Chilton County Peaches

My Earth Fare post is forthcoming…in the meantime:

Yesterday afternoon I had to run an errand, and on my way home I passed a little produce market that I’ve seen a hundred times.  I noticed a sign that wouldn’t have caught my attention 2 months ago.  Unless you’re a local Alabamian, this won’t mean anything to you – but the sign said “Chilton County Peaches.”  My car turned in to the parking lot as if under a spell and I made my way to the peaches sitting in their little baskets, soaking up the heat of the afternoon…the scent hanging in the air was sublime and I spent a lovely 5 minutes choosing just the right peaches.  The lady at the register sorted through them and declared two of them “too soft” and went to the back to get two better ones.  I love buying from small businesses like this.  Imagine caring about your customers enough to make sure that they are getting the best you have to offer.

When I got home, I added the peaches to my now-overflowing wooden fruit bowl that sits on the corner of the kitchen counter…there are onions hanging in a net bag, garlic and tomatoes, apples, bananas…  I couldn’t resist trying a peach, even though it was nearly suppertime.  I stood at my sink, and took a bite of the best tasting piece of fruit I’ve had lately.  I unashamedly licked my fingers, not wanting to miss even a tiny taste.  I started thinking about writing about eating that peach…and just as quickly I thought, “Who wants to read about you standing over the sink eating a peach?”  But that’s the thing, isn’t it?  I write because I have to write.  I love writing about what I’m doing, what I’m discovering, about the fact that I haven’t had a single Double Stuf Oreo in a month…and I don’t miss them.  Really!  Most of all, though, I feel like I’m ME when I write.  I honor my passions, my interests…the things I value when I take the time to write them down.

So, this morning, dear reader, I had the most delectable breakfast.  I sliced up a peach, poured a couple of tablespoons of organic cream into another bowl and frothed it up a bit with a fork, then…THEN, I drizzled that slightly thickened cream over the peach slices, the cream mingling with the peach juice.  I took a bite and the taste, the scent, the texture was unlike anything I’ve ever had.  I’ve always heard the phrase “peaches and cream” but never thought about actually eating it.  The velvety cream wrapped around those bright saffron slices of peach…it was spectacularly good.

This is a perfect example of how learning to eat real food has changed my life.  A month or so ago, I would’ve grabbed a Toaster Strudel or Pop-Tart, gulped it down with a huge glass of milk, barely tasting any of it.  Now?  Picking out peaches, taking them home, choosing one from my bowl, slicing it, preparing the cream…the whole process felt like a ritual, an homage to the amazing foods that are out there that I overlooked for so long.

Already, the thought of one of those “breakfast pastries” makes my stomach churn.  I can’t fully explain to you what a difference this new philosophy is making, not to mention that while I’m not counting calories, I’m willing to bet that this decadent breakfast would win out health-wise over any of that junk I used to put in my body.  To date, I’ve lost a little over 14 pounds eating cream and whole milk and rich cheese and real butter and fresh local produce.  I feel like I’m getting away with murder!

I hope you can enjoy some lazy summer mornings, delicious meals, and for the lucky few that can get them, some Chilton County peaches.

Burgers, Veggie Lasagna, and A Change of Appetite…

Last week I found a one pound package of grass fed beef on sale.  It was frozen, so I popped it in my deep freezer to save it for whatever idea might come up.  Since I was off work Monday for Memorial Day, I thought I’d fulfill my duty as an American and cook burgers.  I’ve been trying to use grass fed beef for recipes for several years now – not always successfully, but more often than not.

However…

In the past, to make the burgers extra yummy and flavorful, I’d pull out a packet of that staple of the Deep South cook – good old Lipton Onion Soup Mix.  One packet, a quarter cup of water, and 2 pounds of ground beef, and you’ve got yourself a tasty burger.



“Five Classic Recipes…Right on the Box” !

And then, inside the box: Onions, salt, corn starch, sugar, corn syrup solids, caramel color, hydrolyzed soy protein, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, yeast extract, monosodium glutamate, natural flavors, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate.

Lots of winners there, including partially hydrogenated oil and MSG.

My mission was to concoct a “real food” equivalent to the soup mix.  I studied recipes and found that most of the “make your own mix” recipes included beef bouillon granules – try finding healthy “granules” of anything. I did find one recipe that was merely a mixture of spices, all of which I already owned except for one, so I bought some celery seed and went that route.  I used this version: Homemade Onion Soup Mix.  It looked really nice in the bowl – seeing exactly what I was going to be putting into our food made me feel good about what I’m doing.

