Please enjoy this poem from my friend Leah, which she generously dedicated to me on her blog:

fraught with all the wild extremes
of tango and of tribal rush
to borrow from such frantic dreams
as of death’s violence robbing blush

nursing hands and healing touch
she poured her soul into their lives
giving grace when they could not
and thirty years went coursing by

after a while, her daily pace
had taken an unforgiving turn
as the dancing from bed and face
brought grief and a crushing yearning

for something soft, without demand
as restoration for the years
of dying children, and blood-stained
gauze, and wives’ and mothers’ tears  

her deliverance didn’t come from
an expected source, as such,
just a need for solitude, some
might criticize the redeeming batch

of bread when first she built with brick
her own oven, and began to mix
recipes to steal the senses, quick
aromas to fill the dimly lit kitchen  

at first each loaf became a story
as the luscious, tender flavors
melted away people’s horrors
bringing nearly divine pleasure  

then, increasingly, as her own heart
was being healed by hours
left alone with grains and starch
and spices rich with yesteryear  

she found a patron here, then there
and bit by bit she came to see
as local farmers supplied their wares
she’d started her own bakery  

a new pace set from rush to waltz
forsaking wealth for just enough
she left behind her three decades
for the joy of a fire-crackled crust  

~L. Page

Fall is a time of abundance, when summer’s bounty reaches its final peak before the harsh winter months. Here is a breakdown of seasonal foods to enjoy:

Fruit: Apples and pears are at their peak. Plums peak in September and early October, but you may still find some good batches. Grapes will soon be in their peak season, which makes fall the perfect time to visit wineries.

Winter Squash: Now is the time to enjoy thick-skinned squash and pumpkins. Look for acorn, butternut, spaghetti and other varieties of winter squash. My favorite: “Fairy Tale” Pumpkins.

Root Vegetables: These are a winter staple, but root veggies such as carrots, parsnips, turnips, and sweet potatoes make their entrance in fall. All are very tasty when combined with apples and pears.

Other Veggies: Hearty vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and corn are other fall favorites (though corn will soon be out of season).

Most of fall’s produce is hearty and flavorful. Gone are the light sautes of summer, replaced with roasting and baking. Use onions, garlic, and celery to bring out the natural flavors. Herbs such as bay leaf, rosemary, sage and thyme will compliment fall produce, along with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg (traditional spices for cider).

Along with an increased cooking time comes an increased shelf life. Fall produce (including herbs) tend to last longer than delicate summer produce like raspberries and zucchini, which means more time to plan meals before the produce goes bad. Instead of weekly shopping, consider bi-weekly shopping and meal planner to save time, energy, and money.

Another quickie idea for saving money: stay in! From the website Start Making Choices, here is an article titled Stay In For Savings. Start Making Choices is a website that focuses on taking small steps towards a balanced life, including nutrition, activity, and well-being. Points of interest: recipes for $5 Meal Ideas in 10 Minutes and the Budget Box, a rotation of quick tips posted on the home page.

For more inspiration, check out these articles on Creative Combinations for food and Nutritious Gourmet Cooking on a Budget.

Over the course of Econofest, I’ve tried to avoid venting my frustrations, but I feel the time has come to blow off a little steam. As I see the premature Christmas decorations and over-advertised sales, it occurs to me that perhaps we need to adjust our methods of celebrating the holidays. So, on that note, I give you: 

Jenn’s Holiday Season Manifesto:  

Let’s be honest, the current state of affairs is not once conducive to festivities and holiday cheer. In this uncertain economy, many people are approaching the holiday season with trepidation and fear. At a time normally marked with lavish spending and (dare I say) gluttony, people are facing budget crisis and tenuous resources.

This paradox is likely to result in more stress than usual in the coming weeks, as “news” pundits throw out words and phrases no one wants to hear: global recession, Great Depression, economic crisis, credit collapse, bankruptcy, plummeting stocks, downsizing, job losses, bailouts, selloffs, and more.

While one could argue this could be a welcome diversion to the normal over commercialization and waste that is the holiday season, most others will see it as a deprivation of the joy and merriment reserved for this time of year. In times of crisis, I often turn to the wise words of my friend Molli: When in doubt, food is the answer. Yes, food! Food is a source of comfort, a product of love, and a means of sustenance. Food is nourishing, soothing, and satisfying. Food is indeed the answer, found in the nostalgic smell of baking cookies, the warming taste of hot cocoa, and the contentment of soup on a cold day.

Rather than breaking the bank by purchasing a truckload of gifts, instead I encourage you to celebrate the holiday season by sharing the ultimate gift with your loved ones: comfort food from the heart.

Vital Juice Daily is a website devoted to health of the mind, body and spirit. Offering free daily email tips, VJD has a “thirst for a healthy life” and shares this philosophy with readers. One recent post offered a little advice for those stressed by the current economic situation: Recession-Proof Your Mood.

If daily email tips sound a little intimidating or time consuming, don’t worry. The tips are short, sweet, and extremely relevant. The topics vary from fitness to beauty to food to general wellness.

Also check out Freshly Squeezed, an archive of weekly news, information, and healthy living tips from VJD.