It's a short work week, with Friday as a holiday, so I'll prepare a little less in my round-up. (If you're thinking, "what in the world is she talking about, lunch round-up?", see this post.)
So, for this week, I'll be making:
"neatballs" (bean-based meatballs, recipe here, and thanks to Belinda from The Frugal Workshop as her post last week reminded me to make neatballs again soon) -- I made a large batch of marinara last Wednesday, now in the freezer. I'll get a container out and the family can put together "neatballs" and sauce. With the "neatballs", I'll add,
garlic bread -- I have 1 loaf of French bread left in the freezer, from big-batch baking early in June. Split open, spread with homemade garlic butter, oven-toast and cut into chunks. I have a feeling these will go quickly.
mixed salad greens and shredded carrots, undressed -- I'll pick, wash and tear 3 salad spinners full of various salad greens from the garden. Wrap in a large dishtowel, then slide into a large plastic bag, and the lettuce will stay fresh and crisp all week. Add in 1 or 2 carrots, shredded. To this, I'll make up a jar of salad dressing, probably 1000 Island, always a favorite here.
a pan of rosemary polenta -- also delicious when topped with marinara, and super simple to make
individual cups of blackberry-rhubarb sauce -- I use small, 10 oz peanut butter jars with screw top lids. Dollar Tree sells these small jars of peanut butter. The jars are great for lunch items that might be a tad leaky.
a half-dozen boiled eggs
For the week, there will be 3 different fruit or vegetable options, 2 grains and 2 protein items. I estimate this will take about 1 & 1/2 hours to prepare. These lunch options will be supplemented with pbj sandwiches.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Victoria magazine: one of my indulgences (*and a giveaway*)
I discovered Victoria magazine when my twins were toddlers. While at the library checking out picture books for them, I'd steal by the magazine rack and check out back issues of Victoria magazine. I loved the photos, the garden tours and the recipes. During toddler nap times, I'd escape to other lands as I envisioned beautiful places and sumptuous meals. I was hooked.
Victoria magazine went away for a couple of years. But when they came back, I decided to use some birthday money to give myself the gift of escape, once again. Every year now, I indulge myself and renew my subscription, using birthday or Christmas money.
In case you're not familiar, Victoria magazine appeals to those enamored with the vintage lifestyle. It's pages are filled with photos of lovely gardens, interesting travel destinations, vintage decorating, and entertainment ideas. While I couldn't live the Victoria lifestyle on a daily basis (my vintage china cannot go into the dishwasher, and I really don't want to hand wash dishes daily), it has provided inspiration for planning major holiday events in my home.
And now, I have the opportunity to give away 1 one-year subscription. The only qualification is you must have a USA address If you'd like to enter to win this subscription to Victoria magazine, leave a comment below.
I understand that this magazine won't appeal to everyone, and that's okay with me (you won't hurt my feelings). But if you'd like a one-year subscription, please enter.
This drawing for 1 one-year subscription to Victoria magazine will remain open until 12-midnight PDT, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. The winner will be announced in my regular post on July 3, 2014.
Victoria magazine went away for a couple of years. But when they came back, I decided to use some birthday money to give myself the gift of escape, once again. Every year now, I indulge myself and renew my subscription, using birthday or Christmas money.
In case you're not familiar, Victoria magazine appeals to those enamored with the vintage lifestyle. It's pages are filled with photos of lovely gardens, interesting travel destinations, vintage decorating, and entertainment ideas. While I couldn't live the Victoria lifestyle on a daily basis (my vintage china cannot go into the dishwasher, and I really don't want to hand wash dishes daily), it has provided inspiration for planning major holiday events in my home.
And now, I have the opportunity to give away 1 one-year subscription. The only qualification is you must have a USA address If you'd like to enter to win this subscription to Victoria magazine, leave a comment below.
I understand that this magazine won't appeal to everyone, and that's okay with me (you won't hurt my feelings). But if you'd like a one-year subscription, please enter.
This drawing for 1 one-year subscription to Victoria magazine will remain open until 12-midnight PDT, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. The winner will be announced in my regular post on July 3, 2014.
Monday, June 23, 2014
What I pack in my husband's lunch bag that saves us money
There was a time when eating lunch in a restaurant during your work day was just unheard of. Every working person either packed a lunch to eat at noon, or was provided with lunch by their employer, if they were working in someone's home. Heading out to drop an hour's worth of wages would have seemed ridiculous to most folks.
Today, it's relatively common to grab a restaurant meal during the lunch hour. If you have money to spare, that's great. But for our family, that money we don't spend on restaurant lunches is put to better use in other areas of our budget.
So, earlier in the month, Kristen from thefrugalgirl.com mentioned that she had to send her husband out for lunch on a couple of occasions, as she simply didn't have any leftovers to pack for him. I totally understand where she's coming from, as we reached this point, too, several years ago. The kids get bigger and suddenly, there's nothing left from dinner to pack for lunch.
In our house, this is now compounded by not just my husband needing a lunch to take everyday, but also my two daughters. (My son gets lunch for free every day, the lucky guy!) I suspect that packing lunches for the workers in the family becomes an issue at one time or another, in other frugal families, as well. So, how have I managed this, while keeping to a small grocery budget?
I could buy bread, chips, lunch meat, fruit roll-ups, pudding cups, etc. But that would burn up a large chunk of my grocery budget and, depending on choices, may only provide marginal nutrition. Here's what I do instead.
On Sunday evenings, I scramble to put together enough for my family for lunch the next day. Often this includes, some nuts, raisins, pbj sandwich, bottle of milk, and a muffin, piece of cornbread or a biscuit. This may sound like a lot of food, but what I pack covers breakfast and lunch, as my husband and daughters are out the door before 6 AM and eat breakfast while commuting.
Batch-cooking, but for lunches instead of dinners
I used to think of batch-cooking as a dinner prep help. But I've found batch-cooking to be extremely valuable for preparing lunch items, as well.
On Monday morning, I prepare large batches of 4 to 6 items from my list below. (I'm usually in the kitchen anyway on Monday mornings, making bread or yogurt.) I choose simple-to-make items, and spend about 2 to 3 hours total.
The bonuses with making these lunch supplies are three-fold: 1) any time anyone wants a snack, they can help themselves to these healthy and low-cost, home-cooked items, and 2) any busy night when I just can't get dinner made, I can pull together a meal in minutes using some of the lunch supplies, and 3) I use whatever is left on Friday afternoon to add to a simplified version of that night's dinner menu.
I often find that I've made more than a week's supply of some items. As I'm packing menu items for the fridge, I'll put extras into the freezer, to use for another week's lunches sometime in the future.
Remember, I only make 4 to 6 of these items, not the whole list!
One fruit -- in spring and early summer, this is usually rhubarb sauce, but may also be cut up melon, fruit salad, opening a can of pineapple, or homemade fruit gelatin cups. In late summer, we usually have a lot of fresh plums and apples for lunches. When my daughters had braces on their teeth, I would slice up apples, swish with lemon juice and put into small containers or baggies, several days worth, and keep in the fridge. Just like those packaged, sliced apple snacks, only practically free (apples from our trees).
One vegetable -- this can be cut up raw veggies, or, undressed salad greens, or, oven-roasted carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, or green beans, or, a veggie medley with zucchini, onions, garlic and tomatoes.
One grain item -- usually a rice dish, such as herbed rice, Spanish rice or Asian-style vegetable fried rice. Some weeks I make a batch of flour tortillas, for making burritos, or a pan of cornbread, or make a batch of corn tortilla chips.
One soup -- this item will usually have a good source of veggie protein, like lentils, split peas, or other cooked beans some of the soup stock from the freezer, and a lot of vegetables.
One main dish salad -- in warmer weather, I'll prepare either a pasta and veggie salad (w/lentils or beans) or a tabbouleh-type salad with grains, beans and veggies.
One treat item -- this is usually something like muffins, or, a loaf of banana bread, or, a batch of tapioca, rice pudding or custard.
One simple, low-cost protein item -- refried beans or a bean-based spread or dip, or boiled eggs. These can be eaten, as is, or in a sandwich or burrito, or with crackers, tortilla chips or raw veggies.
A small pot of cream cheese spread -- simply softened cream cheese blended with herbs from the garden (chives, parsley, basil) and some chopped olives, or, softened cream cheese blended with dried fruit or crushed, canned pineapple. I may also pick up a box of crackers from the dollar store, or make a batch of crostini, if time allows.
One quick to assemble casserole -- often this uses the odds and ends from the fridge and freezer. It can be as simple as cooked pasta, chopped canned tomatoes, Italian herbs and topped with grated cheese. I bake this in a small baking dish, for about 10 minutes to melt the cheese. Family members cut squares of the casserole and put into containers.
One batch of smoothies to freeze -- I make a pitcher of protein smoothies, using milk, peanut butter, banana, cocoa powder or berries, vanilla extract, sweetening if desired, and rolled oats (I use the recipe for a weight-gain shake one of my daughters was drinking several days per week, only I now pour into smaller containers). I pour into 6 ounce containers and freeze. These can be grabbed from the freezer on the way out the door, and eaten semi-frozen with a spoon while commuting.
Every week I choose different items, so lunches never become hum-drum. Last week, it was lentil-vegetable soup, herbed rice, refried beans, roasted carrots and rhubarb sauce. I made a batch of flour tortillas later in the week, for do-it-yourself burritos for Thursday and Friday lunches. This week, it's fruit gelatin cups (creamy rhubarb jello), a pasta-tomato-chicken-cheese casserole, a tabbouleh-style salad, carrot sticks and sour cream-herb dip, kale-ham-cheese muffins, and I'll open a can of pineapple.
