diced rhubarb
1 small pkg strawberry jello
1/2 cup flour

Arrange rhubarb in shell and sprinkle with dry gelatin dessert.

1 cup sugar                    
1/2 tsp cinnamon                 
1/4 cup melted butter

Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter and sprinkle over top.

Bake 350 for 50 min. or until rhubarb is tender.  Serves 6.
For people who keep a close eye on their food budgets, or those who utilize food pantries and food commodities; for users of Angel Food Ministries or SNAP or WIC this might be an excellent way to utilize your food supply.

It may even be possible for you to fall heir to some rhubarb; some families have more than they can use themselves and would love to share.  ASK AROUND.

Keep those cards, letters and emails coming, kids!  They are the life blood of this Club.  We cheerfully accept fan mail and critical comments, too.  We make every effort to deliver what will be helpful to our members.  foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com

The FTC wants you to know there are links in this post.  Should those links be clicked and sales result, your humble blogger would be fairly compensated.  Please do your due diligence when conducting affairs online or offline.  Do business only with those you trust implicitly.

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Food Stamps Cooking Club: Spring Salad?

May 14th, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

The energy of potter Ben Behunin now resides in our home! This lovely, whimsical salad bowl is titled "Saturday in the Garden" and it is responsible for a dream coming true! Mother Connie has been jonesin' for a piece of Ben's pottery for a long time!

 

 

 

 

 

This handsome three-legged salad bowl, an anniversary gift, is shiny, black, and stunning on our dining room table!

Honestly, I think our dinner salad had more flavor tonight, just because it was served from the new bowl!  For some long time it has been a dream to own something created by “Utah Potrboy” Ben Behunin, a young family man-potter and author-from Salt Lake City, Utah.

You might like to have your evening meal from a paper plate or a take out carton.  That’s fine.  But if you ever get to own something wonderful it makes all the difference in the quality of your dining experience.

We eat first with our eyes so when food and the presentation of the food is pleasant, our digestion will be better, we will make wonderful memories and it will enhance the quality of our lives.

If you are using SNAP or WIC; if you fund your food budget from a food pantry or food bank or if you have access to food commodities you understand all too well about quality of life.  Or lack thereof…

Your humble blogger attended an Advisory Board meeting today which included a tour of a food pantry.  It would be impossible to stress how necessary food pantries, food banks are.  The numbers of people served by these agencies is staggering, even in our home town.  It would be shocking to the uninformed.

Here’s my difficulty:  The well organized shelves of this caring cupboard were loaded from floor to ceiling with box after case of foodstuffs.  There were cartons  of a brand name sports drink; there was row after row of cases and cases of breakfast cereal; we saw ginormous stacks of cases of packaged breakfast ‘kits’ that required no cooking.

These are all offered with the right spirit; help is needed and help is being offered.  But my issue is that every single item I saw, aside from the canned veggies and fruits, was FAKE FOOD.  Packaged, processed, refined, and not a shred of health in any of it.

Mother Connie is only one person.  HOW CAN THERE BE AN IMPACT with this tsunami of fake food?

The master plan from the powers that be call for cooking classes for kids.  They are even organizing a no cook program.  But my questions are these:  Will they know that baby carrots are not fit for human consumption?  Will they believe that there is MELAMINE in the baby formula and the powdered milk?  Will they know how to present the various kinds of beans that come to the shelves?  How can we teach people that sweet sports drinks are not as desirable as water?

The issue of poverty and needing food because there are kids to feed is serious and we all need to address this issue.  We also need to let others know that the body NEEDS veggies to flourish.  We need to convey to impoverished people and wealthy folks alike that kids can have hard cooked eggs or yogurt for a quick breakfast in lieu of cold, processed, sugary cereals.  It is imperative that families begin to understand the worth and value of oatmeal and other grains; we need to leave the microwave oven unplugged and watch for bargains on fruits, veggies and real honest to goodness food.

We have discussed on this very blog the use of delicate curly dock and tender dandelion leaves.  We’ve mentioned violet leaves as not only tasty but beautiful contributions to a health supporting diet.  THEY ARE FREE. 

Perchance when we get desperate enough, we may give those ideas a go.  Until then, we will probably dump processed, sugary cereals into our kids’ breakfast bowls and pay for it dearly with multiple visits to health care pros later on.

Tonight we placed a fresh green salad into our bowl to celebrate the arrival of the esteemed potter’s energy and to pay tribute and honor to the lovely woman who gave this bowl to us.  That’s the beauty of life-you get to choose.

PLEASE choose well and wisely.  We want you to be well so you can rise above your situation, live your best life and be your best self.

As always, we welcome your comments and you can contact us as well at foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com !

Connie Baum

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