Farmer's Market Haul - 6/25

I can't get this picture to be the right way.  Sorry!!  Spinach, Pickle cucumbers, Chocolate muffins, Lettuce, Green Pepper (one of the firsts of the season), Fennel, Pea Pods, Strawberries (some of the last of the season already).  The red pepper is still a brought in item.

Farmer's Market Haul - 6/18

Asparagus (almost out of season now), Peas, Garlic, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Cucumbers, Bread and Strawberry tarts.  The green pepper was brought in because they are not in season here yet.

Farmer's Market Haul - 6/11

Not everything here is local or in season (the red pepper, peaches, potatoes, and tomatoes were brought in or raised in a green house)  The rest is broccoli, cookie, bread, cucumber, strawberries, cucumber, spinach, and carrots. 

I made a decision this week at the market.  I bought local produce for the most part but then I figured if there was something I would buy at the store because of a recipe I was making then I would just but it at the market and support the farmer that was bringing it in.

Sneak in Veggies and Omega 3

Here is a great pesto recipe that I use in my house and my 4 and 8 year old love.

1 cup fresh basil (or fresh/frozen see post)
1 cup fresh spinach
1/4 cup walnuts (I used a bit more even)
2 cloves garlic
1/2 parmesan cheese
1/2 cup olive oil drizzled in as you blend

*Blend in food processor and mix in your cooked pasta!! YUM

Farmer's Market Haul

Spring has sprung and we have lots of options at our farmers market.  HOWEVER!! there are lots of products at the farmers market that have been shipped in.  It is still too early for many fruits and veggies here in Western New York. So I ask the farmers which products are local before I buy.  There are some products that are being grown in greenhouses around here.  It has been so rainy that the farmers haven't even been able to get the planting done yet.  Here is what I got.

 Red and Yellow Tomatoes, Chocolate Chip Muffin, Ground beef, Strawberries (green house), Bread (for a sub roll this week's lunch), Green Beans, Brownie, and Eggs.

Busy Night's Dinner

Well, it is that time of year.  T-ball, Little League, registration for camps, end of the school year for my kids and for me as a teacher.  Crazy, crazy, crazy...  Then I had to miss the last 2 Saturdays at the farmer's market besides.  My kitchen is bare bones.  Well here is a product that I feel good about for a couple of reasons.

• Newman's Own donates to education
• The pepperoni is nitrate free
• I recognize almost all, if not all of the ingredients
• It is a fast week night dinner before a baseball game
• Just add carrot sticks and a fruit as sides (not chips :)

Farmer's Market Haul

French Bread (makes great garlic bread), Snap Peas, Carrots, Garlic (that is shaped like scallions), Shiitake Mushrooms, ASPARAGUS - great sign of spring, & Eggs

Saturday - I made mushroom swiss hamburgers (grass fed beef), fries, asparagus
Sunday - Lemon chicken parm, asparagus, noodles
Monday - Spaghetti, sauce, garlic bread
Tuesday - Quiche - spinach, ham, cheese, broccoli,
Wednesday - I have golf league so boys on their own.... PIZZA
Thursday - out to dinner at a conference
Friday - ???

Quiche to the rescue

I made this quiche for dinner tonight.  It has been a go to lately.  I am able to use so many different ingredients.  The only downside is that my 4 yr old doesn't like it.  The rest of the family LOVES it.  Tonight I am using,

• Cheese
• Ham
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower (which I am sneaking in so I won't use much)

Got the flu - Hang in there

My entire family got the flu last week so we are just recovering back into routine.  I will be posting as soon as we get going.  I was finally able to stomach grocery shopping.

How far did that come from???

Ok, so here is a work up of my produce in miles from my last shopping trip.  I was CRAVING fresh produce because it has been so long.  I broke down and bought some fresh fruit and veggies.

Sorry the pictures isn't perfect.   Even as an estimate it is crazy to see where the food came from, how far it traveled and how much that would cost me to drive.  AND THIS IS JUST PRODUCE.  I know all of that other "stuff" traveled quite a bit to get to me too.

