A Day of Hope A Day of Help

 What happened twenty-five years ago in lower Manhattan cannot even be described.It was horror at the very least, pure evil at it's most intensive. Yet it united this country  - and made the US more caring in those months afterwards.We cared for each other ,for those we knew and didn't know back then. We need to bring that back - especially when feeding America.

There is hope today that we can strive to be better again.We can hope that all this decisiveness ends and we go back to the united country we once were.Yet how -? By the easiest way possible. Food.Eating has always brought us together. We have to have three meals to survive,.We have to have snacks and drinks to enjoy our events. Now we need to think about helping each other. There is so much food insecurity right now. Children and the elderly are going hungry . Students are having their school breakfasts cut. We need to act and react to what is going on. Federal funding is being cut from SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and families' food supplies are dwindling.Local purchasing programs are also having their budgets slashed which means pantries cannot buy fresh meats and produce.If you can- write to your local congressmen and senators.Participate in protests.Donate to your local food pantry if you can >If you have a bumper crop in your garden  - donate.

Restaurants and supermarkets can also help. Many restaurant owners across the country realize that people can't even afford a slice of pizza or a hot dog. So many of these little pizzerias and Mom and Pop hamburger shacks are allowing for a free meal. It;s a chance for those who are going without to have some kid of treat . Also restaurants can also donate to food pantries as well if they have any overage.Another idea is that churches ,synagogues ,mosques and even schools can have a big pot luck dinner. Everyone is invited and of they want to bring  a dish they can.Emphasize that bringing anything is not mandatory.Families can get their fill of nutritious foods with the possibility of bringing home leftovers. This is a great way too to get to know parishioner s and the community. Colleges can have this as well for both students and locals. It;s a fun way to integrate the town and gown crowd.College cafeterias have big kitchens and these can easily be used to create these dinners as well as using the cafeteria in the off hours and weekends.

THis is a day of hope. This is a day of help .Help those who have food insecurities however you can. Let's be a united states' once more.

An Affordable Easter

 With Easter only two weeks away many home chefs are panicking over high costs and what this tariff war will bring. The bestign thing to do is calm down and plan. A holiday meal that's both delicious and budget friendly can be made.It just takes shopping smarts.

Ham is always the star f  any Easter dinner. Look or Aldi and Lidl for it instead of the more expensive grocery stores. Lidl has Dulano bone in ham for only seventy-nine cents a pound while Aldi is offering Appleton Farms smoked ham but for $15.75. As for the sides you can offer baked beans and a homemade potato salad. According to the National Potato Board a pound can go from fifty cents to a $1.50 a pound. Another low cost idea is paring down on sides. Instead of three or four just stick to two.Asparagus  is always an Easter dinner go to.THis on it;s own is a great side.it has a powerful flavors and is just elegant as on only side. You may want to either make baked beans to go with the ham or potato salad which is perfect with the leftover meat.Another idea is having a pot luck Eater dinner where you provide the main course and guests can bring a side. It could be baked mac or a Brussels sprouts salad. This could even be a pot luck brunch. You still can have ham but someone can make a quiche while another brings a French toast casserole or strata.

What about Easter desserts? Stick to Aldi,Lidl and wal-Mart for cake mixes. The last has both Betty Crocker and Pilsbury mixes for a dollar. If you;re hosting a crowd then make a sheet cake . The one splurge here are the eggs that give the cake body.  As for the frosting Shop=Rite has the best price on confectioner's sugar for only three dollars a pound.Lidl is having a sale on FUnfetti cake and matching icing.  You could just make a simple Bundt cake and just give ti a dusting of confectioner's sugar on top.Again for a lovely holiday dessert table have guests make a cake or sweet of their choosing and bring it. what about Easter candy? Do you skip t or cut back? Well, you can not forgo chocolate bunnies and eggs. Look to Lidl for a lot of fun candies to put in a basket or use as favors at the dinner table. They have cute chocolate bunnies and lady bugs along with fun Easter Pez dispensers and a wide array of Pez candy flavors. Try their marshmallow bunnies too for a fun after dinner treat. 

You can have a feast for very little. Plan and shop carefully. A godo meal with a delicious dessert can be had for a reasonable price,

Faking It

This is season for collective church dinners and potluck parties. We all figure the other people worked just as hard on their casseroles and chilis as we did. Or did they? There may be a surprise on that groaning table - a store bought or premade dish.
That was the subject in yesterday’s New York Times article written by Jennufer Steinhauer in the De Gustibus section. Ms. Steinhauer descries those who bring already made dishes and sweets to everything from church dinners to class bake sales. After all if she could do it even with all her flops, then why can’t other parents? She also has harsh words fo those moms who doctor store bought goodies to look like the real homemade deal. It worked a decade ago when working mothers were encouraged to do so . It’s getting - pardon the pun - stale now.
There is also a rant about those who bring already made dishes to other gatherings. However even she admits that it brings deviation to centuries old recipes. Pot luck dinners date back to the 16th Century when people would stop by their host’s home bearing cooked meal. It was “the luck of the pot” whether they received something good or something so-so. The concept caught in in Colonial America, especially out West., when it was usually brought by a cowboy (perhaps where we get the chili tradition at get togethers?). Potluck dinners kept ethnic recipes within the group. It also kept up tradition. However with premade foods, different tastes and cultures are introduced, shattering old , fusty recipes. It could be a good thing for the next generation who are generally bored at potluck suppers..
　
Should we cheat on our baking and cooking during this holiday season? If you don’t; have the time do so. However be honest about it. People know when there’s lovin’ from the oven and when it’s a fake home bake.