Friday Foods: Bountiful Baskets

Many have had to tighten up their belts the past couple of years. With rising food prices and lower incomes, feeding our families fresh fruits and vegetables has become a want rather than a need. It's frustrating to spend money on fresh produce, only to have it "go bad" within a few days. Growing a garden is a viable alternative, but some lack the space, the time, and the know-how. Besides, growing a garden can take months before you reap the rewards. Plus, if you live in a climate like mine (cold for most of the year), there are only a few critical months of a growing season.

If you enjoy eating a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables then Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op may be an answer for you. Every Monday the site opens for orders. The time varies but it's usually around noon and you have until midnight on Tuesday to place your order. A basket is 50% fruits and 50% vegetables and costs $15 for $30-$40 worth of produce. You can also order an organic basket for $25. They also offer organic bread (5 loaves for $12.50), tortillas, and other seasonal items that are reasonably priced. Every week is different, and it's a surprise when you get it, but it is usually staples like lettuce, tomatoes, apples, oranges, bananas, and other yummy surprises. 


You pick up your basket the following Saturday at your pickup location (you choose that when you order) so make sure you are going to be around that weekend. You will need your receipt and something to bring your order home in. Many people use boxes, reusable grocery bags, or rolling carts. Also, this is a volunteer-based business so they ask that you volunteer at least once every 6 weeks, but it's not a requirement. 

 
Our total pickup this week was:

• 1 - watermelon
• 1 - head of lettuce
• 1 - head of cauliflower
• 1 - bundle of spinach
• 6 - bananas
• 6 - ears of corn
• 11 - oranges
• 5 - tomatoes
• 4 - green bell peppers
• 7 - mangoes
• 12 - apples

I have actually found that I am spending less at the grocery store. When we want a snack we eat something fresh, which is good for my bank account and my waist line. I love that my kids have so many choices to eat something healthy. Also, since the food is straight from the farm, some is ready to eat when we pick it up, and some isn't ready for a few days. This ensures there is something fresh all week long. They also do their best to order produce from small, local farms so it's better for the environment.

Homeschool?!?

Even though educating your children at home is becoming more acceptable, and dare I say, trendy. I still cringe when it comes time to share that tidbit of information about myself to others. It's not that I'm embarrassed about it, in fact I love it, but once the words leave my lips, I brace for impact. There are many ideas about "homeschoolers," ranging from support, to ignorance, all the way to prejudice. Most people, regardless of how they feel about it, are very polite. Many tell me about family members they have that homeschool, others ask questions, and some are in awe. They can't imagine being home all day with their kids, or not working. To me, these are fair reactions. I don't expect everyone to be like me. Individuality is one reason why I educate my kids at home. But just like in everything, sometimes the bad can overshadow the good. I can't speak for all, but I assume I am not alone in the fear of expression. Here are some responses I have received throughout the years.

"You do teach them? You're not one of those that sits around all day." This is offensive to me. I made a huge commitment deciding to spend all day, every day with my kids. I work hard at it. I am in charge of three different educations at three different levels. I cook three different meals every single day, plus snacks, and cleanup the mess. I have completely given up alone time. What have I gained? Mornings. No rushing around frantically trying to get everyone where they need to be. Evenings. No homework and bath time. That's all done during the day. Self-motivated kids. For whatever reason, my kids enjoy learning most things. Granted, occasionally there are some grumbles, but for the most part my kids enjoy school. Close family. You don't have to be a homeschool family to enjoy this but I think it makes it easier. We all work together maintaining our home, and I think this teaches a valuable life lesson.

"You do teach science, right?" This one is quite comical. According to the  Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) study done in 2010. The US ranks 17th in science. Are there homeschool parents not teaching their kids science? Probably. Are there public schools not teaching kids science? Obviously.

"It's important for kids to experience bullies. It's good for them." This is heartbreaking. How many children have been traumatized by bullying. Some never recover and some end up taking their lives. No thanks. I'll let my kids skip this.

"You'll never be able to keep up with this one." This was referencing my outgoing child when he was 8 years old. He loves throwing around his vocabulary to anyone with ears. It's adorable. But to assume I can't keep up with him is absurd. First off, I've obviously done a pretty good job so far and he was only in third grade. Second, we share genes. I hope that some of his smarts come from me.

There are many reasons why I choose to homeschool. My reasons are probably drastically different from others. Thankfully, educating your children at home is becoming more accepted and many are dropping their prejudice. It doesn't matter where you go to school because there are many excellent options. People do what they feel is best for their family and we should respect that.

Quick Quote: Gregory Millman

This pretty much sums up why I educate my kids at home. 

“We want our children to become who they are--- and a developed person is, above all, free. But freedom as we define it doesn't mean doing what you want. Freedom means the ability to make choices that are good for you. It is the power to choose to become what you are capable of becoming, to develop your unique potential by making choices that turn possibility into reality. It is the ability to make choices that actualize you. As often as not, maybe more often than not, this kind of freedom means doing what you do not want, doing what is uncomfortable or tiring or boring or annoying.”
― Gregory Millman, Homeschooling: A Family's Journey 

 

Friday Foods: Chicken Stock

Chicken stock is incredibly easy to make and nutritious to boot.  I have been making my own chicken stock for years but just came across this idea from TheNourishedKitchen.com for Perpetual Stock. The idea is that there is so much nutrition in stock that we should be enjoying its savory goodness every day. Here's how it works:

1. Take a roasted chicken frame or leftover chicken bones. You want to find a chicken that was able to eat a natural diet and didn't spend its life in a cage. Organic is best. Not only is it more humane but chickens raised in this setting will be much more nutritious. I also added the giblets, minus the liver.

