Foraging food!

I'd like to thank Jeanette for her beautiful blog. I know my blog is not really read by anyone now, but in case someone sees it here.. She inspired me to keep track of our little efforts towards a simple homestead style life. She says " we can't all have 40 acres in the country.. " and we actually have about 2,300sq feet of garden, half of which is grass for play area!

I don't want to share too much on FB or the like because I don't want to pretend that I have figured it all out and my life is perfect and pretty in every way. hahaha. Not so.
BUT keeping track, taking notes and pictures really helps to find the beauty in every day life. Who knew canned food could look that good!

So here is a little note I'd like to share about foraged food, food you can make out of stuff found on your way back from a long walk..

Yesterday I found wine leaves!

And we had so much vegetable mix left, I had been eating it for 3 meals and was getting tired of it..
So I thought to make dolmas out of it.

To make dolma you need
-wine leaves (about 5 or 6 per person, or more if you feel like it) and salt
-left overs (or some veggies and meat, no meat for us this time but it's better with some ground beef or lamb)
-olive oil, garlic, parsley and a can of tomato
-some cooked rice

*wash the leaves
*prepare a container with lots of salt, stack your leaves and add boiling water on top, to cover the leaves. I find a weight helps to hold them under water.

 * let them soak for as long as you wish (2 days if you want, in the fridge) at least a couple hours, and you can renew the hot water (with salt)
this pre-cooks the leaves.
*prepare a stuffing: in a pan heat oil, add garlic, a pinch of allspice or cinnamon, parsley (meat goes here too) let it simmer for a couple minutes.
Add the can of tomato. Let simmer an other few minutes. turn the heat off.
*Mix your left overs, add them in the tomato sauce with the rice. Stir it well.

*Now you can roll! :)

 place the leaf face down, add a tbsp of stuffing in the bottom third.

fold on either side

fold the bottom part

and roll it up!

This is the same way I roll stuffed cabbage, spring rolls etc.
Wine leaves are much easier though because they don't (usually) break! 

*last step is to steam those little guys for about 15 to 20 min. You can pile them up they won't stick.
I personally add a cube of beef bouillon in the water to steam it, but some bay leaf would do fine too.

always getting more stuff

I am so happy about our parish friends. Mr L. asked our british friend, Paul, if he would be the godfather for our baby and he said yes! :)
I love having friends like them!
It's so amazing to go to church and then chat with people AND later in the week we can have dinner or a picnic!
Yesterday we went for a picnic with my cousin and her family, and Mr L. called Paul to ask for directions (to get to see a air show) and it turns out they were going there too with some other friends.. so we ended up going all 4 families! The kids had fun and we got to chat and relax in the grass while looking at the air show (old war planes from WWII and super fancy noisy newer ones..)

It was quite hot and beautiful and sunny :)
I need to get some pregnancy pictures... so far I have like 3 where you can see the bump.. baby is never going to believe I was actually pregnant..

Anyway I was reading on Elisabeth's blog about baby stuff and I came across a post about what baby things to get.
I quite agree with that last post (I'm only not too crasy about the EC part...).

I don't think we need much stuff at all for now. But the problem with stuff is that I can't control it right now!

I can make lots of mental lists of what I know I want and will use, but I can't quite keep to it.
Not that I'm an out of control buyer.
But I am not a lonely entity.
Lots of other people play a part in our life, stuff keep coming from ways I feel I can't control.

Example.

My wish list of baby equipment:

-onesies, pj, a few cute outfits
-a couple baby's sleeping bags (no idea what it is called, looks like overalls but with a bag instead of feet)
-diapers (disposable for first size and then cloth)
-a baby relax (seat to put baby down)
-a place to sleep (moses basket then bed)
-a baby bath tub (I don't like the shape of our sinks)
-a babybjorn thingy to carry baby around with free hands ;)
-a car seat
-pharmacy stuff like nail clippers, nose wash, fake tears...
-a high chair at some point
- a dresser/changing table (to store the clothes, changing table is necessary because our bed is a mattress on the floor and bending is hard for me right now..)

Then there is Mr L's wish-list
-stroller (nice one)
-disposable only for diapers
-not sure if I forget anything...

He is really not that exigent. :)
But we already disagree on the budget for the stroller. Plus I would tend to go for an outdoorsy stroller (type jogger, to go on little hikes) that we could get second hand. But he'd still want the nice city kind.
I'd rather wait to see if we'd even USE it.. but how can we know ahead of time?

Then there is already my sister asking what she can get us.
I asked to buy her ergo (baby carrier) because it'd be second hand and I know I like baby carriers, I just never used an ergo that much. But she wants to get me a new one. Why? if it's new and I actually like an other kind better, we'd both lose money for nothing!
It's not even about the money. It's just I don't get why go into complications when it could be an easy situation: she doesn't like her ergo, I'd like to give it a try= simple.

Oh well.
So of my/our list we have:



and some more 0-6 months outfits onesies and pj (from a yard sale).

