Visit from a coyote

Most nights here, the howling of coyotes can be heard. It can be an eerie sound. During the winter months I know exactly where they've been - the snow shows me their tracks. They like to walk up and down the driveway and cut across our field.

This morning, one was standing at the start of our driveway, on the edge of what we consider to be our yard. This photo was taken from our dining room window.

A couple photos and then a quick tap on the window to send it back into the field.

Why I'm Grateful for Snow

Most people I speak with lately are done with winter. By the end of February we’ve had our fill of cold temperatures, snow, and gray skies. We’re tired of it getting dark early and being stuck inside.  The U.S. has been hit hard this winter. The cold and the snow have been extreme.

The winters where I live are long and cold. There is a lot of snow. In contrast, summers are hot and dry. Wildfires are a common occurrence throughout the warmer months.  If we didn’t get the snow we do in winter, it would be even worse.

I think about California and their current drought. It’s a frightening situation. The nation’s breadbasket doesn’t have enough water. I try to eat locally, but some of my favorite things (avocados, lemons) won’t grow where I live. Chances are they come from California. Will food prices rise? Will there be shortages? I hope not. 

That’s why I’m grateful for the snow. Of course I’m tired of having to pile on 3 layers of clothing before I can leave the house. But it’s the big picture that’s important. And spring will be here before I know it!  

Refried Beans recipe

As far as I'm concerned, no Mexican or Tex-Mex meal is complete without refried beans. While it's super easy to open a can to heat in the microwave or on the stove-top, hear me out for reasons to make your own from scratch. 

1. COST - You can make the equivalent of a can of refried beans that would cost a couple dollars (depending on where you live) for mere pennies. 

2. NO BPA-  BPA is lurking in the lining of most canned foods and can leach out into the food. While a few companies are taking steps to move away from the BPA linings, the easiest way to make sure you avoid it is to cook with fresh and non-processed foods.

3. KNOW YOUR INGREDIENTS - The refried beans I previously purchased listed "spice" as one of the ingredients, which my gluten-intolerant husband has to avoid since he's gotten sick so many times from unspecified spices. They also contained chemical preservatives, which I try to avoid.

4. FREEZER COOKING - It's easy to cook extra beans for future meals. One cup of dried beans = 3 cups of cooked beans. 

Here's how I make refried beans.

I purchase pinto beans from the bulk section of my local organic market. Lay the beans out and sort through them to make sure there are no discolored or shriveled beans, rocks, etc. Remember, one cup of dried beans yields 3 cups of cooked. It's like magic!

Once the beans are soft and the skins are breaking, drain your beans, but reserve about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. How much you use will vary with each batch, so don't worry if you don't use it all. It's better to add small amounts at a time since you can always add more, but if you add too much you risk having runny beans, and no one wants that! 

In a pot, cook finely chopped onion and garlic in a couple tablespoons of bacon grease or lard or oil of your choice. I will say that pork fat adds a great flavor that you will be missing if you go the oil route, but do as you wish.

Add the cooked beans and a little of the reserved cooking liquid (or fresh water) and mash with a potato masher. Alternatively, you could use an immersion blender.

You can either soak the beans overnight and cook them for less time or skip the soaking step and cook the beans longer. Since I chose to throw mine in the slow cooker in the morning, I skipped the soaking and let them cook longer. I'm lazy like that. 

Rinse your beans in a colander under running water, then throw them in the slow cooker on high with enough water to cover the beans by about two to three inches. If you don't have a slow cooker, this can be done on the stove top, but I haven't tried it so I won't pretend to know what I'm talking about. 

Cooking time will depend on your slow cooker and the amount of beans you're cooking; it could take anywhere from 4-8 hours.  I did about 5 hours on high. 

I don't stress about getting every sing bean mashed. I like a little bit of texture. Add salt and cumin (optional) to taste. You could also add some shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese at this point. I saved my cheese to top it with. 

Use your homemade refried beans to make burritos or as a side dish for any other Mexican dish and enjoy!

10 ways I curb spending

 
I've been thinking a lot about things and stuff and possessions lately. For the first time in my life, I feel as though I have enough. It's not that I've finally accumulated everything I need. It's just that my mind-set has changed. I may not have all I want, but I definitely have all I need.

Here are ten ways I've stopped purchasing things I don't need:

1.  Define Want vs. Need -  I have a roof over my head, running water, food to eat, a car to drive, clothes to wear, and a stove to keep me warm in winter. Those are really the only things I need to survive. Of course, I have much more than that, but I don't need any more than those basics. Do I need another dress or kitchen gadget? Nope. Stopping to think about what I need versus what I want puts a different perspective on things for me.

2. Avoid Stores and Malls - This one is somewhat easy for me considering I have to drive 45 minutes to get to a store, but at the same time, it's almost more tempting to go into stores on my weekly trips to town because it's something different to do. It's really a simple concept though - don't go into a store unless you absolutely need something. It's not a form of entertainment (or at least not a very productive one!)

3. Unsubscribe from Retail Emails - Since there are not many stores where I live, I subscribed to emails from many of my favorite clothing stores. I would get emails about sales, coupons to use online, and be notified of new arrivals. Many times I clicked on the photos in the email and ended up on their website looking at possible items to purchase. By unsubscribing, I am no longer tempted to shop online. In fact, most times I wouldn't even think about a certain store until I saw an email from them (well played, marketing people, well played...). If I'm not thinking about it, I probably definitely don't need to buy it. As a bonus, it saves me time because I'm not having to delete so many emails from my inbox every day!  If you absolutely must receive coupons from a store, create a junk only email address and only look at it when you already have an item in mind to purchase, such as a gift for someone or something that would add value to your life.

