Apple Goodness

I was searching for some apple recipes to try out. Since I found what looks to be a couple of really good ones, I thought I would share. I think the apples I have will be put to the dehydrator though, I will be heading to my favorite orchard in the next few days to get fresh ones to use in one or more of these!

Shared at:

Yart

Lots to Talk about

With the way things went this summer Grim and I have decided to get the basement walls fixed up. Then we will fix all possible entry ways into the yard to keep out the damn r*ts. That way I will rebuild the garden to something that works better for us. When we built the garden 3 years ago, I went off of what I thought would work. And it did work, but it didn’t really suit our needs. I had the 12 4x4 raised beds. This time we are going to build 1 24x6 raised bed in. I will also be able to add the the drip irrigation. Cutting the grass will be so much easier…. or I might just build a walk way all the way around and not have to worry about it at all.

All of the herbs died, as did all the blueberry bushes. My mint and chives have held their own. The lavender should be ready to start harvesting next year. The grapes grew this year but not one grape did we get to eat. They never turned to purple. And yes, I did buy purple grapes, Grim asked the same question. Maybe it is still to early. I will be looking for borage to plant for next year…. so if anyone has any seeds that they would like to part with please let me know.

I am working with a lion brand yarn right now to make Teenage monster a scarf to match her varsity jacket. Once I am done making it I am going to get more of this wool and make hot pads. It is the thickest, softest yarn ever. The color is Claret, it is a deep wine color and her jacket is a burgundy. They seem to go good together. I may never have to make more hot pads once these are finished.  LOL! I also need to get my butt in gear. I bought yarn last year to make a crocheted blanket and haven’t done it yet. Good thing fall is on its way.

Well, since it seems Picky monster has hidden my sugar I have to wait till they get home from school to make the raspberry jam. I need to get that done tonight so that the berries don’t go bad on me. This is the first time in years I have picked fall raspberries. I think I like them better then summer ones. But then again next year I could have a change of heart… LOL! Yep, you guessed it I’m fickle! I also need to get the rest of the pears cooked down and started on the apples. I think that pears and apples will be waiting until tomorrow though.

Today ended up being a run around type of day. Took the monsters to school, then had to pick my mom up at the shop and take her home. Then had to take Grim’s car into the shop…. brand new and one of the pieces of trim fell off. I also had to go to the post office because my mailman was late getting here Friday and then when I went Saturday they were already closed. But I have my package and I have already started on my “Introduction to Natural Wellness” course. I think I will be done sometime in November. I have read the first unit, but I need to go back and take notes and flash cards. The test for unit one seems very straight forward.

Yart

First day of School

Well, the monsters have all been dropped off at the proper location. I was suppose to go to the gym today, but I just don’t feel it. As much as I love the thought of getting my days back, I hate school. I miss my monsters terribly. Grim is on a permanent job for the next 3 weeks, which means he has a set schedule. It makes going back to school easier when everyone is on a schedule. Today is a half day. After I pick them up I need to take Teenage monster looking for a Home coming dress. I really hope we can find one quick. Neither one of us enjoys shopping. So as soon as she finds the dress there will be no having to keep looking just in case. Yeah!

Now all the tomatoes are done. It is time to move on to other foods. I have a large stock pot full of pears that I really need to put into the juicer. But I think that is going to have to wait until the monsters are in school all day tomorrow. Just so I have time to get it all done. After I juice them I will run the mess through the pureer. With what is left I will make pear butter. Oh, I can’t wait. I only got a few pears last year, but I decided that pear butter was nectar from the gods… LOL! So I really need to make more of it this year. I still might make it out to get raspberries. I don’t know… the weather has turned cold. I know it would be the perfect time to pick.  Just being lazy, I probably will get down there tomorrow. I think a magic fairy is going to bring me a bushel or two of apples. I have to pay for them but I don’t have to go and get them. LOL! Plus, they are cheaper then the ones around here. If that is the case then I will be making apple sauce later in the week. The monsters just love it. So why not have it on hand.

I have a couple of tomatoes that I was able to salvage from the garden. Mr. stripy, purple Cherokee, and a couple of the Italian paste. Now that they are ripe, I need to gut them and get the seeds ready to save. So then next year I will have my own seeds and hopefully, won’t have to buy any starts.

