table talk

...cloth napkins with individual rings to identify and (hopefully) reuse from one meal to the next...

Since my father came to live with us, we are eating more meals at home than we did over the past few years.  I am REALLY enjoying planning, shopping, and serving a variety of economical and healthy meals.  I'm thankful for the circumstances that resulted in our at-home mealtimes.

Gary and I don't eat breakfast, so my father fixes his own.  Gary makes our coffee and we gather around the breakfast table to share a devotional time - Bible reading and prayer.  We are generally able to eat our lunches together as well as the evening meal.  After cleaning up in the evening, we linger at the table to play table games.  More than usual, we are also inviting friends to join us around our table.  These times, too,are so pleasurable and rewarding.

After reading some Wendell Berry essays, I realize that community is happening around our table in fresh ways for us in this season of life.  It set me to wondering if there are any ways I can make our table experiences even more delightful.  So, I googled it and found these two paragraphs that encouraged me to keep up my quest. The article also suggested a few ways to perk up an ordinary meal.

All our senses are involved when we eat. When a plate of food is appealing to the eye, has a wonderful aroma, and a variety of flavors and textures, we take note. And we usually rate those meals as not only more pleasant but more satisfying, too. 

If your eating has become routine—and your meals look the same, day after day—that could spell trouble. In an attempt to get more satisfied, you may find yourself eating more but enjoying it less.

Before we find ourselves eating more but enjoying it less,  I'm adding a couple simple, small touches - beyond the foot itself - to our table.  I'll let you know what those "touches" are, if the men I share the table with notice, and how our table experience is affected (if at all).

***

 Meanwhile, what are some of the ways YOU make YOUR ordinary table experience a special one?

a smple grill

Purchased several years ago for $15 at a garage sale,

this simple grill is getting a workout this spring.  

We're using it more than ever now that my father has come to live with us,

and we're eating more meals at home!

Last night (in spite of cooler temperatures), Gary grilled leg quarters -- 3 large ones.

Enough meat left over for at least another meal for three!

I tried something new to me.

Employing a small, old cast-iron skillet, I sliced some golden Yukons

and added onion and garlic salt.  

I poured a bit of melted butter over them 

(probably should have used olive oil), 

covered it with foil, and put it on the grill.

We will definitely do this again! 

And next time, I'll slice one more potato!

So simple.  So delicious.

door dressing

 Our lives have become simpler in many ways since my father moved in with us.

I've come to enjoy cooking again 

(as opposed to running over to the local cafe frequently).

My crockpot is currently working for me,

wafting scents of a combination of pork, potatoes and green beans

covered with cream of chicken soup and a bit of dried Ranch Dressing mix.

I'll add some applesauce to our menu, frozen earlier this autumn.

Meanwhile, outdoors...

my husband is putting finishing touches on our front door.
New paint and a brass kick plate.

"Novembers have never been more beautiful," I think to myself.

other peoples' gardens

Today, the Thrifty Lifestyle means making sure these apples don't go to waste!  They were given to us by generous friends last night.  I promptly picked out some of the best to share with a couple of friends who I thought would appreciate them.  Then I cored and sliced two crockpots' worth and cooked them slowly overnight.  This morning I popped them into the blender and ended up with three full quarts of applesauce to freeze.  Another crockpot is full again this morning for the same purpose...and I'm thinking about making some apple dumplings and an apple cake later today.  At times like this I wish I had a freezer besides the one in our refrigerator. 

The chard quiche I made yesterday was absolutely delicious!  I'm thinking I could make a similar one with the zucchini we've been given.

I'm blessed and thankful to have the time and leisure to work up the harvest of other peoples' gardens. 

dollars and cents

 After spending too many DOLLARS eating out the past few days,

I pulled out the crock pot - my current favorite cooking instrument.
(Actually, I didn't "pull it out".  It sits ready-for-use on our countertop.)

I washed and sliced the 3 potatoes from the bottom of the bag,

chopped some onions,

and cut the 1-pound tube of frozen ground turkey meat into 2 sections.

While 1/2 of it was defrosting in the microwave, I popped the other half back in the freezer,

boiled some water and dissolved a cube of beef bouillon in it.

It all went into my $1 garage sale crock pot 

where the flavors are ALREADY blending and scenting the air!

Noticing a couple of apples I'd purchased from the bargain rack at the back of the supermarket,

I decided to chop up one of them and add it to the mix.  

Their flavor had been a bit disappointing, but I think it will be a good addition to the "stew".

Closer to eating time, I'll add some frozen mixed veggies since I don't have any fresh on hand.

Today we will dine for CENTS.

When using the crock pot, I generally don't follow a recipe.

Going out and purchasing items for a recipe defeats the purpose of it for me.