In the mornings, family members chose the items they want and we work together to scoop into containers. They may also make a pbj sandwich, grab some yogurt, or a handful of raisins -- it's up to them. But the above items give variety to make lunches interesting for the week, hit the major food groups (whole grains, protein, fruit and vegetables) and are very low-cost to make. I estimate that I save about $20 to $25 per week preparing these items, instead of buying typical lunch fixins'.
I do have to add, all of my kids (and husband, too) are adults and have more mature tastes. Many of the items that I now prepare would not have been huge hits with the kids when they were, well, kids.
(And just an FYI -- Kristen from thefrugalgirl.com did say she now tries to have back-up lunch ideas/items for when there are no leftovers in her house. She didn't give details, but I'm sure she's come up with some awesome lunch ideas.)
Today, it's relatively common to grab a restaurant meal during the lunch hour. If you have money to spare, that's great. But for our family, that money we don't spend on restaurant lunches is put to better use in other areas of our budget.
So, earlier in the month, Kristen from thefrugalgirl.com mentioned that she had to send her husband out for lunch on a couple of occasions, as she simply didn't have any leftovers to pack for him. I totally understand where she's coming from, as we reached this point, too, several years ago. The kids get bigger and suddenly, there's nothing left from dinner to pack for lunch.
In our house, this is now compounded by not just my husband needing a lunch to take everyday, but also my two daughters. (My son gets lunch for free every day, the lucky guy!) I suspect that packing lunches for the workers in the family becomes an issue at one time or another, in other frugal families, as well. So, how have I managed this, while keeping to a small grocery budget?
I could buy bread, chips, lunch meat, fruit roll-ups, pudding cups, etc. But that would burn up a large chunk of my grocery budget and, depending on choices, may only provide marginal nutrition. Here's what I do instead.
On Sunday evenings, I scramble to put together enough for my family for lunch the next day. Often this includes, some nuts, raisins, pbj sandwich, bottle of milk, and a muffin, piece of cornbread or a biscuit. This may sound like a lot of food, but what I pack covers breakfast and lunch, as my husband and daughters are out the door before 6 AM and eat breakfast while commuting.
Batch-cooking, but for lunches instead of dinners
I used to think of batch-cooking as a dinner prep help. But I've found batch-cooking to be extremely valuable for preparing lunch items, as well.
On Monday morning, I prepare large batches of 4 to 6 items from my list below. (I'm usually in the kitchen anyway on Monday mornings, making bread or yogurt.) I choose simple-to-make items, and spend about 2 to 3 hours total.
The bonuses with making these lunch supplies are three-fold: 1) any time anyone wants a snack, they can help themselves to these healthy and low-cost, home-cooked items, and 2) any busy night when I just can't get dinner made, I can pull together a meal in minutes using some of the lunch supplies, and 3) I use whatever is left on Friday afternoon to add to a simplified version of that night's dinner menu.
I often find that I've made more than a week's supply of some items. As I'm packing menu items for the fridge, I'll put extras into the freezer, to use for another week's lunches sometime in the future.
Remember, I only make 4 to 6 of these items, not the whole list!
One fruit -- in spring and early summer, this is usually rhubarb sauce, but may also be cut up melon, fruit salad, opening a can of pineapple, or homemade fruit gelatin cups. In late summer, we usually have a lot of fresh plums and apples for lunches. When my daughters had braces on their teeth, I would slice up apples, swish with lemon juice and put into small containers or baggies, several days worth, and keep in the fridge. Just like those packaged, sliced apple snacks, only practically free (apples from our trees).
One vegetable -- this can be cut up raw veggies, or, undressed salad greens, or, oven-roasted carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, or green beans, or, a veggie medley with zucchini, onions, garlic and tomatoes.
One grain item -- usually a rice dish, such as herbed rice, Spanish rice or Asian-style vegetable fried rice. Some weeks I make a batch of flour tortillas, for making burritos, or a pan of cornbread, or make a batch of corn tortilla chips.
One soup -- this item will usually have a good source of veggie protein, like lentils, split peas, or other cooked beans some of the soup stock from the freezer, and a lot of vegetables.
One main dish salad -- in warmer weather, I'll prepare either a pasta and veggie salad (w/lentils or beans) or a tabbouleh-type salad with grains, beans and veggies.
One treat item -- this is usually something like muffins, or, a loaf of banana bread, or, a batch of tapioca, rice pudding or custard.
One simple, low-cost protein item -- refried beans or a bean-based spread or dip, or boiled eggs. These can be eaten, as is, or in a sandwich or burrito, or with crackers, tortilla chips or raw veggies.
A small pot of cream cheese spread -- simply softened cream cheese blended with herbs from the garden (chives, parsley, basil) and some chopped olives, or, softened cream cheese blended with dried fruit or crushed, canned pineapple. I may also pick up a box of crackers from the dollar store, or make a batch of crostini, if time allows.
One quick to assemble casserole -- often this uses the odds and ends from the fridge and freezer. It can be as simple as cooked pasta, chopped canned tomatoes, Italian herbs and topped with grated cheese. I bake this in a small baking dish, for about 10 minutes to melt the cheese. Family members cut squares of the casserole and put into containers.
One batch of smoothies to freeze -- I make a pitcher of protein smoothies, using milk, peanut butter, banana, cocoa powder or berries, vanilla extract, sweetening if desired, and rolled oats (I use the recipe for a weight-gain shake one of my daughters was drinking several days per week, only I now pour into smaller containers). I pour into 6 ounce containers and freeze. These can be grabbed from the freezer on the way out the door, and eaten semi-frozen with a spoon while commuting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the mornings, family members chose the items they want and we work together to scoop into containers. They may also make a pbj sandwich, grab some yogurt, or a handful of raisins -- it's up to them. But the above items give variety to make lunches interesting for the week, hit the major food groups (whole grains, protein, fruit and vegetables) and are very low-cost to make. I estimate that I save about $20 to $25 per week preparing these items, instead of buying typical lunch fixins'.
I do have to add, all of my kids (and husband, too) are adults and have more mature tastes. Many of the items that I now prepare would not have been huge hits with the kids when they were, well, kids.
(And just an FYI -- Kristen from thefrugalgirl.com did say she now tries to have back-up lunch ideas/items for when there are no leftovers in her house. She didn't give details, but I'm sure she's come up with some awesome lunch ideas.)
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Another reason why it's important to count your blessings
I was reading this study the other day, about how feeling "poor" can lead to depression. Now I don't mean a case of the "I wish I had that handbag, boat, vacation, dinner out" depression. But depression with a big D.
Low socioeconomic status is one of the predictors of mental health problems. The reach of economic-related depression, goes beyond those individuals who we typically define as living in poverty (unable to meet their basic human needs with their income). Relative poverty, or looking around and seeing that your neighbor has enough money for more worldly luxuries than you, can lead to mental health issues, as well.
The haves and the have-nots
There will always be someone who experiences a higher standard of material living than we do. That's just a fact for all but one person in this world. But where you live can affect how much relative poverty exists for you.
Some states have a greater divide between wealthy and poor, than other states. Utah and Alaska have the least division between wealthy and poor. There are more folks right there in the middle, economically, in those two states.
The two states/districts with the highest level of income inequality are New York and the District of Columbia (Washington DC). When you think about NYC, there's the Wall Street tycoons, and then there are the many service-oriented/lower wage workers. In DC, you have the upper-echelon government members, and again the lower-paid service sector of employees. It would be tough on one's ego to live there, and be in that lower tier.
Even if you don't live in either NY or DC, one's own community can leave a person feeling "poor".
"Huge income gaps in a community can make people feel impoverished, even when they are not poor by economic standards - and blaming themselves for their "failure" may add to depression risk". (http://news.msn.com/science-technology/feeling-poor-it-could-be-linked-to-depression)
This resulting depression is more prevalent among women than men. Many jobs traditionally held by women, (education, childcare, home healthcare), don't reward the employee as well, financially as those positions traditionally held by men. Women may work as hard, or harder, in their profession, have the same amount, or greater level, of education, but still not be compensated financially to the level experienced by men. Hard work that is not fully recognized or rewarded leads to frustration, perceived lack of achievement and depression. Doesn't sound very promising, does it?
How do I deal with our relative poverty and the potential for depression?
So, what's the answer for us right now. Being aware that this could become an issue for me, just helps me to be more vigilant with my own stinkin' thinkin'. I find help in counting my blessings. Our family may be struggling to pay for our current expenses, right now, but when I take a world-view, I can see how "wealthy" we really are.
For the most part, we are experiencing a very high level of physical health. Women used to die in child birth. Babies often died in the first year or two of their lives. My grandmother's baby brother died as a child, from something that is now "fixable" with surgery. A great aunt of mine suffered with the effects of polio for her entire life. When was the last time you heard of someone contracting polio?
Even on a very tight budget, we have some of the technology that enhances our leisure time -- television, computers, cell phones, speedy methods of leisure travel (can you imagine traveling across the US by covered wagon?).
All 3 of my kids will have university educations. Even with universities becoming more and more expensive, we will be able to do this. Higher education used to be limited to the upper class, and not just because of economics, but socially limited as well.
We live in a nice (and paid-for) home, in a low-crime area, and have heat, food and clothing.
These are some of the big things that I remind myself of when feeling "poor". But everyday, I can find small moments of gratitude that boost my outlook.
Some days, I do feel "poor" and depression is just waiting at the door for me to let it in. On those days, I have to think up a long, long list of blessings to count. Other days, just seeing the silver lining in "my" cloud lifts me up. (No computer of my own, right now, means more time to do other things. Cutting flowers from my own garden gets me outdoors, even in the June gloom. Keeping a garden may be work, but it's also exercise, and much more fun than walking on a treadmill for an hour each day.)
I'm not saying that we can just talk our way out of real depression. Mental health is vitally important. And real depression needs attention. But for many of us, keeping a gratitude journal, whether just a mental list or actually writing it down, can mean the difference between a positive or negative outlook on our own lives.
