If it's free, it's not for me

Recently I've been attempting to be more intentional about what I consume.  I've tried to cut back on the meat, processed foods, and sweets I eat.  I'm not really eliminating these things from my diet, just eating less of them or better quality (grass-fed, wild, or pastured meat; lower-processed foods; not having dessert at EVERY meal).  It does take some will-power, but the key is knowing -- believing -- that those things really aren't good for your and that we, as a society, have been tricked (marketing much?)  into wanting, must-having, and consuming these easy, fast and convenient food-stuffs.  I'm sure that marketing brain-washing is not news to you.

The other, more difficult task I attempt is to limit my consumables beyond food.  Clothes, books, junk: I've got lots; so much stuff that doesn't have a home in my house and just collects dust.  I have more moments of weakness than I'd like to admit, but I try not to buy things that I really really don't need.  I'll take a day or two and think it over.  If I STILL want the "thing" I'll buy it.

In today's "throw-away" culture, there is so much stuff that we don't use.  Perhaps it worked 2 times and then it breaks, so we toss it and get a new one.  Perhaps we buy things thinking "I'll need this some day," and then it sits in our parents attic for decades (sorry mom and dad!).  We have a lot of things that feel important when we are at the cash register.  They feel like a good deed for your life.  They give you a great feeling of opportunity or inspiration.

I aim to also be more intentional about what I take for free.  I read somewhere (Flexitarian Diet, perhaps?) that a key to keeping to a healthy lifestyle it to say "NO" to free food.  There is free food all around us.  Samples at the grocery store, bagels and donuts at the office, candies in a bowl at a local retailer, cookies at social gatherings; everyone loves to give you free food.  In reality, these foods (in portions other than a nibble, and really, who can take just a bite?) aren't really the greatest things for you.  Usually they are highly processed, cheap, and high in sugar/fat/chemicals.  It's hard to turn away free food, but if you can do it, it may make you a healthier and more aware consumer.

Bites of Yum - Original photography from Baconfest

Terzo Piano - Empanadas with Dreymiller and Kray cinnamon bacon, dried Seedling strawberry, toasted almond, salsa verde

one sixtyblue - Pastrami cured pork belly Reubens with one sixtyblue sauerkraut

Small Bar - Braised bacon brioche with salted maple butter and crispy egg yoke

Veerasway - Chocolate Crispy Pork Turtles: Rich Chocolate over crispy cardamom pork with cashews and rain chutney 

Black Dog Gelato - Banana and Bacon's Foster

Chizakaya Japanese Pub - Grilled bacon nigiri with house made kimchi sushi rice and smokey bacon ikura

Sable Kitchen & Bar - Applewood smoked Bourbon bacon jam, crispy polenta cake, St. Andre cheese fondue

Blue 13 - Honeydew Melon Salad: honeydew melon, honeydew gelee, frisee, candied walnut dust, bacon vinaigrette

The Bristol - Bacon Banh Mi

Boka - Braised bacon with bacon spatzel

Gemini Bistro - The Elvis: Home-made crunchy peanut butter, fried banana, honey peppered bacon, griddled banana bread

Forest Grill - Roasted bacon bratwurst sausage on caramelized onions

La Madia - Spinach and bacon ravioli with brown butter sauce and parmesan

The Red Canary - Bacon cured Steelhead trout on top of Nueske's Cherrywood-Smoked Bacon and a bacon mushroom salad

Miramar Bistro - Caramelized pork belly with wilted escarole and maple pineapple chutney

Magnolia Cafe - Pork'n'Beans: Sourdough bread with white bean spread topped with thick cut bacon and greens

The Black Sheep - Banana panna cotta, cherry wood smoked bacon brittle, and peanut butter froth with a lady finger spoon

Atwood Cafe - Cherrywood smoked bacon and black current friut roll-ups; bacon "cannoli" filled with maple and bacon marscapone

Nothing Sweeter than Simple Unsweetened Applesauce

I know it is NOT apple season.

I really do try - a recent aversion - to eat as much produce as possible, within the season, and locally if at all possible.  Apples are totally a fall fruit and the ones I get are shipped in from Washington state.  I'm sure they've been sitting in cold storage somewhere for quite a few months, and so, to me, they aren't the tastiest of the year - nothing close to the fresh ones.  But in these lingering chilly spring months, I really love homemade applesauce.  It is so ridiculously easy to make, that it's almost well... ridiculous.  I like to make it when I'm just sitting around the house on the weekend.

I usually use 5 or 6 green/red apples (by this I mean apples that are both green and red - Braeburn, Fiji, Gala, etc.).  I wash them, then core them and cut them up.  I find it easiest to just slice off the first side, then the next, etc. (see image).

Then you throw them in a pot, cover them with water, and throw in a pinch of salt.  Set them on the stove over medium-high heat until they start to boil, then turn them down to a simmer.    It usually takes about 1-2 hours of simmering for the apples to just fall apart into applesauce.  If you can squish an apple piece with the back of your spoon, they are ready to squish (you can just continue to squish with the back of your spoon or use a potato masher if you want) and add cinnamon to taste.  I like a lot of cinnamon flavor, so I add a bunch.

I like to let it cool with a lid on it and once it's cooled off, I put it in mason jars of different sizes so they are ready for bringing along to work for a snack or storing in the fridge.  They should be OK in the fridge for about a week and a half.

Enjoy!