Check out to the right, I have added an Amazon widget where I will place some of my favorite products that help me in my journey to eat healthy while being a full time teacher and mother of 2. First up is a book that really got me started on my locavore mission.  It is inspiring and fun to read.  Check it out!

Freezing Basil

So here is my first installment of my freezer series

FREEZING BASIL

Here is my basil plant.  It is sitting right on my kitchen window.  I picked off some of the larger leaves.

Stack the leaves so you can cut them into strips (Technically called chiffonade :)

Then put the strips into a freezer container to use later in soups, or my favorite, on top of pizza right after you pull it out of the oven.

Chance are you can get bunches of basil from your farmers market when in season.  Then just freeze and you can use them throughout the winter.  Mine lasted in these containers all winter.

Shopping trip

One major downfall of using a farmer's market is that if you are busy during the 5 hours it is open, once a week, than you don't get to go.  That's what happened to me this week so I was stuck getting everything from the grocery store.

 

I broke down and got bananas (organic at least) and strawberries.  Neither are at all local or in season but I was missing them terribly.

Using your freezer wisely

 

Microsoft clipart image

I am going to start a series on how I use my freezer.  I have some great ideas that I have been working on and I am ready to get even better during this spring and summer.

On my mission to try and eat local using my freezer will be critical because I live in New York and winter is sooooo long here.  As a matter of fact, it snowed last week here :)  I have never canned and I am a bit afraid of that process so I have come to rely on the freezer.

Mind you that I am a full time teacher and mother of 2 boys (4 and 8) so time is not plentiful.  I am going to attempt to show you how I will do this.  Wish me luck and follow along.

Meal Plan for a week

Meal Plan
Saturday - Homemade mac-n-cheese, brocolli, applesauce (my son's bday party)
Sunday - We have our Family Bible study where dinner is served
Monday - (my husband) Leftover Mac-n-cheese from party
Tuesday - Meatloaf & Mashed Potato Bake
Wednesday - Ham & Cheese Pannis with soup
Thursday - Quiche (check out this recipe) with green bean side (couldn't get bacon so ham will have to do)
Friday - Penne Pasta from Rachel Ray (I am attempting my own Walnut Pesto)

Locavore Shopping

Here are my groceries for this week as I try to live local.  I have the last of my CSA for winter from a local farm and my farmers market haul this week.  There was a stop at the grocery and, I admit, some weak purchases, but I am working on it.

CSA = Community Supported Agriculture 

My last pick up for winter. 

Apples, Chilies, Onions, Potatoes, Wheat Bread, Garlic, and Apple Muffins PLUS Oranges and Grapefruit ,
$33.00 (two week supply)

Farmer's Market stop - $33.00

Beets, Spinach, Lettuce, 2 bags Green Beans, 2 kinds of Cheese, Ground beef, Honey Wheat Bread, Cheese curds, Cookies, and Flour 

Grocery Store - $49.00

Peanuts, Goldfish, Applesauce*, Noodles*, Parmasean, Chicken Stock, Walnuts, Broccoli*, Organic Chicken, Ham, Sweetened Condensed Milk, Cheese*

*(For my son's birthday party)

Price total -$99.00 this week

Trying to limit 'screen time'

Here is the system we are using to try and limit 'screen' time with my 8 year old.  I created this chart for the fridge.

We were having trouble keeping track of time on a clock so I went with time slots where he has time to choose his activity.  He is responsible to sign up for time slots. He can only choose screens for 3 of the time slots. He MUST pick 2 of 3 of the following, homework, playing outside, and reading.

I should tell you that my husband and I both teach at the school our son goes to so he 'hangs out' with us before and after school.  That accounts for the time slots that are 'in dad's office' and 'extra waiting at school' (when we have meetings or practice after school).

This is a work in progress.

Today he signed up for a time slot at school and he forgot his DS.  I told him that it was his responsibility and if he didn't have his DS then he didn't get to play.

Click here for my chart

Farmers Market Haul

I got all of this from my indoor Farmer's Market today

For under $30.00 *chicken $11.00

Organic chicken, green beans, scallions, carrots, eggs, cheese, and in the back is pak choi, lettuce, and spinach.  

We still have snow on the ground where I live but there are farmers who are growing produce inside greenhouses and bringing it to the Farmer's market. 

