2009 Trends: comfort foods, simple living, religion and urban homesteading

In the Houston Chronicle this morning, there is an article about cooking trends in the FLAVOR section.  I must be a trend setter, b/c I started doing this stuff about 2 years ago.  I think it will be big in 2009.   It states that “comfort foods, simple meals, home cooking and recession-proof dining will be the buzzwords in the food world for 2009.”  “Say farewell to molecular gastronomy, with its dehydrators and foams…” – I missed that trend and have no idea what they are talking about.

Pantry planning will be big in 2009, according to the “houstonmom” research academy.  Just from starting this little blog last September, I have seen the interest in home cooking.  I have a page on setting up a pantry.  Every day I get people searching for this topic and coming into this blog to read about pantry.  One of my biggest volume of hits was how to buy inexpensive ground beef.  It amazes me that they are finding my site b/c I should be last on the list of finds!

Bloggers talking about simple living will skyrocket in 2009 according to my latest study.  I’ve also gotten interest in recipes based on hits on my blog.  I know I’ve started using blog recipes over foodnetwork or other recipes b/c I can see that a real person is actually making this.  I think that will also be a trend in 2009.

In 2009 you will see the term “urban homesteading”.  I’ve never heard of it until this week.  My sister had the two older girls and I had time to research how to grow a garden in our back yard.  I didn’t know the term to use, but this is where I landed.  I was very disappointed not to find the Christian community not engaged in this discussion.  But I’m thinking about how much land, even in the city, we waste on grass and useless shrubs.  On a Christian level, I’m beginning to wonder if we’re mismanaging God’s creation.  We’re using our resources to have lawns and importing food from China.  Something about that sounds wrong.    My grandparents are looking smarter and smarter.  Urban Homesteading is more than a garden.  I’ll be writing on it more as I learn how to incorporate into our lives.

In 2009 buying clothes from thrift stores will be in style.  I started doing this a year ago – again a trend setter!  I take the girls clothes to the trift store to sell on consignment, then use my credit for purchases.  I rarely spend cash at this store.

In 2009, homeschooling will grow.  As people cannot continue to afford private schools, they will try homeschooling.  There was recently an article in the Houston Chronicle about private schools hurting b/c people are missing tuition payments.  In this change to homeschooling, some will last a month and others will be there for life.

In 2009, I’ll probably find more to like about Obama and the liberals will find more not to like.  I’ve already seen this happening.  Michelle Obama said she is going to be a mother and wife, when asked what will be her agenda as first lady.  Yea Michelle!  But the feminist were all over her for that statement b/c she was “wasting” her position and education.  The very group that calls for freedom to women does not allow freedom unless it is under their agenda.  I am very proud of Michelle’s position and I hope she continues this stance.  It will be a great example for women in the country.  See the Dec 02 post from Albert Mohler for a story on this…

I think we’ll also see a rise in cults.  I predict an increase in the number of people looking for ’something’ as they realize they can’t manage their problems without a higher power,….and the cults will be attractive.  I hope Christianity rises, but Christians will have to become different from the culture for this to happen.   We will have to live more like Christ, get back to family and put our faith in action.    Many of the cults have done a better job at keeping their congregation living according to their doctrines, although I’ve read some of them are also struggling with a culture invasion.

In 2009,  I am also concerned that Joe Biden may correct in that this administration will be tested by terrorists.  I hope I’m wrong on this one.   I also think we’ll see Israel attack Iran.

These are just a few trends and predictions.  I hope you have a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve and great 2010.

You can take the girl out of the country but….

You cannot take the country out of the girl.  After college, I could not wait to move to Dallas and work downtown.  I could hear the theme music to “Dallas” playing as I drove into town and gazed at the skyline.  I loved the people, excitement and nightlife. I even married a city boy man.

But now I’m 40ish and longing for the country life.  The life that once seemed so boring now seems like paradise.  I want chickens, a garden, and even a cow!  But Dave has a wonderful job in the city and our life is here.  I need to bloom where planted.

Instead of longing for the country, I’ve decided to “urban homestead.”  I’m making our laundry detergent, milling our wheat, and trying to simplify where I can.  Dave thinks this is just another one of my phases…..yes there have been many.

Yesterday I suggested we buy a compost machine.  I want to start making organic compost and build a vertical garden in our tiny back yard.   He really tries not to laugh at me when I suggest these things.  But I’m really fascinated by the concept of vertical growing.