Oh, I almost for got I have some links to share.

How to make Yo-Yo napkin rings

Homemade corn syrup

Homemade girl scout cookies

Pastitsio

Free E-course for Cooking Traditional Foods

I signed up for this, this morning. I looks like it will be full of great information. And as I learn new things I will pass on some of the knowledge. Or at least the links…

I am still waiting on some things to get here in the mail. The first is the vintage remedies beginners kit. I got that one first to see if doing herbal things suits me. I would like to think that it would fit very well into the sustainable lifestyle. But I don’t know if I have what it takes. The next  package is my wool csa. I am so looking forward to finishing the project that I started with the first skein. I’m not sure if it is a scarf or a runner. I guess once I get more wool, plus this is my first pattern. I came up with it all on my own….

Yart

The apples they hate me

I didn't get to the apples on Monday like I said I would. Some other more pressing stuff happened. But I did get up early on Tuesday and got started on them. I heated up the sauce and started the water. Got everything ready for the first 7 quarts. Got them into the water. I get 3 jars in and I hear a pop. I look and don't see anything floating. I add 2 more jars and I hear another pop. Now I start lifting the jars to see what is going on. You guessed it 2 of the jars lost their bottoms. So the water is all yucky with apple sauce but I went on to can up 10 1/2 quarts of sauce. They are sitting on the counter waiting to be washed and put in the basement.  I think more went into the garbage then I canned up this year. Recap: a whole crook pot of apple butter and the 2 quarts of sauce. I think it bothers me so much because I had to do it by hand. I cored and cooked then put through the hand cranked food mill (last year doing that). Lots of hard work wasted. But enough of that. I was able to get a ton of apple pie filling and jars of sauce. I guess that is what I need to focus on.

Picky monster comes home from school yesterday and tells me that before the science test the teacher called some of the s.ed kids to leave the room to get the test read to them. Picky was not one of those kids. But she was given a s.ed test. She is dyslexic. She can do it, it just takes forever. So I called the school and of course school had only been out for 20 minutes but there was no one to answer the phone. I leave a message and they call back this morning. And of course I have the wrong teacher....... I get transferred to the right person and I explain the issue. She tells me that it will be taken care of. She also tells me that Picky is due for her 3 year testing. She says that she feels that the testing is a waste right now, as Picky is still benefiting from the program. I tell her I agree because if Picky were to be tested right now and hit the borderline then she would be pulled out of s.ed and put in general education. Right now she is at a 5th grade level in 8th grade. She would never be able to keep up. Grim and I talked about it and we agree that if that were to be the case then I would be pulling her and mouthy out and homeschooling them. Picky so that she didn't feel behind and mouthy just because she couldn't stand letting her sister be home all day everyday while she had to deal with her arch nemesis.... LOL! Long story, one day I'll write about that.

Today has not been the greatest of days. We dropped off forms to be filled out by Grims doctor's office. We even have to pay $10 for each form. And this is a regular occurrence, each appointment we have forms. Each time we seem to have problems getting them filled out. We went in last Friday to see if they were ready. I was told that they took 7-10 days and it was only the 7th day. So today is the 10th day. I called about an hour and half ago. They can't find the forms.... Go figure! I already paid for them to be filled out and I told them that if the one form isn't filled out my husbands job is going to fire him. Which is the god's honest truth. They now after 6 months of me sending them everything they required are threatening us with if the forms aren't received by October 6th my husband will be terminated. Even though they have a note from the doctor that Grim will have surgery on October 11th. AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Is it really to much to ask that people do the job they are paid to do?!? So here I sit waiting for the doctor's office to call me back. I'm only going to give them another hour then I'm heading up to the office. Cause I think it is one of the out of sight out of mind things!

Gotta Run,

Yart

Yeasty kind of day

The weather has finally changed to all its fall splendor. It is very cool, rainy and gray! So what's a gal to do, make bread of course. I have enough dough rising for 2 very loverly loaves of french bread. This is our favorite bread recipe. It has a chewy crust and soft inside. The butter just fills the bubbles.... Yes, I'm making myself hungry. That is what happens when I skip breakfast. So that will be done in a couple of hours.