This week's menu is a little less on a budget.  I am splurging.  Especially with this organic chicken which I am not sure I can make into something tasty for my family.  

Saturday - Taco Salad (lettuce, scallions, cheese from above)

Sunday -  Pulled barbecue chicken sandwiches on homemade hamburger rolls. 

Monday - Pasta and sauce with tossed salad (lettuce, spinach, scallions, carrots, egg)

Tuesday - Chinese (Anne Chun's chow mein box) (green beans, pak choi, carrots, scallions)

Wednesday - (Happy Birthday to me and my son) - Tuna noodle casserole and applesauce at my sisters

Thursday - I think leftovers

Friday - Meatless - Pierogies with apple green bean saute as a side dish (green beans, scallions)

Preparing for Easter

I got this idea from We are that Family and I wanted to use it with my family as we prepare for Easter.
Here is how I set up my egg carton.

12 days before Easter we will start opening each egg and talk about the Easter story.  I am excited to find a way of making Easter more about Jesus than chocolate.  Here are the directions from Kristen @ We are that Family.

Make a list of 12 items that are in the Resurrection Story and if we couldn’t find the object around the house/yard, we just used our creativity.*I used pictures and folded them up inside the egg.

1. A picture of a donkey (Jesus triumphal entry)

2. Palm leaf from our front yard

3. A cup (from the Last Supper) We used a small lid to a water bottle

4. A flower (representing the Garden where Jesus prayed)

5. Some coins (Judas’ betrayal)

6. A piece of leather (symbolizing the whip)

7. A thorn (crown of thorns)

8. A paper cross

9. A dice (represent the soldiers who gambled for his clothes)

10. A nail (crucifixion)

11. A rock (to cover the tomb)

12. An empty egg (to remember the empty tomb!)

Storing my homemade granola

Getting ready to cut the bars!

Thinking about starting a business in granola bars.  

What do you think?

  Voila... Breakfast or snacks for the week.

I have to thank Melissa again for the idea and recipe. 

I love this!

Homemade Granola bars

Ok, so my husband and son wanted granola bars for our grab and go breakfast this week.   I didn't want to buy granola bars at the store for two reasons, money and healthfulness (is that a word?).  So I remembered a recipe from Melissa @ Another Lunch for chocolate chip granola bites and I decided to make them.

 

I had to improvise because I didn't have any Crisped Rice cereal.  So here is the recipe I used.   I substituted frosted mini shredded wheats and lowered the sugar.

2 1/2 cups quick oats

1/2 cup crushed up frosted mini shredded wheats

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup canola oil

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup chocolate chips

*In a large bowl combine the first 4 ingredients.  Mix well.  In another bowl/container (I used my 2cup glass measuring cup) combine the vanilla, oil, and honey and pour over the dry mixture.  Mix really well.  Then add chocolate chips to mixture.

If you have these great mini silicone baking cups then press the mixture into them and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 min.  OR in a 8X8 glass baking dish lined with parchment paper press in and bake for 17-22 min. If you want to make them into bars you have to give them a long time to cool down.  Check out Melissa's post for all the tips on baking and on cutting bars.  She explains it well.

Breakfast on the Go idea

I know it doesn't look awesome, I am working on this recipe.  I got the idea from Deb @ Lincoln recipe swap when she commented on my breakfast post - *Always accepting ideas please*. 

I had made some clover rolls for St' Patrick's day and I am not a bread maker so call it fate that Deb commented on my post the day before I was going to make some bread dough. 

I used some of my dough to make these breakfast pockets which I froze, thawed the night before I wanted them, and popped them in the microwave in the morning. I rolled out two circles and put some scrambled eggs, cheese, and ham (Homel's :) in the middle and topped with another circle then crimped with a fork.  I guessed when I baked them and based the time on the roll recipe. 

The concept is great.  I need to work on my dough though because it is a little dense and bland.  I like these sandwiches though, and I dip mine in salsa to add a bit more taste. (and some veggies too).  Like I said, it is a work in progress.

