ramblepatch’s blog

From a thread at MDC:

#6 Almost-Any-Bean Sausage
Breakfast item
Serves ~4

2 cups beans (or 1 14-oz can) drained (I usually use black, but experiment!)
1/2 medium onion
2 cloves garlic
2 T Braggs (or soy or tamari)
1 egg (I'm sure you could replace this with flax meal or egg replacer to make it vegan)
1/2-3/4 cup rolled oats (not instant)
1 T fennel seeds
1 t dried basil hin 2-3 days probably.
1 t dried oregano
1/2 t dried sage
1/2 t red pepper flakes

Put everything in a food processor and pulse until chunky, adding a little water or onion if it's too dry or more oats if it's too wet (to test, just grab a small handful and try to form it into a sausage patty - it should stay formed reasonably well and not be too gloppy).

Heat a cast iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1-2 T olive oil. When hot, add as many sausage patties as will fit (leaving room to flip over). Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over each of the patties while they fry. After about 5 minutes, flip over and salt and pepper the other sides. Cook until the other side browns, about 4-5 minutes more.

These are so good and easy. If you don't feel like frying up the whole batch at once, just pop the mix in the fridge and fry it up as you need. The mixture even holds together a little better after it's been refrigerated!

This is a great recipe to experiment with - I added some chipotle peppers once with great results.

Lentil Sloppy Joes: http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=2059

Grr. I'm not doing so well on food lately. The week before last I did an in store shop and had no organics delivery for two weeks. Well, I did buy mostly organic at the shops but it was expensive. We spent over 100 dollars. It would have been worth it, I suppose, as it would have lasted us awhile. But we ended up going to Toowoomba and taking our food with us so I used it to cook for everyone. Which is fine, of course...Jonno's grandfather died so I was doing the cooking for everyone.

Anyway, this week I ordered again and got our box today. First of all, I thought I'd ordered a chicken, but didn't. (I  KNEW my total of around 70 was too good to be true if it included meat.) I ordered coffee. Only I accidentally ordered the stuff for a coffee machine. DOH! And didn't realize until I'd opened it, otherwise I probably maybe could have returned it. GRR. I also discovered that the same organic milk that is 4.70 with the order is 4.30 at the corner store so I will be buying from there from now on, I think.

Otherwise, let's see what we've been eating the past few days...

Yesterday:
lunch-- potato wedges.(low on food!)
dinner: lentils and rice burritos made with homemade tortillas.

Today:
breakfast-- pumpkin pie. Haha, really, I made it and wanted it for breakfast.:-P
lunch-- leftover burritos
dinner-- I think I'm making black bean burgers and maybe sweet potato fries? I hope it's good.

Probably will buy a chicken or something at the store as we have no meat. Other things I can make...perhaps falafel and cucumbers and pitas? Spinach and ricotta...er, was going to say lasagna but I only have spaghetti. Ah, we'll see.

Got our organics delivery on Friday. The night before I stocked up on flour, butter, cheese, etc. at conventional grocery store.

Friday:
lunch: picnic at the park. Fruit, raw carrots, hummus and tortilla wedges. Along with the free popcorn from our delivery.
dinner: baked potatoes and a salad with lettuce, sunflower seeds and homemade dressing.

Saturday:
lunch:salad again, and banana smoothies with kefir and a squirt of strawberry sauce.
dinner: homemade cheeseburgers and fries.

Sunday:
lunch: away for lunch
dinner:wholemeal spaghetti and tomato sauce with ground beef and silverbeet. Saucy Pudding Cake for dessert.

Monday:
lunch:  sweet potato and silverbeet lasagna
dinner: chicken drumsticks, cauliflower

Tuesday:
lunch:
dinner: sort of a quiche with potato crust, eggs and silverbeet.

Wednesday:
lunch: at the beach all day! We had mini pizzas, banana muffins, chai rolls w/Nutella and lots of fruit. All brought from home, yay!
dinner:

Thursday:
lunch:
dinner: potato wedges w/sour cream and sweet chili sauce (SOOO good) and salad.

Friday
lunch:
dinner::

I have been thinking lately how I have come to the conclusion that a person's theology really does reflect in the way they raise their children...for instance I put my finger on one big reason why, while I'm not a "omg, the Pearls are the anti-christ and they eat babies!", I can't really support the way they teach discipline is because I don't agree with their view of sin, as I understand it. (e.g. as I understand it they believe a Christian can become sinless while also believing it is the parent's job to make that happen in a young child...therefore I don't think it is too far off the mark to think they you need to "beat out" sin in your child. Stamp it out before it takes root, if you will.

 Whereas my feeble understanding is that my children are born into a world tainted with sin and therefore they, too, will sin and while it is my job as a parent to make them aware of right and wrong and also aware of the consequences of right and wrong...it is NOT my job to redeem them, but instead introduce them to the One who has already made their redemption possible.

And how does a mother introduce her children to God? I think she can do it from before they are born. By her love, by her words, by her earnestness in planning and praying for her little one's arrival. I believe that I introduce aspects of His character in welcoming my babies gently, with love, and with "shouts of joy and victory" in my home. I believe that feeding my little babies at the breast without restrictions and schedules nourishes their bodies and their souls. I believe teaching right and wrong, blessings and consequences is very, very important but that there is no one right way for all children. I believe that our children are blessings and that they are small for only a short time.

I believe that to little ones it is the little things that matter greatly.

