Work to Live, Earn to Multiply

Cooking Outside the Box

What is a bargain these days? Thrift stores and garage sales, bakery outlet stores, coupon clipping, rebates, farmer's markets, and store markdowns. Nothing I've seen beats what you save by getting off of the sofa and getting busy in the household with your own hands. Every now and then, I succumb to clever television commercials or fancy packaging gimmicks, and foolishly try to grab a ready made food product at the grocery store.  "Heat and serve foods" that claim to be a complete meal, dinner in a box, or a miraculous seasoning rub, or some such utter nonsense. The ticket on these quick meal items is not cheap either, so what exactly are we doing?

The delicious exception to this madness could very well be the rotisserie  herbed roasted  chicken in the deli section. As the warmer Spring weather begins to tease us, transition your daily diet to a heavier portion of fresh vegetables and salads with entrees, while reducing the intake of carbs at each meal. Make your own seasoning blends, or use fresh herbs whenever possible. 
Baby butter lettuce leaves, and fresh arugula as a combo when tossed with daikon and red radishes is a tasty side note, or  salad mixed with finely chopped kalamata olives, bella mushrooms, and pickled carrots. Grilled polenta wedges topped with smoky Gouda cheese add texture to this meal. Be on the lookout for red ripe plums to pair with nectarines. Slice fruit evenly; apply sugar or maple sugar to taste. Let stand in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and then transfer fruit into large shot glasses. Splash in peach or apricot brandy, top with a wicked dollop of almond flavored whipped crèam, and serve.  This meal won't break the bank, just the boredom!

Living Outside the Box 

So, have you been sightseeing in your own hometown lately?  What a treat!  In the frenzy of keeping up with day to day responsibilities, we neglect the opportunity to see renovations and improvements at major attractions like museums, art galleries, repertory theaters, landmark architectural sites, and the historic house tours in our own backyard.  Botanical gardens nowadays host awesome concerts for free or a nominal admission price. Depending on where you live, some farms allow the public to pick fruit off the trees at their orchards or pumpkins from the patch and charge by the pound. An added bonus may include a country store that sells yummy apple cider and assorted jellies and preserves. Take a camera on these excursions and snap pictures; have them enlarged and frame them to hang around the house to relive your favorite moments on the outing. Scrounge around for a bicycle and hit the nearest bike trail with a buddy. Turn off the technology and regain some stamina.  Great entertainment value for pennies on the dollar.  

Loving Outside the Box 

Volunteering at a local charity is a hidden treasure and a privilege.  Choices  tied to worthy causes are limitless when it comes to finding a niche. The investment of positive energy into simple tasks that uplift the human condition will bring immeasurable benefits to the recipient and the giver. It is a great cure for depression or restlessness.  Donating time opens your world to tons of adventures, especially working with seniors or children. Volunteering is also a resume builder or a way to explore the idea of a career change.  Political and community activism are authentic proving grounds for enhancing leadership and teamwork (voter registration, fundraising, speech writing, media relations, public speaking, project organization and management, etc.). Networking with eager political candidates and seasoned incumbents will also establish character references for college or jobs. New acquaintances, new skills sets acquired, the addictive satisfaction of making something special happen through your commitment, and humbling, light bulb moments about how blessed you truly are...priceless.

Stirring things up,

Chef Carmen 

    

Let It All Hang Out!

Don't you just love a day when you step outdoors on the front or back porch to take in the air and sip coffee or a smoothie, with your morning prayer and private thought for the day, in serene surroundings? This is before the typical adrenaline-filled workday sets in. 

Porches are blank canvases to be personalized reflecting the taste and habits of the owner in so many creative ways.  The first step is to tie in a color scheme together with furnishings and art objects, just as you would inside the house or apartment.  Use hurricane lamps, pretty lanterns, solar lights,  citronella candles, string lighting, etc., to set the mood. for lounging and chatting.  Potted flowers, succulents, fresh herbs, ornamental vegetables, or other botanical offer aroma and beauty at minimal cost. Recycle anything from an old rubber boot to terra cotta pottery and crockery as a  container for displaying these growing treasures.  Keep in mind that strawberry varieties will grow well in containers, sweet potato vines and cabbage hybrids are amazing potted ornamental plants, and the aloe vera plant is one of dozens of low maintenance healing plants.  Tablecloths and napkin  linens and bamboo mats or coasters add the textural element to cozy tables in conversation areas; canning jars are still ranked with me as ideal for lemonade and iced tea sipping. Never be shy about comfy cushions for chairs and assorted weather resistant throw rugs. Stencil the porch floor or steps with designs. Having a cookie jar or tin of brownies on deck for random nibbling comes in handy for impromptu porch guests and neighbors (porches are so social). Make sure to snag a couple of sturdy trays for transporting beverages and an airtight container for savory sandwiches or such. It is mandatory that these trays also be attractive. Another porch "must-have" is a  decent corkscrew and chilled wine glasses (no explanation necessary).  