This gorgeous bed was a wonderful surprise gift from a family member. It is beyond what I would have ever gotten in a shop. We are very lucky!
Our british friends GAVE us a mattress that fits in perfectly and we bought bedding for it in Ikea yesterday (just sheets as babies are supposed to sleep without blankets or something)

I am happy about the music box, it's really cute, but I didn't plan on getting one at all. It was a gift-hand-me-down from the family.

The baptism gown I am also thrilled about. It looks brand new but a great uncle was baptized in it, and my mom, and me and ... It's been around for 80 years at least!

The cross is my purchase.. I got it in Nantes a few weeks ago. I just thought I'd like to have something like this for a kid's room.


So we have some more things to get, and only 8 weeks! :)
I can't quite say that we have the essentials yet. But I am glad we are not overflooded with stuff too much. Yet.

An other domain where I feel out of control is food. I make menus for the week, and plan around so we don't need to go buy more. But we always get more. I guess it's just part of the lifestyle, there is always a farmer's market on the way and we get "just this" or that. Or we decide to go on a picnic last minute, and we'd like to have people taste an american recipe, so we need some ingredients etc etc..

Not complaining, it's working just fine so far. But I like to make lists and organize and have plans, it feels safe and as I don't earn money, not spending it is my only way to have some control over it. So when the lists keep getting messed up I get a bit anxious because I feel like I failed if we spent twice as much money as my list said we needed.. Because I know we would have been just fine with a left over salad or with a second hand stroller.

I knew it !!!!

I wanted to post something about how much I looooooooove Aldi for weeks...
With Mr L. we noticed many products that looked a lot like Trader Joe's stuff, only super cheaper.. Well it took me all those weeks but today I googled "Trader Joe's Aldi", thinking I would find an other blogger in love with both to share my joy and suspicions of shared business... Well imagine my surprise when I found that it's not even a secret!! They are owned by the same people.
So if you like Trader Joe's don't wait, get yourself to Aldi! :)

A few links to let you know this is real: New York Times and none other but the wall street journal!
Unfortunately I don't have access to the full article on WSJ :/ so I don't know much more than the first two paragraphs..
The NYT article seems unfinished to me (it stops right after TJ employees are not allowed to say U-boats, I will never know why..)

And I did find one blogger telling about her experiences here. And one more here.

My reasons to love Aldi:

- I'm European. I know sounds weird, but bear with me. Aldi is extremly cheap in Europe (here too I guess). Aldi is how many people in my family get to eat various food instead of just pasta. My grand father survives on Aldi food. When my sister or cousin have rough patches they go to Aldi. Actually they go there for basics and complete somewhere else usually, unless dire times.

-They carry european stuff: german saussages, german cakes, italian specialty, swiss chocolate, belgian chocolate.

-They have incredible basics. I get everytime: 1 gallon skim milk ($1.99 since Monday, but $1.79 for months before this) $1.99 for 12 eggs. $1.39 for a big yogurt container, plain fat free. $1.49 for unsalted butter. 20cts per grapefruit. about $2 for a bag of GOOD oranges. Good oranges are hard to come across, even in high end grocery stores. $1.89 for grape tomatoes full of flavor (but I stay away from the cheaper, bigger tasteless tomatoes) $1.99 for bagged salad. I would not normally buy baged salad, but their butter lettuce is really good!
I also get most of canned products there: stewed tomatoes, peaches, baked beans..

-They have wonderful luxery items: did I mention chocolate? And Christollen!!! I'm currently dreaming of those mini frozen eclairs.. $3.99 for 40!
And frozen shrimps :) I love their frozen fishes. This is how we noticed how similar the products were to Trader Joe's..

-Fast check out. Sure you have to bag your own, but honestly I like to bag my stuff. In Europe every store let you bag yourself.. With my sister we would play the organization game. Group stuff by where they go in the house: frozen, cupboard of sweets, cupboard of baking, fridge, pantry... Just more convenient to do it yourself.

-Unbeatable: there is an Aldi right down my street. 10 min walk away. :)

-Socializing. Really I know no one here. The most people I talked to were in Aldi. Lots of first timers who ask questions (where did you find those beautiful tomato grapes ?" "how are their shrimps?") I had a couple chit-chat of 5 min at a time. Sweet when you really have not much contact with the outside world..

7 quick takes Friday

-1-

I started a journal! :) Yesterday at Target I saw this beautiful notebook, I don't have precise plans for it. I wrote a few quotes and comments in there.. Not sure what I want to do with it..

-2-

Good resolutions with Mr L. to have a healthier lifestyle : make ice cream!
I think it's a great resolution. I realize it may sounds crazy : " oh darling, I got 2 packs of heavy cream, eggs and whole milk to make our diet ice cream!!" :)
But instead of buying and eating ice cream, we make it before we can eat it. The ice cream we make is VERY rich, but delicious! :)
And as we have to make it, then freeze it, we just can't eat quite as often.
Also as it's so rich we can't eat too much in one time. Yesterday we made chocolate. Can't wait to try it tonight!!

