just need a little butter, brown sugar and flour. Shortbread is equal parts butter and sugar, twice as much flour. Cook long and low. I subbed peanut butter for part of the butter and used brown sugar. Added some chocolate chips and then the flour. And some vanilla.
Pressed out little rounded button-shapes and baked for an hour at 250.
Finally found Black Hills Milk and they deliver in Rapid City on Saturdays. Delicious raw ice cold milk and fresh warm peanut butter chocolate chip cookies! Local growers meet commodities from the food bank, food stamps fill in the rest.
My car broke down in Rapid Friday night so I walked to church this morning. Sassi followed me and attended mass in the foyer in my lap. I'm 3.2 miles from Our Lady of the Black Hills but during coffee hour after mass, some people had seen me walking and I told them about my car. They gave me a ride home. I talked to Karlie today. She said she doesn't go outside any more; it's too hot, she's due in two months and sweats rivers. I just think wow. I'm wearing gloves, scarf, three layers of shirts, boots, two socks, jeans and hat when I walk today. When it's cold, the chickens don't lay eggs. I only have one.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
a chicken from the food bank
What can you make with a whole chicken from the food bank? Well that depends on what else you got, and what you have lying around the house. I put it in a large pot and covered it with water and bay leaves and some other herbs. I simmered my chicken for several hours, until the meat was falling off the bone and melting on my tongue.
I separated the meat from the bone and tossed the bone scraps. Dogs ate the skin, and I put the broth in the fridge to cool. I got a little over a pint of broth which I used to flavor rice all week (and to entice my dogs to eat the dog food that was on sale). Using a quarter of a cup for the dog food and about half a cup each time I made rice, the broth really did last all week.
The meat I split into two bowls. One was used for Chicken Salad Sandwiches, and I got enough for 4 sandwiches with just the pulled chicken and mayonnaise.
So far, I haven't really used much besides the chicken, and gotten several lunches and a few side dishes. Here's where we get a little creative: Chicken Divan, my favorite comfort food of all time, and oh so needed right now.
I had a can of butternut squash soup so I used that instead of condensed Cream of Chicken soup, but I added some cream and simmered it to thicken before assembling the casserole. While that was simmering, I steamed three heads of broccoli and trimmed the florets off, tossed the stalks. Broccoli in the bottom of a casserole dish, spread the pulled chicken over that because everyone loves layers.
Since I was cooking the soup, I had to wait till it cooled to add the mayonnaise. Mayonnaise acts as a binder, like eggs do. In a casserole, mayonnaise makes the finished meal creamier than if you added eggs. I added the curry powder to the soup while it was cooking to get the best flavor out of it, and then let it cool. Mix with mayo and squeeze half a lime or lemon. The soup mixture becomes the next layer and it will sink during baking to surround the chicken and broccoli in creamy curried yumminess. I shredded some sharp cheddar on top and put it in the oven at 350.
Next--the breadcrumbs. Melted some butter, just enough to moisten the panko, and spread over the shredded cheese. If you put the Divan in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese together, I find it easier to spread the breadcrumbs than loose shreds of cheese.
Bake an hour or so and enjoy over rice! Which is why I was making rice all week.
I got nine servings of the casserole, 4 sandwiches, and broth for several servings of rice out of one food bank frozen whole pullet.
I separated the meat from the bone and tossed the bone scraps. Dogs ate the skin, and I put the broth in the fridge to cool. I got a little over a pint of broth which I used to flavor rice all week (and to entice my dogs to eat the dog food that was on sale). Using a quarter of a cup for the dog food and about half a cup each time I made rice, the broth really did last all week.
The meat I split into two bowls. One was used for Chicken Salad Sandwiches, and I got enough for 4 sandwiches with just the pulled chicken and mayonnaise.
So far, I haven't really used much besides the chicken, and gotten several lunches and a few side dishes. Here's where we get a little creative: Chicken Divan, my favorite comfort food of all time, and oh so needed right now.
