Posts Tagged ‘FoodStampsCookingClub.com’

Food Stamps Cooking Club: Excitement Reigns?

December 4th, 2009

There is no way to measure our joy!

There is no way to measure our joy!

It’s been a busy day in the Clubhouse!  We’ve had no time to COOK, even!  Now THAT is busy!

The deadline for ordering food from Angel Food Ministries is December 8 so another club member came by and we both placed our order today.  It was a great opportunity to drink hot chocolate and celebrate the Event!

We have had the opportunity to speak with the people in our area-SouthEast Nebraska-who handle the orders, the payments and the food pickup.  We even chatted with the Powers that Be from the headquarters in Georgia.  WOW.  They are real people who listen, answer questions and UNDERSTAND how to help people of every stripe.

Another project simmering on the front burner is the little  gift we have been working on for the Club members.  You will need to send your name and email address in order to receive this token of our esteem for you, so please visit the box in the upper right hand corner of this very page and enter your information if you have not done so already.  Or you may choose go to Food Stamps Cooking Club and put your name and email address on that page.  Your  gift will arrive in your inbox as soon as we dress it up a bit.

We sent out a message today to all our members about a thrifty way to launder clothes!  When you are pinching pennies and using SNAP or WIC or Angel Food Ministries; if you use food commodities or get supplies from a food pantry it’s important to manage your funds to include cleaning and laundry products.  One of the club members generously shared her formula for a laundry powder that is incredibly economical!  Thanks, Kim!

That’s the news from the Club House!  Hope YOUR day was equally exciting and filled with immeasurable joy!

Connie Baum

*Please be advised that this link leads to an affiliate program for which your humble blogger would receive compensation from any sales made.  Use your due diligence when shopping online and do internet commerce only with those you trust; this applies to offline business, as well.


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Cooking on a Budget?

August 21st, 2009

The Normanator's Garden Fresh tomatoes make a pretty picture!

The Normanator's Garden Fresh tomatoes make a pretty picture!

If you have all the money in the world you can still be stumped when your family is hollering, “What is there to eat?”   How much more challenging  would that be if you had only food pantry food?  Or if you depended on food commodities?   There are people everywhere who lean hard on SNAP funds and Farmers Markets coupons, too.  Then there are the users of Angel Food Ministries.

I found something to satisfy every one of those areas!  It is a fruit and rice salad that will go into lunchboxes, if that’s your focus.  It could be made any day of the week and kept in your fridge for a quick meal.  You know how I love to think ahead and how much more convenient life is if you cook once and eat twice!  Besides, you are busy and tired!

Let us know how you like this recipe from Susan Runkle from the USA Rice Foundation.  You can send your opinion to foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com or you can leave a comment on this page.  Thanks, everybody!

Susan’s Fruit and Rice Salad

3 cups cooked brown rice, cooled

3/4 cup dried cranberries

1 mango, peach or apple-chopped

3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted *OPTIONAL

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 cup raspberry vinaigrette dressing

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped *use dried if that’s all you have

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss well.

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MMMmmm…wouldn’t this go well with a big bowl of black bean soup?  I’m getting hungry.

There is so much goodness in grains.  Dietary fiber is tops for lowering cholesterol and helps with digestion and elimination.  They are a great source of B vitamins which release energy and assist the nervous system.  NOT TO MENTION HOW DELICIOUS AND CHEWY THEY ARE.  They are more affordable than fresh meat in many cases.

The zucchinis are getting to be larger than watermelons in the Normanator’s garden!  He says they hide like John Deere tractors in amongst all the lush growth!  We have been adding them to our mashed potatoes and enjoying the bounty that way.

I won’t bore you with the details of the leavening-free zucchini cake that came out of our oven this week, but it has provided us with many laughs.  I’m sure you have stories of your own.

We appreciate that you are sharing what you find here with your network.  People are coming to Food Stamps Cooking Club to sign up for our messages and we gratefully note you are sending your people to The Healthy and Wealthy You website as well.  Our partners are all delighted to have your visits. Thank you so much.


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Farmers’ Markets Abound!

June 16th, 2009

Is it your Saturday morning ritual to visit your local Farmers’ Market?  If so, you might be interested to know what I learned this morning.