You know, people generally use the phrase, 'I couldn't put it down!" to describe a book that was really good, very well written, etc.

Well, I'm the kind of person that finds it hard to put ANY book down unless it is a very dull and dry textbook type of book. Or an instruction manual. Although, well, I did read the instruction manual to my vegetable steamer while having my coffee the other morning...and, no, I wasn't planning to use the steamer anytime soon. And, yes, I did already know how to use it. Okay, maybe I'm worse than I thought! (By the way, I really need new shampoo...new reading material for the shower, you know...)

And in complete humble honesty I must say it is not a trait I value in myself. Because it stems from  my insatiable "need" to be entertained. I've created this need and I feed this need on a steady diet of books, audio books, knitting while watching tv, radio...and I have two kids and a house to take care of! I DO invest time into these things. My kids are always with me and the bulk of my information/entertainment binges take place during naptimes and bedtimes but I do tend to always have background noise on even while doing dishes or playing with the kids.

I need to cut back. I need to value my time more. I need to value my mind and my spirit more and that means fewer fictional works and more time spent actually studying...actually reading the Bible and hearing what the Word says to me, that is the main thing.

I want to say to anyone out there that if you are a slow reader or someone who feels a bit ashamed to say, "Well, I only read one book this month."...PLEASE don't let it bother you. I would be better off as a slow reader as I would probably savour and remember books better. And if I knew I could only finish one book in a month I would probably choose more wisely. So, slow and steady readers...I want to be more like you.:-)

"It would be nice to eat more organic, but it is expensive."
"It makes me nervous to eat imported food, but it is hard to find what is made in Australia, much less what is actually locally grown or made!"
"When we can afford it, we will eat healthier."
"When I find a good source for veggies, I'll cook with them more."
"After this week I will spend less at the shops."

These are all things that I say to myself and my husband over and over again.

Enough!

I want change from my shopping, cooking and eating experience. Change in the quality and content of my cart...and some pocket change left over wouldn't be such a bad thing, either.

Here is my plan. I am putting it down here in order to hold myself accountable. I, Ruth, will do my darnedest to avoid doing a typical supermarket shop in the next week. Furthermore I will avoid the, "just forgot the bread!" drive by shopping and the "out of milk again!" corner store run. However if need be an "unexpected guest" shop may be made.

Instead I am going to make an order tonight. Yes, an order for FOOD on the internet. And not just any food, but organic food, grown in Australia fruit and veggies. It does cost more. But it should be quality. (I hope!) And this way I know without a doubt what my total spending is. No sinking feelings and "yikes, that last minute, 'Oh this looks tasty!' addition really pushed us over the spending mark" upon reaching the check out.  I would prefer to buy fewer items and less variety if it means what we are eating is good, nutritious, delicious and satisfying. The good and nutritious part is up to the place I'm ordering from. The delicious and satisfying part is up to me in how I cook and present things.

To start with I am not looking to spend less than I have at the supermarkets. Not right off the bat anyway. But I am limiting my first order to the following: 1 small mixed box of in season fruit and veg. Some meat. Some milk. Some rice. Some eggs. Now, I *should* be able to create feasts with this stuff...but what I should be able to do and what I manage to actually do can be two very different stories. And while I can make myself eat what I cook and my toddler will eat nearly everything it is important to me that my husband enjoys his meals. He is not a picky, complaining type but I can tell when he doesn't really care for something. And he will tell me if he is really tired of something. (My favorite, easy, healthy, meatless meal: Cuban Style Black Beans in the Crock Pot, has been given the thumbs down! *sobs*)

So I will try. I want this to work. I want our shopping trips to be a laid back, "Oh, when you have time to go stroll through the shops with us, dear" occasion that doesn't take away from my hard working husband's time at home when he should be studying. I want to feel good about the fruit I hand my children to eat and I want to make meals rich in veggies and flavor. So I will take the plunge. Stay tuned...

Sometimes I crave a better social life. Well, "better" is probably the wrong word as I don't have much of a social life at all. So sometimes, yeah, I want that. I want to have another mom friend who I can call up and...wait, hang on, I hate talking on the phone...okay, I want another mom friend who I see in person and we can commiserate and laugh and encourage each other in this crazy game of motherhood. I'd like that. I'd like to have friends who are comfortable with our small, cluttered living space, my two noisy children and who like to eat my cooking.

But at the same time I must admit I am a pretty happy hermit. I like my space. I like my family and where I live. Which surprises me. Not the part about liking my family but the part about liking where I live. I mean, I really like it. I live near the city. A large city! In a suburb with beautiful, classic Queenslander houses. Where I can see a sports stadium from my son's bedroom window and see the twinkling lights of a thousand other houses and buildings. In the night I'm not woken by any  noise but the noise of my baby daughter fussing to be nursed but before I drift back to sleep I inevitably hear the swishing, clicking sound of a train slipping through the night. In the early morning I wake up to kookaburras chuckling to themselves in my backyard and watch blue clad school children trek off to the school just down the street. Buses slow, sigh and speed off again from the stop down the hill. On a sunny afternoon even in my house I note shadows shifting overhead as a Qantas 747 glides above our home with a throaty murmur...coming in for a landing, coming home. And these sounds, that have only been part of my daily life for a year, really have become part of home for me. Me! The girl who spent nearly 20 years living in the country over yonder in the US of A being made to feel at home with city sights and sounds over here in sunny Queensland!

It is a pleasant surprise to find myself at home here.