-3-
Tonight we go all the way north to Yonkers, for a NFP class about post-partum charting. We registered before our membership expires, and also because with the move and craziness of a new installation it might be difficult to schedule a class later. We registered a few months ago, I thought I would be pregnant by now. Maybe I am. Maybe not. I won't say I don't care but it doesn't really matter.. I know there is a time for everything, so I can be a little more patient. Right now I can't wait for my period actually... the end of breast soreness! :)

-4-The first time I saw roast beef in a can I thought : " how gross!". Let me tell you I changed my mind on this one! It does look ... hmm.. how to say it... like dog food! BUT once rinsed from its gravy it's great for many quick recipes. Here are two:
- one onion, sliced and slowly cooking in some butter. Once it's colored (golden, light brown) add the rinsed roast beef. Stir in 2 table spoons of flour. Slowly add one or two glass of red wine. Et voila! Burgundy beef ready to serve (over rice, pasta, potatoes..)
-in a pot: boil a half cabbage, finely sliced. Add a cube of beef bouillon and some salt. After 10 min add sliced carrots. Cook an other 3 min.
in a pan, cook one onion, sliced, in some butter. Once it's colored (golden, light brown) add the rinsed roast beef. Add the cooked cabbage and carrots (drained and pressed to extract juices). Stir in the pan over heat. Separate the pieces of beef so they are more uniformly spread.
It's delicious! We had some yesterday with mashed potatoes. And those recipes are cheap! :)

-5-
Ok yesterday I watched wifeswap. I was not desperate. But I was ironing. That gives me excuses ;) So anyway I watched it. Someone else said it better than me:
"Nothing makes me fear for my life more than the ignorance of some of the other folks I share the planet with. On a scale from 1 to 10, Wife Swap showcases these people at a saturation level of 25. Religious zealots, right and left wing extremists, people who eat raw food diets, and just about every other fringe you can imagine are represented in the most harsh of lights. The sad part is that sometimes I agree with many of the things that some of the folks have issue with in each others families, but they just take everything they are into way too damn far. Really, there are never any middle of the road folks in here, but I guess that wouldn't make for an interesting show, eh?"
I have watched a few shows so far (disorientation I guess, this is why I'll make sure I don't take a shift job again!) and I realized that some ideas sound good on paper, like the family who lives in the countryside and grow their own food, but then the parents were a little nuts and extreme (like eating ONLY organic home grown food) and I felt bad for such narrow minded people... In yesterday's edition I was surprise to see a very smart mom. Not the one I would have expected to be the smart one. One of the mothers was an artist, making sure everyone can express their creativity. And the other was a biker, living for her biker family. Well let me tell you I had a big prejudice in favor of the ecolo-artist mom. But by the middle of the movie I just wanted her to open her mind a little. She was so busy with herself she couldn't see her own family's needs. She was so busy trying to "open the minds" at her swap's guests that she didn't share with them. The other mom was way smarter. Not as educated but waaaaay smarter. Instead of imposing HER lifestyle, she saw the needs and try to address them. She was sincerely trying to give the kids a good time, and to provide means for her swap's guests to keep those new activities despite their tight budget.
Bravo mama! :)

-6-
Sunday night I walked to Central Park with my husband. It was just gorgeous! It was evening and by the time we got there it started getting darker, people were leaving, and the firelies came out. It was like magic! :)

-7- I really want to finish that review about the first years of forever.. :) for one I liked it, and second I could really use to be more patient with hubby.

Healty and hearty mac & cheese

There is no mac & cheese in France.
The closest to this would be either shells and butter (as simple as it sounds) or gratin de macaroni.
I watched tv shows on the food network, and I'm always shocked and surprised at the amount of cheese used for mac & cheese. I don't know you, but if I'm cooking for kids I don't want to feed them salt and fat only. And cheese is SO expensive!! How are you going to keep in budget if you use 2 bags of cheese for a simple diner??

So here is my receipe for mac & cheese, the french way :)
- 3 tablespoons butter
-2 table spoon flour
-about a cup of vegetable broth (you can use milk instead)
- milk (lowfat 2 cups or more)
- some cheese (I use 5-6 slices of cheddar cheese from the deli, I don't like cheese in a bag.. it's about a small dessert plate of cheese)
-salt, pepper, herbs if everyone likes it
- 3-4 slices of ham if you want
- pasta (small kind, about 400g, that slightly less than a pound, but you can put the whole pound no problem, I just keep some for when I'm alone for lunch)
Have all your ingredients before you start, I keep the milk on the stove top side, accessible.


