We have become accustomed to convenience, we have become soft, we expect others to provide for us? We have developed a McDonald's super size lifestyle. We are too busy to take care of our families and our own nutritional health. I think we have lost track of what is really important.
Do you cook? Do you sew (my son-in-laws and son sew, my daughters don't, I really messed up), Do you have a garden (patio or otherwise) What are you doing to put nutritious food on the table. not fast food or packaged food with preservatives? I have one daughter who is a good cook, they have a home cooked meal nearly every night, my granddaughters know how to cook too, 2 son-in-laws that are good cooks and a son that is an excellent cook (oh, yes they know how to iron too).
I remember churning butter with my grandmother, picking berries & vegetables from our garden, fishing with my dad, playing dog to flush out the game that would become our dinner. We went to the store only for the things we could not grow, flour, salt, pepper, shortening, chocolate (for baking), citrus fruits (we lived in an area we couldn't grow citrus) etc. My mother made fudge, fondant, taffy, (so much better than the candies on the market today, no preservatives) brownies, pies, cakes, apple sauce, doughnuts, canapes, homemade pasta, breads, she canned vegetables & fruits, oh, she worked too. I use to do all of those things, now I just work, although this weekend I started again. Why, because I can't depend on anyone else to feed my family. If I can't afford to pay the exurbanite prices at the market for the "convenient foods", I have to make it happen. That is the American way. Our government has decided that our food supply should go to make alternate fuel, increasing the price of fuel, increasing the price of food. We haven't built a new oil refinery since 1973, our refineries are antiquated. No new drilling in desolate areas like An-War. Even though it has been shown that the caribou and other wildlife along the Alaska pipeline are thriving because of the warmth provided by the pipeline. Who cares about facts.
If we really want change, we have to change, not settle for, not expect others to provide for us, but create the environment we want, not depend on our government or anyone else to do it for us. We need to become more independent, we need to become more responsible for our own lives, maybe we need to become more like our parents, our grandparents (the greatest generation).
Is it time to go back to a more independent lifestyle? "Waste not, want not" was the motto of the generations before me. This weekend I decided to go back to the past. I had a craving for Cranberry sauce, I boiled the cranberries, then I made juice from the water I boiled the Cranberries in, made cranberry sauce & cranberry ice (jam). The Juice was great (no preservative, sweetened to taste) I continue to enjoy the fruits of my weekend labor. (Have you ever had a Cranberry & peanut butter sandwich? It is awesome). The added benefit of taking the time to create this master piece, it was very rewarding & yes, relaxing, my husband even got involved. Is it time to slow down and take pleasure in the simple things? It is the day to day relationships, family, friends that make the world go around, not how many hours we exercise, how many hours we work. We need to put life back in balance. Maybe it is a good time to get in touch with what is really important, and with those we love. All we have is today, there are no guarantees for tomorrow.
Suggestions: Plant your own garden, (patio or otherwise) Go to the farmer markets, can or freeze your fruits & vegetables. Make your own salsa, jams or whatever you like. Go direct to the farmer and buy chicken, beef, pork, lamb or vegetables. Use your freezer for wholesome, healthy foods. It is easier today to do your own thing. The Web is a great place to find out everything you need to know about food independence. Buy local, make meal time family time, add the personal touch.
Start simple with Freezer Jam:
http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,strawberry_freezer_jam,FF.html
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