2. Stick it in your slow cooker and fill it with water.

3. Add veggie scraps (onion, celery, garlic, parsley). *This is optional

4. Set it on low and simmer.

The stock will be ready to use within 24 hours, but if you replenish the water you can keep it going all week. Whenever you need stock, run it through a sieve or a reusable coffee filter and enjoy. Today I filled a pot with stock, threw in some bowtie pasta, added the leftover chicken and Viola! a quick, and easy lunch.  I also added some to my doggie's bowl and he ate two servings and begged for more.

What's the difference between broth and stock? Not much. Broth is usually made from meat and veggies and stock is made from bones. But these terms are used interchangeably. Since you are cooking the bones for such long periods, the bones will soften, and seep all the nutrition into the water.

People suffer from malnutrition for two reasons. One, they aren't eating nutritious foods, either from lack of available healthy foods or a poor lifestyle. Two, they have intestinal damage that prevents them from absorbing nutrients. The gelatin in stock coats the lining of the intestines which heals and protects from further damage. This is especially helpful for people with celiac's disease, food allergies, or inflammatory bowel disease. Also, stock is loaded with easily digested minerals like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc.  It also has collagen, which not only promotes skin health, but may improve joint and bone health.
   
So even if you are not keen on stock simmering away all week long, at least throw those bones into a slow cooker for 24 hours and enjoy one batch. You can also freeze any leftovers for those chilly days when only soup will do.

Friday Foods: Sprouts

Sprouts offer so many benefits and are so simple to make they are a great addition to any family's meals. Besides, they taste delicious! When you add water to beans it activates them to grow. All the nutrition in the plant is released and is easily digested. I started with lentils because I happened to have a small amount in the pantry.

Soaking sprouts breaks down the anti-nutrients, called phytates, which make it a lot easier on your stomach. These phytates prevent the seed from sprouting prematurely and are enzyme inhibitors inside humans which may make it difficult to absorb all the nutrients. Add them to salads, sandwiches, or just eat them out of the jar. They are a tasty snack that most people enjoy.

To grow sprouts all you need is:

1 qt. jar
cheesecloth
rubber band
and 1/2 cup beans or seeds

Rinse and drain the beans. Pour beans into jar and fill jar with water. Cover top of jar with cheesecloth and use rubber band to fasten it. Let beans soak overnight. In the morning, rinse and drain sprouts. Rinse and drain them at least twice a day. I did it in the morning and after dinner. In a couple days you will see roots and shortly after that you will see a stem and little tiny leaves, called cotyledons. The sprouts will quadruple in size so make sure your container is big enough and drains well. For more detailed information on sprouting click here.

Quick Quote and an Intro: Adelle Davis

We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are. —-Adelle Davis

Having a family, and the responsibility that comes along with it, sometimes may seem like a lot to fathom. Sometimes while glancing over my growing list of things to "accomplish" I break into a sweat and waste 2 days in recovery. Amidst everything going on, my one true wish is to make my home a healthy environment for a family to thrive and flourish. With a full day of plans we need sustenance. We are a family of 9 (including 1 doggy, 2 kitties, 3 kiddos, 1 sister-in-law, 1 husband, and yours truly). Homey Sprouts is a place to document our journey to self-sufficiency while also living in a modern world.

Welcome!

What first attracted us to preserving and storing our food was one simple desire: to know where our food comes from. Many studies show that our country has [even more] increasing rates of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a slew of other medical issues. The importance of a wholesome diet is pushed under the bus too often, and here at Homey Sprouts we're strong believers that the quality of your diet directly affects the quality of your life. Laci has young kids, and that's another huge motivation for her-- the lifelong well-being of her precious children. Although I don't have children of my own, I believe it's unnecessarily harmful to expose children to the negative effects of negligence concerning their diet. Lets face it, kids can't control what they eat. It's up to the adults in their life to ensure they create good habits early so their life is more rewarding later. Good nutrition is vital to a long, happy life.

This blog is a way for us to share what we learn and keep us motivated to keep learning. To be perfectly honest, we were terrified to take up this project; We had never canned anything before in our life! Or blogged! We make mistakes but the time it takes to learn the trade is definitely worth it.

As with any big project, you need to prepare before you can dive in. The right supplies and equipment are important for the outcome and make the process so much easier. Trust us, we know. The first time we decided to make our own jelly we didn't have a rack for the bottom of the pot. That didn't work out so well. It took us double what it should have to finish. The next day we went out and got what we needed. Everything has been so much smoother since!

Preserving food yourself has it's benefits besides knowing where your food comes from. It's an incredibly useful skill to have and we think it builds stronger family ties when everyone is helping. Plus, keeping a supply of food storage helps keep a balanced diet year round. In colder climates, like in Idaho where we live, this is especially important. Fresh, local produce is hard to come by in the middle of snowy January. Extra work during the warmer months of the year means that we can have our favorite summer treats in the winter, and get an extra boost of nutrients. Naturally, it cuts back costs at the grocery store because we're not buying a bunch of junk since there are tasty, healthy treats at home.

I know it sounds apocalyptic, but it's a nice safe guard against emergencies. Especially if you already have pre-packaged, add water meals [we're working on this ourselves]. Even if it's not the end of the world, a snowstorm might be enough to block the roads on grocery day. Food storage saves the day, again.

So there it is-- why we choose to preserve our foods. We'll be sharing our discoveries, mishaps, and exploring the blogsphere! Exciting things are coming our way.