I had a can of butternut squash soup so I used that instead of condensed Cream of Chicken soup, but I added some cream and simmered it to thicken before assembling the casserole. While that was simmering, I steamed three heads of broccoli and trimmed the florets off, tossed the stalks. Broccoli in the bottom of a casserole dish, spread the pulled chicken over that because everyone loves layers.
Since I was cooking the soup, I had to wait till it cooled to add the mayonnaise. Mayonnaise acts as a binder, like eggs do. In a casserole, mayonnaise makes the finished meal creamier than if you added eggs. I added the curry powder to the soup while it was cooking to get the best flavor out of it, and then let it cool. Mix with mayo and squeeze half a lime or lemon. The soup mixture becomes the next layer and it will sink during baking to surround the chicken and broccoli in creamy curried yumminess. I shredded some sharp cheddar on top and put it in the oven at 350.
Next--the breadcrumbs. Melted some butter, just enough to moisten the panko, and spread over the shredded cheese. If you put the Divan in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese together, I find it easier to spread the breadcrumbs than loose shreds of cheese.
Bake an hour or so and enjoy over rice! Which is why I was making rice all week.
I got nine servings of the casserole, 4 sandwiches, and broth for several servings of rice out of one food bank frozen whole pullet.
Relocation is Go!
One of the reasons, ok the main reason, I applied to become a VISTA was the relocation package. About half of the relocation expenses were deposited into my account yesterday. I spent some time looking up air fares home to pick up my Max and couldn't find anything under $180. That might be a good price, Rapid City, SD, to Atlanta, GA, but I decided to wait. I haven't secured a ride to Anderson from Atlanta just yet.
I have a cousin in Denver who just invited me to go see Conan O'Brien next weekend, on Mother's Day, actually. I can't wait; I haven't seen this cousin in close to 10 years!
So things are looking up for me! I got all excited and forgot to check my oil and *pow* my car checked my exuberance. My air conditioning compressor seized up and melted my serpentine belt which caused it to separate. When I called AAA to request a tow truck, they told me I hadn't paid my dues so they couldn't send one unless I could pay cash. They were incorrect; my dues have indeed been paid. So this morning I called back and got a truck, really frustrated that their computers don't seem to register my payments. I believe this happened last year, too. I mean, driving across the country like I did would've been folly without AAA. The serpentine belt kind of keeps everything running in sync I think, and the guys at Goodyear said it would be at the very least around $1500. Ups and downs. So it goes.
There go all my plans for the next month or so. It'd be cheaper to buy a moped at this point, but I called a few other mechanics who seemed to think they could fix my car for much less if they bypass the air conditioner. Maybe it won't be so bad in the end, but I really didn't want to spend any money this week.
I've asked two friends to pick me up from the airport so I can surprise Max. I want to surprise him that night if possible. I haven't seen my son since February 11 and I've got a month left to go before I get to hold him in my arms again!
I have a cousin in Denver who just invited me to go see Conan O'Brien next weekend, on Mother's Day, actually. I can't wait; I haven't seen this cousin in close to 10 years!
So things are looking up for me! I got all excited and forgot to check my oil and *pow* my car checked my exuberance. My air conditioning compressor seized up and melted my serpentine belt which caused it to separate. When I called AAA to request a tow truck, they told me I hadn't paid my dues so they couldn't send one unless I could pay cash. They were incorrect; my dues have indeed been paid. So this morning I called back and got a truck, really frustrated that their computers don't seem to register my payments. I believe this happened last year, too. I mean, driving across the country like I did would've been folly without AAA. The serpentine belt kind of keeps everything running in sync I think, and the guys at Goodyear said it would be at the very least around $1500. Ups and downs. So it goes.
There go all my plans for the next month or so. It'd be cheaper to buy a moped at this point, but I called a few other mechanics who seemed to think they could fix my car for much less if they bypass the air conditioner. Maybe it won't be so bad in the end, but I really didn't want to spend any money this week.