Grim is getting all the stuff ready for us to bottle the Skull Splitter beer. It would have been done but this beer needed to be secondary fermented. Lots of fancy talk for, we need to wait longer... LOL! We did get the Scottish Ale bottled yesterday. Both beers will be ready for the holiday season. I have a nut brown that I have been waiting to try once the weather changed. With a nut brown you need a hearty meal for it to go with. It isn't your run of the mill hamburger beer. One of these days I will document the beer experience.

I even got some more of the apples done. Only half ~ of a half bushel. I got 11 jars of apple pie filling. One of the jars in first canner load popped its top. The lid and the ring came off. So I really only got 10 quarts to put on the shelf. I was so pissed. I understand when a jar breaks, but for the lid and ring to come off..... Ok, I'm done, plus it's not like I don't still have a ton of apples to process. I think I will make one more batch of pie filling and then I will use up the apples with carmel apple butter. It was a huge hit last year. And I'm already getting requests for more this year!!!

I need to go get more dishes done. Wash all the pie filling jars, cause they are sticky. And I need to label all of the carrots... No still haven't gotten them in the basement.... I know bad canner.... LOL!

Gotta Run,

Yart

I survived

(image from photobucket)

All of the corn is done for this year. I got a total of 41 quarts done. I know I said that the next big venture would be the carrots and potatoes, maybe beans. But I lied! There I said it I lied. More people should be honest like me... LOL! Instead of these staples that really are needed I went and got 2, let me say that again two bushels of McIntosh apples. They were only $15.50 for seconds per bushel. See why I couldn't pass them by. Oh, the wonderful goodies that I will make with these slightly imperfect gems! Ah, almost sets my heart to swoon! While I was at the orchard I also picked up a bottle of homemade Blackberry Vinegar. It sure sounds yummy, I just don't know what to do with it.

I will be going later this week to get the above mentioned items. That way maybe I can be done canning produce before the end of September. I really need to do that, as I still have to clean out the freezers. I went to start to do that today. But like the best laid plans, something else came up. We as a family cleaned out and up the entire basement. It only took a couple hours but really needed to be done before winter sets in for the long haul. See I have terrible allergies with dust and mold. Both of which are very present in the basement. I even had a mini asthma attack. It took awhile for the coughing and wheezing to stop. All better now and I can breath in the basement now... Yeah!

We took the monsters to the zoo on Sunday. We got a membership a couple of months ago but this is the first time this year we have had a chance to take the girls. They had a ton of fun. There is a whole new kids exibit that they get to do hands on things and a huge play area. Plus, the zoo is also implementing a lot of eco-inovations. The 2 press flush, the air driers in the bathrooms, LED lighting, solar and wind power. It was fasinating for the kids to see these things first hand. And of course there were several baby animals that they abosolutely loved. I had a great time in the garden section seeing how they had planted and what was growing. Of course I forgot my camera. Isn't it always the way, though.

The monsters are all having night before school starts jitters. The older two are both going to new schools and the little one doesn't want to leave me. I guess she just had to much fun at home with me this summer. All the clothes are laid out and showers were taken. Bangs were cut and backpacks packed. New school year here they come for better or worse only 9 months / 40 weeks, the countdown begins! And after the littlest one is safe and sound in class I will cry all the way home. I hate school!

Band monster hits me up today with I really want to go to homecoming. So she is going to ask her best guy friend if he wants to go with her as a friend. I think he will say yes. That means that we need to get our butts moving and get out and get her a dress and shoes. There are several places around here to look, hopefully, we can find something. My sewing skills are not that good and she is almost 6 foot tall so I can't just go to the thrift store to find the dress. That's ok, she is my baby and we will do what we have to.

Here I go again just rattleing about everything and nothing.

Gotta Run,

Yart

Pajama Day

Even though Marching season is winding down, with only one more competition left in the regular season. We are still doing Jammie day on Sundays! I think that this is going to be a tradition from now on. The kids really seem to enjoy it and I love not having to do anything. Come summer we will be back into the swing but for now I am enjoying this! By the way we are in 5th place in our flight! If nothing changes we will be going to State Finals!