1. boil the water (I use electric or stove top tea pot), while I wait for the water I prepare the side of veggies
2. Cook the pasta.
3. While it cooks melt the butter in a pan, keep watching it.
4. When butter is melt, add the flour and whisk it. You can let the fire on. Add the liquid (veggie broth) and keep stiring. It should get thick quickly.
5. Add milk, keep stirring. You can add milk for about 2 cups. Until it's still creamy but there is enough to cover your pasta
This sauce is really quickly done, add salt and pepper and herbs to taste.
6. Add the cheese (cut small), and ham if you like it (better than bacon)
7. Stir the sauce, add the cooked pasta.
8. you can serve it now, or pour in an oven dish and have it "gratine". :)
This is diner for Mr. L. tonight... :) Because I won't be there when he gets home.. :(

The beefy mac and cheese

Now for a more sophisticated version:
- 6 slices of roast beef (from the deli, they are ultra thin, or 3 from your left overs)
- 1 or 2 onions
- 1 tea spoon butter
- some wine (qbout 3 table spoons, or better: cognac!)
- more cheese

Same recipe until 6.
7. cook the onions and butter in a pan, until caramelized.
8. add the sliced beef in small pieces. Let it simmer 1 min
9. add the wine or cognac. 1 more min, or 2.
10. add the mix to the pasta, sauce and cheese.
11. pour in the oven dish, add extra cheese on the top (along with bread crumbs if you'd like).
This is more an "adult version" of mac & cheese, serve with a side of eggplant or spinach.. yum!!!

Variations are infinite!
What is your favorite way?

the secret of the pepper sauce

Here is a sauce I can make in 10 min. Mr. L. loooooooves it and regularly asks for it :)
So here is how I can make it easily:
I get a bunch of cheap bell pepper.
To get them cheap I go to fruits and veggies discount shops, and get only the red ones, when they are really ripe. It's about a dollar for a bunch of them

then I cut out bad parts, rince them quickly and slice them thin.
Put them loose in a ziplop bag and freeze them, all of it.

Whenever we want pepper I just take what I need. As it's thin they de freeze really fast for a salad. :)

Pepper Pasta sauce:

- 1 onion
- 1 1/2 cup of slices bell pepper
- a spoon or two of tomato paste
- a can of diced tomatoes
- evaporated milk
- salt
-pepper
- 1 spoon butter
(-* smoked paprika to taste)

If you make pasta with it start boiling water (first in a tea pot, then pour the hot water in the pan with a lead so it heats up faster)
Dice the onion and brown it in a pan with the butter.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Add the sliced bell pepper (if you use the frozen ones don't worry about defreezing first, just add it there it will cook quickly!)
(the water should be boiling by now, add the pasta)
Let it simmer with a cover for 2 min
Add the can of tomatoes
Let it simmer 2 more minutes
Pour the sauce in a food processor and liquefy the sauce.
Add about a quarter cup of evaporated milk in the food processor. Or more if you like it.
Pour it back in the pan and let simmer for 1 min.
(right about now you should taste your pasta to check if they're cooked, and drain them... )
You can turn the fire off and season with smoked paprika if you'd like.

Your sauce is ready!

It's perfect for long pasta (angel hair, spaghetti, linguini etc.)

To make the dish even tastier I don't cook the pasta all the way, but "al dente" or slightly undercooked, then I pour them in the pan with the sauce and put a lead on it. After 5 to 10 min the pasta is swollen with sauce, it's irresistible!!

Serve with cheese if you'd like, or with some kind of meat (slices of frankfurter, ground meat, bacon, pieces of chicken).
I like them just with the sauce.

the worst-case scenario: How I deal with money concerns...

... and any kind of concerns.
When I feel worried about something, first of all, I take some quiet time: a morning walk, sitting down in a quiet room, in the restroom if I have no other option. I also try to cut myself away from anxious persons. Husband for example. If we are both worried and anxious, I know I will need at least 5 minutes by myself to clear my mind about it.

Then I analyze the situation: what's at stake? what is the worst case scenario? what is the second worst case scenario? What will probably happen?(optimists can add here a Best case scenario)
Only then I wonder what I can do about it. I review all resources possible, and options and solutions possible, even if they are only partial. And I do it for the different scenario mentioned above.
Once I find something I can do to limit bad consequences, or avoid the problem all together, I start whatever work it involves. Sometimes all you can do it wait and see... well then stop worrying, because that won't bring you anything. I know it's easier said than done, but you can really work on it:
-Focus on something that works in your life (family life, friends...)
-Learn more about your situation and ways to get help (like career counselors, money management workshops or websites).

At last, and with much precaution, I add a review of "what I COULD have done before..?" much precautions because you can't redo the past and my philosophy tends to be "assume and deal with it", "what's next?". BUT it's a good thing, sometimes, to get lessons from a bad decision, or to learn not to rely on this or that, or not to trust this particular person too easily..

