The following is a guest post by Rebekah Hoffer of Simply Rebekah.
I strive to be a good steward of the Earth. I don’t litter. I recycle. I always use try to remember to use cloth grocery bags. How about what I put in those grocery bags? My favorite cookbook, More-with-Less Cookbook, looks at “how to eat better and consume less of the world’s limited food resourses.”
There is a way of wasting less, easting less, and spending less which gives not less but more – Doris Janzen Longacre, author of More-with-Less Cookbook
We have probably all heard our mothers say, “You better finish your food because there are starving kids in the world!” More-with-Less takes that cliche to a whole new level. Our moms were right! There are starving children and our diet can make a difference.
By being more aware of the food resourses we are eating; we can help put an end to our over-eating, over-consuming and over-spending habits. Of course the world’s hunger issues won’t change over night from one family’s diet. However, all change starts with just one step at a time. One family at a time!
Being a good steward with the Earth’s resouces is a great reason to love the More-With-Less Cookbook
1. Stretch Your Meat Farther - Many of the recipes focuse on getting the most out of your meat purchase by making casseroles, stews and soups.
2. Use Inexpensive Meat - Many of the dishes focus on chicken, ground beef or slowly cooking roasts.
3. Maximize Fuits & Vegetables - You’ll be able to avoid the high cost of exotic fruits and vegetables by using locally grown ingredients.
4. Flavors You Know & Ingredients You Have - Whenever I try to meal plan from just the ingredients that I already have on hand, I always turn to More-with-Less. Many of the dishes have flavors that my family is already familiar with and the ingredients are common place enough that I often have most of them on hand.
5. Dishes From Around The World - Although many of the recipes are classic comfort food for my family, More-with-Less is sprinkled with dishes from around the world. The dish Pakistani Kima is a great example.
My family has fallen in love with Pakistani Kima. The ingredients are very common in my everyday cooking, but the spices add an exotic twist.
Photo by Mad Culinarist
Pakistani Kima (Hamburger Curry)
Saute in skillet:
- 3 T. butter or margarine
- 1 c. chopped onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Add:
- 1 lb. ground beef
Brown well. Stir in:
- 1 T. curry powder
- 1.5 t. salt
- dash each pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and tumeric
- 2 c. cooked tomatoes
- 2 potatoes, diced
- 2 c. frozen peas or green beans
Cover and simmer 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Serve over rice.
Two of my other favorite recipes from More-with-Less are Curried Lentils and Honey-Baked Chicken.
This summer while gardens and farmer’s markets are in full swing, enjoy more local produce, beans and grains while having less expensive meats and processed foods. Your diet may have a bigger global impact than you think!
Editor’s note: this cookbook
Rebekah is a stay-at-home mom who blogs about living a frugal lifestyle, taking green baby steps and life in between at SimplyRebekah.com.
About Nicole
And eating this way can help your budget as well! The More With Less Cookbook is great! Great Post!
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Obviously, I’m crazy about this cookbook. I’d love to hear what are your favorite dishes! I’m always looking for recipe recommendations.
Rebekah from Simply Rebekah´s latest post: Eating More-with-Less {Plus DaySpring Winner!}
What a good reminder to me to be more aware of the food that we are buying, using and wasting. We’ve been cutting down on our meat over the last year and at this point we very rarely buy red meat. I really need to work on using the ingredients that I already have on hand, especially during the summer when our garden is filled with produce!
I’ve already copied this recipe and hope to try it soon with my family! Thanks for motivating me to break out my copy of More with Less and start using it!
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You bring up a good point, Donna. I always feel like I could do a better job at not wasting food. Maximizing my pantry is one thing I’m pretty good about, but sometimes left overs aren’t utilized like they should be.
Being better about food waste is better for my budget and the world’s resources!
Rebekah from Simply Rebekah´s latest post: Eating More-with-Less {Plus DaySpring Winner!}
great information. i am really trying to make baby steps towards a healthier and whole foods diet for a number of reasons.
thank you.
Melissa, I think that taking baby steps is the key! I get too overwhelmed and frustrated when I try to change my diet too drastically. Best of luck to you!