Check out this site…http://www.gardengirltv.com/lawns_and_edible_landscapes_blueberries_planting_strawberries_city_orchands.html#.  She has several vertical gardens.  Instead of looking out my back window and seeing a brick wall, we could look at lovely vegetable growing.  My oldest, farmer Bethany, just loves the idea.  Last year Bethany convinced Dave to buy her an incubator so she could hatch chicken eggs.  He refused to get the eggs until I found a spot for our chicks…  I’ve yet to find a place!  I need to get back on that.

Dave has almost said yes to a small area of the fence becoming a vertical veggie garden.  I’ll keep you posted on how this progresses!

How do kids think of these things?

Today we were at CVS using one of their grocery carts, which are smaller than your average Kroger or Randalls cart.   Today I let Shea help push the cart.  The flap you put down if you have a kid in the cart has all sorts of warnings, but they didn’t think of it all.  It has pictures not to place a child in the basket part, no standing and you must buckle.  It does not tell a child not to stick their head into a leg hole.

I was examining the price of hefty trash bags and Shea started screaming.  I turned around and my sweet child who was helping push the buggy had managed to get her head through a leg hole and was stuck.  These are smaller carts so the leg holes are not that big.  I couldn’t get her head out!  And she started to panic which made things worse!  I finally got her to turn her head and we got it out without calling for help.

And yesterday she set up an obstacle course with our new mini trampoline.  I envisioned her happily jumping up/down with great care for safety and buring off some 4 year old energy.  Instead, she moved it next to a tall bar stool.  And on the other side of the mini trampline she placed a box.  “Tigger” was planning to stand on the bar stool, jump down on the mini trampoline and then onto the box.  I realized what she was doing before she tried out her plan.   Don’t let the innocent look fool you:)

I made laundry soap! one step away from dependence on proctor/gamble

This afternoon, I made my first batch of liquid laundry soup - see here for directions.  It made three gallons for about $2.00 and I used 1/2 cup for one load.  I’m also making my own dishwater detergent using one part borax and one part super washing soda.  They key is to use lots of vinegar in your rinse cycles so you don’t have clouds on your glass.  My first try with homemade detergent came with lots of clouds.

I like making my own stuff for three reasons:

1. saves money
2. reduces the amount of plastic we’re sending to the recycle center
3. gets our family one small step away from being dependent on large corporations

Regarding #3, I realize that I am still buying the ingredients from a corporation.  But it is different.  I’m using less product, less packaging and spending less money.  I’m not anti corporation.  I worked for a major for 17 years and Dave is with a corporation.  I appreciate what they do for our country.   They pay billions in taxes and provide jobs.  They also do many things more efficiently than smaller organizations.  I will not be making our own pencils anytime soon.

But I also see a downside to the abundance of consumer products.  We’ve become so dependent on corporations supplying us disposable and ready made items we are losing the art of making things ourselves.  Just 60 years ago (maybe less) there was no disposable diaper, disposable razor, disposable toilet wand, disposable crock pot liner, disposable counter wipes, disposable face wipes, and the list goes on.  Consumers have driven these products and they’ve made our lives easier.  But I think we’ve also lost something in this consumer driven society.  We’re not home as much making stuff on our own.  This is good family time – Shea (my 4 year old helper) loved making detergent today.  About 25 years ago I spent time at the volunteer fire department quilting with our senior ladies.  We drank coffee, talked and laughed.  We didn’t run to Bed, Bath and Beyond with our 20% coupon to buy a quilt and matching pillow.

And I think making things is a good use of my time.  Dave works really hard so I can be home.  I need to be careful with our money because the less I spend, the less he has to earn.  I can spend time at home or running the roads.  Some running the roads is necessary, but I don’t need to spend hours browsing in stores for stuff I don’t need.  Making things at home also sets a good example for our girls.

Menu this week

I’m not good at making and sticking to menus. However, I think this is causing me to waste food and not use what I have. So this week I’m going to give it a try. Here’s my plan. The lunches are just for the girls and me, but the other meals are for all give of us. Not included are snacks and sweet treats.