The other lesson from this study, I learned, is this. It's not productive to compare yourself to others, whether it's belongings, talents, health or family. Our lives are what we have. We can improve many elements of our own lives. But comparing ourselves to others seems like a huge waste of time, to me.
We had a contractor working on our house about 5 years ago. I'd see something in a magazine and come to him and say, "I wish we could use XX design/material here". He'd reply, "it is what it is. XX won't work here, so lets think of something that will." That way of thinking works in many areas of our lives.
And finally, I call on this prayer, often, in my life.
The Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
What blessings are you counting today?
sources used for this article:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3968015/
http://news.msn.com/science-technology/feeling-poor-it-could-be-linked-to-depression
Low socioeconomic status is one of the predictors of mental health problems. The reach of economic-related depression, goes beyond those individuals who we typically define as living in poverty (unable to meet their basic human needs with their income). Relative poverty, or looking around and seeing that your neighbor has enough money for more worldly luxuries than you, can lead to mental health issues, as well.
The haves and the have-nots
There will always be someone who experiences a higher standard of material living than we do. That's just a fact for all but one person in this world. But where you live can affect how much relative poverty exists for you.
Some states have a greater divide between wealthy and poor, than other states. Utah and Alaska have the least division between wealthy and poor. There are more folks right there in the middle, economically, in those two states.
The two states/districts with the highest level of income inequality are New York and the District of Columbia (Washington DC). When you think about NYC, there's the Wall Street tycoons, and then there are the many service-oriented/lower wage workers. In DC, you have the upper-echelon government members, and again the lower-paid service sector of employees. It would be tough on one's ego to live there, and be in that lower tier.
Even if you don't live in either NY or DC, one's own community can leave a person feeling "poor".
"Huge income gaps in a community can make people feel impoverished, even when they are not poor by economic standards - and blaming themselves for their "failure" may add to depression risk". (http://news.msn.com/science-technology/feeling-poor-it-could-be-linked-to-depression)
This resulting depression is more prevalent among women than men. Many jobs traditionally held by women, (education, childcare, home healthcare), don't reward the employee as well, financially as those positions traditionally held by men. Women may work as hard, or harder, in their profession, have the same amount, or greater level, of education, but still not be compensated financially to the level experienced by men. Hard work that is not fully recognized or rewarded leads to frustration, perceived lack of achievement and depression. Doesn't sound very promising, does it?
How do I deal with our relative poverty and the potential for depression?
So, what's the answer for us right now. Being aware that this could become an issue for me, just helps me to be more vigilant with my own stinkin' thinkin'. I find help in counting my blessings. Our family may be struggling to pay for our current expenses, right now, but when I take a world-view, I can see how "wealthy" we really are.
For the most part, we are experiencing a very high level of physical health. Women used to die in child birth. Babies often died in the first year or two of their lives. My grandmother's baby brother died as a child, from something that is now "fixable" with surgery. A great aunt of mine suffered with the effects of polio for her entire life. When was the last time you heard of someone contracting polio?
Even on a very tight budget, we have some of the technology that enhances our leisure time -- television, computers, cell phones, speedy methods of leisure travel (can you imagine traveling across the US by covered wagon?).
All 3 of my kids will have university educations. Even with universities becoming more and more expensive, we will be able to do this. Higher education used to be limited to the upper class, and not just because of economics, but socially limited as well.
We live in a nice (and paid-for) home, in a low-crime area, and have heat, food and clothing.
These are some of the big things that I remind myself of when feeling "poor". But everyday, I can find small moments of gratitude that boost my outlook.
- We have a garden that is allowing me to pick fresh strawberries for breakfast each day this month.
- Even on a small grocery budget, there is still room for ingredients to make treats for me and my family.
- On Sunday, my in-laws loaned us a bag full of videos/dvds to watch this next month.
- I may not be able to buy a bouquet of flowers for the house, but the other day I, once again, cut a bouquet of 10 pink, hybrid tea roses, now gracing the mantel of our fireplace.
- My daughters kept their GPAs high enough to qualify for their merit-based scholarships, covering half of their tuition for this next year.
- And all three of my kids are gainfully employed.
- My computer died completely two weeks ago. But my family has graciously allowed me time on their assorted computers, until I can finish saving to buy a new one for myself. And again, even on a tighter budget, there is room for this savings.
Some days, I do feel "poor" and depression is just waiting at the door for me to let it in. On those days, I have to think up a long, long list of blessings to count. Other days, just seeing the silver lining in "my" cloud lifts me up. (No computer of my own, right now, means more time to do other things. Cutting flowers from my own garden gets me outdoors, even in the June gloom. Keeping a garden may be work, but it's also exercise, and much more fun than walking on a treadmill for an hour each day.)
I'm not saying that we can just talk our way out of real depression. Mental health is vitally important. And real depression needs attention. But for many of us, keeping a gratitude journal, whether just a mental list or actually writing it down, can mean the difference between a positive or negative outlook on our own lives.
The other lesson from this study, I learned, is this. It's not productive to compare yourself to others, whether it's belongings, talents, health or family. Our lives are what we have. We can improve many elements of our own lives. But comparing ourselves to others seems like a huge waste of time, to me.
We had a contractor working on our house about 5 years ago. I'd see something in a magazine and come to him and say, "I wish we could use XX design/material here". He'd reply, "it is what it is. XX won't work here, so lets think of something that will." That way of thinking works in many areas of our lives.
And finally, I call on this prayer, often, in my life.
The Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it.
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
What blessings are you counting today?
sources used for this article:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3968015/
http://news.msn.com/science-technology/feeling-poor-it-could-be-linked-to-depression
Monday, June 16, 2014
30 places to look for rock-bottom food prices
So, I realize that I have many more options for buying food than many of you. I get that. I spend way less than many of you, because I have less to spend than many of you. And even I have to get creative in my shopping venues.
When something I regularly buy goes way up in price, or I add something new to our repertoire, I have to search out the lowest price for that item. I begin shopping around at every grocery possibility that I can think of.
This is my list of where to look. I have personally used or checked into every single one of these shopping venues. It's always worth checking, as you never know when you will discover that rock-bottom venue for your favorite item.
Please add any other possibilities as you think of them.
Produce and meat
Are there other places you have thought of, to find rock-bottom prices on grocery items? I really haven't shopped online all that much for food, so I am sure there are more online sources. Please add any that you know of.
Of the places already listed, is there a particular item or two that you've found at its best price? For example, I've found great prices on cocoa powder at Trader Joe's, and I understand that Aldi's is also a great place for cocoa powder. But at Trader Joe's, I wouldn't buy vanilla beans. I can get those cheaper at World Market or Beanilla.com.
Or are there specific places or organizations that I haven't explicitly mentioned by name. For instance, for drop-off meat companies, I knew of Zaycon foods. But I don't know of any others. Do any of you?
Does anyone here fish or hunt, or is married to someone who fishes or hunts? Have you ever swapped fish or game with a friend for some of their garden produce? We had a neighbor, once, who gifted us with some venison after we gave him some fresh-picked plums.
Does anyone here keep a goat or cow for the purpose of milking? Or stock a pond with trout? Or keep hens? Some of these ideas seem really out-there. But under the right circumstances, even the out-there ideas might be helpful.
When you're traveling, does anyone here make plans to buy regional food items to bring home? Last September, when we drove to and from California, I wanted to stop and buy California olive oil. I couldn't sell this to my family, though. If I were traveling to a place like Georgia, I'd be checking out places off the beaten track that sold pecans, and do a stock-up purchase.
When something I regularly buy goes way up in price, or I add something new to our repertoire, I have to search out the lowest price for that item. I begin shopping around at every grocery possibility that I can think of.
This is my list of where to look. I have personally used or checked into every single one of these shopping venues. It's always worth checking, as you never know when you will discover that rock-bottom venue for your favorite item.
Please add any other possibilities as you think of them.
Produce and meat
- produce boxes (Bountiful Baskets) and CSAs. These can be hit or miss. It's a good idea to read any reviews you can find. I was able to find reviews online for our local Bountiful Baskets.
- open-air produce stands, not adjacent to a farm
- local farms, both u-pick and with a stand on the edge of the farm
- local ranches for meat. If you're in Washington state, check out farmstr.com. They provide a market place for local farmers, for very specific amounts and types of meat. You can also google organic meats, free-range, grass-fed, and the name of your county. I found the ranch where we want to buy grass-fed beef sometime in the future, by doing this sort of online search.
- farmer's markets (our big, well-known farmer's market is in downtown Seattle, Pike Place Market. It's fun to visit, but not always the best prices.) We also have 2 farmer's markets within a 15 minute drive of my house. They're limited to one day per week, and only run during the summer months. You'll find the best deals in the last hour of the day. You just need to make an offer. Worst case scenario, your offer is declined, and you can decide if you want to make a second offer.
- buying meat at drop-off locations, through operations such as Zaycon Foods. Check out www.zayconfoods.com for more information, if this interests you. Their refrigerated trucks bring large boxes of meat to a specified drop-off location. You stay in your car, they load your trunk, and you're set with meat for a while.
- street corner produce vendors. these typically sell one item, like flats of strawberries. They often represent a particular farm in the area, but by selling on the street corner, they sell direct and avoid the middle man. It's always worth rolling down the window to ask their price.
- gleaner's associations in your town or city. You can search online for "gleaner's associations" "your town's name". Many large cities have associations which function to match up gleaners with spots around town with produce needing to be harvested.
- small ethnic markets -- you can find some fantastic deals in ethnic markets. I buy tapioca pearls from the local Korean market. A friend of mine finds produce deals at the ethnic market near her. Look around. Do you have any particularly ethnic areas? Check out their local markets.