Starting at 12 o’clock and working counterclockwise:

• parsley
• onion powder
• celery seed
• pepper
• garlic powder
• all surrounding the onion flakes

Isn’t that kind of pretty?  I thought so.  This recipe makes enough mix for 2 lbs. of beef.  Since I was only using 1 lb. I measured out half the spices – roughly 2 tablespoons.  I put the other 2 T. into a snack sized ziplock and will pull it out the next time we want burgers.

I quickly defrosted the beef (not in the microwave, but by putting the unopened package in a ziplock and running cold water over it and letting it sit in a bowl in the sink…change the water every 30 minutes and soon the meat will defrost evenly) and put it in a bowl.  I added my homemade spice mixture, one tablespoon of bread crumbs, and to add a little moisture, I put in about 1/3 c. beef stock.  I found this organic one on sale for $2.99 at Publix and will use the rest to cook some quinoa this week.  (Emeril’s brand.  I know.  I had to resist yelling “Bam!” every time I poured in stock.)


Oh, and I used a Sharpie to give myself a deadline for using the stock.   I need all the help I can get remembering things.

I mixed everything gently with a fork, just till it all came together, then cooked the burgers on my griddle pan.  I’ve been shying away from using my George Foreman grill lately – with all of the liquids/fats draining away, the meat sometimes ended up really dry.

The occasional pan-fried burger made from high quality beef isn’t going to hurt us, I figure.  I cooked them carefully, tilted the pan toward the end of cooking to let excess liquids drain, and those burgers turned out tender, juicy, and really flavorful.  We didn’t miss the Lipton soup mix, that’s for sure.  I’m sure these burgers would turn out great on the grill, if you enjoy cooking out.

Another dish that got a bit of a makeover recently – lasagna.  I’ve always done a pretty traditional meat/cheese/sauce/pasta combination.  I wanted to experiment with a meatless version.  I searched and looked at a lot of veggie lasagna recipes, and finally settled on this one: Vegetarian Lasagna.  If you click, you’ll see it has a “surprise” ingredient.  If you’re not a tofu fan (now stop…I’m not becoming a total hippie granola bar) then….keep reading.  The only time I’ve ever eaten tofu was in sweet and sour soup – thin little strips, no big deal.  The thought of a big block of the stuff in my lasagna, though?  I was less than enthused.  But I persevered.  I love roasted red peppers, so that ingredient won me over, and of course, those add a lot of flavor to this dish – and the tofu is crumbled and kneaded into the ricotta cheese mixture.  It gives it some thickness and some richness, and you’d never even know it was there.  I made up the whole amount but split it into two pans, one of which I popped into the freezer for a busy weeknight meal.  The lasagna was dense but not dry, and full of flavor.  Both Kerry and David enjoyed it and didn’t miss the meat at all.  Definitely worth a try if you like Italian food.

So, over the last couple of weeks, I have successfully added more vegetables to our meals, while simultaneously reducing the amount of red meat we’ve been eating.  We’re eating more fish as well.  I have found that, for the most part, meat doesn’t even sound that good to me.  Today we celebrated my dad’s 82nd birthday at Cracker Barrel, and I scoured the menu for whatever sounded good.  With my new way of eating, I planned to have a real “special occasion” meal if I wanted to – fried chicken or chicken ‘n dumplings or whatever I wanted…but I didn’t want any of those things.  I finally settled on a vegetable plate and took my time with the fresh corn, the okra, and the pinto beans.  The others at the table were eating dessert and I was still finishing my food.  I was so full I couldn’t even touch my cornbread or hashbrown casserole.  I find myself craving cool, light foods these days, more often than not.  Lunch has become a lighter meal – maybe a few good crackers, some creamy havarti or brie, and some fruit.  I recently bought some artichoke hearts, for pete’s sake.  What’s more, I even ATE AND ENJOYED THEM instead of leaving them in the pantry for years.  Who am I?!??!!!

Finally, while losing weight was not and is not my primary objective here, I couldn’t help noticing the difference in my face when I look in the mirror, and the loose-fitting clothing that used to be tight.  So, I stepped on the scale a few days ago.  From my highest point since pregnancy, I have lost twelve and a half pounds so far.

Not bad.  And I am eating the most delicious foods I’ve had in my life!  This is absolutely a joy and an adventure, and I’m so grateful to have such wonderful foods to choose from…  So, stay tuned, and enjoy your food!

