Saturday, January 18, 2014

Counting the Groats

Counting the Groats

At this time of the winter season I really start appreciating the richness of last summer's garden bounty. Since I 'graduated' out of Food Stamps at the end of November, I now have to pay my household bills plus groceries with a half-time $10/hr. job, selling books on the Internet, and what I can pull together out of my musician's bag of tricks.

Since New Year's Day I spent about $30 for groceries, the majority to feed my cats, the rest being apportioned among very necessary coffee, milk, eggs, and a tub of hummus. I am doing without cheese, peanut butter, processed veggie proteins, salad greens, and other quick fixes. The refrigerator is a yawning void, yet I eat sumptuously from pantry and freezer.

A supply of dried green split peas, navy beans, lentils and quinoa are adequate and flavorful proteins in winter casseroles and soups. My dried cherry tomatoes add just the right tang to a rice and lentil bean loaf. The freezer is about 1/3 full of green beans, green peppers, mixed veggies for stir fries, corn, chard, and pesto. 20 lbs. of potatoes and 10 lbs. of onions remain in the cold corner of the cellar pantry. Home-canned, well-seasoned tomato sauce (15 quarts on hand) can be heated up right out of the jar, to go over rice or pasta or be the base of a minestrone soup. There are about 25 quarts left of canned applesauce and peaches as well as half a shelf full of strawberry and peach jam.

Right now I have a peach cobbler in the oven, which took me about 5 minutes to assemble (and 40 minutes to bake) from a quart of peaches and baking ingredients on hand.

Lack of cash is actually improving my life by forcing healthier choices. There is no more "grab and go" eating or easy sweets. Planning and preparation are necessary and enhance my appreciation. The variety and quality of my meals are much higher now that I am "reduced" to living mostly off my stored summer wealth.

Let's wake up and re-educate ourselves to this reality. It is worth it.

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