Sounds Like a Plan

Taxes are due tomorrow, and after I pay out that huge wad of money, (I'm not complaining, we have a great school system and good services here) I am left to my own devices, my own ingenuity, to brainstorm creative ways to save. In some warped way I find this fun. I love this kind of challenge. I just make believe that I'm in a reality TV show, a sort of tight wad iron chef Harry Potter family kind of PBS series. My mission: to cut down my food bill in half, without compromising the health or principles of the family. Food must be fresh and wholesome, local and mostly organic, health giving and life sustaining. The kitchen will remain a welcome and calming haven. A fun place to be where friends and family co mingle, dream, chat, make memories, eat marvelous peasanty, ethnic food , or just leisurely sip herbal tea.

Over the past few years, it is true, I have made a concerted effort to eliminate most boxed products such as breakfast cereals, cookies,and box mixes of any kind. We've moved over to the quinoa, buckwheat, brown rice, millet, multi-bean and lentil faction, with some exceptions of course.

Those entering this warm cherry wood faced kitchen with painted walls of oriental silk (and yes , that is the name of this creamy yellow Benjamin Moore color), are struck by it quaintness and at the same time it's new agey feel. It's got the certain magical quality of a wizards laboratory with all the glass jars containing the various foodstuffs mentioned, along with a plethora of herbs, spices, pastes and potions.

I'd like to use up what I've got already. I'd like to waste less. I'd like to be less tempted to buy the ever convenient organic hot dogs, or smoked turkey at Trader Joe's, that my kids so love. Or how 'bout those fancy potato chips or those new fangled, tex mex, gluten free, rice crisps. All these quick open and serve, processed items add up, kaching, kaching. So what is wrong with making your own organic popcorn, I ask?

So back to basics it is, and I'm sure I will learn and share a lot in the process.

Today, I'm dumping old, tired and gray, or greening(yuk) condiments. You know, the year old chutneys and Indian pickles, sorry looking relishes, and bacteria growing fruit jams. Sometimes, I think they're just for show. I'll wash and reuse the jars or recycle them.

Before I go food shopping again, I'm using up those veggies I bought at the farmers market. I'm rescuing those green beans, Asian eggplant, yellow patty pan squash, and carrots before they become unidentifiable slime in the veggie bin. Yesterday's cooked, leftover millet will become something glorious. I am exaggerating just a tad.

If you want inspiration for eating well on a low budget, and some good entertainment, read or listen to Jacques Pepin's, The Apprentice. I am sure you will love it as much as my little six year old nephew Emmett does. Learn how his family survived and ate in wartime France. Sometimes there just wasn't any food at all and they went hungry. No cheap fast food to fall back on. Some of it was unsavory, just plain nasty tasting, but persist this family did to seek out good food. Jacques became the famous french chef and master culinary teacher he is today.

Put in this perspective, paring down the food budget doesn't seem so daunting, so I'm pressing onward. I keep you posted.