Besides the advantage of economy, there is something homey about foods that require an overnight soak. It says you are cooking with forethought. It prevents the temptation to just get takeout, because the soaked food will want transformation into supper. It avoids sodium overload from canned food.
My Chinese roommate would often have a fragrant soak [...]
Archive for September, 2007
Soaking
Posted in Peasant Food At Home, Peasanthood Reflections on September 30, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Taste your lotion
Posted in Personal Care on September 24, 2007 | 2 Comments »
What I mean by this strange-sounding bit of advice is that if you grab an apple or a cookie shortly after applying hand cream and find yourself grimacing at the off-taste, it’s likely your cream is full of petroleum-based goo and dyes and synthetic fragrance. A more natural, plant-based lotion will, while not exactly tasting [...]
The Stranger
Posted in Wit & Wisdom on September 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
“Years ago Thad Cohick started up a general store down Salladasburg way and the family still runs it today. They sell everything from beaver traps to borax. In the old days, lots of us would sit around the store spitting at the stove, eating Moon Pies and drinking ginger beer. Thad drove a hard bargain. [...]
Grandma flowers
Posted in Container & Small-plot Gardening on September 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
For me, it’s red geraniums. My grandma used to plant them in cinderblocks on a retaining wall, every single summer.
When a co-worker saw my little pot of cyclamen, she said she liked these flowers because her grandma in Germany always grew them.
What flowers or other plants will you always think of as grandma’s?
-Gina
Pepperpot
Posted in Peasant Food At Home on September 17, 2007 | 3 Comments »
This is a good dish to take advantage of the late-summer tomatoes and peppers that are filling the farmers’ markets right now. I’ve adapted the recipe from, I believe, a Moosewood cookbook. The original is vegetarian, but in our house, pork products rule! Of course, Afro-Caribbean versions call for pork tripe. If you use that, [...]
Tri-Tip
Posted in Peasant Food At Home on September 16, 2007 | 3 Comments »
When I moved to California, I noticed that if people eat beef, often it is a “tri-tip” cut. What is this tri-tip, I wondered- I’ve been eating beef all my life, and presumably a cow’s a cow. As it turns out, the rest of America knows this rear belly piece mainly cut up in chunks [...]
June Meyers’ Authentic Hungarian
Posted in Peasant Food At Home on September 13, 2007 | 2 Comments »
Check out this website for a Hungarian home cook who decided to finally write down the recipes her family had passed on for generations. Don’t you want her as your Hungarian grandma?
If you have time, by all means browse her recipes and read the stories attached. They fill me with a longing I can’t quite [...]
Natural Drains
Posted in Natural Home Care on September 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
To keep drains clear, pour about 1 cup white vinegar down them every week. I do this before bed so it can sit all night.
Every few weeks or if you notice water draining slowly, pour some baking soda (about 1/2 cup) down the drain and follow up with a cup of white vinegar. Let that [...]
A tip for the Starbucks generation
Posted in Peasant Drink on September 8, 2007 | 5 Comments »
When traveling in Greece, I noticed that in cafe’s they would always bring you a glass of water when you order coffee. This is especially appropriate when the coffee is strong, as in my opinion it should be. The water is refreshing and cuts the impact of the coffee on your stomach, without cutting the [...]
Red sauce
Posted in Peasant Food At Home on September 7, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
“Gravy” as the Italians would have it. I get ideas for what to post from what people who have visited were searching for. Someone was searching for how to make tomato sauce, so I’ll give you my best estimation for a fresh pasta sauce, gleaned from Italians and the people who love them. [...]