Next time, I’ll be posting about my inaugural trip to our new Earth Fare store, as well as a really simple but delicious and elegant dessert I made recently.  A true Southern classic!

Blogger Tags: hamburgers, onion soup mix, vegetarian, lasagna, weight loss, living a full life

Tested

I’ve done a considerable amount of thinking over the last few days.  As much enjoyment and excitement as I feel about my quest to eat real foods…I don’t think I’ll change the name of this blog.

On that long-ago October night, when I was sleep deprived and up (again) with a 7 year old Stephen, when I thought maybe I’d start a blog, the Pink Floyd song that lends its name to this site drifted into my head with its perfect, delicate mix of despair and hope. I’ve always hoped to use these pages to share my honest and oftentimes gut wrenching feelings…to share my inside thoughts with an outside world.

In today’s cultural climate we’re inundated with images, sounds, advertisements, subliminal messages.  We communicate via computer or text message.  We are, as MIT professor Sherry Turkle's book states, Alone Together.  I’m almost as guilty as my teenage son of using these media to “connect” with other human beings.  A case in point: one of Kerry’s friends “texted” him to invite him to a movie.  Kerry is notoriously bad at checking his phone, so he missed out on the fun.  When I said, “I wonder why he didn’t just call our home number?” Kerry told me later that his friend “didn’t even think of that.”  We are alone, together!  The very words streaming from my fingers are destined to be published on the web…a desperate, even pitiable attempt to throw a lifeline out, to see if anyone is out there in a world that seems farther and farther away from my isolated little family unit.  This blog has always been about crying out, about seeking validation, even approval.  Every time I click “publish,” I wait anxiously to see if anyone notices, or better yet, comments.  For a minute or two, I feel…important.  Valued.  I matter.  What I say matters.

I do not mean to imply that over the years of this blog, the thoughts torn loose from a heart sore and heavy with pain are somehow untrue, or embellished in any way…or God forbid a raw bid for pity.  No, like any card-carrying introvert, I simply find it much easier to express myself “on paper.”  But, would I find it nearly excruciating to sit across from any of my readers and express these thoughts?  Undoubtedly I would.  Would I fidget and stammer over my words?  Would I say the same things I say here?  Am I wearing the inside out?  Why is it so hard to look each other in the eye?  I can’t blame it all on my Myers-Briggs personality type. Why do we hide behind the very devices that purport to encourage a sense of community?

For years I’ve been a member of an online bulletin board dedicated to the band Rush.  At first it didn’t really occur to me that it might be important to avoid building an internet persona – a character that I could customize to be whomever I wanted her to be.  Isn’t the internet the perfect playground for branching out, being a little different, creating the person you wish you were?  It can be, and for many people, that’s almost all that it is.  But when I found myself carefully crafting sentences, trying to be extra clever, or meticulously searching for just the right picture of me or my kids (!) to really drive home what a supercool person I was…it hit me.  To borrow from Turkle again: I was experiencing what is called “presentation anxiety” over how best to demonstrate to the internet the image I was unconsciously creating.  It’s like a mask we wear…and as long as we never meet or connect in the outside world, the illusion stays intact, and we pretend to ourselves that we’re involved in each other’s lives.  Does this encourage true community? 

Luckily, early in my years of making “internet friends,” I was able to meet some of them in person – and I knew I wanted to be the same person online or in the flesh.  My point is that the temptation is there, to make yourself seem different in some way…because it’s safe when you pretend to interact but in reality hold others at arm’s length.  I hope the very dear friends to whom I’m referring would agree that we are truly friends in every sense of the word, and I’m grateful for that.  This isn’t just about long-distance friends you’re not likely to see very often, though.  Ever seen someone you know in the store and gone out of your way NOT to run into them?  Be honest…

I must come clean about a few things, while I’m being so transparent – these confessions are part of my self-induced therapy.  I can no longer moan and groan to myself in my journal about the extra weight…and then eat so many Double-Stuf Oreos I lose count.  I can’t complain about feeling friendless when I grab my phone to text someone (keeping that safe buffer zone in place) instead of calling and hearing their voice.  I can’t whine about being miserable at work when I know in my heart I haven’t given it my all each day.  I can’t look myself in the eye in the mirror, pitying myself as a poor dear who has SO much on her shoulders, and then do nothing to take care of myself in the way that I deserve.