The monsters and I just finished watching Van Helsing!

It is listed as PG13 movie so it safe for my monsters to watch! Plus, Hugh Jackman is just way to hot in all that leather.... sorry *running for a cool drink* LOL!

Oh, I forgot to tell you, I got all the rest of the apples done the other day. I had 8 quarts but 1 broke in the canner. Boy, was I upset!!! All that work just to have some of it go to waste. Still have to make the sauerkraut. Yes, if you haven't noticed I do procrastinate. But surprisingly, once I see that I've written it here a few times I really do get moving on it.

I just saw a trailer for a new movie coming out.... Old Dogs
Here is the trailer!

And here is another one

I wish I could have put them on here. But they are Disney, so you have to go to You tube.

Apples almost done! 2 of 2

Well, the last of the apples are cooking down right now. Yeah! Tomorrow they will be made into carmel apple butter. Then if I get the chance I will be getting a 1/2 bushel of Jonathon's. But then again I might be sick of apples by then.. LOL! Tomorrow I also plan on working on more sauerkraut. I got 4 really big heads for $2 at the farm market the other day. This batch should turn out as the basement is now on the cool side. I also need to move the pie pumpkins down so that they don't spoil. Oh, that reminds me, I have to find out what to do with the hubbard squash?!?

Grim and I got out to the garden today. We pulled all of the plants and cover all the beds with hay. Where the corn was planted, Grim layered in grass clippings before we put down the hay. The only thing out there right now is the strawberries, garlic and a couple of onions that I left in the ground. So we will have to wait for spring to see what if any of it survives. Then we took all of the garden waste to the recycling center. I didn't feel right about composting it as it had blight.

I used a muffin tin to make brownies, tonight. It turned out to be the best brownies ever. They were even and no cutting sticky misshaped pieces to deal with. For dinner we had hot dogs, leftover chili and baked potatoes. Every one is stuffed. Only a couple hot dogs left and no chili. I like when I really don't have to cook, but no food was wasted! Now the only thing that remains in the fridge to eat up is a few pieces of pizza from the other night. That should be gone for Lunch tomorrow!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Friday

Woo Hoo! No football game tonight. The monsters are just going to grama's for a visit and Grim and I will be heading down to our hometowns monthly walk. They have been trying to increase foot traffic in the city and they came up with this. The town museum is all done up for Halloween. It is fun every year.

Grim and I went to the farm market for the last time yesterday. I got a ton of squash, 100 pounds of potatoes, 50 pounds of onions, 50 pounds of carrots and a bunch of pumpkin's for the monsters. They were only $1.50 per carving pumpkin. Not bad the monsters were a little upset but they each got 2 to carve up so that made up for it. I also got 8 pie pumpkins. Oh, and a ton of green peppers and a hubbard squash made there way into the cart. I processed the green peppers and got 8 quart bags of chopped and sliced peppers for the winter.

I also got started on making the apple pie filling. Only problem was the apples that I got for that are more suited for sauce of some type. I didn't know this when I bought them, went off the recommendation of the salespeople. Not to fear. I cooked down some last night and the rest will go tomorrow. I will be making carmel apple butter. Haven't tried the recipe but it sounds so good. If it is I will post the recipe for everyone.

I will have pictures later to make up for the lack of a post yesterday, later!

Gotta Run,
Yart

Tuesday Ramblings

With yesterday being Thanksgiving in Canada, that meant my mom was home from work. One of her friends came over and they went shopping for the day. They were nice enough to call me to go to lunch with them. Nothing fancy just Big Boys. The food was alright, but the company was fantastic. I love this friend of my mom's, she is always ready for a good laugh.

I tried to get the sauerkraut canned up yesterday. Needless to say, it didn't go well. I made it way to early and it went bad. So now I need to go and get more cabbage. I am fine with that. I only spent a dollar on the cabbage last time. And it was a learning experience. Don't make sauerkraut until the first frost. Not because it changes the cabbage but the area that it will ferment will be cooler. So now I just have the apples, zucchini and 2 acorn squash to process. Then I can decide if I want to get carrots to put up and if I want some more apples to make an apple liquor. And anything else that might catch my fancy at the farm market. LOL! I know, I'm terrible. I look forward to canning and then I complain and then I look for more things to do so it doesn't end.