Menu:

Sunday:
B: Whole Wheat Pancakes and Maple Syrup
L: Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin and fried rice
D: Turkey Soup and Homemade whole wheat tortillas

Monday:
B: Whole Wheat Waffles from the freezer
L: Turkey Quesadillas
D: Lasagna and salad

Tuesday:
B: 7 grain cereal, homemade yogurt and fruit
L: Leftover Lasagna
D: Grilled Salmon, rice and veggies

Wed:
B: Eggs and whole wheat toast
L: Leftover lasagna
D: Baked Ham, noodles and green beans

Thursday:
B: Whole Wheat Sour Dough biscuits with butter and honey/jam
L: Chicken Mango sausage, noodles and veggies
D: Black Bean soup, homemade wheat tortillas and veggie tray

Friday:
B: Eggs, bread and fruit
L: Garbanzo beans, noodles and veggies
D: Grilled Chicken, Creamed spinach and roasted potatoes.

Saturday:
B: Dad and donuts
L: Split pea soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
D: Pork Chops, applesauce, green beans and homemade wheat rolls.

Day after Christmas shopping – reduced meat

I used to hit the clothes racks the day after Christmas, but now I hit the supermarket’s butcher section.  I scored big time today.  My favorite place to buy meat in Houston is Randalls.  Of course I’d prefer Whole Paycheck (Foods) or Central Bank (Market), but they are so out of my league.  The reason I went reduced meat shopping today is because the stores are either closed or dead on Christmas, so they have meat that must be moved so the fresher stuff can make it out.

I really like to buy reduced meat at Randalls.   Anyone want to come over for lunch on Sunday???  Yum Yum.   I know many of my friends reading this are squirming at the thought of buying “bad” meat.  But this meat is just fine and let me explain.  One day I asked to speak to the manager so I could understand how things make it to the reduced section.  They basically have two types of products:  meats they package in house and items that come prepackaged.  The stuff you see behind the counter that they weigh out and put in white paper is usually the most expensive.  When they put new meat into this section, they have to remove the old meat.  So, if they have a small portion of thick sliced bacon in the counter display, they cannot put new meat with this because the dates will be different.  So they wrap up the small portion left over and put it with the clearance stuff.  It still may have several days of shelf life, but the logistics caused the markdown.

For example, today I found two beautiful pork roasts.  These are not the kind they sell that come prepackaged, but were the more expensive ones with the butcher.  The roast is regularly $25.41.  It was on sale for $11.26.  They put it in the clearance section with a 50% off sticker, so this roast cost me $5.63.  It is a pork loin rib half center cut boneless with stings around it.  The use by date is Dec 28th.  So this morning it still had three days remaining.  I put one in the freezer and will roast one tomorrow.

I also landed two Rancher Reserve Petite Tender Beef Filets.  The regular price for one was $13.84, and I paid $3.98.

Randalls also had aidells mango chicken sausage on the clearance section for $.99 and are usually $5.99 each.  I got three packages which expire on Dec 29th and froze them all.

I found several packs of Hillshire farms italian smoked sausage for $.99 a pack.

And I purchased a 3.5 lb bag of little smokies for $1.99.  I put these in lunch size baggies and froze.

I also bought 36 packages of pasta.  Most were organic and some were whole wheat.  They expire in 2010, but were in the clearance section b/c Randalls is changing product/packaging.  The price for these ranged from 25 cents to 95 cents a package.  Most were 55 cents.  These came in plastic packages without seasonings, so I’ll have an easier time keeping the weevils out.  I am storing most of them in a gamma sealed bucket.

For the freezer I found 10 tubs (10 oz) of all Farmland all natural sliced ham for lunchmeat.  They are regularly $4.99 and I got them for $.99 each.  The use by date on these is Dec 30th.  I froze them and will use immediately after opening.  I can make two days lunches with these, which is a 50 cent lunch for 4 people!

So I’m pretty much set for meat for the next 2 to 3 months.  And we have very nice selections that are high quality.  Now I need to plan my menu around what is in our freezer.

I spent $70 today and have not even told you all the items.  I went to three different Randall’s on my hunt.  Our money went a long way today!

Another Christmas Eve Service story

After reading my note on Christmas Eve services, my friend shared her experience from last Wednesday.  It is about her youngest son, who is a handful.  The preacher asked all the kids to come to the front for a children’s sermon.  The preacher picked out one child (which was her little boy) and asked him what is the best present he ever received.  This little boy proudly proclaimed, “A GUN!”  Then the preacher asked, “Son, how old are you?”  The child is five.  The preacher responded jokingly, “We’re going to have to talk to your parents.”

