Food Inc.

Finally this story makes it to the movies!! The masses!! I've been shopping at the co-op for at least 15 years. I'm growing my own food these days, and I buy grass fed beef by the 1/4 or 1/2 and it's my fourth year with a CSA. To say that people don't know what they are eating is an understatement. I always feel like I can do more, change more, be healthier and learn more. It's exciting to live this way.

Grocery stores are a wonderful thing, but make sure you know what you are buying. Eating the wrong foods is killing us - literally! I was completely disgusted when my local Lund's, a very high-end grocery store near my home, sold 80% beef that was from outside of the USA for the rock-bottom price of $1.99/lb. What's going on with that? Lately, when I shop there I have a hard time finding anything that is worth the cost per pound. I have to drive to a local co-op to find meat that is naturally or organically raised and affordable. To their credit, Lunds does have a decent selection of organic fruits, veggies and dry goods.

Weigh the cost of a pound of veggies against a pound of meat. Compare the nutritional value per ounce and the amount of land it took to grow what you're eating, and I bet you'll see that veggies are the way to go. I'm not vegetarian, but I'm committed to eating the right meat and the right vegetables. I definitely want to support my local economy when I can.

NYT review on Food Inc. here

(photo taken in Preston, MN by SAS)

Weekend Dining

Pizza Nea is completely fresh and features only limited ingredients. No American toppings like hamburger, fajita chicken or canned mushrooms are found here. The salads are as good as the pizza and need I say ..??... forget about anything like ranch dressing.**The artwork on the walls is worth the visit alone.**  

"Gypsies, Tramps and Theives ..."

... or is it .... "tomatoes, ramps and beets?" Having a good blast of music while canning is essential. Today I've been pulling up old songs on Playlist and singing so loudly that I'm sure it still isn't loud enough to conquer my rickety stove hood fan. Next off beets -- and while I don't actually have any ramps they sure made a great addition to my canning jingle. (ramps are wild onions!). Twelve quarts total and counting. More tomorrow.

(click here for a dose of Sonny & Cher)

My Good Earth

Today I will be blanching tomatoes. Later in the week I'll be learning the art of canning from my mother-in-law, Arlene. It will be something to learn this survival craft of yesteryear from someone who has fed her family from her own garden for years. From someone whose mother raised her in the same tradition. From someone who grew up on a real Southern Minnesota farm during the depression.

I thought everyone had a relative who "canned" but I don't really know. My CSA farmer claims most folks don't know what canning is or think it's something someone's grandma did a long time ago. Earlier today I had visions of a much larger garden and living off of "canned" and "frozen" food from my own little patch of earth. I momentarily considered ordering extra veggies from my CSA to process in my kitchen for the long winter. Eating locally totally inspires me. It makes so much sense. Good old common sense, like good old canned tomatoes for a winter soup or a pan of Goulash. What can be better? ... Now to build a summer kitchen.