I have a pot of chili simmering on the stove as I type. I made it a little different this time. I did a quick soak with the beans, I like this method way better. And I didn't add as much liquid. Have to wait and see if they like the thicker chili?!? It is 48* outside right now. So I wanted to have something warm in my belly tonight. We will have corn bread muffins to go with the chili. I had to dig around in the cupboard to find these mixes. Need to add it to the grocery list to get more.

Tomorrow will be bread day. This will be the first time in months that I have made bread. I am dreading it. Once I get started with it again it will be like a long lost friend. But it is just the thought of all that work. LOL! I'm already thinking of the cinnamon bread I could make or the banana bread, ohhhhh the muffins and cupcakes. Like I said terrible.

Mom and I took the monsters down to one of the orchards over the weekend. That's where I got the Jonathon apples from. While we were there they were making apple butter in a cauldron over an open fire. The woman had a great big huge paddle that she had to use to constantly stir the apple butter so that it wouldn't burn. I am so happy that the crockpot was invented, among other appliances of convenience. I can see myself outside all day stirring apple butter or anything else for that matter. But then again if I had to do that then maybe I wouldn't have to clean the bathroom or some other dreaded chore.....hmmmmm!
Since I still don't have batteries for the camera and I'm tired of the crappy camera phone pictures I found a graphic to represent the woman and the apple butter.

Picture Post 1 of 2

Here are the apples I have been talking about. I still had 1/2 bushel of McIntosh and that wasn't enough for me so I bought 1/2 bushel of Jonathan's.



And here are some of the jars done up into applesauce!


When it is all said and done, there will be 18 quart jars of applesauce 6 with cinnamon and 12 plain for cooking. I still need to get the wolf creek apples made into apple pie filling. Now that I got this done I feel like I can take on the world.

I turned the heat on this morning. 38' was definitely cold enough for me. I have it set at 56', and that is just if we need it. I was really hoping not to have to turn the heat on for until after Halloween. But it is just to cold for that. Plus, with me just getting over whatever the hell it is. I will only turn the heat up to 62' in the dead of winter. I need to check into what we can do to help heat the house with some type of passive system. A wood stove would be lovely. But I don't know if that is a good investment for this house. Something to think about over the winter.

Busy Weekend

I got a bushel of beefsteak and 1/2 a bushel of banana peppers. I went to a u pick that I didn't know was there until the other night. Good prices too. I got the peppers done 15 pints. I also purchased a 1/2 bushel of roma's at a farm stand. They were made into 20 - 1/2 pints of pizza sauce and I got 4 quarts of italian liquid canned up as well. I got through the first half of the McIntosh apples. 6 quarts of cinnamon applesauce are cooling as I type.The peels and cores from the apples were cooked down with water and then drained in cheesecloth. I don't know what to do with the liquid but the internet will help with that. Also got 2 acorn squash baked and frozen. Still have 2 more to do. Over the next week, on the agenda is, spaghetti sauce from the beefsteak tomatoes, apple pie filling, carmel apple butter, and plain applesauce. The 2 jumbo zucchini still need to be shredded and the sauerkraut still needs to be put in jars and processed.

I also snuck a peek at the garden today. I think that it really needs to be put to bed this week. I have a bag of grass clippings that needs to be placed in there and I'm sure the grass needs to be cut one more time before the snow flies.

I have been working on a knitted pair of slippers. The first yarn that I bought sucked. So I went to the yarn store in town and bought the most delightful yarn. Of course I can't remember and it's upstairs. I am 1/2 way done with the first slipper. DH picked out a color so that I can make him a pair too. I like being able to make wearables. I have come to a conclusion. I need to sell my afghans. I will be setting up an etsy account. Once I do I will post here if anyone is interested.
Tons to do.

Gotta Run,
Yart

Depre4ssion era living./ DLamb

I borrowed this from Heart for Homesteading Yahoo email group. Thanks Rusty for posting this! I thought that this article had some really great information in it, so I wanted to share.