- small "health foods" stores. Sometimes these have bulk bins for buying only the amount that you need. We have a specialty "health foods" store offering a variety of grains, spices and cooking dry goods. The packaged foods are expensive, but the bulk section is great. They even sell local honey from a large cask -- bring your own bottle. This may be where I buy some honey this summer.
- Amish or Mennonite markets. These stores you need to find by word of mouth. But I understand the prices can be very good on staples.
- "import" home stores. Our local Cost Plus has a pretty extensive foods section. I've already told you that I get my vanilla beans there. But also, they carry the brand of olive oil that I really like, at a significantly lower price than supermarkets.
- independent grocery markets, like IGA. We had an independent market nearby that put out a coupon book once per month. Their coupons had some great deals.
- drug stores. I often find eggs, milk, coffee and bath tissue for less at local drug stores. I don't get their flyers in the mail, but I can go online to see the ads each week. This week, one of them has the bath tissue that I like, for $1.50 less per package. I'll be stocking up!
- discount retailers, like Target, Walmart and Kmart. More and more of these discounters are adding large food sections. When I was buying vegetable oil in 1 gallon jugs, I found it for less at Target than at the cash and carry wholesaler. Walmart has a few items that are the local lowest prices, as well.
- traditional chain grocery stores. Everyone knows about checking the store flyers. The front and back page of the ads have most of the deals. But at one particular store, I find good store coupons on the inside pages as well. Also, check the marked down or clearance sections. I've been shopping the clearance section of one particular store for Christmas gift items this month. Some clearance items are all together in a back corner of a supermarket, others (the perishables) are somewhere in their "regular" are, sometimes just in their usual spot, sometimes in a designated "marked down" spot. Try different days of the week and times of the day (earlier in the day is usually better than later in the day, and mid-week is usually better than weekends, for marked downs). And remember, you can freeze almost anything that is nearing it's expiration date. Back in March, I found a bunch of containers of fresh mushrooms on markdown. I cooked them in butter and froze in small containers. We're still using these mushrooms in dishes for the family. Pay attention to particular holiday stock-up opportunities. Thanksgiving gives me the chance to buy several turkeys to freeze, potatoes to store and canned pumpkin to stock up on. Christmas and Easter usually provide the lowest price on hams to freeze. St. Patrick's Day usually sees the lowest price on cabbage for the entire spring and early summer. Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day are great opportunities to stock up on hot dogs and other barbeque items.
- membership warehouses such as Costco and Sam's Club. You really need to do the math to see if membership would be valuable for you. Costco used to let you shop in their store, but pay a small surcharge. Even with the surcharge, it was still worth it for us to shop there for certain items. Our Costco no longer allows this. If you want to see if their prices would be favorable for you, you could always tag along with a friend and check all the prices out.
- dollar stores. There are some surprises in local dollar stores. No longer is everything on the food shelves expired or dented stuff. In fact, Dollar Tree says that once something has passed the expiration date, they reduce it to clear. I have gotten some great deals on chips and candies that were marked down to clear. On their regular shelves, this is where I buy lasagna noodles, crackers, soy milk and sometimes peanut butter.
- discount food stores, like Grocery Outlet. the deals are hot or miss, but I have found a few real deals. My family still remembers the haul of cold cereal I bought there many years ago. I also found deals on large institutional sizes at Grocery Outlet.
- specialty food stores, like Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's is great for organic items. Many of their "regular' items are organic, such as tofu, and soy milk. They also have a decent organic produce section. I also shop here for bananas (19 cents each), nuts and dried fruit, all under the Trader Joe's label (I'm not paying for advertising and packaging).
- gas stations and mini markets. Okay, so most of their grocery prices are horrible. But, many have good deals on prepared items like pizzas. When we've been on vacation, we've bought large pizzas for under $7. Compared to eating in any restaurant, that's a steal for a vacation family meal. Our local 7-11 advertises pizzas for $5.55 each. And don't forget, July 11th (7-11), free small Slurpees for all.
- restaurant, institutional and bakery suppliers. Cash and Carry is our local, sells-to-the-public place. In other areas, there's Smart and Final.
- single item food distributors. The cheapest place to buy large sacks of non-instant dry milk, in our area, is the Seattle Darigold distributor. Back when we bought dry milk, this is where we purchased it. Non-instant dry milk comes in 55 lb sacks, each pound making 1 gallon of milk.
- craft and fabric stores. No, not those overpriced candy bars at the check-out! I make the rounds of the craft and fabric stores a week after each holiday, and buy up holiday cake and cookie decorating items and candy-making supplies, for the following year. This past year, I bought up peppermint bark melting white chocolate, for making some peppermint bark this coming year. I also bought a large package of green and red sprinkles for 90% off. Also, when I need food coloring, I use a 40% or 50% off coupon to Jo-Ann's Fabrics (always an online coupon available) and buy one vial of the color I'm low on. Jo-Ann's is hoping you'll use that one coupon for one item, then pile a bunch of other stuff into your cart at regular prices. But if you're careful, and just buy what's either on sale/clearance plus the coupon on the one item, shopping at craft and fabric stores can definitely be frugal.
- Amazon.com. Amazon has some items at great prices. But you really need to do comparisons, as great prices are not an across-the-board thing with Amazon. I do always check Amazon for unusual or pricey items (some spices and seasonings). If you have a few friends to share out a large package of vanilla beans from Amazon, you can save a bundle on making your extract.
- neighbors who keep hens for eggs. We have a neighbor nearby that occasionally puts a sign out advertising they have eggs again for sale. Some neighborhood hen-keepers will offer a discount, if you trade them your empty egg cartons.
- neighborhood cooking exchanges. These are easy to start up in your own neighborhood. Simply find 2 or 3 other neighbors with similar eating tastes and family size, and start a meal exchange. One afternoon per month, you make enough of a meal for your family, plus 2 or 3 other families. Then you deliver at an agreed-upon time. 2 or 3 times per month, you get a break on making dinner, as the meal is delivered to your door by another member of your cooking exchange.
- informal neighborhood food swaps. You have apple trees, your neighbor or friend has pear trees. You swap some of your fruit for some of theirs. Or, you make one variety of jam or pickles, enough for your family and more, and exchange with someone who has made a different variety. Work is simplified by making large batches, and your variety is increased by swapping your excess.
- neighbors with fruit trees that go unpicked year after year. When we first moved into our house, I noticed that our neighbors across the street weren't picking their apples. We approached them and offered to pick their apples for them for a share, or even a swap for our firewood. The woman told us that her arthritis in her hands was too painful to peel apples any longer, but we could have their apples. So, I baked up a bunch of apple cobbler in disposable tins to take over to their house. She could freeze them to use later. We were both happy. We got some apples and she was able to enjoy some of her apples without having to do the peeling. Last fall, a friend of mine called to say that her old neighbor wanted to know if she wanted his apples. He didn't think they were very good apples. But my friend said "sure". One morning, she brought a bag of apples over and we turned them all into applesauce, adding just a bit of sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon for flavor.
- at the holidays, the old "cookie exchange". These are fun and a great way to "produce" a variety of holiday cookies for your family. You bake 5 dozen of your family's favorite cookies, and invite 5 or 6 friends over to sample some cookies, drink some tea, and to divide up all the cookies for each person to take home. Even though it's only June, I'm already planning our cookie exchange for this next December. The bonus to hosting a holiday cookie exchange is it sort of takes the place of buying or making gifts for many of the friends that I invite. Its festive, a gesture of hospitality and a great way to kick off the holiday season for us when done in early December.
Are there other places you have thought of, to find rock-bottom prices on grocery items? I really haven't shopped online all that much for food, so I am sure there are more online sources. Please add any that you know of.
Of the places already listed, is there a particular item or two that you've found at its best price? For example, I've found great prices on cocoa powder at Trader Joe's, and I understand that Aldi's is also a great place for cocoa powder. But at Trader Joe's, I wouldn't buy vanilla beans. I can get those cheaper at World Market or Beanilla.com.
Or are there specific places or organizations that I haven't explicitly mentioned by name. For instance, for drop-off meat companies, I knew of Zaycon foods. But I don't know of any others. Do any of you?
Does anyone here fish or hunt, or is married to someone who fishes or hunts? Have you ever swapped fish or game with a friend for some of their garden produce? We had a neighbor, once, who gifted us with some venison after we gave him some fresh-picked plums.
Does anyone here keep a goat or cow for the purpose of milking? Or stock a pond with trout? Or keep hens? Some of these ideas seem really out-there. But under the right circumstances, even the out-there ideas might be helpful.
When you're traveling, does anyone here make plans to buy regional food items to bring home? Last September, when we drove to and from California, I wanted to stop and buy California olive oil. I couldn't sell this to my family, though. If I were traveling to a place like Georgia, I'd be checking out places off the beaten track that sold pecans, and do a stock-up purchase.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
May Grocery Money Journal (spent $37.50 per week)
May 1. The produce stand, hoping for markdowns, but not much there. I buy 1 yam (79 cents/lb), 1 head of cabbage (50 cents/lb), and 1 seedless watermelon (39 cents/lb). Spent $3.90. These items will round out some of our garden and freezer produce for the next week.
Dollar Tree to pick up a bunch of items. While here I get 8 jars of peanut butter. Spent $8. This should last the month of May.
Cash and Carry for a few items, but it will be expensive. I buy 35 lb container of vegetable oil ($22.58), 50 lb sack of pinto beans ($29.25), 50 lb sack all-purpose flour ($13.19), 1 gallon soy sauce ($5.59), 6-lb container Crisco shortening ($9.58) and 2-lb bag raisins ($4.59). By buying the veg oil and pinto beans in such large volume I estimated that on those two items alone, I saved us $21.25, over buying smaller quantities at a time. The pinto beans work out to 59 cents/lb! And the veg oil, about $5.16 per gallon. Anyway, I spent $84.78.