I’ve come to the conclusion that being honest on the internet is a true test of one’s integrity and sense of self, regardless of whether you ever come face to face with your target audience, be it friends at a Rush concert, or the neighbor down the street that you’ve “friended” on Facebook but never walk down the street to, you know…talk to…

As I continue to strive toward a better life, I want to commit to myself that I will also make it a more honest life.  I will tell the truth about what I’m feeling.  I will tell the truth about what I’m eating, about how I’m caring for myself.  I will not craft an image.  Like other writers before me, I long to have you, the reader, know me.  I want to tell you on these pages the thoughts that my voice could never fully express.  But on the happy occasion that I do see one of you face to face…I don’t want you to wonder what happened to that person who wrote all that stuff on the internet about autism and real food and finding meaning in the life you lead.

So this blog will continue to be my venting spot, my recipe book, my dream repository – with a renewed sense of truth running throughout, a thread stringing together the beads of my days and my years.
I’m wearing the inside out.

Blogspot Tags: autism, honesty, integrity, living a full life

Summer

Stephen is in his room squealing/shrieking at the pile of videotapes and DVD cases that he feels must be strewn across his floor.  The door’s closed and still, every sound makes my bones hurt.  Summer has only just begun and already I wish I could disappear.

It’s not a coincidence that my prolific writing output stopped right about when school ended.  God, I hate this time of year!  Other families relax into the nothingness, glorying (as they should) in the freedom, the vacations, the trips to the lake.  I crumble into misery, along with my family.  Stephen’s behaviors multiply in intensity.  The easygoing guy of August through May disappears, and along with him any real sense of family harmony.  God, I hate it SO MUCH.  I can’t get a straight answer from anyone about his summer services, and he’s too old or too affected by autism to go to any of the day camps I found.  Unbelievable how families like mine are just dropped like hot potatoes when the school year ends.  And they extended summer, which is clearly an attempt to push me over the edge.  School was going to start August 9.  Now it’s August 20.  Just shoot me.

I have been doing very well with feeding myself and my family with real foods and trying new recipes.  Maybe I’ll get a chance to share more foodie stuff later.  I hope so – those plans and possibilities have been a lot of fun for me.  I’ve found something I’m really interested in, that I enjoy thinking about.

Hopefully I can get back to something fun soon.  Right now I have to go see what I can do to help my son deal with the misery of summer.

Edit to add this...here is what we have to wade through to walk into Stephen's room lately.  It ain't easy.

What we’re eating…

I’m going to run out of titles soon.  How many ways can you say “here’s the food we’re consuming”?  “Here’s the Grub ”?  Umm…no.  “Fancy Fixins’”?  Ewww.  “Food: the Sequel”?

Let’s see.  Last night we had what I thought was a very tasty and satisfying meal.  And, no meat was involved!  I’ve found that buying good quality meats and poultry is what drives up my grocery bill.  So any time I can do a meatless meal that is still hearty and delicious, that’s a great thing.

I cooked Cheesy Vegetable Chowder and Ultimate Cheddar Bay Biscuits (click the names to see the recipes).  The chowder was soooo creamy and good.  It may be my new favorite soup.  I diced the potatoes (Yukon golds, 5 lb. at Organic Harvest on sale, $2.99), the celery, onion and carrots the night before, and stored them in water in the refrigerator overnight.  Once the vegetables were simmering, I made the cheese sauce.  Using whole milk to make the roux really added so much creaminess to the soup.

 

 

Roux thickening on the left, veggies simmering on the right

 

 

 

After the potatoes were tender, but not mushy, the cheese sauce was mixed in.

At first I thought the chowder was a bit thin, but after settling for just a few minutes, it was velvety and just the perfect consistency.

 

Finished product:

The Cheddar Bay Biscuits were also a hit.  Next time I’ll use salted butter (I always keep unsalted on hand because I mostly use it for baking) and I’ll watch to make sure the edges don’t overcook.  This time they went just a minute or two too long.  These are like the biscuits that Red Lobster serves, and I’ve traditionally used this mix to make them:

Oh, they tasted good, these little Betty Crocker biscuits.  Kerry would get all excited when I’d say we were having them.

And just look at all we were getting for the low, low price of $1.49:

Enriched Flour Bleached (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Partially Hydrogenated Soybean And/Or Cottonseed Oil, Vegetable Oil (Palm, Palm Kernel), Leavening (Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate), Corn Syrup Solids, Salt, Dextrose, Garlic, Buttermilk Powder, Modified Corn Starch, Whey, Dried Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Colored With (Artificial Color, Yellows 5&6), Whey Protein Concentrate, Maltodextrin, Reduced Lactose Whey, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Disodium Phosphate, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate. Contains Wheat, Milk And Soy Ingredients.