This information though it came through an email was originially the work of Charlotte at Frugal and Healthy Eating. Thank you Charlotte for allowing me to use your work.... And for anyone else who might be interested in more from Charlotte you can go here to her website.

In the depression, it was common to eat meat no more than once a week, if at all. Some of the kind of meals you might expect were: bread and baked beans, bread and gravy, breaded tomatoes (garden tomato sauce on bread - sugar and butter can be added), buttered noodles, cornbread in buttermilk, creamed eggs on toast, dropped dumplings in broth, fried cornmeal mush (ash cakes), fried egg sandwich (mayo optional), fried egg with a slice of onion, fried eggs on toast, gnocci (pasta made with flour and mashed potatoes), ketchup on egg sandwich, noodles and tomatoes (onions optional), pasta and bean soup (pasta y fagioli, pronounced pasta fazool), potatoes and gravy, potatoes fried in bacon fat, raw onion sandwich [marinated onions recipe below], sauerkraut and boiled potatoes, scrambled egg with potato and onion [recipe below], sour milk pancakes (raw milk sours and does not go bad like pasteurized milk), spaghetti and tomatoes, spaghetti and sauerkraut (depression era spaghetti -- recipe below), tomatoes and onions on toast, tomato sandwiches and tomato and cheese sandwich.

Obviously, different combinations of inexpensive eggs, flour, potatoes, onions, cabbage, beans, corn made up a lot of your diet. You got tomatoes if you grew them in your garden. Rice wasn't popular during the last American Depression, but I think it should be more popular during the next now that there is more US-grown rice available.

If you were lucky, you got meat once a week, usually on Sunday. The menu could be something like:

Fried chicken or bacon, blackeyed pea soup, mashed potatoes and gravy, parsnips. Dessert: bread pudding with cream

The Irish dinner of corned beef, potatoes, cabbage and carrots would also fit in well, but make the cabbage sauerkraut rather than eating it boiled. No mention is made of the traditional cheap dessert, but peach cobbler would be a good choice.

Restaurant meal for the price of a cup of coffee:

Order a cup of coffee, extra light, and a cup of hot water (which should be free). Put ketchup in the hot water to make "tomato soup", and then crumble saltine/crackers into it (assuming restaurant has cracker packets at the counter). Salt and pepper to taste.

Breakfast:

Tear up a slice of bread in a bowl, add sugar and milk.

Comments:

Raw milk
Many depression-era families had access to raw milk from a goat or cow-owner in walking distance who would sell excess milk from the cow inexpensively Many families owned the goat or cow themselves.

Pickles and sour cream
All these carb-heavy menus would be greatly enhanced nutritionally if a raw, lacto-fermented pickle or sauerkraut were added to them. Cucumber and apples can be made into a pickle easily, either sweet or salty.[recipe below] and are inexpensive. All these meals would be better with "a raw, lacto-fermented pickle or pickled fruit or veg and some raw, cultured or clabbered milk or cream."* added to them. (*raw sauerkraut and yogurt basically, but there are many variations once you learn how to make pickles/sauerkraut and culture dairy)

Other sources of food
Many families grew tomatoes, probably because they preserve so well which can then be stored through the winter.

Beans were bought in large quantity (25-50 pounds) from a dry goods store, white flour was bought in 50-pound sacks. White flour doesn't need refrigeration like whole grain flour, can be kept in a cool storage area. That much whole grain flour would have to be kept in the freezer. Whole grains can be kept in a cool storage area if you have a way to mill them into flour when you are ready to use the flour.

Rice was not popular during the last depression but it would make a good addition to the list.

Bad as this diet may sound to people used to meat every day, studies have shown that children fed a depression-era diet were healthier than children fed a modern diet high in processed foods, and many children who were fed these depression-era diets loved them, and grew to have fond food memories when they became prosperous, often having a favorite comfort food being a food from their impoverished past.

The best foods to grow for a depression are tomatoes, cabbages and onions. Buy beans and rice at a dry-goods store, and milk from the nearest cow or goat.

Bacon should not have nitrates in it. If you butcher the pig, have the butcher cut the bacon area of the pig into chunks, it is not necessary to have bacon long and thinly sliced. If you buy bacon from a farm or butcher, be sure to include all the fat and any surrounding areas meat that is otherwise less expensive.

