Comments on: in which food makes me angry

By: God's Dancing Child

God's Dancing Child — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:06:13 +0000

I know this is ridiculously late (my response), but I really love this post.
I feel the same way sometimes. About the guilt, the desire to make things from scratch and then wondering “who cares?”, and then right back to realizing how alive and warm it makes me feel to be doing things for my family – real, homey things.
Perfectly said, Carrie!

By: Louise

Louise — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:56:20 +0000

I found your blog through Holy Experience’s gratitude list, and I’m grateful I did! I just started making homemade bread on a regular basis this winter (as opposed to maybe once or twice a year), and I’ve found the benefits in the making amazing, almost better than the benefits of always having homemade bread on hand. There really is something about kneading that helps me put my thoughts in proper perspective and settle down any tumult in my heart.

My husband and I are constantly struggling to balance being good stewards of our bodies (and our children’s bodies) and good stewards of our money. Why is it so difficult to eat healthily? I know there’s a balance out there–hopefully we’ll all find it sometime!

By: clbeyer

clbeyer — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:35:46 +0000

precisionink: Our CSAs around here seem to be maxed out. It’s kind of a letdown. I have gone to a nearby farmer’s market during summer months, but I tend to spend a fortune there, too. More sustainable than Whole Foods, though, I’m sure, and much more fun!

I don’t know that Whole Foods is the best option, but for health conscious packaged foods, meat choices, and non-food products, I think many of W.F. products sound more honest than your average American grocery store. (That Omnivore’s Dilemma discussion about what “free-range” really boils down to was rather disconcerting, though.) We don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, but I’ve always wanted to see what they’re all about.

Please let me know how you like the books! I’ve only read _The Omnivore’s Dilemma_.

By: precisionink

precisionink — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:32:46 +0000

I just read Second Nature (Michael Pollan) and now am reading Omnivore’s Dilemma (Pollan again), to be followed up by Food Matters (Mark Bittman), which I hope will prove to be a course in why gardening and what I eat matter, followed by practical advice for what to do about it. The order should probably be tweaked.

Can you subscribe to local CSA? Cheaper than Whole Foods, and more sustainable (is Whole Foods really sustainable anyway? Pollan disagrees.) Trader Joe’s also helps keep organic on the cheap, but they probably fail the sustainability test, too.

By: Sam Aberle

Sam Aberle — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:08:40 +0000

Carrie,
I feel your pain. For different reasons though. In Haiti, I have no option but to purchase organic (mostly I think, although there is no way of proving it). I have no option but to cook everything from scratch. And it has all tasted good, except for the rare occasion of buying bad hamburger. I am not as schooled as you, and therefore I didn’t know that your body gets used to no preservatives. So yesterday, when arriving back in the States, McDonalds was whispering in my ear, and I hadn’t even seen the golden arches yet. Needless to say, 2 hours after eating the grease bomb with a not so medium sized soda, I had a worse case of diarrhea, than I have ever had in Haiti.

By: clbeyer

clbeyer — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:27:20 +0000

Mettre la main à la pâte. — I like that! Thanks, Dan.

And thanks for the pizza crust recipe, Tami! You rock. I thought the crust was wonderful the night we had it with you. Thanks again for EVERYTHING.

I wish I could take a class with you guys! Do you think the sustainability would balance out if I traveled fifteen hundred miles, give or take, to learn how to garden? I mean, just one tomato may travel at least as far!

By: Tamra

Tamra — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:11:37 +0000

Carrie-I loved this post I, too, love working with dough and I have great memories of watching my mom expertly turn a huge bowl full of sticky dough full of air bubbles into deliciousness!! I would love to sample your pecan rolls It also reminded me that I was going to share our easy pizza crust recipe for the next time you don’t feel like cooking (seriously it’s so easy and for some reason I feel better about myself by eating homemade pizza ) Note: Dan & I both agreed that our crust was too thin the night you were over! Enjoy

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 1/2 cups bread flour (we usu. use reg. flour b/c we have it on hand)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

1. In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. *If using instant yeast, skip this step & mix the yeast & sugar with step 2 ingred.
2. Stir in flour, oil, and salt. Beat until smooth. Put in lightly oiled bowl & cover until double in size. (This can be shortened to 5 min, just enough for the gluten to relax.)
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat or roll into a round. Transfer crust to cornmeal-dusted pizza stone or pizza pan (can lightly grease the pan also so it doesn’t stick or use the backside of a cookie sheet for use with a pizza peel).
4. Bake 5-10 min at 450 (until light brown) then spread with desired toppings and bake for another 10-15 min or until cheese is melted.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:23:31 +0000

This article reminded me of your post:

http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2009/01/mettre_la_main_a_la_pate.php#more

This week’s idiom is, “Mettre la main à la pâte.”

Literally translated as, “putting one’s hand to the dough,” it means being willing to participate in an activity that will require some effort. The activity in question is often manual work that is best done by a team, and the idiom is comparable to the English expression, “putting one’s shoulder to the wheel.”

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:05:59 +0000

Carrie,
When I was single I used to reward myself for completing my grocery shopping by getting a pizza on the way home. Generally I HATE grocery shopping, unless I just need to pop in and grab one thing or if I’m just browsing at a fancy place with no plans. But regular maintenance grocery shopping, yuck.

Regarding the organic gardening, I was just talking to Tami about taking some gardening classes. They offer organic introduction and organic gardening certification. So, Feb 26 or March 3 or 14th feel free to come on up and take a class with us! http://projectgrowgardens.org/classes.htm#organiccert