Gulp.

Now, I’d love to show you my beautiful pan of made-from-scratch Cheddar Bay Biscuits, made with organic wheat flour, and natural ingredients.

 

Except I forgot to take a picture of them.

 

They DID look like these, and they were savory and moist and full of flavor. 

I had one small biscuit and a couple ladles full of soup, and enjoyed both tremendously, one smooth and delicious bite at a time.  The biscuits are very filling and buttery and kind of heavy (as they should be in this case) so it’s not likely we’ll have these often, but when we do, we shall enjoy the heck out of ‘em.

Which is the whole point!

Otherwise, what else is going on?  Well, I visited Whole Foods yesterday.  Again. Second time this week.  I just love being there, surrounded by all the beautiful food.  I went to get just an item or two…and you know how that goes.  I found a nice pinot noir on sale, so since that’s part of the Mediterranean way that was really a necessity.  I got some beautiful, soft, non-grainy garlic powder that smelled SO GOOD…enough to fill my spice jar at home, $1.29.  I also bought a basil plant and a rosemary plant ($2.99 each) and put them in a container on my deck.  I’m planning to do a little container gardening – maybe a tomato plant, some lettuces…who knows?  I also got a fresh organic demi-baguette, flavored with rosemary, $1.39, and some heirloom tomato salsa, which was my splurge item…a very small container was $3.50, but the guy who rang up my groceries was raving about it, so I think that’ll be a nice treat, to savor….perhaps I’ll slice up that baguette, toast it, add some salsa, and drizzle with olive oil.  Now my mouth is watering!

So…even though our most dreaded time of the year is here (summer…which should be growled through clenched teeth) I am doing my best to stay positive and enjoy the life that’s opening in front of me.  Mine!

I hope you’re enjoying the ideas and recipes I’m collecting.  I hope, as I learn, that maybe you’ll find something new to try – and also, since I’m trying to include prices when I can remember them, you’ll see that you CAN eat better, even with a budget.  When I found those Yukon potatoes on sale, I snapped them up – THEN found a recipe to use them with…sometimes you have to think on your feet.

A quick “programming” note: I’m considering changing the name of my blog to more accurately reflect what’s happening here.  To borrow a phrase from the same Floyd song I’m using now…what do you think of “Coming Back to Life”?  Let me know in comments.  Thanks for reading and, happy eating!

www.blogspot.com Tags: whole food, nutrition, eating well on a budget, soups, biscuits

On the menu

So…I’m so excited about the foods and combinations of foods I’m discovering that I could probably blog daily.

I won’t subject you to that.

I did want to post an update on Operation Creamer Concoction.  Last night I reheated the cream/milk/syrup/vanilla mixture and added in about 1/4 c. raw sugar.  I thought a little sweetness might improve matters.  And, it did…but I didn’t get that “ah-ha” moment I want.  The search continues…

I had some really good Kashi blueberry waffles this morning, with some maple syrup.  Having occasionally eaten waffles or pancakes with good old Log Cabin “syrup,” I am absolutely delighted with the purer taste and the thinner texture of real maple syrup.  You don’t need nearly as much, the flavor is intense, and it soaks in nicely, flavoring every bite.  The hilarious thing about Log Cabin is this - take a look at the label and see what jumps out at you:

See how proudly it proclaims “NOW! NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP”?

Well, good on ya’, Log Cabin!  Way to provide a healthy syrupy substance!
Except…

INGREDIENTS: Corn Syrup, Sugar Liquid (Sugar Natural, Water), Water, Salt, Flavor(s) Natural & Artificial (Lactic Acid), Cellulose Gum, Preservative (Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate), Sodium Hexametaphosphate, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid

That’s right.  None of that nasty high fructose corn syrup.  Just…low fructose corn syrup?  And, I’m sorry, but… “hexametaphosphate”?  How is that not a drain cleaner or windshield de-icer?  Regardless of what it is, it sounds frightening.

I looked it up.  Blech.  Google it if you want to know…

I got hungry mid-morning and had some sesame crackers, a little cube of Alouette soft cheese, and half an apple.  A good combination, I think.  It tasted really good, regardless.  And I keep saying to myself…why did I think trying to eat better food would be so hard, that I would feel so DEPRIVED?

Tonight we’re having a vegetable cheese chowder and some garlic biscuits…both from scratch.  I’ll post a review of both recipes soon.

Happy eating!