Last stop, Trader Joe's for bananas and tofu. I buy 12 bananas (19 cents each) and 1 lb of organic tofu ($1.49). The tofu is for lasagna later this month, to replace ricotta cheese (too much dairy for me). Spent $3.77 Month to date spending so far (and it's only the 1st of the month -- yikes!) -- $100.45.
May 7. Country Farms, produce stand for 2 small avocados (2/$1), 3 small bunches leaf lettuce (99 cents), 3 grapefruit (99 cents), 7 pasilla peppers ($1.29), 1 cucumber (50 cents), and a head of green cabbage (50 cents/lb). Total spent -- $5.78
Fred Meyer for whole milk (1/2 gallons, $1.25 each, limit 4), natural peanut butter, 16 oz (3/$5), bought 6, some turmeric ($11.79 lb). Spent $15.94
May 11. Country Farms for marked down produce -- found cantaloupes, 50 cents each (bought 4), 3 red peppers (99 cents), large eggplant (99 cents). Spent $3.98
May 13. coupon for cheese at Safeway -- $4.99 for 2 lbs, limit 1. spent $4.99. total month to date -- $131.14 -- not as bad as I thought it might be, but our freezers are beginning to empty out. That's to be expected for this time of year. I'm not anticipating much to go on sale between now and end of the month, with exception to hot dogs and soda pop near Memorial Day. So, the rest of my grocery money will likely be used on produce and milk. We have enough meat to last through autumn, the garden is producing, we have eggs to last through June, so I think we're doing okay. We'll see how the second half of the month goes. As a point of reference, May 2013, I spent $258.92.
May 19. Fred Meyer still has milk on for 4 half gallons/$5, limit 4. I stop in on way to get daughters. Spent $5.
Also make a stop at Trader Joe's while out and pick up 13 bananas, at 19 cents each. Spent $2.47.
May 20. Albertsons has hot dogs on sale w/coupon 3 package limit, 88 cents each. I choose the chicken franks. Spent $2.64.
May 21. Again this week, Fred Meyer has the milk coupon 4 half gallons for $5. My daughters need special no-slip shoes for work, and Fred Meyer is recommended as a place to find them. (I mentioned on my facebook page, a couple of weeks ago how my two daughters are sharing one pair of shoes for work.) I buy the milk, my daughter buys the shoes. I spent $5.
May 23. another stop this week for milk, and powdered sugar. I've had these 2 coupons on my desk all month, 1 a store coupon for C & H sugar, $1.67/2 lb bag, and 2nd a manufacturer coupon for C & H sugar, any product 2 lbs and up, 40 cents off, making my price on 2 lbs of powdered sugar $1.27. I buy 4 milks, and 1 bag sugar, spending $6.27.
May 25. Last shopping of the month -- Fred Meyer one last time (Fred Meyer seems to have more good sale prices this month than any other store in our area), this week for coffee (33 oz cans, $5.99) and marked down sour cream (containers are slightly squashed), 79 cents for 16 oz. I buy 2 cans of coffee and 2 containers of sour cream, spending $13.56.
Total month to date spending on groceries for May -- $166.08
I came in $3.92 under budget of $170. I'll add this $3.92 to the rolling surplus of $55.79, for a carry-forward surplus of $59.71, available for future months. I averaged $37.50 per week, which is $6.02 less than last month's weekly average of $43.52.
How much I spend each month fluctuates with available deals and loss leaders, combined with seasonal price adjustments on staples, and how much is growing in my garden. Late spring greets us with a good portion of our produce needs. By May's end, our garden was giving us rhubarb, spinach, kale florets, chard, mustard greens, lettuce, garlic greens, chives, oregano, thyme, sage, mint, lemon balm and pea tendrils to add to meals.
This month, I stocked up on a few staples, such as coffee, Crisco shortening, pinto beans, soy sauce, all-purpose flour and peanut butter. I was also able to buy enough milk to get us through mid-June, and found many markdowns on produce at the produce stand. We're fortunate that we have a freezer full of meat (ground beef, hams, turkey and whole chickens), and a garden for our produce. Those two will help keep our grocery bills down through the summer months.
So, we're still in a tough place, financially. I need to cut our expenses further. I'll be reducing our grocery spending beginning with June. I'll be taking it in small increments, and see how it goes.
If you are feeling discouraged about finding low prices on food, stay tuned for Monday's post. I think we can put all of our ideas together and build a master list of all of the places to look for grocery deals.
Dollar Tree to pick up a bunch of items. While here I get 8 jars of peanut butter. Spent $8. This should last the month of May.
Cash and Carry for a few items, but it will be expensive. I buy 35 lb container of vegetable oil ($22.58), 50 lb sack of pinto beans ($29.25), 50 lb sack all-purpose flour ($13.19), 1 gallon soy sauce ($5.59), 6-lb container Crisco shortening ($9.58) and 2-lb bag raisins ($4.59). By buying the veg oil and pinto beans in such large volume I estimated that on those two items alone, I saved us $21.25, over buying smaller quantities at a time. The pinto beans work out to 59 cents/lb! And the veg oil, about $5.16 per gallon. Anyway, I spent $84.78.
Last stop, Trader Joe's for bananas and tofu. I buy 12 bananas (19 cents each) and 1 lb of organic tofu ($1.49). The tofu is for lasagna later this month, to replace ricotta cheese (too much dairy for me). Spent $3.77 Month to date spending so far (and it's only the 1st of the month -- yikes!) -- $100.45.
May 7. Country Farms, produce stand for 2 small avocados (2/$1), 3 small bunches leaf lettuce (99 cents), 3 grapefruit (99 cents), 7 pasilla peppers ($1.29), 1 cucumber (50 cents), and a head of green cabbage (50 cents/lb). Total spent -- $5.78
Fred Meyer for whole milk (1/2 gallons, $1.25 each, limit 4), natural peanut butter, 16 oz (3/$5), bought 6, some turmeric ($11.79 lb). Spent $15.94
May 11. Country Farms for marked down produce -- found cantaloupes, 50 cents each (bought 4), 3 red peppers (99 cents), large eggplant (99 cents). Spent $3.98
May 13. coupon for cheese at Safeway -- $4.99 for 2 lbs, limit 1. spent $4.99. total month to date -- $131.14 -- not as bad as I thought it might be, but our freezers are beginning to empty out. That's to be expected for this time of year. I'm not anticipating much to go on sale between now and end of the month, with exception to hot dogs and soda pop near Memorial Day. So, the rest of my grocery money will likely be used on produce and milk. We have enough meat to last through autumn, the garden is producing, we have eggs to last through June, so I think we're doing okay. We'll see how the second half of the month goes. As a point of reference, May 2013, I spent $258.92.
May 19. Fred Meyer still has milk on for 4 half gallons/$5, limit 4. I stop in on way to get daughters. Spent $5.
Also make a stop at Trader Joe's while out and pick up 13 bananas, at 19 cents each. Spent $2.47.
May 20. Albertsons has hot dogs on sale w/coupon 3 package limit, 88 cents each. I choose the chicken franks. Spent $2.64.
May 21. Again this week, Fred Meyer has the milk coupon 4 half gallons for $5. My daughters need special no-slip shoes for work, and Fred Meyer is recommended as a place to find them. (I mentioned on my facebook page, a couple of weeks ago how my two daughters are sharing one pair of shoes for work.) I buy the milk, my daughter buys the shoes. I spent $5.
May 23. another stop this week for milk, and powdered sugar. I've had these 2 coupons on my desk all month, 1 a store coupon for C & H sugar, $1.67/2 lb bag, and 2nd a manufacturer coupon for C & H sugar, any product 2 lbs and up, 40 cents off, making my price on 2 lbs of powdered sugar $1.27. I buy 4 milks, and 1 bag sugar, spending $6.27.
May 25. Last shopping of the month -- Fred Meyer one last time (Fred Meyer seems to have more good sale prices this month than any other store in our area), this week for coffee (33 oz cans, $5.99) and marked down sour cream (containers are slightly squashed), 79 cents for 16 oz. I buy 2 cans of coffee and 2 containers of sour cream, spending $13.56.
Total month to date spending on groceries for May -- $166.08
I came in $3.92 under budget of $170. I'll add this $3.92 to the rolling surplus of $55.79, for a carry-forward surplus of $59.71, available for future months. I averaged $37.50 per week, which is $6.02 less than last month's weekly average of $43.52.
How much I spend each month fluctuates with available deals and loss leaders, combined with seasonal price adjustments on staples, and how much is growing in my garden. Late spring greets us with a good portion of our produce needs. By May's end, our garden was giving us rhubarb, spinach, kale florets, chard, mustard greens, lettuce, garlic greens, chives, oregano, thyme, sage, mint, lemon balm and pea tendrils to add to meals.
This month, I stocked up on a few staples, such as coffee, Crisco shortening, pinto beans, soy sauce, all-purpose flour and peanut butter. I was also able to buy enough milk to get us through mid-June, and found many markdowns on produce at the produce stand. We're fortunate that we have a freezer full of meat (ground beef, hams, turkey and whole chickens), and a garden for our produce. Those two will help keep our grocery bills down through the summer months.
So, we're still in a tough place, financially. I need to cut our expenses further. I'll be reducing our grocery spending beginning with June. I'll be taking it in small increments, and see how it goes.
If you are feeling discouraged about finding low prices on food, stay tuned for Monday's post. I think we can put all of our ideas together and build a master list of all of the places to look for grocery deals.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
The value of technology in a crisis
Last Thursday
One daughter, Grace, was just finishing up her shift in the dining hall on campus. Wiping down counters from serving lunch, she was watching the clock on the wall. Very soon, she would call her sister to tell her she's leaving campus and heading home. The two of them always call each other before one leaves campus.
