Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Subtle Changes

I opened the bottom drawer of my desk at work today and really looked at the two cans of Campbell's soup that have been sitting there for a year (yes, a year). I realized that not only did I no longer care to eat it, but I refuse to eat it.

I've become a bit of a "soup snob." Not that I make the best soup ever - - although my ham & bean with German dumplings ("kloo-ches") kicks butt - - but I know what I put in the soup. I don't know what Campbell's puts in theirs (although I have a hunch that the chickens come from some over-crowded and disgusting egg factory).

I really love milk. Growing up, we got our milk straight out of the "bulk tank." It was the best ever. However, I've recently slowed down on my milk consumption. I had a glass of milk with dinner tonight for the first time in about a month. I abhor how dairy cows, and the milk they produce, are treated. I dearly wish I could find some local raw milk. Not the "organic" milk from Hy-Vee, but "dunk the Tupperware container in the neighbor's bulk tank" milk. While I would love to have a cow like K&T, we're just not set up for it.

I won't buy chicken, beef, or pork from the grocery store unless I absolutely have to. My chicken and turkey comes from the neighbor down the road or Sugar Creek Farm. My beef comes from Sugar Creek Farm. And my pork comes from another neighbor down the road. Notice how I take ownership and pride when I say "my" chicken/beef/pork. It's because I'm connected to the families who grew my food.

I'm not pious by any means - - just more aware. I don't always make the best food choices and probably never will. But, little by little, I'm leaving less of a footprint on this earth. I'm trying to be a good steward of God's amazing planet, animals, and people.

Now, if I could just get my family to actually enjoy eating this:

2 comments:

sugarcreekfarm said...

So how do you fix steel cut oatmeal? I have a can of it in my cupboard that I've not been brave enough to try yet. I've heard that they require a long cooking time, so I've thought about trying them in the crockpt.

(And thanks for the shout out :)

Gracious Acres said...

I "brown" one cup of oats with a table spoon of melted butter in a saucepan. At the same time, I put some water in the teapot to boil. When the oats are nice & toasted, I pour four cups of the boiling water into the oats. Stir & simmer uncovered for 30 minutes (long enough to make a cup of coffee/tea/cocoa and read the paper or blogs). Makes approx 4 servings. It has the consistency of tapioca. Delicious with cream or half & half, brown sugar, and raisins.