Make my own chilli powder...? Yikes

This week in my CSA share I got three stems full of cayenne peppers that were partially dried.  What the heck was I to do with dried peppers?  Well after a bit of research I decided to make my own chili powder.  I have been moving away from the traditional spices because there are all sorts of chemicals and preservatives in them.  I have bought a few organic spices that we use often (cumin, garlic, cinnamon and parsley).

1.  Cut off the tops of the peppers and take out the seeds (unless you want it really hot)

2.  I finished drying them in the oven.  They were partially dry already

3.  Shook out any remaining seeds :)

4.  Put them in the food processor and grinded to powder

 

5.  In a dry jar I added  (The jar on the left is the mixture, on the right is just the cayenne)

• 1Tablespoon cayenne powder
• 2 Tablespoons cumin
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon cloves

Happy First Day of Spring

Well it is finally here!  The first day of spring and I decided to 'spring clean' my blog to welcome in the new season.

I am excited to be on the verge of fresh local produce.  Trying to eat local in New York is very difficult in the winter.

This is my second year to attempt a garden.  What you see here is my pepper plant.  They take soooo long to germinate that you must start them early.  18 weeks is what my seed packet said. I didn't get any peppers last year.

I have a small raised garden.  It is one way to make the trip shorter from food source to table.  Gardens are alot of work though and I rely on my farmer's market and local farmers' road side stands more than on my little garden. There is a certain pride, however, when you can say you grew what you are eating.  Plus my sons get a kick out of it too.

Another week's menu on a budget

Monday - Penne pasta and sauce with tossed salad (oranges, slivered almond, and orange vinaigrette)
Tuesday - Hot ham (Hormel's) and cheese (from Farmer's market) sandwiches and salad
Wednesday - Taco salad
Thursday - St' Pats day - Pesto pasta, clover rolls, broccoli
Friday - (Meatless for lent) - Potato/Cheddar chowder with leftover clover rolls


I spent under 50$ this week. Once again, I went to "the big W" instead of grocery store.   I do not buy produce or meat from there.  So I headed to my farmers market.  I didn't know it was still going throughout the winter.  They had just moved inside a local store front.  I wish I would have known sooner.

I still got my CSA farm share of oranges, apples, onion, garlic, and this week cayenne peppers.  (A post about the peppers later).  I stopped at the farmers market for lettuce and cheese for this week's menu.

Amazing Quiche

Another idea this week adapted from Rachel Ray's magazine AND it fit into my budget friendly meal plan this week.

I have to admit I was skeptical of the strategy but it worked and worked well.

1.  Warm up some olive oil and add garlic (careful not to burn)
2.  Put in a cup of bread crumbs and toast in pan
3.  Remove from pan and put in a greased 9'' pie plate
.....................
3.  Steam some frozen broccoli
4.  In a bowl beat 4 eggs and about a cup of milk
5.  Add 1cup parmesean cheese, some parsley, salt and pepper to egg/milk mixture
6.  Add some chopped ham (again I used Hormel natural sandwich meat with no nitrates)
......................
Put it together
1.  Lay the broccoli on top of your toasted bread crumbs in pie plate
2.  Pour egg mixture on top shaking the pie plate a little to settle the mix
3.  Bake for 20-25 min (rotate 1/2 way through) in 425 degree oven

The crust turns out AMAZING.

Monday's Meal a Success

This is Monday's dinner in my week of budget meals
The recipe was adapted from Rachel Ray's magazine this month. 

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil
Add pieces of ham (I used Hormel all natural ham sandwich meat bc no nitrates)
Add mushrooms
Add spinach (I used frozen that I steamed first)
Add cooked penne pasta
Add pesto (I used a Wegman's jarred pesto that I had bought a few weeks ago)
Just before serving I added chopped walnuts and parmesan cheese
As Rachel would say... Yummo!

Healthy on a budget this week

After Disney it is safe to say that we are on austerity this week.  So how do you still serve healthy meals without spending a fortune at the grocery store.  You will have to make some concessions.  My first one was that I shopped at a discount store instead of my favorite grocery store.