Our local SENCA Center’s office-South East Nebraska Community Action Center is sporting a new look, under the steady hand of a new Director, Terri Brethouwer, and a new cook who is passionate about food, Teresa Borrenpohl.  Both of these vibrant young women have been on the job only a short time.  They seem to be properly partnered and I’m liking the way they think.

As I entered the building I was greeted by less clutter and more comfortable chairs, arranged for conversation.  That made me smile.  In the main dining room, many of the dark pieces that crowded the room are gone.  In their place stands an attractive mantel.  There were well fitted tablecloths with a patriotic theme covering each dining table.  A number of men from the community were gathering for coffee and to solve the problems of the city and the world.  There was cheer in the air as folks greeted one another.

My order for their famous Wednesday fried chicken-Smart Chicken-was taken by the cook herself.  Smart Chicken is a Southeast Nebraska mainstay.  It is processed with air, not water, and is a top quality product, giving Johnson County the bragging rights since it is a local enterprise.

Tomorrow, as I eat my lunch I will have a meeting with Terri Brethauer as we discuss the Food Pantry, how best to serve its clients and we will talk about the new Federal program for Seniors: Farmers’ Coupons.  Senior citizens who meet the eligibility requirements for this program can get special coupons at discounted prices so they can shop at Farmers’ Markets and use the coupons to buy locally grown, health-giving, life-supporting nourishment!

This program is great news for those who use SNAP-Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-or food commodities or food pantries.  It is especially good news for Seniors.  You are welcome to pass the word amongst those in your circle of influence; I’m sure the program administrators would welcome the publicity.

You might welcome a recipe…have you settled on the menu for Father’s Day yet?  Oh, the circulars are out and steak is so cost prohibitive that you are likely to opt for the more affordable hot dogs!  That would be one great way to stretch your food dollars and the chances are good most dads would appreciate your economizing!  Our local market is advertising boneless chicken breasts for $1.99 per pound and that would make a wonderful meal for Dad.  How about grilling some chicken or braising it?  You could serve some barbecue sauce with it, too.  Here is an idea even the children can help you make:

Braised Chicken with Marinade

Cover the chicken and allow to sit in the fridge for at least 24 hours.  Then you can broil, roast or braise.

2 tablespoons vinegar

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

This will give your chicken a bit of an Asian flair.  Dad will like it; so will the kids.  And Daddy will be proud that the little people in his household contributed to his special day!

Enjoy your trips to the Farmers’ Markets!  The bounty there will offer good health for your whole family as well as an opportunity to support your neighbors!

Please send your ideas, recipes and suggestions to foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com and if you have not done so, we hope you will put your name and email address in the little box at the top of the page on foodstampscookingclub.com.  We trust you will share this information with your friends and family; we do not want anyone to miss out!

Our partners will be pleased to have you visit their sites, as well.  If you like what you see here, you might like to let them know so they will feel their efforts are fruitful.

Oh, and when you visit your local Farmers’ Markets, do give them our warmest regards!

Food Stamps Cooking Club

Connie Baum

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Grapes of–Say WHAT?

April 4th, 2009

Someone sent me a bookmark with a quote I like: “May the sweet fruits, the grapes of gratitude, bless us each day.”

It’s really true.  I found that out this very week.  Knowing that the best we can do for ourselves, in terms of food, is to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.  Sometimes it’s tricky to do it within the confines of a tightly squeezed budget.  That’s no news flash.  Especially if you are using food stamps.  Or food commodities.  OR, if you shop in a community food pantry.

But this week, grocery list in hand and tight budget in mind, I made a grocery run.  I actually FOUND BLACKBERRIES ON SALE!  I looked carefully at the plastic package.  I was sure that if they were selling so reasonably they had to  be moldy or defective in some way. 

I was so grateful to discover they seemed to be quite fine.  SIDEBAR: Thank you, Tecumseh Central Market!  END SIDEBAR   I treated myself to a bowl of berries, loaded with phytonutrients, vitamins, juice and FLAVOR.   That is something that makes me ooze with gratitude.  And good health, to boot!

Here’s hoping YOU can find affordable fresh foods to feed your family well.  We also hope you have creative ways of preparing your meals and that you’ll be willing to share those ideas for the good of all.  If you are game to share, just send a message to foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com .  We love hearing from our members!

