Four food fthoughts

A few vaguely food-related things...

The Girl has been trying to push healthfulness for a while. Apparently she doesn't want me eating batter fried bacon-wrapped sausage logs with the icing anymore. On this wacky healthfulization of The Homestead, she's working on getting more fiber and veggies into m'body. Every day, lunch is celery, carrots, and astoplight pepers - plus any leftovers like today's shepherd's pie. And for the fiber, she's found some amazing snack bars called Fiber One bars. The chocolate and the peanut butter are a'ight, but the apple streusel are outstanding. They're like healthy candy. Because of the copious fiber, however, I would warn you

• not to eat them just before or after consuming massive amounts of water because you'll get all puffy-bellied and
• not to eat like a half dozen of them 'cause you'll poop...a bunch.

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The Girl has also been working on healthier salad dressing and finally taught me last night how to make her final creation. It's amazingly easy and way tastier than just about anything I've found in a bottle. In a bowl - preferably the one you're gonna toss the salad in because there's less to wash that way - put a blob of Grey Poupon mustard (about a teaspoon and a half), add a crushed clove of garlic, a teaspoon of vinegar (balsamic, cider, white wine, whatever your taste), a teaspoon of olive oil, salt, pepper. Mix 'em up and throw in the salad. All good. All easy.

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Can anybody explain to me why the state pastries of Texas are the sopaipilla (understandable) and the strudel (totally unfathomable to me)?

WHEREAS, The State of Texas has customarily recognized a variety of official state symbols as tangible representations of the state's historical and cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Among such icons are the rodeo, the state sport; the guitar, the state musical instrument; and chili, the state dish; and

WHEREAS, In keeping with this custom, the designation of the sopaipilla and strudel as the official State Pastries of Texas shall provide suitable recognition for these historic symbols of the state's cultural heritage, for the sopaipilla and strudel are some of the earliest pastries known to have been made in Texas;

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And closing things out, The Girl and I threw together a new compost bin next to the finally-moved shed. Simple project from 2x4's and 2x8's with minial cutting a bunch of hammering. Easy as pie, supposed to cost $55 (ours went for $109.46 for a double bin), supposed to take a couple of hours (ours took five for the double). Seems well worth the investment and time.

We got the plans out of The Green Guide from National Geographic and would recommend them heartily. Though, sadly, you can't get the plans for free online 'cause they're behind a subscription wall.

Dangit...

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