Meal Plan
Monday - Penne pasta (mushrooms, frozen spinach, ham, walnuts, parmesan)
*I had frozen spinach and parmesan on hand so this was a good choice
*I couldn't buy ham because of the nitrates in it.  So I bought Hormel ham sandwich meat as substitute and BONUS I had a coupon)

Tuesday - (We are eating out because we are playing basketball in a fundraiser - teachers vs Harlem Wizards)

Wednesday - (Ash Wednesday) - Veggie soup (box of chicken broth, frozen corn, green beans, broccoli and pasta stars)

Thursday - Quiche (Rachel Ray recipe) - ham and broccoli

Friday - (meatless)  Pierogies (Mrs T's with onions and butter), broccoli, applesauce

Groceries = $75.00
Snacks = Annies snack mix, Chex mix (coupon), cheese sticks (coupon)
Extra = dog food, some new storage containers bc coupon was going to expire :) 6 pack of mini cans of soda (I know its a weakness but I am trying to cut way back)

PICTURES TO FOLLOW!!

Planning a pokemon birthday party

We are in the beginning stages of planning my 7yr old's birthday party.

1.  He wants a party at the bowling ally
2.  He is inviting 7 guests + his bother and cousin
3.  He wants a pokemon theme

So far we are bowling and then going to my sister's or friend's house for food, dessert, and presents.  The meal plan is homemade mac n cheese, broccoli, and applesauce.  The dessert is going to be sugar cookies decorated like pokeballs.

Stay tuned.... I will post pictures of the pokeballs.  Can't make red and white ones because we will not use red dye #40 so I am compromising on white and yellow ones.

Top 5 Breakfasts on the run

This is according to my 7 year old son.  We have to eat in the car because we leave the house so early.

• Kris Kringles (Finding Joy in my Kitchen) I add 3 chocolate chips to each :) Make ahead of time and freeze. Pop in the microwave for a few seconds & eat by hand. No syrup needed since it has the bit of chocolate

• Breakfast burritos  - Scramble some eggs. Mix in some salsa with the eggs.  (I know this next step will sound crazy) Press the eggs into an ice cube tray and freeze (trust me).  Once frozen, pop out the cubes and put them in a zip lock bag back in freezer.  In the morning grab two cubes and microwave a few minutes. Then put them in a tortilla with a little cheese. YUM

• Cinnamon Raisin Toast with a Simply Gogurt - I know not exciting but my son loves cinnamon raisin toast.  I haven't found a brand that I am in love with.  Last time I got Thomas's and I was pretty happy with the ingredients.  I'm not thrilled with the Gogurt but there aren't any dyes and I recognize most of the ingredients.

•  Oatmeal - I sometimes use the pouches but I mix in some plain quick cooking oats and I have always done that so the boys don't know any better.  When I have time (which isn't often) I make it on the stove.

• Tim Horton's - I know, I know, so not local and so industrial, but I love them and in a pinch they aren't that bad for you.  Egg and Cheese on a plain bagel.  Everyone has a weakness right?

PLEASE tell me your ideas in a comment.  I really need more!!  I am always looking for what others do in the am with the rush to get out the door and eat breakfast.

Disney Disaster - Don't give up on me

We are back and I didn't do very well at eating healthy or locally.  Here are the highs and lows (mostly lows)

Day one - We arrived at 4:00 and my cousin drove us back to his house.  My cousin made us chicken parm (not bad on the healthy scale)

Day two -

   *Honey Bunches of Oat and a banana at the house (my son's new favorite cereal and only 6g of sugar)

   *Lunch - @ Epcot Asian cuisine for hubby and I (sweet and sour chicken, peanut saucy chicken, white rice and broccoli.) For the boys (Focaccia pizza, grapes, and applesauce)

   *Snack - Crepes from France (Bien sur!!)

   *Dinner - Mexican (tacos, fresh salsa and dip, nachos, grapes)

Day three -

   *Same breakfast

   *Snack - @ Hollywood Studios (popcorn, chips, water)

   *Lunch - My hubby and I split a hamburger and fries and my 7 yr old had chicken nuggets and grapes (I am cringing as I type)  My 4yr old was spared since he napped through lunch PHEW

   *Dinner - almost as bad - Pizza back at my cousins house

(NO VEGGIES unless you count ketchup and tomato sauce :)

Day four

  *No Disney today - Breakfast/Lunch (cause we slept in) - At Cracker Barrel (eggs, french toast, hash browns)

   *SNACK (HIGHLIGHT) - I found strawberries from Florida (local right?) and carrot sticks

   *Dinner - Mexican again - 7yr old - (cheese quesadilla and rice) Me - (mushroom quesadilla (and a huge margarita :) and I am not sure what my hubby ate bc he was holding my 4 yr old who once again slept through a meal.

