New Definition of "Kitchen Garden"

Instead of a locating a kitchen garden outside, why not place it in the kitchen? This "Bright Lights" Swiss chard with parsley dancing around it graces the southern window of our little apartment.Not only does the pot add beauty to our apartment, it is practical and adds some leafy greens to our meals every once in a while. To make a quick lunch, I put 1/3 cup of couscous in a bowl, poured in 2/3 cup of hot beef broth, and allowed it to sit for 5 minutes. Then I threw in a couple of whole frozen tomatoes, and a handful of those frozen beans. Finally, I chopped up a few stems of swiss chard and parsley to add a splash of color and a bit of delicious flavor.

A little ingenuity + consistent watering = sprigs of delight.

Life Without Paper Towels

It's not that hard really. Just don't buy them. I use rags to clean in the kitchen and bathroom.
Cut up old t-shirts or other cloth for times when you want to use something disposable. These little scraps of fabric also make great tissues- they're softer on your nose than toilet paper!
Just a little thrift-tip from a busy schoolgirl :)

Beans

Cheap, healthy, full of fiber... Beans. I love them- any shape, any size. They don't have much flavor of their own, lending themselves to lots of delightful creativity.
You can buy them in a can, but canned beans have a lot of extra sodium. Plus, it's more economical to cook them yourself. And dried beans are beautiful sitting in jars around the kitchen.
For the sake of convenience, I cook a pot at one time, and then drain them and spread on a cookie tray in the freezer. Slip them into a ziploc bag, and you can grab a handful and heat them up anytime!

Basic Sketch of How to Cook Beans:

1. Place beans in a pot with plenty of water and allow to soak overnight.
2. Drain and pour in new water.
3. Bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes or until soft.


There are lots of variations, methods that include adding baking soda to reduce the deleterious side-effects of beans (which do tend to decline as your body becomes used to eating more fiber!), as well as changing the water more often, adding spices, etc, but this is a quick and simple way to get the job done.

To make a quick refried bean dip, I grabbed a handful of beans, a bit of beef broth, and lots of delicious spices- including cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder. A clove of garlic from my garden added some additional depth to the flavor. I even threw in a few roasted peppers that I had frozen when I had an abundance from my CSA share for a bit of extra color and nutrients.


These were placed in a small pan, and heated slowly for an hour or so while I worked on homework.


Total active time required for this process? Probably 35 minutes... about the same time that it would take for me to go to the nearest grocery store for a can of refried beans. Plus- these are far more economical, low sodium, and delicious!
Good cooking doesn't require a lot of time- just a bit of planning :)

You too can make yogurt!

Even though I'm in college, I try not to eat like a college student. Being a nutrition major probably has something to do with that- but I just really value home cooked meals. Living in an apartment this year with a wonderful roommate has given me the opportunity to cook and prepare foods in simple as well as adventurous ways.
Yogurt is a staple in our fridge. We make it ourselves, and it's quite easy. It saves us a lot of money, and gives us the plain, nonfat yogurt that we really like. To enjoy, we simply toss a few frozen berries, granola, or plain rolled oats with it for breakfast. Applesauce mixed with yogurt makes for a delightful dessert as well. Here's how I make yogurt in a college apartment:

1. Pour 1/2 gallon milk into a large pot (preferably one with a thick bottom to minimize scorching)

2. At low-medium heat, bring the milk to 180 degrees farenheit.
3. Add a bit of powdered milk (optional- this makes the yogurt thicker)


4. Allow the milk to cool to 115-120 degrees (you can accelerate the cooling process by filling the sink with cold water and then placing the pot in it).
5. Add about 1/2 cup of already made yogurt. I typically use 1/2 cup from my last batch.
6. Pour into 2 quart jars and twist on a plastic lid.
7. Place in a warm water bath of 115-120 degrees for 2.5-6 or so hours. The longer you let it incubate, the firmer and more sour it will be. You can check the thickness by tilting the jar a bit.



The warm water bath can be in a cooler, or even in the same pot you heated the water in, as long as you add hot water during the incubation period or wrap the pot in a wool blanket. I was lucky enough to come across a foam insulation cube on a run through the neighborhood early in the school year, and it fits 2 quarts perfectly.
Check out the finished product!


It's simple, and saves a lot of money. Try it, and let me know if you have any questions!

Frozen

This past weekend, I ventured up north to Vermont with my parents. I was accepted to graduate school at the University of Vermont, and I wanted to visit before I made my final decision. As hard as it is, the decision is no. It's a great program, and it's hard to reject one program when I have not yet been accepted to another, but after a lot of prayer, careful consideration, and talking with others, this is not the best choice for me.

But, we had a great weekend together. Check out the newest Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Flavor: "Euphoric Martin". We also went on a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the woods and connected with friends and relatives.
Back at Messiah, the ice clings thickly to the branches of the trees. It is beautiful. A reminder of God's incredible creativity and artwork. I'm taking sculpture this semester, and I'm sure that I will never be able to create anything as incredible as he has. Beneath these frozen shimmering twigs there is life. A promise of springtime. During the season of waiting, both for spring, and for graduate school decisions, I remember to embrace the waiting. To savor each moment.
I do not claim to be an accomplished photographer, but the sheer beauty of the ice makes taking a nice photo pretty easy!