What worked/what didn’t

So, last night’s bean burritos?  Fantastic.  The beans were full of flavor from the garlic that had slow-cooked along with the beans all day, and the chipotle chili powder.  This is a bit smokier in taste than “regular” chili powder and I’m glad I used it in these beans.  We also had some basmati rice cooked in vegetable broth (I got a four-pack of 1-cup cartons of Pacific Foods Organic at Whole Foods for about 3 bucks), some cumin and a chopped jalapeno.  Note: I washed my hands SIX times after chopping the jalapeno.  Six.  This morning if I touched my finger to my tongue, it still burned.  Anyway, I also roasted and chopped a medium sized poblano pepper that went really nicely in the burritos.  Lastly, some regular (not light) sour cream and some white cheddar cheese – very sharp and it only took a sprinkling to add to the creaminess.  The guys added some ground beef (grassfed – one pound at Publix – $7.99…more on this in a minute) that I browned, drained, and added back to the pan with some of the homemade taco seasoning I mixed up over the weekend because I had the spices on hand.  Delicious and no MSG!  I was able to make enough seasoning for at least three total meals.  Recipe here: Homemade taco seasoning.  I tripled that recipe and stored the mix in a small airtight container.

So the beans were absolutely a success, and we’ll have this meal again in the near future.

Now, on to an item that I use daily and really feel I can’t be without.  Coffee creamer.  I love good, strong coffee liberally laced with French Vanilla creamer, like this International Delight stuff. Not so bad, right?  The problem comes when you study the label.

Non-Dairy Product Ingredients: Water, Sugar, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% Or Less Of The Following: Sodium Caseinate* (A Milk Derivative), Dipotassium Phosphate, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Mono And Diglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Carrageenan, Salt. *Sodium Caseinate Is Not A Source Of Lactose.

Yum!  Have you had YOUR sodium steroyl lactylate today?  And don’t you wonder what “natural and artificial flavors” really are?  I can think of a lot of “natural” substances that I don’t want in my food.

So I decided I’d study and concoct my own creamer.  Last night I simmered a cup of cream, a cup of whole milk (both organic), 4 tablespoons of pure maple syrup, and a tablespoon of pure vanilla extract (note: next time I plan to use vanilla beans).  It smelled so great bubbling away on the stove.  This morning I eagerly poured a healthy dollop into my waiting cup…but no.  It was not to be.  It wasn’t BAD, but it wasn’t what I wanted, either.  I’m going to keep researching and tweaking the recipe.  Or, my tastes will change and I’ll be happy with just real cream.  Either way, I’m done buying this junk from the store.

Today David and I ate lunch at Organic Harvest, which is a great little store.  Link here: Organic Harvest Market and Café.  We both had sandwiches – he had a chicken pesto on whole wheat, I had a roast chicken with tomatoes and feta and a spicy sauce.  Very very good.  Then we did a bit of shopping and found some good deals.

We got a gallon of organic milk from Alabama cows that eat grass.  And at $6.89/gal. it’s cheaper than the milk we buy at Publix (which works out to over $8/gal).

We also found another one pound package of grassfed beef, on sale for $7.99.

Okay, about this meat: yes, it’s expensive.  But I feel strongly about buying this for a couple of reasons.  I need to know, to the farthest extent possible, that the animals providing food for me lived a decent life, eating what they were intended to eat.  Also, my plan is to cut way down on red meat consumption (especially ground meat), to certainly no more often than once per week – and then less frequently as I add other recipes to my collection.  So I can afford to buy the better quality meat since I won’t be serving it very often.

We bought two boxes of cereal, both Cascadian Farms brand. Neither was over $3.00/box, and one had a coupon on it for a dollar off two boxes.  Publix would have a hard time beating that price.  And finally, we picked up a couple of pears, a couple of apples, some lemons…and a little over a pound of demerara sugar, a natural brown sugar, for my iced tea experiments.  I want to cut out refined, processed white sugar, and I use the overwhelming majority of that in sweet tea, which I do not want to give up.  I drink one glass per night, shot through with the juice from a big lemon wedge.  So, I’ll try to improve upon it.

More and more, this whole concept clicks with me.  Instead of spending my precious money on a bunch of junk that sits in my stomach like a rock, I’ll spend it on higher quality real food that is full of flavor – so full of flavor that I want to enjoy every bite.  And I’m taking fewer bites now – significantly fewer.  The pants I put on today buttoned easily, with room to spare.  A month ago I had to work to make those fasteners meet.

That’s it for now.  I’ll keep updating here as I make new discoveries.