What to expect

If you are a woman with children, you will most likely be living in a house -- someone will take you in -- but it may be as a charity case and you will be expected to appreciate it and contribute to the running of the house.

If you are a man with a family to support, you will be more likely to keep your job, but you will be paid less money.

If you are a single able-bodied man, you may be living in a tent city. You won't do much of your own cooking beyond coffee on a communal campfire, but will get most of your food from the community your tent city is in. There will almost always be a campfire going. If it gets really cold, you'll go sleep in a shelter. At that shelter, if you want coffee and doughnuts in the morning, you'll either have to do some work beforehand like chopping wood or you'll have to listen to a religious-oriented lecture while you get your coffee and doughnuts.

If you live in a house, you will have to provide occasional meals to hungry beggars. Since you're going to have to do it anyway, you may as well believe you're doing it out of christian charity rather than for fear of an unfortunate accident to your property. When your children are old, they'll fondly reminisce how "Mom could never turn away someone hungry."

Hopefully, you have a home and can save your mortgage, but, if worse comes to worst, here are some options to consider.

You can live in a car, so if you have neither job nor income and are running out of money, consider spending the last of dwindling resources to invest in a car. If you get a van or a vehicle that can accomodate a porta-potty, you can "boondock" or camp on any nice-looking land you find and consider your time of homeless destitution as part of an extended vacation. If you can afford to drive it south for the winter, that would be a plus.

Hooverville

In the first Depression, shanty towns were built with tin and wood. Because of the prevalence of old cars, it is likely the next Hoovervilles will inlude a lot of car living. Blue tarps can be spread over a couple cars to make a home plus sheltered area. Lots of blankets or sleeping bags in your car will help keep you warm through all but the coldest (below freezing) temperatures.

Depression era grocery list:
Buy in large quantity:
flour, beans, rice, sugar, cornmeal, potatoes, sea salt
Grow in garden/front lawn:
tomatoes, cabbages, onions
Get from a farmer:
Raw milk and cream, (make your own butter from the cream.), bacon or pork with fat (fatback/back fat), eggs, soup bones

Whole grain/brown flour/rice or white?
The human digestive system needs fiber to move food along. The best source for that tiber is the carcasses of the bacteria and microbial symbionts that digest the food, making its nutrients available to us. The second best source is plant fiber, whole grain flour and brown rice. If you have a superlative digestive system (unlikely in anyone growing up on a modern diet), you could get away with white grains. If not, it is probably better to stick to whole grains. There are some anti-nutrients in the fiber areas of the grains, so whole grain foods should always be soaked overnight before consuming. If pre-soaking is not possible due to the particular recipe involved, then unbleached white is better.

Healthy Depression-Era Style Recipes and Menus

Apple Pickles
Peel apples. Throw away peels and continue peeling apple with potato peeler into thin slices. Put in a glass jar. Add whey from a cultured dairy or liquid from a batch of sauerkraut or previous batch of apple pickles. Add brine to cover (salt water with a ratio of 1 pint water to 1 teaspoon sea salt or other full array salt). Put water into a plastic baggie. Tie or knot baggie so water doesn't leak. Put on top of apple slices to hold apples under water (or see sauerkraut to see how to use leaves to hold fermenting vegetables under water.) Cover with a piece of plastic secured with a rubber band and leave overnight at room temperature (that's about as "instant" as you can get with raw, lacto-fermented food.) In the morning, eat the apples, drink the liquid and reserve about a quarter cup of the liquid as your starter for the next batch. You can also peel and thin slice cucumbers or any other soft fruit or vegetable that you could eat raw and add them to the apples. Eat some apple pickles with every meal until your sauerkraut is ready to be eaten with every meal.

Apple cider vinegar
Peel, chop and core the apples. Put in blender with water and blend on high Strain through a flannel jelly bag and save the juice. Add a few raisins to the apple juice, cover with an airlock and allow to ferment. When the juice has become an alcoholic/hard cider, put a mother of vinegar or a mother of kombucha matrix into it. Cover with a cloth to keep out insects, and then let it set at room temperature for a couple weeks.

