If there is one comfort to a summer that passes too quickly, it is that the onset of Autumn brings with it an intense nesting instinct in me. Suddenly all the things that I couldn't be bothered with when the sun was shining and the gardens were growing become like long-lost friends with which I can't wait to get reacquainted.
My plans this year are perhaps my most ambitious. Without getting preachy I'll just say that I've learned a lot from reading books, researching, talking with friends and participating in a CSA. The knowledge I've gained demands that I be a better steward of the earth and its inhabitants, as well as my family's health. To that end I'm trying to eat more whole foods, and buy only things that are responsibly grown. I felt like I was doing a good job before, but I want to do more. I've been trying to figure out which staples/snacks in our house I can make from scratch without too much trouble, and thus remove us at least another step from the industrialized food chain. The list will only increase I'm sure, but so far I've been making or planning to make the following things and will post recipes when I am not just satisfied, but thrilled with the results:
Wheat bread for my kids' sandwiches
Artisan breads
Crackers for my husband's snacking
Hummus
Marinara sauce to stave off ordering pizza in a pinch
Various pastas
Bagels
Cheese
Pickles
It's so fun to realize how easy it is to make things that all my life have come in a box or jar or cellophane, and even the most pathetic effort generally bests the store bought version as is usually true with homemade things. Please feel free to share any tips, sites, or recipes that fit the bill!
VEW
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