As a result, I seldom can duplicate a crock pot meal since I never have quite

the same combination of ingredients on hand from one time to the next.

To me, that's what crock pot cooking is all about!

i stumbled....

 I never made it to my intended destination yesterday,

because on the way I stumbled upon a garage sale.

I couldn't resist these items.  So, with the trunk of my car raised

to accommodate the  large wooden box,

I decided it was best to return home.

And look what I stumbled on in the Thrifty Food Department!

I found these leg quarters reduced and well within the expiration date.

 I brought them home, stuck 'em in the crock pot with a tiny bit of water,
salt and pepper, and cooked slowly for 8 hours.

 I removed the skin and the meat fell off the bones.
I skimmed the fat off the broth and will cook noodles in it
and serve with some creamed chicken today.
Then I think I'll make a loaf of buttermilk/oatmeal bread
and enjoy some cold chicken sandwiches (which I love) tomorrow.
What have YOU stumbled on lately?

memorial day - keeping it simple

 Napkins purchased after a holiday last year...

 a hanging patriotic plaque - found in a free box at a garage sale...

 pasta salad made with tuna, veggies I had on hand (yellow peppers, peas, onioin),

 bound with mayo, and chilling in a thrifted vintage bowl...

a vintage canister that sits year 'round on my kitchen counter.

Memorial Day will be low key around here.

We spent some time Saturday with one of our daughters and her family,

had guests for dinner after church yesterday,

and made no plans for today.

So, when we woke up to rain this morning, 

I decided pasta salad would be just fine

(and hubby agreed).

There are plenty of projects to keep us busy, and if the rain stops

we may take a walk.... 

 I'm wearing a necklace & bracelet constructed from seed beads

in a summer camp "craft shack" over ten years ago.  

Every once in awhile I bring them out for the good memories...

a perfect and simple autumn pleasure

 

I'm still working on the "presentation" part...

but I've got the "basics" mastered!

I enjoy serving our "dumplings" in these thrifted blue and white bowls.

Years ago when I asked my grandmother her recipe for DELICIOUS apple dumplings,

her eyes twinkled and she shared her "secret"--the  Better Homes and Garden Cookbook.

Page 171 in my old copy*...

They're economical,

delicious,

and a simple autumn meal.  

We enjoy ours with with milk.

A few slices of cheddar cheese and a cup of decaf coffe

and we're good to go!

*I substitute brown sugar for white sugar, leave the peel on the sliced apples,

and recently have been rolling out the dough

and constructing our dumplings like a cinnamon roll.
This particular batch was made with whole wheat flour.
(I had it measured out before I remembered
I'd filled the flour canister with whole wheat flour.)

Be kind.
 Remember - this is a 40 year old page!!!
Click on either to enlarge.

(almost) free and (very) easy

REFRIGERATOR COLE SLAW

1 lg. head cabbage 1 lg. onion 1 1/4 c. sugar 1 c. vinegar 3/4 c. salad oil 1 tbsp. dry mustard 1 tsp. celery seed 1 tsp. salt Shred cabbage and onion. Put remaining ingredients into blender. Cover and process on "beat" until well mixed. Pour into small saucepan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Pour over cabbage and onion and allow to set for 3 hours. Stir cole slaw and refrigerate. Will keep for 5-6 weeks if kept refrigerated. Yields 8-12 servings. My dear friend loaded me up with vegetables this morning.  (In exchange, I prayed for rain for their beautiful--but dry--garden.)  I came home and shredded the onion and cabbage.  I had the other ingredients on hand.  I'd never tried this recipe before, but it tastes wonderful.  Found it here. Aren't garden-fresh vegetables wonderful?   What's your very favorite?   This is the necklace I put on at noon to dress up my "everyday" outfit and meet friends for lunch. I have matching earrings but I think it would have been a little much... Thirfted, of course!

frugality

Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things. ~Elise Boulding

This morning I was pleased to find so many items that I can use on the "Buy 10 for $10 and Get 11th Free" special.  The items I buy on this sale are those that are normally more than $1.50.  (I've found they usually slip in a few that are not that much more than the sale price regularly.)

I bought some packages of cookie mix that I'll make for our annual Porch Hospitality during the Harlan Day Parade in a couple of weeks.  Not bad for $.30/dozen (plus the price of 2 eggs)!

When I got home, I  cut up some carrots* and sliced some potatoes ($1.99/10 pounds) and onions and crumbled some lean hamburger over them in the crock pot.  It will make a good, inexpensive dinner for us this evening.

*Though I like the convenience of bagged, baby carrots, I usually buy the $.75/pound whole carrots and cut slice them for snacking.  I have found that those smaller in circumference are usually more tender and tasty.