We like sharing, too, so we extend the invitation for you to visit any of our partners, whose banners appear on this very page.  Some will help you with your meal planning and prep, like Saving Dinner and others, like Rapid Cash Marketing , can help you to bring some extra money into your household.  The good folks at High Tech Health will be able to help you improve your health, like those blackberries can do!

YOU bless us with your messages!  We hope we bless you with ours!  Isn’t gratitude FUN?

Food Stamps Cooking Club

Connie Baum

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Food Stamps City?

March 25th, 2009

Someone sent me newspaper clippings about how many more people find themselves in need of food stamps.

If more people are in need, that means there will be even larger numbers of families dependent on food commodities and food pantries, as well.

I have a plan to help alleviate this need.  It’s wacky, I admit, but wacky is how I roll sometimes.  WHAT IF…

WHAT IF…everyone in your neighborhood reached out to one other family and had them over for dinner this week?  WHAT IF…you knew how to wring bargains from dollars and you could teach another family your money saving tricks?  WHAT IF…that meant that you made a new friend, learned about a different culture, provided one nutritious meal to a living, breathing family who has need?  It would personalize the need and help erase that need a little at a time.

There are many programs across the country to create community gardens.  What better way to get acquainted, to make new alliances, and provide food for those you love?  I don’t know much about gardening, but I know how to cook and I know how to shop and I can bake a few good things to eat.  What skills do YOU have to share?  What would it mean to some family to be invited to put their toes under your table?

Yes, it’s a novel idea.  Maybe it’s like my notion about everybody in town sweeping THEIR part of the city street they live on so their City would not have to bear the cost of sweeping streets.  It just has not caught on YET.

Think about it, though.  How could it hurt to help one another?

While you mull that over in your head, consider visiting our partners: Leanne Ely,  Kristen Suzanne and Rapid Cash Marketing.

Drop a line, if you like, to foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com  to let us know how YOU would solve the problems facing people who need help with their food budgets.  Thanks oodles, guys. Don’t be shy about inviting your friends and family to join our Food Stamps Cooking Club!

Connie Baum

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Are YOU Signed Up Yet?

December 2nd, 2008

 Everyone needs something to which they look forward.  It may be an humble trip to the grocery store to pick up menu items for Sunday dinner or it may be a grand shopping expedition to gather the necessities for baking goodies meant for holiday gifts.  In any case, there is a sense of expectation and excitement!

  We have that sense of excitement here in the Club House!  We are anticipating the first of a series of cooking classes beginning this very week!  Each session has been planned and named and the handouts are in little folders, ready for the students.

  We have limited the number of attendees for each class to three for a couple of reasons:  First, we want to make sure everyone gets the proper attention they deserve for taking the time to pop by and participate in the fun and learning.  Second, this little kitchen only has room for dishes in place settings of 4; all that did not fit into the cabinets waits patiently in storage while we manifest a larger home!

  The Food Stamps Cooking Club’s first session will be something akin to a coffee klatch, where we will get acquainted and we can understand what the level of understanding is regarding culinary skills.  We will discuss stocking the pantry, the fridge, and the freezer.  The students will quickly discern that this kitchen is no fancy, tricked out, ultra-super test kitchen.  It is simply the heart of our home that we wish to open, along with our hearts, to people who may benefit from our experience and caring.

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Cooking Tip:

 When choosing items to put into your shopping cart, consider the value of store brands.  If the name brand is comparable in size and content, the store brand is likely to be the better bargain for your buck.  In my own experience, I have learned that the store brand is preferable in quality and price.  Locally, we have an affiliate for Shurfine Foods and I appreciate that I can save money by shopping locally, at Tecumseh Central Market, and save real cash on my food budget.  If we don’t buy locally, we have to drive a ways to shop and that would cost time as well as money.

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Here is a low cost and healthy salad recipe you may want to add to your collection.  If your family enjoys beans as much as we do, this will disappear quickly.  It comes from Emily Tarbell.

BALELA

1 – 15 oz can Garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 – 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

2 tomatoes, chopped (seed if you like)

2/3 cup chopped onion

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

3 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/8 to 1/2 cup parsley, chopped

Combine all and mix well.  Chill 15 – 30 minutes before serving.  Serves 4.

There are more food ideas for the heart of YOUR home to be found here: Saving Dinner and Lancaster County

If you have not already done so, you will want to visit the Food Stamps Cooking Club  to leave your email address in order to get the information and money-saving report that has been prepared for you.

Connie Baum

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