So to sum it up:

step 1: get some quiet.
step 2: analyze the situation.
step 3: review your options.
step 4: act appropriately.
step 5: let time do its job and learn to relax.
(step 6: make a note to yourself so it doesn't happen again)

An example:
We are planning for a second celebration of our wedding, in France, with all my family.
Recently a big part of our budget has been jeopardized.
DH was really upset, nervous and anxious about that money. I totally understand him. He did the work he was asked to and doesn't see the money coming as scheduled. (Only a little part of it).
That was a bad evening for us. I felt bad for him, upset about his bad mood when I had so much to tell him, and I actually got anxious about it too.

step 1: the quiet.
we walked to the next train station. This gave me some quiet time. He was too worry to notice that we were both quiet. During that walk I took time to breathe, think about all the good things in my day, and analyze the situation.

Step 2: the analysis.
there is obviously an emotional level: "all work deserve salary". I felt bad that the payment my husband was expecting was delayed. He felt betrayed.
And there is the economic problem of course: how are we going to finance the celebration??
worst case scenario: we don't get the money. DH complains and somehow gets fired. (I know it sounds pretty dramatic but it could be a worst case scenario)
second worst case scenario: We don't get the money.
what will probably happen: we get part of the money on time. Or even all of it. :)
(yeah I'm an optimist).
As it's a lot of money (5000+) we were planning on using some of it to move, because DH has bad credit and I don't have any, cash would be our only way to get an apartment...

Step 3: our options

We quickly discarded the "fired" option, but we considered it. Mr. L. is lucky enough that his boss really needs him, and even things went THIS bad, he could find a job to live by while looking for a better employer.
I felt relieved that even in the worst of all scenarios the end result is fine.
Discussing it helped DH getting rid of some tensions.
Name your fears, face them, and they will lose most of their power on you. :)
What about worst #2: we don't get any more money.
Well let's see: we already bought our plane tickets, with previous savings. We already sent the invitations and we already booked a place and church. So we can't cancel. But on the bright side we still have some money on my french savings, and from family. We would need to cancel the jazz band and find a way to feed everyone on a tight budget, and we would not have pocket money to rent a car and visit while in France.
It doesn't sound that bad at all! Basically that would mean getting a computer for the music, and asking everyone to bring a dish to share. I think it's fine. :)

Then what will probably happen: we get the money a later than scheduled. Then we can prepare a nice buffet with some wine and cider, and get a band.

About the cash for appartement, we have a few more months ahead, so we can be very careful with savings in the meantime and get 6 months of rent in cash (instead of a full year). We can also reduce our ambitions about apartment.

Step 4: what can I do?
For each scenario I will need to communicate with my family in France, and get their help and advices. I would go with option 2 and 3 only. So I start planning with option 2, considering we won't get the rest of the money. I'm thinking of a way that is flexible enough, so that if/when money comes we can add things. :) For example I'm looking for someone to lend us a good sound system to plug on a computer, so we can have music anyway. And if we can hire the band we can still use the computer for a little cute slideshow..
I can tell Mr. L. all my thoughts so he doesn't get stuck in his bad feelings...

Step 5: relax.
Once you did your best according to your resources, learn to relax. If there is nothing more you can do, don't waste your time and energy feeling bad about it.
I felt good about my possible options. It was much harder for hubby, but we talked a lot, I rubbed his back a little. And he realized that what matters is to have a nice family gathering, even if we don't have a fun band to entertain, and if we eat only pasta salad on paper plates.

Step 6: lessons

Work on that saving funds. We now have some, but not enough in case of job loss or big illness.
Not to accept extra work from that person.


The worst case scenario method helps me a lot, on a weekly or daily basis, to feel better about my work or decisions. It also helps me keep in mind what really matters, because these are the things I can always rely on, no matter what: some personal skills, my husband, and my family.
It sounds weird to put personal skills on the same level as family, but really I do count on it.
For example if I lose my job, I can try to do French tutoring, I will have my husband's support, and if it's really bad we can go to my parents and start from scratch again. This gives me some confidence. And much happiness.

Here is how I learned about the worst case scenario:

Lord,
grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

my new favorite cooking book.

This one is definitely in my list of "long trip anywhere survival" book list.












My husband loves bbq (not as in grilled, bbq as in smoked) and I must said he converted me.
This is bbq, even if your home doesn't come with a smoker (but would you really call it a home without a smoker??)
Anyway most receipes are conceived for use in a slow cooker. Which we don't have, yet. It's on the wedding registry, but nobody knows about it...
They had in there a recipe for regular oven pot:
Hot pot country style ribs!

All I had to get was a tiny bottle of bottled smoke. (about 2$). It's a liquid flavored with hickory. Smells delicious.

recipe is easyyyyyyy:
pot in the oven, empty, on 500 for 15 min.
In the mean time rub the ribs with salt, pepper and your mix. Of course I used smoked paprika :) and a little bit of chili powder and a tad of cayenne pepper.
The recipe calls for 3 pounds meat and 3 table spoons of rub. I had 1 pound boneless ribs, but I used about 2 spoons of spices anyway.