No other food this day except popcorn from Target

Day five 

   *Breakfast - back to Honey Bunches

   *@ Seaworld - Lunch - Pizza, watermelon, fries, and a salad - We split all of it

   * Snack - popcorn while watching the dolphin show

   *Dinner - My cousin made us grilled flank steak, and shrimp, grilled zucchini and potatoes (VEGGIES FINALLY)  (Tiramisu for dessert YUMMO)

Day six - AIRPORT DAY

   *Breakfast - sandwiches from Dunkin Doughnuts

   *Lunch - @ a really cool Caribbean Theme restaurant called Bahama Breeze I had crab, shrimp, avacado, with a mango apple salsa, my hubby had clam chowder and a pasta dish, 7yr old had homemade mac n cheese, and the 4 yr old shared.

   *Snack - chocolate at airport and pretzels on the plane

   *Dinner (driving home at 8:00 pm and here you have it, the worst of the worst, Wendy's in the car but the 4 yr old slept though again)

 FAILURE BOTH IN HEALTH AND LOCAL EATING!!!

   I am trying not to beat myself up about it and move onward.   I was conscious about what we were eating and I tried to help all of us make good choices.  We definitely fell victim to the vacationing type eating. This menu is a result of at least thinking about what we eat.  I knew we were making some poor choices, some ok choices, and some good choices given the choices we had.  I also know I could do better it I had put more planning and energy into the food.  I am able to do that when we go on shorter trips but all the way to Florida, with all the planning that goes into Disney, made it easier to succumb to the temptations of fast, easy, and unhealthy food.  I promise to do better.

On the road

So now it is time to go on vacation.  It is so hard to eat well while on vacation.  I am going to try and come up with a vacation tip list.  When we take short trips by car I usually pack most of our food. We will eat out once or twice but eat most meals and all snacks are from the packed stash.

Traveling by plane is not as easy.  First of all, you can't bring food into the airport.  So there goes packing snacks.  We are leaving so early to get to the airport on time that we can't eat breakfast at home either.

Day one plan -

• Get boys out of bed and in car to sleep on way to airport
• Eat Breakfast sandwiches on the road (my favorite healthy option for bfast on the run)
• At airport??? (Stay tuned)

Guilty Pleasure

Should I feel guilty because there are aspects of  'simpler' times that I want (less processed food without chemicals added in) but I don't want to give up all of the modern day conveniences?

Can we eat healthy in a responsible way. A way that is reasonable both in time and money and protects the environment too?

What can we do?? Here is one idea I have.  Try to think about one of these next time you eat or buy food.

• Buy food that is as close to you as possible (those oranges from Brazil??? too far away)
• Eat what is in season (I know it is tough during the winter but try)
• Support your local farmer (Farmer's Market or CSA)

Eating or buying food locally saves fossil fuel.  It takes alot to ship those strawberries to New York from California. 

Do your part by knowing how long your food traveled before you ate it.  Besides, the fresher you eat something the better it tastes and the better it is for you!

My tips to read labels

 

Made with My Cool Signs.Net

Become an educated consumer.  Read the ingredient list!
Some of my tips.. 

1. Do your best to know what you are eating. My goal is to recognize 85% of the ingredients.
2. Pick one ingredient you don't recognize and look it up online.
3. Try to avoid any dyes 
4. Eat the real thing!  Food in its original state is best.
   
5. I Avoid (Partially Hydrogenated Oils) and (TBHQ) These are preservatives and forms of trans fat even if the label says 0 grams

How do you try to eat locally?

How do you try to eat locally?... at AnswerGarden.ch.

