Perfect Day

It is stormy today, which creates a certain mood I guess. I was inspired to cook, homey food.....home made food. Finishing Michael Pollan's book "In Defense of Food" http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php both affirms and inspires my appreiciation of the fact that I can and do buy whole foods, and create varied menues from them. Thanks largely.... perhaps exclusively .....to the fact that I am a full time Homemaker,and I consider it my job to provide wholesome food for my family. Today I am providing home cooked meals not only for my household, but also for my daughter-in-law (status: postpartum), and my grandparents (status: old). On todays to create from scratch list:

Roasted chickens 2 very large ones, rubbed with a paste of garlic, cracked black pepper, lemon zest and salt...and cavity filled with sliced lemons, and herbs from my garden

Yeast Bread, my family's favorite oatmeal bread recipe, with a mixiture of whole grains kneaded in before the last rise.


Dark chocolate brownies, made with dark cocoa, dark chocolate chips, and 4 huge fresh eggs from my hens...

Home-made chicken stock, free if you are roasting your own chicken...so why not, and makes for unbeatable, fast week night soups...


Batch of what my family calls kashi, not to be confused with Kashi brand anything, tho inspired by their concept of whole grains..... I knead this into bread, toss it into soups, create salads around it, eat it with milk/yogurt and fruit for breatfast or a snack....really the most versitile food I can think of, and probably the healthiest as well!


Home made Yogurt, Yes you read it right, you can make your own yogurt at home at a fraction of the cost of storebought, consistancy can be runnier than store bought, but you can add gelatin, if you want it thicker. (added gelatin gives "greek" yogurt it's thicker consistancy and higher protien value than regular yogurt)

This is all "slow food" at it's best!!! The greatest thing about it is that it is all so basic, and it doesn't take any longer to make a lot than a little, so that with one day of cooking I have the makings of some quick healthy meals for the rest of the week!

Welcome..... this Blogging thing is new for me. Just a way to keep an on-line journal of my "New Ruralist" (http://www.sagecenter.org/new-ruralism.pdf) life....One foot in the goat pasture, and one foot in cyber-space. Look for recipies for garden fresh produce and natural skin care. Also hand crafts, ideas, inspirations!!!