If you have the free-spirited swagger about it, march right out the back door or side door of the house and politely set up a real, honest-to-goodness clothesline.  That's right, I said a real clothesline.  Properly secured to withstand a frisky breeze or two, a clothesline will quickly dry or freshen sheets, towels, rugs, table linen, clothes, comforters and bedspreads while you keep your electric bill under control.  Fill a tall spray bottle with one part liquid fabric softener, one part liquid starch, and one part water; generously shake the bottle and evenly mist clothesline items.      Go ahead and give household curtains the same light wash, misting, and line dry treatment.  Get a generous supply of clothespins and definitely check the weather report. Keep your dryer appliance for rainy days or whenever you're in a rush.  Kids can easily help with this as a chore. Compare the difference in your previous electric bill and gloat about the savings you pocket!  This is a smart way  to save energy, save dollars, and be retro chic at it's best, folks.  

Once you have the dry clothes off the line, save some more money and fire up the outdoor grill for more than just occasional barbecues.  Any cook worth their salt has cast iron in the kitchen; so bring it to the grill and get busy.  Scrub potatoes clean and lightly oil the skin. Snuggle them together in that preheated skillet. Rinse and season meat, fish or poultry; let stand in marinade of your choice for at least 15 minutes while you set the grill or smoker.  Arrange the potato skillet on the hot grill first,  followed by the entree in another cast iron skillet.  . If you want to cheat a little bit microwave the taters for ten minutes prior to putting them on the grill. Close the lid and kick back on the porch chaise or swing to indulge in a watermelon-lime Margarita or mojito till time to toss up a crisp, green salad.  AHHHH... for the finale, grilled peach or pear halves topped with ricotta, toasted almonds,  and a light drizzle of honey for dessert. Eat right on that gorgeous porch of yours because life is too short to miss the moments.  Since you gotta pay the mortgage, enjoy every stick and brick of your house!  A good looking porch retreat, a country fresh bed, and a fire grilled supper - It's what you deserve out of life.

Live in color.  Want the fun of harvesting colors and textures right out of the ground and off of the trees to make fragrant, amazing dishes for your family and friends?  Do you need to set the mood for dining occasions rather than just filling up plates from pots on the stove and passing them to whomever is standing there?  If you truly want to get so much more out of gathering with loved ones or colleagues for a meal chock full of memories, splash on a tablecloth and set the stage for a feast. Build a theme based on your mood and the food to be served.  Add edible and complementary accents that sparkle or contrast with the room decor in a pleasant way. Play with ways to multipurpose the spaces and materials in your house.


Keeping fine china and crystal locked away in a cabinet is a waste - who is coming to dinner that is more important than you and your family.  Live life to the fullest.  At the very least, use your fine dining collection items once or twice weekly.  The same thing applies to everything beautiful in your home. Bring a beautiful teapot or coffee carafe or champagne bucket into the master and/or guest bedroom suite for refreshment and convenience. Set up soothing sound effects or mellow music in the bathroom.

I passionately advocate that everyone should have some type of garden, even if it is container gardening.  Flowers, herbs, vegetables, succulents, grasses, or any combination thereof will make a huge difference in the energy surrounding your life.  Play music in your house; place containers of fruits and nuts around to nibble on instead of unhealthy manufactured food.  Use the rinds from fruit to simmer along with spices as natural air fresheners.  Recycling at it's best!  Plant banana skins in the rose garden and coffee grounds in the vegetable garden. Use discarded panty hose to support heavy tomatoes ripening on the vine or other staked vegetables.  The hose won't bruise or cut into the stem because of the soft elasticity, and yet the hose is strong enough to support or train the sturdiest plantings. Recycling again!  Use worn vinyl or linen placemats underneath pots and pans in cabinets or inside drawers to keep the bottoms nice and new looking. 


Finally, pull out the standby stock pot or crock pot or dutch oven of your choice and make soup every day.  Soup belongs in your daily diet for the nutrients and balance of vegetables it provides.  Because it is a comfort food it calms, wakes the  palate, and doubles as either an appetizer or an entre.  Contrary to popular opinion, soup doesn't need to simmer all day.  The range of recipes are endless.  


Love always,
Carmen