I've asked two friends to pick me up from the airport so I can surprise Max. I want to surprise him that night if possible. I haven't seen my son since February 11 and I've got a month left to go before I get to hold him in my arms again!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Childcare at Western Dakota Tech
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_27a14016-3142-11df-90ff-001cc4c002e0.html
I'm sure I can use this somehow...
I'm sure I can use this somehow...
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Just what does it mean to be poor? How are the poor measured?
US Supplemental Poverty measure according to the Commerce Department will now take into account a wider range of expenses and income to create a truer portrait of which Americans are financially fragile. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/02/AR2010030202316_pf.html)
The old definition was based on the cost of food and a family’s cash income. The new measure acknowledges that food has become a smaller share of poor families’ costs and will consider expenses such as housing, utilities, child care and medical treatment. It will also include financial help from housing and food subsidies and money from jobs as well as cash assistance programs (TANF and other welfare aid?).
Two years ago, New York initiated these new measures and their poverty rate was 22% by the new formula, 18% under the old.
New York Times:
The old standard is anachronistic as it was based on the Agriculture Department’s cheapest meal plan and on the assumption that the average family spends 1/3 of total income on food.
Federal officials describe the supplemental measure as experimental and a work in progress. It establishes a poverty threshold that depends on the cost of food, shelter, clothing and utilities “plus a little more” for “a population that is not poor but is somewhat below the median.”
The threshold would be adjusted to calculate the value of in-kind benefits, like food stamps, and whether homeowners have a mortgage. Tax credits would be added to the total income and benefits; taxes, work expenses (including commuting and child care), and out-of-pocket medical costs would be deducted.
VISTA Carrie:
I will earn this year $10296 in disposable income. My rent is $500, paid by Section 8 through Meade County Housing Authority which adds up to $6000 annually. My childcare will be covered up to $300/month at $3600 annually if I use all of it. I’m not sure what insurance costs per month, but it’s provided for myself and my son. My Food Stamps are (for myself) $200/month and including my son for a family of two $367/month so annually between $2400-4404.
My outgoing expenses are transportation and utilities, mostly. My car takes about $35 to fill up once a week, so $1820 annually. I just moved in to my place, but my utilities were estimated at $55/month for natural gas and $40/month for electricity. Since I have not yet received a bill for these services, I will use those numbers for my calculations. Gas to cook with, heat my home and water, will be around $660/year; electricity for that same year should be around $480. I have to pay a pet rent monthly for $30/pet and I have three. So $360/year/pet for a grand total of $1080, and we must add a $300 deposit per pet in addition to the monthly privilege fee: $900. My outgoing for this year will be: $4940 (deposit + monthlies). That doesn't leave me a whole heck of a lot of income to play with.
By “play with” I must include my membership to the YMCA and my cell phone bill. I received a sponsorship for the gym which means I pay $16.85/month for a single-parent family membership. The membership includes my son, so I feel that it’s worth the expense for both of us to be members: $202.2 for the year is quite a bargain when it concerns our physical health and well-being (now we're up to$5142 annual expenses). So my annual disposable will now be $5154.
My cell phone bill is $107/month. Because Verizon generously offers a discount to government employees, my bill will be $60! Which comes out to $720 for the year and brings me down to $4434.
This means that to eat out, to visit a national park, go to a movie or even rent one at the Red Box, toilet paper and Saran Wrap, toothbrushes and paste, shampoo and conditioner, razors, deodorant, toilet cleaner and other consumable products not covered by my Food Stamps, must come from a monthly income, after the bare essentials, cell phone and gym membership, of $369.5. In a four week month, that’s about $92.375 per week and $11.92 per day for a 31-day month. True, that’s more than I’d get if I were one of those kids in an undeveloped country, but I’m making $4.95/hour! If I add in my total Food Stamp benefits, I still only come out to $7.05/hour.
