While continuing to shelter at home, we have tried to be productive; working, unpacking and organizing the homestead. We have been working in the yard, dragging flagstone, bricks and cinderblocks from scattered locations to one area. Now when I look at the Northeast side of our backyard it looks like a mason resides here. We have also been unpacking Daniel’s boxes, mostly cookbooks, (30 boxes to be exact).

It’s difficult to unpack the books and not look at the titles since I am a cookbook fan, and it certainly beats looking at my retirement and savings accounts right now. So glad we have that fully stocked bar! So, between the growing library and shrinking savings account, I found the perfect book in his stash: The American Frugal Housewife dedicated to those who are not ashamed of economy, by Lydia Maria Child. Ok, so the book was first published in 1829, it did start with two quite profound quotes: first, Ben Franklin’s “a fat kitchen maketh a lean will” and the second quote, although no author attributed, is so true, “economy is a poor man’s revenue: extravagance a rich man’s ruin.”

Considering the recent economic slowdown, I thought this is a book I need to read, it might provide some worthwhile suggestions for me during what could be trying times ahead. I was wrong!

Starting with coffee (one of my life’s necessities), Mrs. Child suggests some economical substitutes; “some use dry brown bread crusts and roast them; others soak rye grain in rum and roast it; others roast peas in the same way as coffee.”

None of these are very good; and peas so used are considered unhealthy.”

In contrast, another of his books Eat, Drink. And be Merry, Poems about food and drink by Peter Washington, is a book of poetry dedicated to food. Considerably more current, it was published in 2003. It includes a poem, which I consider to be the perfect antidote to Mrs. Child, and more in line with my thoughts on coffee:

COFFEE

Coffee arrives, that grave and wholesome Liquor,

That heals the stomach, makes the genius quicker,

Relieves the memory, revives the sad,

And cheers the Spirits, without making mad…

Frugal is one thing, just don’t mess with my coffee!

Mrs. Child’s thoughts on preserves: “Economical people will seldom use preserves, except for sickness. They are unhealthy, expensive and useless to those who are well.”

Sorry, but I am addicted to marionberry jam (thank you Oregon). Don’t mess with my jam either!

Although her book is outdated and obviously impractical, it did make me think about economic adjustments I can make.

Instead of buying skinless boneless chicken breasts, I will buy the whole chicken. It’s incredibly less expensive, we both like the dark meat. I know how to cut up a chicken, I can take the skin off and I will use the bones for soup!

Leftover vegetables cooked one day, can be reheated and served over pasta, rice, couscous or quinoa or added to soup the next day.

Buy day old baguettes, slice them, brush on a little olive oil and salt, and bake. These crostini are great broken up as croutons in salad, or as crackers with cheese, or just as snacks by themselves.

Use the bones from chicken or meat, roast them, add enough leftover wine, or water to cover, along with pieces of onion, celery carrots, herbs if you have them, and make a stock to use now or freeze.

Working in a restaurant gave me a better perspective regarding waste; it’s a business, every morsel, penny and onion skin count.

I may be watching a shrinking retirement fund, but if I have to work another 20 years I will, before I succumb to roasting breadcrumbs or peas for a coffee substitute.