4. Watch less TV - This is probably a good tip for many reasons, but the less advertising you're exposed to, the less likely you'll want to purchase something you don't need. Plus, you can spend that extra time being productive! I'm not completely giving up TV, but I am cutting way back.

5. Take Inventory - I didn't realize how many clothes I own until I went through and actually counted. I was shocked. And maybe a little appalled. Do I really own that many skirts? Do I need three colanders in the kitchen? Why do we have so many bathroom towels? I can't think of anything I might need to purchase any time soon. If I need it, it's probably already in my house.

6. Make It - Use that extra time you're not spending in front of the TV or deleting two-billion retail emails every day to create what you want. My living room walls are bare and I plan on making some art to hang. It will be a fun project, cost less than purchasing art, and I'll feel proud every time I walk into the room. Assuming it turns out the way I want it to. :)  An artist, I am not.

7. Repair/Refashion/Upcycle It - Rather than getting rid of clothes that I no longer like or don't fit correctly, I plan on altering them or giving them a face-lift. I'm no expert sewer, so if I can do this, anyone can.  Or, take your item to a professional and have them repair/alter whatever it is. It's usually less expensive than buying something new. I also have a few home decor plans that will incorporate items I already own with slight tweaks. There are endless tutorials online for everything from woodworking to sewing to painting, etc.

8. Buy Quality - When you do purchase items, buy the highest quality item you can afford. It will last longer and perform better and you'll only have to buy the item once instead of constantly replacing cheaper versions that fall apart or break too soon.

9. Create a Want List - Despite having everything I need, there are still things I want. For example, I saved up all summer for a pair of cross country skis. To me, this purchase was justified because: I didn't already have a pair of skis. I will have them for years and years. They will be a form of entertainment each winter. Skiing will be great exercise. I had wanted them for a couple years, which means they're not an impulse purchase. I'm not completely depriving myself of everything in life, just becoming more aware of what I buy.

10. Shop with a list - I'm a list-maker. I make lists for everything. Grocery shopping, tasks to accomplish, the hardware store, etc. When I shop with a list, I stick to it. If I see something in a store that I want and it's not on my list, I write it down for next time. That way I don't forget about it and if I still want it and feel it will fit into my life, I'll purchase it next trip. Most times, I don't even want the item when I see it again. Impulse buys are evil!

So those are some of the ways I've learned to think about what I'm buying rather than purchasing things that I don't need or items that don't bring any added value to my life.

Secret to perfect hashbrowns

I love breakfast foods. Morning, mid-day, or night. I do not discriminate. I usually eat "breakfast for dinner" at least once a week. 

Hash browns are one of my favorite side dishes. They have a tendency to get gummy if you're starting with raw potatoes.  There's a secret to getting your potatoes crispy. I'm going to let you in on that secret. It changed my world when I discovered it. 

**After you grate your raw, peeled potatoes, squeeze as much liquid as you can from them.**

That's it. That's my big secret.  How you choose to squeeze the liquid out is up to you. In the past I used gadgets or towels, but then I got lazy. Now, I use my hands. 

I pick up a handful of shredded potatoes and squeeze them over the sink. You might be surprised at how much liquid comes out. Then, I plop them into a hot skillet with some bacon grease. You can use butter or oil, too. 

You can also start with potatoes that were baked or par-boiled. Let them cool completely before peeling and grating. This is a great way to use up already cooked potatoes from dinner the night before. No need to squeeze with pre-cooked spuds. 

These are better than buying frozen potatoes at the store that have added ingredients. Cheaper, too, even when using organic potatoes. 

The Dirty Life - book review

"The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball is a great read. Kristin was a writer in New York who fell in love with a farmer and gave up city life for a very ambitious farm dream. The writing was honest and I found myself laughing out loud more than once. This will be one of those books that I read again and again over the years. 

I most often read non-fiction and I love memoirs that involve food (not surprising if you know me at all). This one did not disappoint!

How do your eggs rate?

Last year I was great about buying eggs from a local farm. They were expensive, but I knew that I was getting eggs from a smaller, local farm that treats the chickens well. They truly are free-range. 

Then, the eggs started to taste... fishy. Not 'fishy' as in suspicious. Literally, like fish. I gagged trying to eat them. I tried another dozen from the same place a couple weeks later and got the same fishy taste. I read that it's sometimes too much flax in a chicken's diet or certain things they may be eating if they're free-range. I just couldn't eat them. 

So, I started buying eggs at my regular supermarket that were labeled free-range and organic. I had also seen the same brand in our smaller, organic market and figured they had done their research on the brand. At $5.48 per dozen, I was hoping they were above factory farms. 

Unfortunately, the two brands I have been buying did not score well on the Organic Egg Scorecard from The Cornucopia Institute. Both only received a one out of five rating! That's horrible! 

Click HERE to see if your organic eggs are on the list. If you don't see your brand listed, check the back of the egg carton to see the name of the farm that supplies the eggs for the brand. 

This is a wake-up call for me, not only for eggs, but for how important it is to know where everything I consume originates. I'm back to local eggs (no longer fishy tasting) and hopefully will have chickens of my own this spring!