The other daughter, Julia, had just arrived at her theater class. Everyone was in high spirits. They were setting up the sets for the end-of-year awards show for the Theater Department. There was much joking around, while some students held the large scene panels in place and others hammered them securely. A lot of talk about summer plans, saying goodbye to the graduating seniors, and the mystery surrounding next year's dramatic productions, to be announced at the awards show on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, about a block and a half from the theater building, a young man walks into the math and sciences building, armed with a shotgun, and opens fire. The shots can be heard across the street, in the student union building. It's a small campus. You can walk from one end to the other in 5 minutes.
Back in the dining hall, Grace looks up at the clock, "just a few more minutes," she thinks to herself. Suddenly, the hour and minutes on the clock disappear, and it changes to emergency notification mode. "Campus in full lock-down". SPU has lock-down drills from time to time. So it's not immediately known whether this is a drill or a real threat. The students and dining hall staff begin to follow lock-down procedure. Doors are locked, they move away from windows and doors, and secure themselves behind the counters in the serving area. Sitting on the floor, the students pull out their cell phones and begin checking the SPU website for more information. A tweet goes out, "this is not a drill. The threat is real. Remain in lock-down." With no other details, students become somber and quickly send out texts and calls to their friends on campus. Grace pulls out her phone and calls her sister. No answer. Grace calls again. Still no answer. She sends a text. No reply. Fearful and worried, Grace calls home. This is the very first I have heard of the lock-down on campus. There's no information online or on the local news, yet. Grace asks me to pray with her. Then she asks me to call Julia and find out if she's okay. I end my call with Grace with my usual, "love you, stay safe", what I always say when I think they may be heading to an unknown place, or an area of downtown that has a crime history.
Lock-down unfolds quickly. Staff have been well-trained to implement all procedures speedily. In the newer buildings, the doors are locked automatically and remotely from the campus security office. In the older building, staff locks all entrances to each building. The clocks all across campus are electronic, and in the event of an emergency, switch over to reader boards to display information and instructions.
In the theater, Julia and her classmates are having a good time with their work, when one of the students yells out, "hey, there's a lock-down!" Some students grab their cell phones to check for more news, then text and call friends. Rumors of what has transpired to cause the lock-down begin to fly. One possibility is the on-campus bank has been robbed. This rumor is possibly the result of someone hearing gun shots coming from the area right across the way from the student union building, where the bank is located.
From home, I try calling Julia, with no answer. I try again, in case she heard the ringtone on her phone, but didn't get to it in time to answer. Still no answer. This is my way to let family members know that my call is urgent. I repeatedly call their number within the course of 2 or 3 minutes. This time, I leave a message to call me immediately. While waiting, I grab the family ipad and begin searching for information. Nothing online yet.
My phone rings, and it's Julia. Thank God she's okay. She tells me there's a lock-down, her phone was in her backpack sitting in one of the theater seats, and she thinks there's been a bank robbery on campus. I tell her to abide by the lock-down, and end the call, "love you, stay safe."
I call Grace and let her know that Julia is okay and she's in the theater department. Grace just wants to have me on the phone for a bit. So we chat about things. Not knowing what has transpired to cause the lock-down, the mood of our call is not terribly intense. When Grace is feeling more settled, I tell her that I want to check the news again, and give Julia a call back. In that moment, breaking news flashes across the bottom of the television screen. There's been a shooting on campus. Several people injured. I phone Julia immediately and inform her that it's not a bank robbery, but a shooting, and to follow all instructions given by staff in the theater department. She tells me that she just heard it was/is a shooting, and she wants to call Grace. So we end our conversation.
I'm watching the news, as they update information by the minute. There are 4 people injured. There are 7 people injured. There's a second shooter on the loose. They give a detailed description of the second suspect, "white male, wearing a blue shirt with vertical stripes". There aren't 7 injured, but 4 injured. The first shooter is down and apprehended. The information seems to change frequently.
I call Grace, then Julia, and relay all the information I am seeing on the TV screen. When the news first breaks, the aerial view from news helicopters shows deserted streets and common areas, but dozens of police cars. Several ambulances appear within a minute of the news breaking on TV.
I call my sister, and ask her to pray. I call my husband and son. My son has just heard the news from a co-worker and he was in the process of texting his sisters. I inform him that they're safe, and in lock-down across the street a ways from the shooting location, and that I'll keep him informed of changes. He offers to drive across the lake and get them from campus, if need be. I tell him I'll let him know.
I'm back on the phone with both daughters, giving them all the information I have. We pray together regularly throughout this crisis. About an hour into the lock-down, Grace says she's been down to 1 bar on her phone all afternoon, and she's about out of battery power. I ask if she brought her laptop to class today, and she says "yes" and it's in a cupboard across the room. I ask if it's safe for her to get across the room and grab it. She thinks so. So I end the call telling her to open up her gmail and I will email her immediately and we can keep in contact online. I fire off a quick email to Grace, then call Julia and let her know that Grace's phone is about dead, but she should be able to reach Grace by email. That's when Julia informs me that she left her laptop at home that morning. (My daughters use inexpensive, prepaid phones, with no internet access.) So, I become the intermediary. Grace can email me. I can phone Julia. And work this in reverse, as well. The tone of Grace's first email to me reflects how grateful she is to have me at the other end of gmail. Over the course of the lock-down, we exchange about 16 quick emails. I'm able to let her know that there was no "second shooter", and the lock-down should end soon. I also tell her that the view from the news helicopters show students coming out of the gymnasium across the street from the building where the shooting occurred, and there are many, many students gathering on the lawn in the center of campus. It looks very safe at this point, and I am relieved immensely that everything is wrapping up. I call Julia and we decide that when the lock-down ends in her building, she is to walk across campus to the dining hall and meet up with Grace. Then she should call me and we'll figure out how to get them both home that afternoon.
While Julia is walking across campus, I'm on the ipad again, this time to go to the Metro bus system website for updates to the bus schedule. The aerial view on the television shows the street where the bus runs is blocked off. The Metro website informs me of temporary route changes, but I'm unfamiliar with some of the "new" street names. My mind is tired at this point. Two of the worst hours of my life have just flashed by, and I am having a hard time processing how to get Julia and Grace home. So I call Julia. She says she and Grace are in the dining hall gathering up all of Grace's stuff, and wanting to know if the buses are running normally. I tell her, "no", but suggest that they both head over to the bus stop and see if anyone there knows where the temporary bus stops are. Both girls are as emotionally exhausted as I am, and on the verge of tears, as they begin to hear more details of the shooting. But they walk over to the bus stop (with me on the line the whole time) and tell me there's a man that always rides the late afternoon bus that they sometimes take. He's on staff at SPU and friendly with them. The girls break down into tears at this point, not knowing how to get home today. This nice gentleman says he knows someone who can give them a ride, and he ushers them inside the music building (the building right alongside the bus stop). He takes them to the office of a woman/professor that Julia already knows. She offers to take them anywhere they need to go that afternoon. The staff and faculty at SPU have gone above and beyond the call of duty on this day, to reassure and comfort the students, and see to it that everyone is looked after. Julia calls me back and tells me that "someone" is giving them a ride. "Someone," I say, "what someone?" Always a worried mom. Julia hands her phone to the woman and she identifies herself to me and asks where she can take them. I tell her I would be grateful if she could drop them off at Westlake, a major bus interchange in downtown Seattle. I thank her and she hands the phone back to Julia. I quietly ask Julia if she knows this woman, and she says "yes". Not leaving anything to chance at this point. My mom-alert is heightened after this day.
During the entire 2-bus trip home, I call Julia and Grace several times. The two of them walking in the door is a huge relief to all of us, and we hug for several minutes.
From electronic, emergency reader boards in every building, to internet access, to cell phones and to television news coverage, I am so grateful for the technology of today. My daughters could be reassured by my presence and by calls/texts to each other and their brother. We could be united in prayer together, over the phone lines. Not being able to keep in touch with them would have made this day one hundred times more stressful. And I think every student and every parent affected by the tragedy would concur. Being able to keep in touch with those you love is more valuable than any expense to have this technology.
I often say that I am content to not have a cell phone of my own, but I insist that all of my kids have one. If at some point, I spend more of my day away from home, and our land line, I will reconsider having a cell phone myself. I would want my kids to be able to reach me during any crisis, if for no other reason, so I could reassure them, and give them comfort through a difficult event.
I know that sometimes we wax poetic about the simpler times from long ago. While it would be nice to have a simpler life, free from some of today's distractions, in a crisis I am so thankful to have today's technology.
One daughter, Grace, was just finishing up her shift in the dining hall on campus. Wiping down counters from serving lunch, she was watching the clock on the wall. Very soon, she would call her sister to tell her she's leaving campus and heading home. The two of them always call each other before one leaves campus.
The other daughter, Julia, had just arrived at her theater class. Everyone was in high spirits. They were setting up the sets for the end-of-year awards show for the Theater Department. There was much joking around, while some students held the large scene panels in place and others hammered them securely. A lot of talk about summer plans, saying goodbye to the graduating seniors, and the mystery surrounding next year's dramatic productions, to be announced at the awards show on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, about a block and a half from the theater building, a young man walks into the math and sciences building, armed with a shotgun, and opens fire. The shots can be heard across the street, in the student union building. It's a small campus. You can walk from one end to the other in 5 minutes.
Back in the dining hall, Grace looks up at the clock, "just a few more minutes," she thinks to herself. Suddenly, the hour and minutes on the clock disappear, and it changes to emergency notification mode. "Campus in full lock-down". SPU has lock-down drills from time to time. So it's not immediately known whether this is a drill or a real threat. The students and dining hall staff begin to follow lock-down procedure. Doors are locked, they move away from windows and doors, and secure themselves behind the counters in the serving area. Sitting on the floor, the students pull out their cell phones and begin checking the SPU website for more information. A tweet goes out, "this is not a drill. The threat is real. Remain in lock-down." With no other details, students become somber and quickly send out texts and calls to their friends on campus. Grace pulls out her phone and calls her sister. No answer. Grace calls again. Still no answer. She sends a text. No reply. Fearful and worried, Grace calls home. This is the very first I have heard of the lock-down on campus. There's no information online or on the local news, yet. Grace asks me to pray with her. Then she asks me to call Julia and find out if she's okay. I end my call with Grace with my usual, "love you, stay safe", what I always say when I think they may be heading to an unknown place, or an area of downtown that has a crime history.
