Independance Days Update

Man, I'm a really terrible blogger. I'm sorry I've been missing in action for so long. No wonder only a dozen people read this thing! lol

I am anxiously awaiting warmth. We had one freak weekend (not this weekend, last) that included three days of 80 to 90 degree weather. I got all excited. I dug up a bed for my peas, and set up my outdoor furniture. The day after the last day of 90 degree weather it snowed. Yes, it snowed and was 29 degrees for an overnight low. That's a 60 degree difference. Unbelievable. And it's been cold ever since. So my peas didn't make it to their new home.

It's supposed to warm up some today, and it's been raining, so the ground is sort of loosened up. I'm going to try to get out and dig up some more today.

Plant Something: Like I said, I dug up a bed for my peas. It's still too unpredictable to plant out until mid-June. It snowed on the last day of school last year! I also planned out my raised beds, which I hope to put in next week. I ordered my warm-weather seeds from a company that specializes in high desert gardens.

Harvested: Nothing.

Preserved: Since I harvested nothing, I had nothing to preserve. I want to start watching my grocery store for the produce that they mark down sometimes, keeping an eye out for anything I can preserve. I am also WAY TOO excited about hearing that there will be a farmer's market here from August to October. I'm planning on participating. And also buying up the goodies to preserve.

Stored: Sadly, nothing. I have these huge plans, but they aren't panning out as well as I'd like them to.

Managed: We started a new program for paying off our debt, which basically is just putting an extra $50 a week toward our card with the lowest principal. When that one is paid off (in July) we'll roll over that $50 a week, plus the monthly payment to that card over to the next card. And so on and so on. In this way, we should be completely out of debt, including out car, in about two years. I hope that the economy holds out that long. I'm not optimistic.

Prepped: See the planted section. I also made a batch of laundry detergent. I bought some things so that I can start really learning how to sew. I am writing a short story, in the hopes of having it published.

Cooked Something New: I made a pork roast in my crock pot. Okay, that's not really a big deal, but I'd never made one before and it was AMAZING. We made pulled pork barbeque sandwiches out of it with coleslaw. Holy cow.

Advocate for Local Food Systems: I've been spreading the word about the Farmer's Market. And planning for it. I want to have some information to hand out to people who come to my booth. I need to start planning what I'm going to offer. We can have what we grow, plus seedlings, seeds, and food. I might order some bulk seeds from Seed Savers and offer them for use next year. I also plan on offering herb seedlings that can be grown indoors until next summer. And bread. I've also been talking up my plan to have chickens.

Reduced Waste: We are still saving our recycling, but not as diligently as I'd like. Need to step that one up.

Learned a Skill: I learned how to line a crocheted wallet. Go me!

I've decided to add a new category that is important to me. Building health. Not just for me, but for my family. I think that it's going to be very important in the coming years to be as mentally, physically and emotionally healthy as possible. So:

Building Health: I lost four pounds this week. Nice, eh? Yeah. I bought some multi-vitamins that were on sale at the local grocery store half off. Adrienne has been having leg cramps and has also been really tired lately. It finally occurred to me that she might be anemic, like me. So vitamins for her, and for everyone for good measure. I ordered some medicinal herb seeds. I also reread SuperFoods, which is fascinating to me.

Warm Soil and a Bright Sun

I have made a goal for myself. I am going to do something in my yard every day. It's warm enough that I need to be watering. I wish I had some sort of ground cover other than grass, but I don't want to let the grass completely die and then the soil get all dried out and icky. Plus we rent, and the grass was there to start with. I have no problems planting something else there instead, but until I get there I'm going to take care of the grass to some extent.

Today's plan is to prepare a bed for peas and lettuce and cabbage. This week I'd also like to get one 4X4 plot ready. Top soil is on sale at the variety store (yes, that's what they call it out here in the sticks. Like a mini-non-big-box Walmart with a bit of everything in it.) I bought two bags and a bag of manure to amend my pea/lettuce/cabbage garden.

My allergies are killing me. I've had to sneeze for three hours and it won't come. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I can take allergy medicine now, but I want to research more natural remedies, because the time may come when I need to work outdoors without the aide of medication.

I'm quite happy with my Independence Days experiment. Can't wait until Friday when I'll write a nice long post about the progress.