Rebekah from Simply Rebekah´s latest post: Planning Now for Frugal & Green Gifts of Jam
I love that cookbook too! Whenever I am feeling the need to cut back on my grocery budget, I pull out More-with-Less.
It’s so true that most of us could eat much less! And that doing so does make a difference to the world (and our bodies).
Great post Rebekah!
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Thanks, Stacy! I’d love to hear what are your favorite More-with-Less recipes. I’d love to try some new ones.
Rebekah from Simply Rebekah´s latest post: An Intentional Summer: My Summer Fun List
(Just an FYI Resources is spelled incorrectly in the post title)
Thank you for sharing this book and what your family does. How often do we not pay attention to the packaging. Just the other day I got some medicine that was in a safety-sealed bottle AND in a cardboard box that was about three times bigger then the bottle. What a waste.
Buying pre-washed lettuce is a waste of plastic. Instead use reusable bags, get the loose lettuce and wash at home. The extra 30 seconds it takes to wash at home is worth the sometimes almost $1 you save on the loose-leaf lettuce.
I have to say I’m excited to hit tomorrow’s Farmers Market too!
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Alaina, I just started using these reusable produce bags made by Fabrik on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fabrik?ref=ss_profile#
I love them! Are they similar to what you use?
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Somewhat similar – I like those bags though.
I’ve been using these Ditty bags for things like apples – http://www.ecobags.com/Ditty_Bag?sc=2&category=35
For the smaller things like peas and lettuce these -
http://www.ecobags.com/Organic-Cloth-Sack-large?sc=2&category=35
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After my mom died I put in a special request to my dad to have my mom’s well-worn copy of the “More-with-Less Cookbook”. My favorite recipe from it is Lentil-Barley stew. Total comfort food for me. I’ve made the kima lots except I don’t eat meat and use extra-firm tofu in its place.
How funny–I given this cookbook as a hand-me-down last summer. I still haven’t really looked through it, but I want to. Now I’m motivated
.
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I WAS given, that is. Oops!
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Another one of my favorites is the Vegetable Chowder on page 200. It is good as a vegetarian dish or you can add leftover chicken or turkey to it. Yum!
Rebekah from Simply Rebekah´s latest post: Planning Now for Frugal & Green Gifts of Jam
What great tips! Thanks for sharing. Gotta love Trader Joes, wish I had one closer to me….
Loved this post! More-With-Less was given to me by my world-traveling Aunt. She wrote on the inside cover that ‘Wherever you are in the world, you will eat well if you use this book’. After spending two years overseas I have found how true it is. It had so many helpful recipes for meals I missed from home, as well as substitution information. Along with being a great cookbook, it has changed the way I eat and cook and made me grateful for that which I have.
My favorite recipes are Oyako Domburi, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup (Pho), tortillas, Spanish noodle skillet.
thanks for this recipe – i will make it!
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Hi Nicole, great post and tips! You have good point here: ”There are starving children and our diet can make a difference.” And I’m guilty! Thank you for sharing these earth friendly tips and your healthy Pakistani Kima (Hamburger Curry)!
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Putting the Pakistani Kima on my menu plan next week! Looks delicious!
There is another great cookbook by the Mennonites called Simply In Season. A must have if you like More-With-Less!
Hmmm.. Great Recipe.. I’ll try this some other time.. I can’t wait to taste it..Yummy..
I have found that once I get in the habit of doing things it becomes easier. There was a time when I used to throw away meat and other ingredients because I didn’t get around to using them in time. Now I tend to buy the food I need on a daily basis and everything gets used up. Thanks for the recipe, adding potatoes to a meat dish really helps to reduce the amount of meat you need.
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Great post !! According to experts at this year’s American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, when food becomes scarce, people consume more unsafe foods.
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Thanks for the great info. I just made this recipe last night and I really liked it! My husband is West Indian so we always have curry powder and turmeric lying around
So I went ahead and ordered the book, I even found a used copy with spiral binding like yours. Thanks for the inspiration