So am I poor? The 2008 threshold for one individual under age 65 is $11,201 according to http://www.irp.wisc.edu/faqs/faq1.htm and my family consists of two. Since my total income is below the poverty threshold for one, I must look further to find the threshold appropriate for my family size. Two people are living below the poverty line if the total annual household income is below $14,051. If I include my Food Stamps as income, and my annual for Food Stamps is $4404 for the two of us (we’re at a total of $14,700 right now, FS + my cash award) and my rental assistance which will be $6000 by the end of the year which brings me up to $20,700 for my family of two if we include my supplemental housing and food assistance.
So I must not be poor.
Fancy that.
My VISTA, though a Vow of Poverty, will keep my head above the water while I work in service to those who are involuntarily poor.
Fancy that.
My VISTA, though a Vow of Poverty, will keep my head above the water while I work in service to those who are involuntarily poor.
a slice of humble pie
Sweet Land of liberties indeed. I have so many opportunities at my fingertips and yet so very many restrictions as well. As an AmeriCorps VISTA, I was under the impression that my paycheck would be counted similar to a Work Study. By that, I mean that it wouldn't count at all. As a single parent and a student, I was protected by a myriad of programs that allowed me a rose-colored view of poverty: my needs were always met and sometimes exceeded. So I assumed that my VISTA year would simply continue my protected status in a different part of the country. And to a certain extent, it is true. To an extent.
And I am making friends. I was able to transfer my Section 8 voucher to Meade County, just outside the Rapid City where I work. My needs would still be met: a roof over my head and some assistance with utilities. OK. But I have dogs and there seems to be a prevailing prejudice against dog-owners in the Black Hills. I was unable to secure a decent shelter, or decent to my standards. My standards include walls that meet the floors and do not allow sunshine in through the corners. My standards involve a central heating system that does not double as a home for the neighborhood cats. My standards do not involve excrement of any kind and when it's really cold, my new home does not smell so bad but once it warms up for an hour or two in the afternoon, the smell is quite uncomfortable. My maintenance guy did fix my heating vents that were not heating but did not replace the piping so whenever the heat comes on, fluffs and tufts of cat fur drift up from the forced air, and I wake up with a scratchy throat and stuffy nose. The prevailing aroma of excrement is slightly worse outside than inside. My neighbors seem friendly enough and have children and pets as well. I can make it work for a year since I won't have to pay for it myself. Yesterday, though, I received a letter from Meade County Housing stating that I will owe $170 per month on that modest shelter! While I was willing to reside there for free, I don't see how I could in good faith I could pay my own rent in addition to the $30 per pet monthly pet rent. AmeriCorps pays $858 for me per month. That income is in addition to Food Stamps and insurance for myself. And Max's childcare will be taken care of for the summer; he'll qualify for Medicaid. So my basic needs will still be met. Am I spoiled, perhaps, to feel that my housing should keep out the weather and strays? I chose VISTA in order to make a difference, to help others who live in poverty strive for something better. Perhaps, I thought, I must live in such humble surroundings because I need to make that trailer park a better place for people to live. I'm reminded of Orwell's Road to Wiggan Pier on so many levels. This is my Road to ...what? Sturgis? Road to Success? Road to Rapid City? Road to the West and a better life? Is this why I ran through the St. Louis Arch, to dwell in the squalor of those I hope to save in order to truly know what their needs are and address them fully to the best of my ability (and here I find my self quite motivated).
This is a small hole that was covered quite eloquently by a Pink Floyd poster when I moved in. Maintenance guy suggested I replace the poster.
This couch covers a dramatic dip in the floor and somewhat blocks out the sunshine fro the corner. It currently serves as Sassi's bed. I'm not a couch-up-against-the-wall kind of girl, so I confess I resent having to keep it in it's current location in order to keep the weather somewhat outside. Sassi enjoys the couch.
This hole is the only way to reach an electrical outlet from my bathroom. The maintenance guy came out over the weekend and installed a 6-plug extension cord and mounted it against the wall on the other side. I now have a thick cord stapled against this wall. He suggested I replace the entertainment center from the living room into this room as the previous occupants did; that way, I'll hide both the holes in my bedroom.
