I love books, especially books about cooking, gardening or farming. I got *four* books for Christmas! Quite the loot.
One of those books was the cookbook Simply In Season from Matt’s brother and his wife. It’s one of three (so far) World Community Cookbooks put out by the Mennonite Central Committee. I also have the More With Less Cookbook, also put out by the MCC.
These are wonderful cookbooks, full of recipes that remind me of lunches at my grandparents’ house growing up. Simple, easy to prepare, with everyday ingredients.
Simply In Season is built around the idea of eating foods in rhythm with the seasons. Asparagus, greens, new potatoes and strawberries in spring. Corn, cucumbers, tomatoes in summer. Broccoli, kale, pears and pumpkin in fall. Storage fruits and vegetables in winter – apples, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.
It also has wonderful mini-essays from contributors about food issues. My favorite (so far) is this one:
Chrish that sweet potato.
If I had to put what I believe about food and the environment into two words of advice, I would say this: Celebrate hope.
If you can find a farm, a market, a store where you can see that love for the earth and for future generations is a priority, sell all that you have and buy their food. If you can find friendly faces in your local food system who are willing to go beyond public relations and discuss tough questions, hug them! If you can smell the Spirit of God on their sweet potatoes, buy 20 pounds! Eat these potatoes with gusto, thanking God that someone, somewhere has a vision.
You are not consistent in all areas of your life? Lord have mercy on you, a sinner: act on one little thing you know. You can only afford one holy sweet potato and the rest is boxed macaroni and cheese? Act on what you can afford. You will love that sweet potato and the earth that grew it even more.
– Jennifer Schrock; Goshen, Ind.
Love this quote! It goes so far to affirm that we don’t have to strive for “all or nothing at all.” Thanks for all you do!
The simply in Season cookbook sounds like it goes along with the “slow food” movement. Eating foods that are in season , grown locally and cooked at home. Fresh wholesome foods like..umm goat milk or ummm.. goat cheese 😉
Wonderful quote! I grew up with the MWL Cookbook–and because we lived overseas, we especially appreciated that the simple, unpackaged ingredients listed in the recipes could usually be obtained.