Lock-down unfolds quickly. Staff have been well-trained to implement all procedures speedily. In the newer buildings, the doors are locked automatically and remotely from the campus security office. In the older building, staff locks all entrances to each building. The clocks all across campus are electronic, and in the event of an emergency, switch over to reader boards to display information and instructions.
In the theater, Julia and her classmates are having a good time with their work, when one of the students yells out, "hey, there's a lock-down!" Some students grab their cell phones to check for more news, then text and call friends. Rumors of what has transpired to cause the lock-down begin to fly. One possibility is the on-campus bank has been robbed. This rumor is possibly the result of someone hearing gun shots coming from the area right across the way from the student union building, where the bank is located.
From home, I try calling Julia, with no answer. I try again, in case she heard the ringtone on her phone, but didn't get to it in time to answer. Still no answer. This is my way to let family members know that my call is urgent. I repeatedly call their number within the course of 2 or 3 minutes. This time, I leave a message to call me immediately. While waiting, I grab the family ipad and begin searching for information. Nothing online yet.
My phone rings, and it's Julia. Thank God she's okay. She tells me there's a lock-down, her phone was in her backpack sitting in one of the theater seats, and she thinks there's been a bank robbery on campus. I tell her to abide by the lock-down, and end the call, "love you, stay safe."
I call Grace and let her know that Julia is okay and she's in the theater department. Grace just wants to have me on the phone for a bit. So we chat about things. Not knowing what has transpired to cause the lock-down, the mood of our call is not terribly intense. When Grace is feeling more settled, I tell her that I want to check the news again, and give Julia a call back. In that moment, breaking news flashes across the bottom of the television screen. There's been a shooting on campus. Several people injured. I phone Julia immediately and inform her that it's not a bank robbery, but a shooting, and to follow all instructions given by staff in the theater department. She tells me that she just heard it was/is a shooting, and she wants to call Grace. So we end our conversation.
I'm watching the news, as they update information by the minute. There are 4 people injured. There are 7 people injured. There's a second shooter on the loose. They give a detailed description of the second suspect, "white male, wearing a blue shirt with vertical stripes". There aren't 7 injured, but 4 injured. The first shooter is down and apprehended. The information seems to change frequently.
I call Grace, then Julia, and relay all the information I am seeing on the TV screen. When the news first breaks, the aerial view from news helicopters shows deserted streets and common areas, but dozens of police cars. Several ambulances appear within a minute of the news breaking on TV.
I call my sister, and ask her to pray. I call my husband and son. My son has just heard the news from a co-worker and he was in the process of texting his sisters. I inform him that they're safe, and in lock-down across the street a ways from the shooting location, and that I'll keep him informed of changes. He offers to drive across the lake and get them from campus, if need be. I tell him I'll let him know.
I'm back on the phone with both daughters, giving them all the information I have. We pray together regularly throughout this crisis. About an hour into the lock-down, Grace says she's been down to 1 bar on her phone all afternoon, and she's about out of battery power. I ask if she brought her laptop to class today, and she says "yes" and it's in a cupboard across the room. I ask if it's safe for her to get across the room and grab it. She thinks so. So I end the call telling her to open up her gmail and I will email her immediately and we can keep in contact online. I fire off a quick email to Grace, then call Julia and let her know that Grace's phone is about dead, but she should be able to reach Grace by email. That's when Julia informs me that she left her laptop at home that morning. (My daughters use inexpensive, prepaid phones, with no internet access.) So, I become the intermediary. Grace can email me. I can phone Julia. And work this in reverse, as well. The tone of Grace's first email to me reflects how grateful she is to have me at the other end of gmail. Over the course of the lock-down, we exchange about 16 quick emails. I'm able to let her know that there was no "second shooter", and the lock-down should end soon. I also tell her that the view from the news helicopters show students coming out of the gymnasium across the street from the building where the shooting occurred, and there are many, many students gathering on the lawn in the center of campus. It looks very safe at this point, and I am relieved immensely that everything is wrapping up. I call Julia and we decide that when the lock-down ends in her building, she is to walk across campus to the dining hall and meet up with Grace. Then she should call me and we'll figure out how to get them both home that afternoon.
While Julia is walking across campus, I'm on the ipad again, this time to go to the Metro bus system website for updates to the bus schedule. The aerial view on the television shows the street where the bus runs is blocked off. The Metro website informs me of temporary route changes, but I'm unfamiliar with some of the "new" street names. My mind is tired at this point. Two of the worst hours of my life have just flashed by, and I am having a hard time processing how to get Julia and Grace home. So I call Julia. She says she and Grace are in the dining hall gathering up all of Grace's stuff, and wanting to know if the buses are running normally. I tell her, "no", but suggest that they both head over to the bus stop and see if anyone there knows where the temporary bus stops are. Both girls are as emotionally exhausted as I am, and on the verge of tears, as they begin to hear more details of the shooting. But they walk over to the bus stop (with me on the line the whole time) and tell me there's a man that always rides the late afternoon bus that they sometimes take. He's on staff at SPU and friendly with them. The girls break down into tears at this point, not knowing how to get home today. This nice gentleman says he knows someone who can give them a ride, and he ushers them inside the music building (the building right alongside the bus stop). He takes them to the office of a woman/professor that Julia already knows. She offers to take them anywhere they need to go that afternoon. The staff and faculty at SPU have gone above and beyond the call of duty on this day, to reassure and comfort the students, and see to it that everyone is looked after. Julia calls me back and tells me that "someone" is giving them a ride. "Someone," I say, "what someone?" Always a worried mom. Julia hands her phone to the woman and she identifies herself to me and asks where she can take them. I tell her I would be grateful if she could drop them off at Westlake, a major bus interchange in downtown Seattle. I thank her and she hands the phone back to Julia. I quietly ask Julia if she knows this woman, and she says "yes". Not leaving anything to chance at this point. My mom-alert is heightened after this day.
During the entire 2-bus trip home, I call Julia and Grace several times. The two of them walking in the door is a huge relief to all of us, and we hug for several minutes.
From electronic, emergency reader boards in every building, to internet access, to cell phones and to television news coverage, I am so grateful for the technology of today. My daughters could be reassured by my presence and by calls/texts to each other and their brother. We could be united in prayer together, over the phone lines. Not being able to keep in touch with them would have made this day one hundred times more stressful. And I think every student and every parent affected by the tragedy would concur. Being able to keep in touch with those you love is more valuable than any expense to have this technology.
I often say that I am content to not have a cell phone of my own, but I insist that all of my kids have one. If at some point, I spend more of my day away from home, and our land line, I will reconsider having a cell phone myself. I would want my kids to be able to reach me during any crisis, if for no other reason, so I could reassure them, and give them comfort through a difficult event.
I know that sometimes we wax poetic about the simpler times from long ago. While it would be nice to have a simpler life, free from some of today's distractions, in a crisis I am so thankful to have today's technology.
Monday, June 9, 2014
A month of dinner menus for our house this June
I was feeling nostalgic for old-time favorites as I planned this month's menus. Included are two dinners from my mom's 1957 cookbook. In addition, for the months of June, July and August, we think it's fun to plan a dinner almost entirely from our garden. I'll begin that little tradition at the end of the month. June is also the month for me to clean out the freezer. I believe there's some frozen cooked turkey, cranberry sauce and lots of soup stock to use up. Time to make room for freezing some summer produce.
Summer means simpler meals and lots of cookouts and barbeques.
Here's what we're having this month.
week of June 1 through 7
1 soft rosemary polenta with quick marinara, marinated lentil-barley salad (double batch for June 4)
2 roast chicken (freeze 1 container of meat for June 19, make chicken stock w/meat for June 9), steamed spinach, biscuits and gravy, rhubarb sauce
3 leftover chicken dinner, green salad, leftover rhubarb sauce
4 lettuce wraps with leftover lentil salad, Asian-style greens, garlic and noodle saute (great way to use garden greens)
5 Retro Night -- Tuna Bake with Cheese Pinwheel biscuits, lemon-buttered carrots, creamy rhubarb jello
6 meatball sandwiches, spinach salad, leftover jello
7 burritos (refried bean -- double batch and freeze for June 20, rice, corn, peppers, sour cream), green salad, fresh fruit
week of June 8 through 14
8 grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, green salad, canned pineapple chunks
9 chicken noodle soup, pumpkin muffins, green salad
10 baked bean casserole from the freezer, steamed garden greens, brown rice, rhubarb pie
11 Breakfast-for-dinner -- Corn-meal griddle cakes, ham slices, fresh fruit cup
12 Retro Night -- Home-style Macaroni and Cheese, green salad, roasted carrots, leftover rhubarb pie
13 Mexi-style rice and beans, green salad, strawberries
14 hot dog cookout, pasta salad, rhubarb jello salad, s'mores
week of June 15 through 21
15 Father's Day (plans are still up in the air)
16 turkey, garbanzo & tomato soup, garlic bread (from freezer French bread), green salad, plum pie (use freezer plums/crust)
17 waffles with fruit topping
18 bean patties (double batch and freeze for June 25), sauteed garden greens and garlic, herbed brown rice, strawberries
19 Retro Night -- Deep Dish Chicken Pot Pie, green salad, strawberry shortcake
20 refried beans (from freezer), Spanish rice, green salad, leftover shortcake
21 hamburgers, pasta salad (with canned tomatoes, olives, green veggies from garden), fresh strawberries
week of June 22 through 28
22 Breakfast-for-dinner -- Crispy-crumb Eggs, Cowboy Coffeecake, sliced bananas and strawberries
23 turkey, cranberry, cream cheese sandwiches, fresh fruit, green salad
24 veggie quiche, herbed brown rice, fresh strawberries, green salad
25 bean burgers from freezer, microwave corn bread, sauteed garden greens and garlic
26 ham salad sandwiches, fruit, garden vegetables, chocolate-banana bread
27 marinated lentil-barley salad over greens, fruit cobbler
28 hot dog cookout, fresh strawberries, green salad, s'mores
week of June 29 through 30
29 sloppy lentils on buns, sauteed garden greens with garlic, strawberry sorbet
30 Garden dinner -- green salad, new potatoes, strawberries and blueberries, steamed snow peas, French bread (from freezer) and cheese
Thursday, June 5, 2014
How to cut up a whole, roasted chicken
Beautiful platter of chicken pieces, isn't it? I roast whole chickens every few weeks, and use this method to cut the whole chicken into serving pieces.