This is a large church and not everyone knows everyone.  So when the children went back to their seats, all eyes where on this child which gave away which couple was his parents.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services with kids

It is Christmas Eve and we’re home.  We used to go to the Christmas Eve service, but the candle thing is too much with little ones.  I had enough the year Maggie almost set ablaze the mink coat draped over the chair in front of us.  And if the kids don’t get to hold the candle, it is a big deal.  Not exactly a spiritual moment with all these dynamics going on.   After the mink coat episode, our kids do not hold any candles in church.  It was a bad parenting moment to do it that year.

We have been since the mink coat service, but now I’m looking around at all the other kids waving fire sticks and folks packed into pews.  I cannot think about Jesus because I’m mentally thinking of how to get my family out when the fire starts.  And I make sure we’re not seated in front of a hyper child whose parents look like they are about to have a bad parenting moment.  I don’t want to be their lesson learned!

Even though we missed the service, we had a wonderful day.  We made cupcakes and decorated them with icing and sprinkles.  It was very messy and Dave handled it well.  Those of you who know Dave get a chuckle out of that picture.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and celebration of our Savior’s birth.  I can’t wait for His next coming!

Report: Hedge Fund Founder Who Lost $1.4B in Madoff Scandal Dead in Apparent Suicide

It appears that Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet committed suicide.  He was the founder of an investment fund that lost a ton of money in the Madoff scandal.  See this for full article.

As we’ve watched the economy collapse, I’ve talked to my husband and some friends about what we thought the fallout to human life would be.  One thing we discussed was suicides after major losses.   This is exactly what we were hoping would not happen.   I don’t know this man, but it makes me sad that losing money put him over the edge.  Granted, it is a ton of money and other people’s livelihood.  But to kill yourself?   Our life after this is eternal.  No matter how bad it is, it does not stop when we leave this world for the next one.

I wonder what he expected after he died.  Would that end all his troubles?  If he rejected God, this loss is nothing compared to his eternal life.  Or if he was an atheist earlier this week, I’m certain he no longer is right now.  How sad that a man who once was at the top of what this world values, lost it all and fell so hard he ended it all.   We have hope, but that hope is in a God greater than we are.

It also reminds me people who are at the top may not “have it all.”  How much more precious is a devoted family who loves each other regardless of financial status.  To be able to enjoy time with a friend over a simple cup of tea.  To chat on the phone with a friend from a distance.  To cook a fresh loaf of bread for your family.  To read to your children.  To laugh at their made-up jokes which really don’t make sense.   I think many of these  top execs miss all this good stuff.  Too bad for the ones that do.  Life is so short.

Another really good potato soup recipe

I made this yesterday and it is all gone! Dave especially liked it.

You’ll need:

• 4 med size potatoes peeled and diced
• 2 leeks washed and diced
• 1/4 cup of cream, half/half or milk
• 2 teaspoons of Herbs De province
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• chicken buillion
• 1/2 cup of chopped ham or bacon (optional)

If you’ve never cooked with leeks, you’re missing out. They are easy and give you the onion flavor, but are very mild. You don’t use the really green part. Just the light green and white onion section. Chop off the dark green part and the end with root stings. Then slice in half and wash. You wash after you slice b/c dirt gets trapped in the stalks.

Then chop into very small pieces. In your soup pot, put at least 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat. Then add onions and cook slowly… after 10 minutes until they are tender. While they are cooking, dissolve 2 teaspoons of chicken buillion into one cup of water. Once onions are tender and sweet, add in your chopped ham or bacon. If bacon is uncooked, cook for about 3 minutes. Then add water with buillion. Add about 2 teaspoons of herbs de province and one/half teaspoon of pepper. Do not add salt! Then add about one more cup of water.

Now is time to toss in the potatoes. Check your water level and add enough to make a soup. Once the potatoes are tender, mash the potatoes with the thing you use to make mashed potatoes. After this if the liquid is too thick, you need to add a little water. If it is too watery, cook a minute and let it thicken. Then add your cream, which will also thicken it. If you add heavy cream it will thicken more than if you add milk. Just play with it until it is the consistency you like.

I topped my bowls of soup with a little grated cheddar cheese and enjoyed with a fresh glass of iced tea. It was wonderful.