Take the hot-pot out the oven, reduce the heat to 300. Put the ribs in the pot, listen and enjoy the wonderful pshhhhhhhh sound.
All the meat didn't get to meet the steamy hot pot directly. It's ok, just make layers.
Add the miracle in a bottle, just a spoon and a half. Again the recipe calls for 3 for 3 pounds, but I really like smokey taste, so I put a little more than a spoon.
Let it sit in the oven for an hour. (I let them 1h30, just because..)


It was delicious. Perfect texture, a little spicy, and perfectly smokey. Really really good.
All that out of cheap pork my husband would be mad at me for buying (manager's special = last day to buy it) and a 2 dollars seasoning bottle.
Now I can't wait to try out more recipes!!!

yummi cheap receipes

I'm proud! I'm really getting good at converting my husband to good-and-cheap food. :)
I wish I had pictures of his face when he tried tonight dinner... :)
We had stuffed cabbage. Homestyle. :)
One thing to know first is that cooking at home is an investment. If you usually eat out and have nothing to cook at home the first month or so will cost more than eating out (on the dollar menu for example) but than it's SO MUCH CHEAPER (and better).
So our cupboards are full of spices and cooking goods (like flour, cornmeal, sugar, oil etc.) and I won't count them as expensive for my recipes because I bought them months ago, and they last for a very long time...
The only pricey ingredient is the beef.
So here we go:

Delicious homestyle stuffed cabbage:

serve 4 persons (hungry)
prep: 20 min
stove top: 15 to 30 min.

* items are not necessary

1 cabbage
1lb ground beef
3 slices bread + a little bit of milk (or broth)
1 onion
*2 carrots
a quart of broth (beef, chicken, veggies... a couple flavoring cubes can do the trick, I use frozen chicken broth from when we have roast chicken)
salt, pepper
seasoning, at your taste(garlic, herbs..) I used: 2 tablespoons ketchup or bbq sauce, 1 of mustard, a spoon of smoked paprika and one of chili powder)

1. Separate the cabbage leaves, keep them whole.
You won't be able to use the middle yellowish small leaves. I just save that piece for a later soup. Or you can cut it small and add to the broth.
2.Boil them 8 minutes in the broth.
3. In the meantime, dice carrots and onion very small, saute them in a pan.
4. dice the bread, add some milk (or broth) on top, just enough to make it wet and mushy.
5. Mix the beef and bread, salt, pepper, seasoning, onion and carrots. Mix it well. (I use my hands)
6. Take the leaves out of the broth, put them all in a plate. Put aside about a bowl of broth. I added a cube of flavor in that bowl. You can use the rest of the broth for a later soup.
7.Put a little bit of stuffing in each leaf, roll the leaf around the stuffing, put the stuffed leaf in a pot (with or without some butter in the bottom). Put the stuffed leaves very close together.
Mine were so tight I couldn't fit a fork between them... I put about 15 on the bottom layer (and only 3 on top). the closer the better, that's to avoid the use of thread around the leaves, annoying to put on, annoying to take off, IMO just a waste of time and energy...
8. Pour your special bowl of broth on top, cover and let it simmer for 15 to 25 min. It's cooked after 15 min, but the extra time makes it juicier... yum!

Ready to eat! With rice and tzatziki.
quick tzatziki:
one peeled cucumbered, grated.
8 oz plain yogurt (greek if you can, but regular yogurt is cheaper)
salt, pepper, cumin powder (a small spoon)
additional seasoning to your taste ( I add a tiny bit smoked paprika and coriander powder).
Mix all together. Chill while cooking the cabbage.
Serve as a sauce, on top of the stuffed leaves, or as an appetizer.

Thrift store... I would be naked without you..

Today I thought of taking pictures of my clothes, making 3 piles:
one of presents,
one of thrift store bought,
one of store bought.
I would count hands-me-down as presents. Or maybe make a separate pile.
Anyway I didn't have the courage to sort that much clothes:


















That's a lot. I arrived in September 2007, with 2 piece of luggage.
They were full, but mostly filled with chocolate (10 pounds!) books (about 20, I will list them, that would be an interesting post) various food, medicines, and stuff.
Some clothes. Maybe a half bag.
I didn't realize I ended up with so much clothing!

I did one pile, the store bought clothes.
Anything I bought in a store since September 2007:

















Dresses were 10 $ each.
The fleece sweater I got in Switzerland, this summer with Phil, when we visited the Cern. I thought it was fun to have because it says in the back : "LHC, accelerating science". It's very nerdy. I love my geeky husband :)

Now shoes: I got the running shoes in winter 2005. But I put them anyway because I bought them in a store. 60 Euros. An investment really worth it. They are worn out now, I need new ones, especially with winter being here because it's getting cold with the holes, and slippery when it rains or snows..
The flip-flops were an emergency purchase when my sandals died last september. 10 $
White shoes I got in France this summer too, for the wedding :)
Lovely, 10 Euros!
In a store for cheap Lolitas. I was the only one without belly button showing in the store...
Everything else in the cupboard is either present, hands-me-down or thrift store.
I'll go over it an other day :)

small business savings...