This is where I'm to clean myself. As you can see, the water does not contain itself by the edges of the tub and has spent time among the crevices created by previous tenants in this circa 1960 mobile home. So far it's only occupant is a large spider that has recently relocated and I'm still sorta afraid to relax in it. Below, we have another poor joining between wall and floor. Or maybe it's ceiling this time.
This is an outlet that shoots fireworks when I plug something into it.
This is another space where the floors and walls no longer function as originally intended. Or maybe the original intention was this exactly: to fall apart before the turn of the century?
And to be completely fair, once I put up half-curtains at the bottom of this window, the view will be amazing. When the sunshine spills out over these hills in the morning and evening, it's quite stunning. The fog is only slightly less impressive by it's density. Being 3000+ feet above sea level, sometimes the clouds visit and nothing is visible through the pea-soup thick of it.
And I am making friends. I was able to transfer my Section 8 voucher to Meade County, just outside the Rapid City where I work. My needs would still be met: a roof over my head and some assistance with utilities. OK. But I have dogs and there seems to be a prevailing prejudice against dog-owners in the Black Hills. I was unable to secure a decent shelter, or decent to my standards. My standards include walls that meet the floors and do not allow sunshine in through the corners. My standards involve a central heating system that does not double as a home for the neighborhood cats. My standards do not involve excrement of any kind and when it's really cold, my new home does not smell so bad but once it warms up for an hour or two in the afternoon, the smell is quite uncomfortable. My maintenance guy did fix my heating vents that were not heating but did not replace the piping so whenever the heat comes on, fluffs and tufts of cat fur drift up from the forced air, and I wake up with a scratchy throat and stuffy nose. The prevailing aroma of excrement is slightly worse outside than inside. My neighbors seem friendly enough and have children and pets as well. I can make it work for a year since I won't have to pay for it myself. Yesterday, though, I received a letter from Meade County Housing stating that I will owe $170 per month on that modest shelter! While I was willing to reside there for free, I don't see how I could in good faith I could pay my own rent in addition to the $30 per pet monthly pet rent. AmeriCorps pays $858 for me per month. That income is in addition to Food Stamps and insurance for myself. And Max's childcare will be taken care of for the summer; he'll qualify for Medicaid. So my basic needs will still be met. Am I spoiled, perhaps, to feel that my housing should keep out the weather and strays? I chose VISTA in order to make a difference, to help others who live in poverty strive for something better. Perhaps, I thought, I must live in such humble surroundings because I need to make that trailer park a better place for people to live. I'm reminded of Orwell's Road to Wiggan Pier on so many levels. This is my Road to ...what? Sturgis? Road to Success? Road to Rapid City? Road to the West and a better life? Is this why I ran through the St. Louis Arch, to dwell in the squalor of those I hope to save in order to truly know what their needs are and address them fully to the best of my ability (and here I find my self quite motivated).
This is a small hole that was covered quite eloquently by a Pink Floyd poster when I moved in. Maintenance guy suggested I replace the poster.This couch covers a dramatic dip in the floor and somewhat blocks out the sunshine fro the corner. It currently serves as Sassi's bed. I'm not a couch-up-against-the-wall kind of girl, so I confess I resent having to keep it in it's current location in order to keep the weather somewhat outside. Sassi enjoys the couch.
This hole is the only way to reach an electrical outlet from my bathroom. The maintenance guy came out over the weekend and installed a 6-plug extension cord and mounted it against the wall on the other side. I now have a thick cord stapled against this wall. He suggested I replace the entertainment center from the living room into this room as the previous occupants did; that way, I'll hide both the holes in my bedroom.
This is an outlet that shoots fireworks when I plug something into it. This is another space where the floors and walls no longer function as originally intended. Or maybe the original intention was this exactly: to fall apart before the turn of the century?
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