Food Inc. - Ignorance isn't always bliss

Photo by Kathleenleavitt licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

Awhile ago I watched the PBS documentary entitle "Food Inc".  If you watch this movie it will change the way you look at food.  I am not saying that you will be moved to change the way you shop for food and eat it, but you will have to at least think about it more.  For me it was all about chicken! 

Photo by me'ntedogs licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

I now think of chicken as a once a week option not an every other day option.  I also appreciate eggs more and get mine from a local farm instead of the industrialized variety.  You wouldn't believe how much better they taste.  The yolk is so yellow and delicious.  Try some today! You won't be sorry.  AND maybe you will appreciate the little ole egg more too.

Farm to Table even in Winter

This is what I got today in my winter CSA from

Thorpes Organic Farm

East Aurora, NY 

This summer I was so good about buying locally and then WNY winter!!  I went to the grocery store and was faced with all that produce with stickers from who knows where.  Thanks to my friend Leah I learned of this farm where I could support a local farmer and get some produce during the winter months.

• Oranges and Grapefruit (they bring up from their farm in Florida just for me! :) There were over 100 oranges in this box plus 10 grapefruit

• Red Potatoes
• Apples
• Onions
• Garlic
• Turnips
• Radishes
• Daikon (new veggie to me) My research has reveal Asian veggie for stir fry but if anyone has a good use for it please let me know

We also get credits to buy baked goods today I got ...

• Cinnamon raisin bread
• Chocolate, Chocolate Cookies

TOTAL :  $50.00
@.99cents/lb that box of citrus would cost me $40.00 at the grocery and not even organic.  It was worth the hour drive for me to feel better about the produce in my fridge.

Can you find a local farmer to support?

Fun with AVATARS

This was way fun.  I know it isn't part of my mission but everyone needs to have fun.  This was part of a professional development class I am taking on blogging.  I am going to list the sites I used for these next.  I promise.  But it is late tonight and I need to get some sleep now. :)

1.  Lego Avatar - You can make yourself into a lego person.  Even the joker!!

2.  Doppel Me - cartoonish

3.  Portrait Illustration -

4. Build your wild self - a childlike animal creation  educational and fun

5.  WeeMee - This is one of my favorites.

6.  Whimp yourself - Inspired by one of our favorite books

7.  Simpson avatar maker - Make yourself into a Simpson

8. Be Funky - "like a diaaaaaaper"

9.  Picasso Head - for the abstract in you

State of the Union

          STATE OF THE UNION - CAN I HELP?

My head hurts after listening to the State of the Union! Don't get me wrong it isn't in a bad way. I feel a little like what people must of felt like after listening to JKF ask what we could do for our country. I know, I know, but I am at a turning point in my life. I want to do what I can to make this world a better place. What can you do?

I bought a winter CSA from a local farmer. 

What is a CSA?  Community Supported Agriculture

Is there one in your area?  Let me know.

My new Blog/Mission

 

photo by Meffi

Hello world,
I am on a journey to be a better member of the food chain.  It is difficult to know what to do in order to be a responsible consumer.
"The Omnivore's Dilemma" according to this book we are just like the hunters/gatherers of the past who could have eaten whatever they could see whenever they could grow, catch or pick it.  But it wasn't always safe.  What if you ate a poisonous mushroom and died. Well today we are faced with a similar challenge.  We can eat whatever we want no matter the season or region you live in. Just head to the grocery store and gather away!  Well just like back then it is possible to make a choice that will kill you.   Not immediately but slowly!

WHOA! - We need to be educated consumers.  We need to read labels, understand where the food comes from, know about what is in the food, etc, etc, etc,

I'm no expert but I have been working on this for awhile now.  I am also not perfect.  I don't eat all organic, I'm not a true locovore (eating only within 100 miles of me), I succumb to the pressures of being a working mom and needing convenience food,  I have a 4 and 7 year old who want candy and cookies that I can't always make.

Well I am going to try and share what I can do.  My posts may be short and to the point.  I don't have time like today to go on and on.  But I am going to try to share my knowledge to whoever is interested.  Is it possible to feel good about what you eat and still feel like it isn't overwhelming.

I'm Back!

I have been taking a class on blogging for school and some of the tools are just too fun to pass up on. Fun to share.