Yep, we are cutting down budget.
The crisis touch the foundations who finance us. We have to prepare for cutting down.
I've been asked to do less hours... But to keep doing most of my work.
I can do my best. But sometimes I feel a lack of gratitude from my superiors.
There is a lot of volunteers and hourly paid like me, and it's a non-profit association so I guess we all know what to expect as of salary.
But I think we also expect to get less money and more human contact. More gratitude from our boss. More attention also.
I was talking with a coworker this morning and there is no Christmas dinner planned.. Not much is done for the staff and volunteers and I think it's sad, because even and especially during difficult times, team spirit should be a priority... I'm more inclined to stay a few extra hours for free if there is a good atmosphere and some showing of appreciation for my work.

Homemade.... laundry detergent

I have been busy lately... work and married life :)
So here is my latest frugality experiment: the homemade laundry detergent!
It all start with a post on the simple dollar, about doing your own.
I have a thing for laundry so I thought it's a coooooool idea!
I found (at last) washing powder, so I can try the recipe..
Here we go:
-take a bar of soap (I took ivory soap, 4 bars for 1,99$)
-"shave it" as in use a gratter to reduce it into flakes, every easy, just as soft as butter or almost...
-melt it with 4 cups of water.

here is a picture of the meting soap, I stirred with a broken wooden spoon..















-pour 4 galleons of hot water in a huge bucket. (hot water from the tap, no need to complicate the process..)


















-add in the bucket a cup and a half of washing powder (the whole box was 2.49$)


















(the recipe I used called for borax and only one cup of washing powder, but borax didn't inspire me much...So I added a little extra wahing powder instead.)
-stir in the bucket the hot-melted soap.
-put a lid on your bucket (I used an old frying-pan because I didn't have the lid)
-you can use the detergent in the morning. :)















Mine smells like lemon grass :) Because of ivory soap. Next time I may look for lavender scent :D
Anyway I have enough laundry detergent for a long time....
And all I need to make at least 3 more buckets...!!!

Impression on the first load:
I used the same cold cycle as usual. There wasn't much foam in the washer, but the water was soapy. The clothes are as clean as usual. I didn't notice the smell of soap though... But my husband is happy about that, he says it smells clean and fresh and it's better than the apple smell of the Gain I used to have.
I had in this load a "quite-dirty" towel (with blood stains if it's not TMI) and it's clean, really clean.
I'm therefore REALLY PLEASED with the experiment.
I'll let you know if the bucket get moldy before I get to finish it!! ;)

Yay for more savings, and less chemicals!! (well washing powder is chemical, and so is soap... but less added crap to the necessary chemicals!!)

break free from the pack

I saw that commercial the other day on TV.
It's interesting. Esthetically it's a great commercial, very good catch. Very graphic, straight to the point.
It's a fun commercial to watch mindlessly.
But then your brain wakes up: starting after 0:16 s for the written comments, and 0:30s for the speech, all you hear and see are warnings of SERIOUS side effects.
It's like the lady is leaving her old routine of daily pill (with some interesting cardio-vascular risks)for a new routine of the ring. She is getting into the same swimming pool full of side effects...
Is it really worth it?
Is this really freedom? to choose between the pill and the ring? to go from a risk of heart attack to an other one??

I think my fertility is NOT a monstrous disease to keep as far as possible.
I know how my body works, I work with it. I don't need shots and drugs to postpone getting pregnant!
When I see that kind of commercial I wonder where the feminists are...
This just makes me sick! A woman should be always infertile so she can be available for sex.
But where are the pills for men?
Why should the woman deliberately become sterile to be sexually active without "risking a pregnancy", but not the man?

When my brain wakes up after that commercial I get really upset. Because where I grew up we were taught about birth control even before our period started, we were trained to chose a birth control method long before we even had thoughts about sex... I took the pill as a teenager, I didn't know about the side effects, I didn't know about its efficiency (or non-efficiency) rate. I just did what I was supposed to because I was old enough to do so. Now I think I was manipulated. Birth control is a big market. Natural ways are free, they won't bring money to big pharmaceutic companies...

Now I'm fertile, and proud to chose what is best for me, knowingly. :)
Wow "I'm fertile" almost sounds gross...