I am quite unhappy with some changes at Etsy, where my vintage clothing store is. They changed the search function so that it's default is to block all vintage and supplies from showing up when a buyer is looking for something to buy. They can opt-in to vintage, but it's difficult to find and clearly few are finding it. My views have gone from about 200 to about 20 an hour. Sucks. I am in the process of trying to think of ways to over come that. Wish me luck.

Mmmmmmmmm Cookies!

I spent all day baking Chocolate Chip Walnut and Oatmeal White Chocolate Cranberry Nut cookies. And pumpkin bread. Oh yum. I make the best pumpkin bread ever. I mean that. Tomorrow I'm making Mint Cherry Shortbread Cookies that are dipped in white chocolate and so so good. And Coconut macaroons.

I made my grandma's Almond Rocca today too. It's my specialty. Adrienne wants orange peel candy, but I'm not sure I'll have the time or stamina to make it in time for Christmas. Kevin's birthday is tomorrow. We're going to dinner and to see the new National Treasure movie. We have one movie theater here, with one screen, and the movie sometimes doesn't change for two or three weeks. Lucky there's a good one for Kevin's birthday!

His folks are coming to town tomorrow and staying through the day after Christmas. They're taking the baby back to Vegas with them for a few days and Adrienne and Nick are going to visit their dad for their winter break.

That means I have ten days, no kids, no work. I'm going to miss them. I'm going to love being able to write with out anyone pulling on my sleeve. Ten days, ya'll. That's 240 hours.

Happy Thanksgiving, and my favorite side dish recipe

Just in case I don't get the chance tomorrow, I wanted to take a minute to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!

We're eating at home tomorrow, then Kevin is going to work and the kids and I are going to Adrienne and Nick's grandparents house for the evening.

Here's our menu:

Turkey
Apple and pecan cornbread stuffing
Sweet potato casserole
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Roasted Brussel's sprouts
Gulliver's corn
Rolls

And my favorite. I make it every year, even though I'm the only one who eats it. Luckily it's pickled so it lasts a while in the fridge and it ages well.

Red Sauerkraut Salad

1/2 head of red cabbage, cored and julienned
1/2 onion chopped fine
1 jalapeno chopped fine
1 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
generous pinch cinnamon
2 t. salt
1 t. horseradish
1 T. whole grain mustard
1/2 cup water
Blue cheese (the cheese, not the dressing)
Walnuts, chopped

Put everything in a heavy pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover and cook for an hour. Let cool completely and then drain. Mix in walnuts and crumbled blue cheese to your liking. I like a lot of both!

It might sound weird, but I swear it's addictive! It's fabulous with left overs, too.

Delicious, and Frugal, Too

I gave myself this book for my birthday. I was delighted to find a recipe inside that I ate often the summer I spent in Costa Rica.

I met Belerma in the first grade and we were inseparable through elementary and middle school. The summer that we were thirteen, Bele was going to visit her mother, who still lived in Costa Rica. Amazingly, when we asked my dad if I could go with her he said yes. I spent the whole summer there and it changed my life.

A staple food that I came to really love was Pintos Gallo, or Painted Rooster. A simple black beans and rice dish that Bele's mother made several times a week.

I found the recipe in The Extended Table, and even though it said it came from Nicaragua, I knew it was the same food I ate in Costa Rica. I made it my own and have been making it for my vegetarian daughter the last couple of weeks. Enjoy!

Pintos Gallo

One 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
One 15 ounce can corn, drained
One medium white onion, chopped
Two tablespoons olive or canola oil
One cup white rice
Two cups water
One cup prepared salsa

Prepare the rice in the water. (I've been using white rice because it's what I have, but I'm going to try brown rice soon.)

While the rice is steaming, heat the oil in a large pan and add the onions. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the beans and the corn and saute until the pan drys out a little. The beans will break down some and turn nice and soft. I usually season the beans and corn and onions with a little garlic, salt, pepper and chili powder.

When the rice is cooked, add to the pan with the beans. Combine throughly.

Minus the corn, this is traditional Pintos Gallos. We like to stir in a cup of salsa to give it a moister texture and a more "Spanish rice" taste.

Serve in bowls topped with shredded cheese, shredded cabbage and sour cream. Adrienne makes burritos out of hers, but I don't need the extra calories from the tortillas.

This dish reheats really well. Moisture from the salsa keeps the rice from drying out while stored in the fridge. It almost tastes better for lunch the next day.