So, on facebook the other week, we had a conversation about preparing a "company" dinner with what was in the kitchen already. For me, that meant using a whole chicken for the main course. (Great sale a couple of months ago on whole chickens.)
Many of us buy whole chickens, as this can be the least expensive way to buy chicken (aside from occasionally finding a great deal on chicken leg quarters). How to make a whole, roasted chicken presentable for guests, is the challenge.
There's always carving a chicken in the same way that you carve a turkey, taking slices off the bone. But I prefer to use this method of cutting a whole chicken into serving pieces. It just looks tidier upon serving.
I saw this done on a cooking show a while back. And I thought to myself, "hmm, that looks easy enough. Surely I could do this." And it is. I've been cutting up our whole chickens this way ever since, and been delighted with how neat it looks, as well as how much more chicken meat I'm able to use. (I wasn't getting the bones picked completely clean before, when I was making soup from the entire carcass.)
This is most easily done with a freshly oven-roasted or outdoor-grilled whole chicken, as the joints are loose and allow for easy positioning to make the cuts and breaks. But you can also do this with a rotisserie chicken, using a sharp, heavy knife and just a little more upper arm strength.
The cooking show, where I saw this done, cut the whole chicken into 4 large serving pieces. I found, for our family, that cutting this into 8 smaller serving pieces worked better. I'll show you both ways. Either way, you end up with the back section for soup scraps.
Cutting into 8 portions is ideal for families with small children, who can't eat the larger pieces, or, for individuals who would like a variety of meat at one meal, or, like for us, just don't want a huge amount of meat at any one meal. (Whole chickens seem to have gotten larger over the years.)
I'm not overly skilled with this, yet it only takes me about 10 minutes, total, to cut a whole, roasted chicken into serving pieces. And I don't need any special tools, but a chef's knife and cutting board. No poultry shears or any other cutting equipment. Here it is.
How to cut up a whole, roasted chicken for serving
After roasting, remove the chicken from the oven, and tent with foil. Allow to rest for 20-25 minutes. Don't rush it. Your work will be that much harder if you try to cut it up fresh out of the oven. A hot bird is more difficult to handle.
Step 1: Cutting the leg/thigh portions off the chicken
 |
| cutting through the skin at the place where leg is attached to the body |
Move chicken to a cutting surface. Using a heavy, chef's knife, cut the chicken in the joint-space between the leg and lower portion of the breast. This is a natural breaking point in the bird.
 |
| pressing the leg quarter out and down to cut it away from the bird easier |
Cut the skin, press the leg out and down, and cut at the joint between thigh and body. Cut close to the bird, removing the entire thigh, along with the drumstick. Do this on both sides, and set leg quarters aside.
Step 2: Cutting the back off the body
 |
| making that cut just below the wing |
Now, set the bird on its side, so that the breast faces to one side, and the back to the other. Just below the point where the wing attaches to the breast, begin cutting the back away.
 |
| cutting the breast away from the back |
Turn the bird over, and make the corresponding cut on the other side, just below the wing. You'll leave the breast portions completely intact. Set the back pieces aside for soup-making.
 |
| the entire breast without the back |
Rest the breast portion on the cutting board, without the back attached. Trim off any extra skin and fat.
Step 3: Cutting the breast into two halves
 |
| splitting the breast into halves |
Place the double-breast on the cutting board, skin side up. With chefs knife, begin cutting the breast into two portions at the top, along the center breast bone. You'll have to break/cut the wishbone. Press down on the breast as you cut the whole in half.
 |
| the split breast with large breast bone to be removed |
As you reach the end of the breast nearest the cavity, you should be able to wiggle the large part of the breast bone and cartilage right out of the chicken. Pull this out carefully and set aside with back pieces.
 |
| the "extra" bits -- meat and bones for making soup |
Finishing cutting the breast into two parts. Pull out any loose bones on the underside, as desired. You should be able to pull most of the rib cage out from the underside. (There may be a small bone or two remaining in the breast after you finish.)
 |
| 4 large portions, 2 leg quarters and 2 breasts |
You now have 4 large serving portions, two leg quarters and two breast portions. For large eaters, this may be just right. For moderate appetites, or when wanting to give the option of different types of meat to your diners, you can cut these 4 pieces in halves, resulting in 8 smaller serving pieces.
Step 4: Turning 4 pieces into 8 servings
 |
| leg quarters can be cut into 2 portions, thigh and drumstick |
The leg quarter consists of both the thigh and drumstick together. Find the joint between thigh and lower leg.
 |
| leg and thigh |
 |
| breasts can be cut into 2 smaller portions each |
Cut your breast pieces sideways, in half, leaving the wing attached to 1 half.
 |
| 8 small servings from 1 whole chicken |
Voila! Eight nice serving portions. Before serving, I tuck the skin around each piece, as it just makes a tidier serving package. Cover with foil and pop the platter of chicken pieces into a warm oven while everything else is finishing up. Easy-peasy done!
Thighs
When cutting the thigh and drumstick apart, the thigh bone often comes loose. I just remove it, and tuck the skin around and under the thigh meat, to make one tidy little serving piece.
Breasts
There are a couple of small breast bones that often remain in the breast meat. If I turn the breast over, I can easily remove these bones, along with a bit of cartilage, to make easy-to-eat serving pieces.
In addition to being a tidy way to serve a whole chicken, this cutting method allows for super easy soup preparation. The meat scraps on the backbone are easily accessible for removing. Then I simmer the remaining bones in water, with seasonings and vegetables for the broth.
Nice and tidy serving pieces and super easy soup-making -- that's my kind of kitchen task.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Hello friends!
June is the month that my two youngest take their university finals, and complete their first year of university studies. Classwork may come to an end, but full-time summer employment is just beginning. Summer employment for my daughters means a Monday through Friday position on campus, cleaning dorms, kitchens, and meeting rooms, as they're on the housekeeping team. It's hard physical work, but at least they come home to rest, instead of studies and papers. Friday afternoons are the real highlight for the girls. The university puts on a barbeque lunch, gratis, for its student staff. Bonus -- they get 1 hour for lunch instead of 30 minutes. These are real perks when you're 19 years old. The other really awesome thing for them -- they each received raises! Summer employment may be a necessary evil in their eyes, but at least they're treated well, and earn a significant portion of their tuition each summer.
June is also the month that my part-time employment comes to a close. I'll start back to work in September. But I'll miss those little guys, and I'll miss the opportunity to earn some money. But this now means that my Thursdays are free again. And maybe I can take on more projects around the house. I have this one major sewing/decorating project, for which I bought all the necessary materials a year ago, before news of our income reduction. Adjusting to this reduced income took all of my energy last summer, fall and winter. It still takes a good deal of work and energy, but maybe, just maybe, I can tackle this project, which, for some reason, feels like summer work.
June is the month that I can take a break from planting the garden and just keep up with weeding. It does mean that more produce will come into the kitchen for me to process. But that's a fun thing, to watch the freezer stock of garden veggies grow.
June is the month for strawberries, and more strawberries and even more strawberries in our garden. We are so blessed with a healthy crop of strawberries this year. My favorite way to eat them is simply fresh. If there are enough strawberries, my second favorite way to eat them is in strawberry sorbet. I'm hoping to be able to make at least one batch of sorbet this June.
June is also the month of roses, here in the Pacific Northwest. While some of the rose bushes began blooming in May, June is when I cut roses every week to fill vases for the house. My favorite roses are the English roses, with their full blossoms. But we also have some nice hybrid tea roses, a rosa rugosa, and one lovely, old fashioned climbing rose that I have entwined in an apple tree in the front yard. I saw this in a photo years ago, a climbing rose entwined in an apple tree. It caught my eye, and I vowed to recreate this some day. Well, ours has been growing now for 2 years, and is on the verge of looking like something I once saw.
June is the month of Father's Day. My father-in-law lives 2 hours north of us. We'll drive up to visit with him. I'd like to bring a couple of homemade goodies with us, perhaps a batch of eclairs, or a box of cookies, and some homemade jam.
June is also the first full month of cookouts for our family. We do hot dog roasts around the fire pit, as well as bbq's on the grill. Our weekend entertainment centers around the outdoors for the summer. We have a croquet set and some horseshoes for active fun. Then after dark, there are s'mores to be made, then the waiting and watching for signs of nightlife in the yard. We sometimes see a family of raccoons crossing down by the pond. And the bats are interesting to watch circling over the neighborhood. Occasionally, an owl will be spotted. These creatures keep themselves hidden during the day, but provide interest for us in the evening.
My wish for you is that June will be a month of abundant joys, as it is for me. Let's make June spectacular!
with warmest regards,
Lili Mounce
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