Ash Cakes or Fried cornmeal mush
Mix 1/2 cup of cornmeal and 1 cup of bone broth or water in a glass or ceramic bowl and let set over night. Pat into a bread loaf pan and refrigerate. To cook, slice and fry in bacon grease. Instant cornmeal mush: mix cornmeal and boiling water half and half, shape into patty and fry in fat.

Baked beans
Soak beans for at least 24 hours in water with lemon juice, vinegar or whey added. Drain, rinse and drain again. Put in slow cooker, cover with bone broth and simmer at low temperature for a day or until beans are soft. Add extra bone broth if needed to keep beans under liquid. When beans are soft, add some tomatoes or tomato sauce, onions and garlic cloves fried in lard, sea salt, pepper, a little molasses and some cooked bacon or pork with fat on. Continue to simmer on low heat for another day or until all ingredients have blended together.

Baked onions
Hollow out some onions and fill with sugar or honey. Bake at medium-low temperature until soft.

Broiled tomato and cheese sandwiches
Put a slice of tomato and a slice of cheese under the broiler until the cheese is melted.

Chicken and dumplings
Get an old chicken that would be too dry and tough for a roast, put in a pot of water, bring to a boil and then simmer until cooked. Remove chicken and set aside. Make dumplings and drop into simmering water, cook for about 15 minutes. Remove dumplings, add more dough and repeat until you have as many dumplings for however many people you are feeding. Meanwhile, remove the meat from the chicken, set aside skin and bones. When all dumplings have been cooked, return to pot with chicken meat. Use skin and bones to make more broth for more dumplings during the week, or make into biscuits and gravy Dumplings: 1 cup flour, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp cream of tartar, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons melted butter, 1/4 cup milk. Mix until smooth and drop by tablespoonfuls in broth. Cook 15 minutes, covered. Do not lift lid while cooking. Other birds or fowl may be used.

Creamed Eggs on Toast
Take 1 tablespoon butter, lard or tallow, 1 1/2 tablespoons flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 cup milk. Melt butter in baked enamel or cast iron saucepan over low heat. Add flour and salt, stirring constantly until smooth and frothy. Cook about 2 minutes stirring often to prevent browning. Gradually stir in milk. Increase heat to medium and simmer, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth, thick and boiling. Shell and slice 4 hard-boiled eggs. Gently stir into cream mixture and spoon of 4 slices of toast.

Creamed Peas on Toast
Make a white sauce (see cream/white sauce below). Add a cup of peas and cook over medium heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour over toast.

Depression Era Spaghetti:
Boil a pound of spaghetti. Add cabbage slaw or drained sauerkraut when nearly done. Continue cooking until cabbage slaw is done to your taste if that is what you used. Drain and add some chopped chicken and butter. Stir and add some cheese. (If using raw sauerkraut, drain boiled spaghetti and add sauerkraut, chicken and butter. No need to cook further except to heat.)

Marinated Onions
Thinly slice 2 onions and separate into rings. Mix the following ingredients (amounts can be varied according to taste): 1 ounce of extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup raw apple cider vinegar or extra sour kombucha, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon sea salt or other full-array salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives, 1 garlic clove, chopped and crushed.(Hot pepper optional.) Put all in a glass jar with a cover and store in refrigerator for at least 1 day. Liquid can be re-used to marinate more onions.

Scrambled eggs with fried potatoes and onions
Slice potatoes and fry in hot lard in a baked enamel or cast iron skillet. Add onions and continue cooking until both potatoes and onions are cooked. Scramble some eggs (you can add pieces of bread to the egg if you want), then add to the potato mix and fry until eggs are cooked.

Cream/white sauce. To make a creamed anything:
Take 2 tablespoons butter, lard or tallow, 3 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 cups milk. Melt butter in baked enamel saucepan over low heat. Add flour and salt, stirring constantly until smooth and frothy. Cook about 3 minutes stirring often to prevent browning. Gradually stir in milk. Increase heat to medium and simmer, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth, thick and boiling.

Fried egg sandwich
Fry an egg in lard, bacon grease or other animal fat. Place on bread. Add salt and pepper. Mayonnaise optional.