I can't work. We all know that.

But what I can do is a) bake and b) sew.

So here's the deal. To get stuff we need (cloth pads, lip balm, whatever), I'll trade baked goods (cookies, cupcakes, bread, brownies) or cloth products (a lap quilt, for instance). As I can do more (for instance, candle-making), I'll update this post. For now, though, if you have an offer, we can work something out.

Stuff we could use:
- Cloth pads
- Lip balm
- Natural soaps

Stuff I can provide:
- Baked goods--I can do pretty much anything in the kitchen; just tell me what you want, and I shall provide. (Geena wants me to add that my bread is CRACK.)
- Patchwork lap quilt

There's probably more I can make that we're not thinking of; just leave a comment if you have something in mind.

My computer is currently dead. I'm using other computers as I can, but my lack slows down everything. If I owe anything--modship, anything--please understand that I'll take care of it as soon as possible. Leave me a comment if there's something I need to get to.

Started May 27, 2008.

( The list. )

This is the contact post for the communities I do general modding for, to wit:

alphabetasoup
badfic_quotes
mash_slash
nickgreglove

Leave any questions or comments here. All comments are screened by default.

http://community.livejournal.com/sfd_wishingwell/116655.html

A little boy died in a house fire last Friday. It severely injured his father. The parents have no way to even pay for his funeral. If you have anything--clothes, anything--please contact that poster.

Amazon rank.

I don't know what I can say about this that hasn't been said. I'm disappointed and upset by what's going on with Amazon, and really hope what they're doing was an oversight or lazy programming, as one commenter suggested. For more about it, read this post.

I feel like absolute shit for doing this, but there is no other way I can afford a computer. I don't work, I have yet to receive my disability, and it's damn hard to focus on anything, which is why the Internet and a computer are so important. While Geena works or does other stuff, I can use her computer, like I am now, and when Mom's gone, I can use hers. That doesn't help when I'm home and stuck in bed, though.

So.



I don't expect anything, but I figured it's worth trying.

Friends cut done.

So! Thanksgiving. I hope you're all having good ones.

( FOOD )

Things I am thankful for this year:
- That meal. Yum.
- My parents. We have our problems, but they are definitely always there for me; look at how they're moving me home, and bringing Geena along.
- My brother and sister, and how they've got my back.
- My friends.
- My cats.
- The apparent return of my ability to write.
- Moving home.

We were discussing movies today, because we were thinking about seeing one. Starr said, "Damn, Australia's like three hours long!"

Geena and I were in the kitchen at the time. Geena said, "And it looks terrible." She was pretty quiet because she's had a sore throat today, and I think she was washing a bowl.

"I think it looks good." I don't remember what I was making at the time, but I was semi-occupied.

"You liked Appaloosa," Geena countered.

"And you like musicals. We have different taste in movies."

So Starr pipes up, "I don't think Australia is a musical."

Geena and I cracked up, and Starr did not get it at all.

In the end, four hours later, we decided on Transporter 3 tomorrow around 3. Matinee show, and theaters tend to be much emptier on Black Friday than on Thanksgiving.

And babies.

That mage FINALLY grew up. Took her long enough. I bred my white egg; the rest are adopted abandoned ones.

-|--|--|--|-

Scroll.

And Geena's four. I bred her the gold.



Finally, Sara's eggs.
-|- -|- -|-

A loaf of quality bread is, what, four dollars?

Yesterday, for less than that, I made five. It's probably why I'm so worn out today, but it was worth it. Two are going to our neighbors, one is already almost gone, and the other two are for sandwiches.

( Sweet cinnamon bread )

( Basil-garlic bread )

What do you like to make that's cheap and delicious?

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There is something so unutterably soothing and satisfying about feeding one's family. The prep, the stirring, the judging of seasonings--ultimately, it's going to feed the ones one loves, and that's rewarding in its own right.

And when the food is delicious, consider the evening a grand success. They're fed and they love it.

( Recipe )

( Pictures and recipes. )

It was delicious, and I am stuffed.

For the last few--okay, one--weeks, we've been broke. Utterly, horribly broke. It's our fault for not budgeting, but it's not our fault that S also got her account debited three different times for the power bill. That's all on Georgia Power.

At any rate, broke means one thing around here: cutting back on food. We've already paid for everything else, including the power for the next three months, but we'd not bought groceries. This week was a series of pasta and rice dishes, with tater tots thrown in just for that regression to age three that we needed.

