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The Herb Puzzle

posted by Mom on 10/10/09

I am thankful that God gave us taste buds. I’m also glad He gave us good-tasting things to eat–and herbs can make them taste even better!

My family did not use herbs very much when I was a child, at home, so I’ve had to learn this art from talking with others through the years. Here are some of the questions I asked and the discoveries I made.

1. Do I have to use pork in my soup beans to make them taste good? After all, the less pork you eat the better.

2. What did you put in this stew? Mine always tastes so bland!

3. Can canned green beans taste good without adding oil or butter?

The answers, I’ve found, to each one of these questions involves using the right herbs and spices.

1) When Esther (now age 23) was three months old I found myself in the “nursing mothers’ lounge” in Knoxville while Don and I were attending the home school seminar. I asked one of the ladies, who was also there in the lounge, question number one, and this was her reply: “bay leaf”. She was right! After experimenting a bit, I discovered a very delicious recipe. This recipe is for one pound of dry beans (all kinds of dry beans will work).

Let beans soak overnight. Add one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of bouillon, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 cup of onion, and one clove of garlic (minced). Cook until desired softness. We have soft water so they are done after about `1 1/2 hours. Harder water will take 2 1/2 hours.

2) At a covered dish dinner, I tasted the best beef, potatoes, carrots, and onion I had ever eaten. I asked the one who brought it what herbs she used, and she said. “My brother actually made this, but I think he used ‘rosemary’.” What a revelation! After experimenting a bit, I came up with this recipe for two pounds of stew meat, two pounds of potatoes, one cup of onion, and three carrots. Add 1/2 teaspoon of rosemary (don’t overdo it–you can get too much!), one bay leaf, one clove of minced garlic, one teaspoon of bouillon, salt & pepper to taste.

3) This one is the best yet. Once, While waiting on our children, another mother and I were talking about menus. I asked her what she liked to fix, and she told me about adding Cajun spice to her green beans! After I warm up the can of beans, I pour off the water, sprinkle on the Cajun spice, stir it up, and serve. You will have to experiment to see how much you like. I use quite a bit. Cajun tastes great on beans fresh out of the garden too.

One more little tip. If you grow your own herbs, they will usually dry just fine if picked and left on the counter for a few days. Just put them in a glass jar and keep them all winter. I found this out after accidentally leaving some raspberry leaves (for tea) in the car one summer.

3 Comments » | posted in Recipes

Dangerous House Resolutions 875, 759, and 814

posted by Michael on 10/9/09

After reading HR 875, the “Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009“, I had to conclude that it fails to conform to the United States Constitution. Article IV of the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Furthermore, Article VIII says that “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed…” As George Washington said, “Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”

HR 875 is a new bill, now in committee, that would establish a “Food Safety Administration” headed by a “Food Safety Administrator”. The duties of the new Administrator would be to develop a “national food safety program” and ensure that anyone who produces, processes, or distributes food meet the responsibility to minimize food safety hazards – sec. 201 (a). Should that really be the responsibility of the Federal government?

The Administrator would be given control over “food production facilities”, defined as “any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation” – Sec. 3 (14). These terms themselves are not defined. Could Grandpa’s half dozen apple trees be called an orchard? Could a few rows of raspberries and a chicken pen and a few beehives be considered a farm? According to sec. 206, all such Food Production Facilities would be required to set practice standards according to government regulations, keep food safety records, and permit the government to visit and inspect the facility and view and copy records. Federal regulations would control growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water”. As of yet there is no exemption for any operation, no matter how small, even if the production is intended only for family use. Do we want the Federal government telling us what we are allowed to grow and how we are allowed to grow it, harvest it, and store it? These are not just recommendations either, but full-blown regulations enforced by the Administrator.

A violation of any regulation, no matter how small, could result in fines of up to a million dollars, and there is no mention of any consequence to the Administrator if the fines are excessive.

This bill seems like a free ticket to tyranny. What is there to hold the Administrator in check from extreme decisions? In addition, the ability to “establish interim performance standards” for newly identified contaminants” could too easily be misused in the event of a “big scare”. Furthermore what would prevent big GMO and pharmaceutical companies that are already trying to dominate science and industry from dominating and influencing the Administration’s “advisory committees” that develop recommendations for performance standards and inspections? – sec. 103 (d).

Other writers report that HR 759 (“Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009″) and HR 814 (“TRACE Act of 2009″) are even worse, and more likely to be considered by congress. Food safety is important, but most of this regulation at the Federal level simply isn’t needed. States are more qualified to supervise mass food production and more likely to represent their constituency. At the lowest and safest level, where local produces sell seasonal products directly to consumers, the best and most efficient regulation comes from intelligent, informed customers and neighbors. The Federal government does have a role in food safety, especially over imports, but not in the backyard of small or private businesses. Why assume that the American people are so untrustworthy and careless that they need such regulation? Aren’t people naturally drawn to responsible, sanitary facilities? Cannot a mother find the cleanest place to buy food for her family? Food is power. If the Federal government can control the food you eat they have absolute control over you. I would encourage anyone who reads this post to track these bills, watch for amendments, and of course contact your representatives and let them know that you would like them to represent you by opposing HR 759, HR 875, and HR 814.

7 Comments » | posted in Politics, Possessing the Land

Birding Buffalo Calf

posted by Donald on 10/7/09

Over the past few weeks my Scripture memory has centered around Matthew 6:33, using the birds and the lilies as examples of God’s care for his creation and, much more, for us. Then came an opportunity one morning to “behold the fowls of the air” in our own yard. As busy as ever it took a good deal of twittering to get my attention. Two groups of birds, passing through the woods, merged for a brief time and created a birder’s paradise. It reminded me of mornings in Manassas where a good birding day was hard not to notice from our second-story kitchen window. If you’re a birder too you’ll know what I mean when I say that some days are just better than others. I hadn’t been birding in the fall often however and for warblers it can be a difficult time for identification. Nonetheless there was one new identification: the famous Blackburnian Warbler. Probably a male, it appeared as the female in the picture above, due to the season. Then today, not far from the porch, came the sighting of Chipping Sparrows, back to West Virginia wintering grounds. They didn’t mind the cold a bit. Though more common than the warbler, it made for quite an encouraging sight and I’m thinking I’ll have to keep on the alert this autumn more than I have before.