Why is it these days that we would rather wait 30 minutes in a restaurant for a frozen and reheated meal, than to stand in our kitchens and prepare a wholesome meal for our families? Why is it that no one enjoys to cook these days? Why is it that obesity is such a problem? Hmmmmmm….I don’t think that it’s that hard to figure out if you just look to the past for a little information. I read once in a magazine “If your grandmother didn’t eat it, than you shouldn’t eat it.” There was an accompanying picture of an old cartoon granny holding a limp tube of yogurt product. It totally makes sense. Back then, people didn’t have food products to eat, they had food, that they grew and cooked themselves. Was obesity or diabetes a problem? No. Nowadays, corporations have taken over our food suppy and stuff all sorts of food science in a box for you to consume at the dinner table. What’s in it you say? Try to pronounce it, can’t? Than throw it away. I’m posting a few easy recipes that I want you to try, Whole whet tortillas, which I’ve put up before and a vegan carrot cake, that is too delicious for words. I hope you give them a shot.

Whole Wheat Tortillas
2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup-3/4 cup warm water

Combine dry ingredients, add oil and stir. Add water 1tbsp at a time until dough can be gathered into a ball. Knead dough 15-20 times on a floured surface, then let rest for 15 minutes. divide into 10-15 smll balls, roll out into circles. Cook on an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat. Cook 30 seconds per side.

Vegan Carrot Cake
2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 bananas
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup oil
2 grated carrots
1 can crushed pineapple
1 cup shredded coconut
rasins or nuts

mix everything together (dry ingredients first), bake @ 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

Frosting
(You can use regular cream cheese if you wish)
1 pkg. vegan cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup soy margarine
3/4-1 cup powdered sugar

Beat together, and frost the cake.

We received a new rooster today via the Lamascus-Emerson crew.  He seems nice.  We named him Stuart.  He’s gold and quite large.  Perry was a bantam variety and a whole different shape in general.  When Stuart crows, he sounds like he’s saying “coc-a-doodole-doo” which is quite amusing.  It’s just weird to have another man around.

Paul and I told Oliver about the rooster’s demise today.  Last night I was worried about telling him the truth, because he’s such a sensitive soul, but we came clean and told him.  As expected, he didn’t take it so well and couldn’t understand why a dog would come and do that.  It was three dogs, and we told him that Perry did the best he could to protect his ladies.  Oliver cried about it for about a half an hour and then decided he needed to talk it out.  So we spent a while talking about death and how it’s a part of life.  We left Perry under the tree all day today, he’s still there now as a matter of fact, I don’t know what we’re waiting for….but, yeah.  After a while, Oliver wanted to go outside and see Perry.  So we held hands and I walked him out there to take a peek.  He was quiet and gave him a good look.  I asked him if he wanted to say anything to Perry and he declined.  We went back inside.  After another chunk of time passing, Oliver got a little chocked up and said “now the chickens won’t have anyone to protect them!”  He’s such a thoughtful young man.

There are a few of you out there in cyberspace that have told  me you are going to plant tomatoes, and herbs and the like.  I think it would be very sweet of you to take pictures of your endeavors that I can share with others via this blog.  There are a few of you out there!  We’ve discussed.  I think that’s great for all of you.  When I was thinking about it earlier and started to count everyone…it’s just great.  I hope this blog had something to do with it.  If not, read all of Michael Pollan’s books, maybe that will have an effect on how you view what you eat.

And for those of you who have no plans of growing anything, you should reconsider.

I cant stop thinking about the death of three of our birds.  Perry was lying down under the big tree next to their coop.  I went out with a head lamp to get a good look at him.  To let you all know, he looked peaceful, so….  I’m okay with the fact of only having 4 hens left.  My mind instantly jumped to replacing the birds, but now I’m straight.  There are two black hens missing, I glanced around with the light and didn’t notice them anywhere.  I am also thinking of the well being of the remaining birds.  They have to live with what happened, it won’t be easy for them.  We’re going to fix their yard that was damaged in the ice storm tomorrow.  

Rest in peace Perry 

Perry and the Donnas

what these pictures make me realize is that I haven’t taken any shots of these birds in a while.  This is Perry as a young Joe Buck.  This really sucks.

Please have the two missing black hens in your hearts.  Thank you.

To all of you who read this, and know of my rooster Perry, he was just attacked by some dogs and MURDERED! Also, two hens are missing.  Currently we are at some friends house having dinner, and one of the neighbors called Paul and told him of the massacre.  She acted and put up 4 of our hens in the coop and told him that two hens are still missing.  I’m here, I’m sad, and it’s time to eat.  Rest in peace Perry.  You were an asshole, but I loved you any way.  The worst thing is, that the neighbor who’s dogs did this is some crazy redneck dude who burns all of his trash and sends a plastic smell into the air.  I doubt he’ll be very remorseful about the death of our chickens at the mouth of his dogs.  He’ll probably have an easy come easy go attitude about it.  I hate that.  I’m so upset by this.  It just makes me think that maybe if we were there this wouldn’t have happened.  There’s no way to know, and that’s what is so frustrating about it.  I feel like I have just lost a member of the family.  So sad.  Pray for Perry and his flock.