So today, S and I went shopping while G slept off anesthesia. We make a habit of watching Take Home Chef, mostly because Curtis Stone is pretty but he does also make some amazing food. Earlier this week, he put together a salad of arugula, pomegranate seeds, persimmon slices, and a raspberry vinaigrette. It looked like heaven on a plate, and I got paid yesterday. So part of the day's goal for shopping was to find the ingredients for this salad. We'd add grilled (well, pan-fried) chicken, and it would be a complete meal. G could have vegetarian Jell-O and saltines.

Except that Kroger lacked arugula. And persimmons. And even--heaven forbid--the pomegranates. They did, however, have the raspberry vinaigrette.

I very much doubt you've seen a pair of twenty-two-year-olds pout so much in the produce section in your life. You'd think we'd been told no chocolate for the rest of our lives. And then we looked at each other, remembered that we know how to cook, and took a good look at what was available. No arugula? Okay, baby Italian salad mix of radicchio, Romaine, and spinach. No pomegranates? Um...how about kiwi? And as for that persimmon...well, a mango would do just fine, right?

Fortunately, they had the raspberry vinaigrette. I think we would have cried otherwise.

This salad is heaven. It may actually be more heavenly than the one Curtis put together. It is that good. Small pieces of mango and kiwi, mixed with the lettuces, three pan-fried and sliced chicken tenderloins (they didn't have breasts last time I bought chicken, and I can't justify a whole chicken in this house) tossed on top, all doused in that wonderful vinaigrette? One of the best meals I've had in ages, and it really was no effort. I think the hardest part was cutting the mango, because those things are impossible. There's hardly any left. We each had at least two bowls. I am in love with this salad.

( Mixed Greens and Fruit Salad )

Especially good is when you realized that blackberries are currently cheap and got two containers plus a half-gallon of vanilla bean ice cream. That for dessert, plus the heavenly salad, is the best meal I've had in some time.

Up tomorrow: Turkey burgers for the omnivores, veggie burger for the vegetarian, and mashed potatoes for all. I need to buy butter. Buns might help, too.

Apparently, coffee, eggs, avocados, mushrooms, and peanut butter all have definite health benefits. Now, for me, I can't afford avocados, and I dislike mushrooms. But the other three are great news.

See, my financial situation is currently this. Last month, I paid my car bill, utilities, and rent, and that was just about it. I could barely afford eggs, milk, and butter substitute, and had to scrounge for gas money. This month should be better; I'm getting a raise, and my hours have increased, thanks to my promotion, but I still won't be able to afford any particularly pricey foods.

G and I are grocery shopping this week, probably Friday night. We need to make a list, and I think eggs will top that. I made eggs with potatoes and crushed (canned) tomatoes last night, and it turned out to be very yummy. Glad I stocked up on herbs when I had the money. Eggs are versatile and great to cook with, so they're a favorite of mine when we have them.

Another favorite is potatoes. Potatoes are incredibly cheap, just a few dollars for a five pound bag, and they can be used in just about anything. That egg dish I mentioned, baked potatoes, soups, stews, mashed potatoes...the list goes on, but I am not the Bubba of potatoes.

I also love tomatoes. Not only can I eat them fresh all day long, the canned versions are easy to add to anything and to season, and they're really healthy. Lots of antioxidants and vitamins. I tend to add tomato paste to rice casseroles especially, but also beans, eggs, and potatoes.

And take a look at beans. You can't get a lot cheaper than those. Sure, it takes some prep if you're working with dried beans (much cheaper than the canned version), but you can make an easy vegetable soup with them, add them to a rice casserole, or just have beans. I'm not so sure about beans and eggs, though.

Brown rice is a fairly cheap source of fiber, and it's filling. It also has more flavor than regular white rice, though the texture may not be to everyone's tastes. It's also a good mineral source.

I know most of those are not particularly good protein sources, but that brings us back to eggs. Twenty-six grams of protein per cup! No cholesterol, either, despite the reputation, and it does have vitamins and minerals. Eggs will certainly be on our shopping list.

Oatmeal! All we currently have is prepackaged and preflavored, but I think that's going to change. Cheap and it lasts, so it definitely makes the cut for something healthy to add to our diets. And it can be modified fairly easily. One of my favorites is to buy frozen raspberries and add a small handful while the oatmeal is cooking; the raspberries break up and flavor the oatmeal, and it doesn't really take any extra sugar. Make it with milk instead of water for some extra calcium.

It may be frustrating to have a highly limited grocery budget; in fact, I know it is. All it takes is a little research to find healthy foods that fit the budget, though, and some creativity to make it fresh and tasty each time.

Any other ideas for inexpensive, tasty, healthy foods, or any recipes?

NaBloPoMo post here.