Update:
I just found a great great update of commercial, a parody of birth control pill...

cooking for 2, on a budget

My husband and I have different views about how to spend money on food. It's ok. Of course my way is better. I'm sure we'll come to an agreement some day. I really enjoy going out with him, and he likes what I'm cooking. So I guess we both learn to relax about splurging or being savvy. It's a question of balance.
My evil plan is to cook goodies for cheap, to show him how great and imaginative cooking can be, with only a couple dollars.
So for our first meal together at home I did my poor man's quiche:
some mixed veggies (I got a huge bag in the frozen section, 5lbs for 2 $)
a can of tomato paste, an egg, some milk, left overs of cheese, or meat or what you have (I had a half can of crab from a previous salad) and lots of seasoning: cumin, herbs, salt, pepper...
mix everything in a bowl, pour in some crust (half a stick of butter and flour) and bake until it looks good :)
The next time we had a dinner together was after a very stressing day for him. I left work early (due to too many hours in the week) and went to C-town, for my first coupon-shopping. I got extremely lucky, whole chicken for 69cts a pound! So I got a whole chicken for less then 3 $. I just put an apple (diced) inside, along with some adobo and ginger. Same on top. I laid the chicken on a bed of potatoes and onions and hop in the oven. I even forgot to turn it halfway through baking, or to pour water on top so it doesn't dry ( my parents way)
but it was great anyway.
It looks like my evil plan is working:
happy hubby :)
And yesterday we had a great lasagna dish, out of food pantry cans and an old eggplant slowly drying in my fridge, and the ground beef I got instead of a greeting card.. :)

happy periods!

Do you spend a week every month or so feeling miserable? taking extra vitamins, lazily laying down hoping for it to go away faster? Are you ashamed when there is no garbage can inside the bathroom and you have to hide your used disposable until you find a garbage can somewhere else?
Well I used to feel that way...
Now I'm looking forward to my periods :)
I like it because :

- that reminds me I'm in good health
- that gives me a good reason to indulge in an extra dose of chocolate :)
- it's also when I start a new chart, which is still new to me, hence the fun..
- and above all I get to use my pads :)

Have you ever been looking forward to using a disposable pad? or a tampon?
well then maybe it's time to switch to washable pads ;)

I got washable pads through a website. lunapads, made by a few great ladies!
there is also party in my pants. Just love that name!!

It's been a little more than 8 months since I switched from disposable to washable pads. I wouldn't go back for anything in the world.

Three extra good reasons for me:
1. It's eco-friendly. No more huge waste of paper and plastic every month.
2. It's cheaper. It's an investment. But I haven't bought any disposable in 8 months, and I think I already saved money. And I can use what I have for many years to come...
3. It changed my perception of my own body.
Period is not dirty and shameful. I'm not going to make a public announcement at work, but I don't have to quickly hide a pad from my bag to my pocket before I go use the ladies room.
I don't have to support the feeling of plastic scratching my legs all day...
Or the dryness of a tampon.


Now I have a comforting feeling of softness. The fabric used by most shops is flannel, with funny patterns. It cheers me up just to see it :)
So now I'm happy with my periods :)

A beautiful Sunday

Today something strange happened. I went to the laundromat, and I didn't enjoy it so much. Usually I go there on Tuesday, empty and relaxing.
This morning was crowded. Some people were rude, almost aggressive about getting a machine or a dryer.. :( And I was thinking about work... :(
But some others were old habitues, they were greeting each other friendly, like a little community. so overall that was fine, just more stressful than I'm used to...

Otherwise I spent the whole day with my boyfriend! :)
We went for lunch in a delicious Vietnamese restaurant, cheap and healthy and TASTY :) 15 $ tip included, for 2, in Manhattan. Great food, great service. My favorite place to go out :)
Then we hesitated to go see a movie with his free tickets, but we didn't like what's on right now... so he'll keep them until something we both like comes out.
Instead we came back home and cuddled up on the coach. We had fun with a ticklish war and I rubbed his shoulders. Nothing fancy but that makes me happy. And him even more :)


I like "lazy Sundays". When you don't have much planned but you end up with great time with someone you love. I appreciate those special times.
In the evening we prepared a pizza and fruit salad.
I would like to have a "family night" like a little tradition. I like the idea of making a pizza every Sunday night. Pizza are good, can be healthy, and are a great way to finish left overs ;)
Tonight we tried the south of France version:
dough+ fine layer of mustard+ fine layer of baked onions+ layer of sliced fresh tomatoes. And some grated cheese on top :)
That was fun and good :) Looking forward to have this as a ritual!

Today we also got to pick readings for the wedding ceremony. I know we're only 3 weeks before the day! I'm so happy about that! Yay 22 days to go!

fun at the supermarket

I usually "strongly dislike" going to the supermarket.
There is one two blocks away from my apartment, but still I got as few as possible.. I see it as a waste of money, time and energy. When I need to go I bring a very specific list of what I need, and I go for the cheapest...
My boyfriend seems to enjoy supermarkets, he often wants to go, he sees it as the menu of a restaurant. I cook according to want I find in my fridge and cupboard, he cooks according to what he feels like having, what looks best in the alleys...
lifestyles...
So I usually dislike going with him: takes forever, expensive..
But Sunday night was fun. I ENJOYED myself, in a supermarket!
We went to a classy one, the kind where half the products or more are organic and more than 2 $ per item. We had a lot of fun, chasing each other in the alleys, taking forever to decide between steak and fish, talking about our breakfast habits... I felt so relax, not thinking about work, not worried about money, just feeling good and in love. :)