Poverty Food

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pepperhead212
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Location: Woodbury, NJ

Re: Poverty Food

#121

Post: # 78445Unread post pepperhead212
Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:55 pm

I've never had a problem with chlorine in my bread, but I can imagine in some places how it could be a problem, with their Chlorox drinking water! Some places are so bad I could taste the chlorine from just a few ice cubes they would have in a glass of iced tea, FI.

When I first started baking bread, at school, I used to collect the beer "foam" out of the kegs (I didn't drink much beer, but I loved getting this!) into a huge stockpot I had, and bring it to a boil, to get rid of the alcohol, so the yeast can grow, and it was a great way to get that flavor in the breads - something I later accomplished with the preferments. I would freeze that, when I could get it, and use it in breads and pizza doughs, as well recipes I learned early on, that used beer - cheap when you're just using the leftovers, but not if you are buying beer just for the recipes, at least now.
Woodbury, NJ zone 7a/7b

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bower
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Location: Newfoundland, Canada

Re: Poverty Food

#122

Post: # 78473Unread post bower
Tue Sep 13, 2022 6:41 am

My grandmother made bread with "barm" that she made from hops. My mom would like to try and recreate that, if I can get her some hops this fall.
This recipe might be closest, but I doubt that my grandmother had any 'emptins' to work with.
https://www.innatthecrossroads.com/emptins-ale-barm/
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm

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Tormato
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Re: Poverty Food

#123

Post: # 78475Unread post Tormato
Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:56 am

Bower wrote: Sun Sep 11, 2022 10:41 am Just out of curiosity, I did a little math to figure out my cost per loaf.
The 113 gram jar of yeast at $5, light olive oil at $7 for 750 ml, works out to 12 cents a loaf for those and you can throw in the pinch of salt for a penny.
With the unbleached white flour gone up to $9 for 5 kilos, a white loaf will cost me 82 cents total.
Last spelt I bought was a whopping $23 for 2.5 kilos, so a loaf with one cup of spelt costs $1.72. More than double the price.
This is one reason I am trialing out grains because if I can grow my own spelt or other whole grain I can make delicious bread for less.
But still, with the price of a loaf of bread around $5, my cost is still less than half of retail by baking my own.
I have no way of reckoning in the energy cost of the hot water and the baking, but if that's a concern then the thing to do is bake 2 or 3 loaves at a time. I don't think household baking is a big energy cost.
Spelt - I haven't had a loaf of bread with spelt in it for a few years. To me, it's just about the best tasting bread that I've ever had. So, do I go searching through the 100s of different breads in the several local stores, and try to find a loaf?

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brownrexx
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Location: Southeast PA, zone 6b

Re: Poverty Food

#124

Post: # 78478Unread post brownrexx
Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:23 am

I received some spelt as a foodie Christmas gift a couple of years ago. I had never heard of it before but when I baked some biscuits out of it I found it to be delicious. I have not had any since then.

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bower
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Re: Poverty Food

#125

Post: # 78481Unread post bower
Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:46 am

@Tormato I don't know about finding a loaf of spelt, that would depend on your local bakeries. I personally have never seen one here. But the spelt flour is available here and there, certainly on Amazon.
I agree 100%, the spelt is the most delicious of flours for bread. I grew two spelts this year, but haven't threshed (or shucked!) yet, and not sure how practical it is without special equipment to dehull them. But my spelt adventures are just beginning... !! It's adapted to the north anyway and is probably the most hardy grain out there. That is aside from being the most delicious!
I'm also hoping to get seed for a hullless spelt from a breeder in Washington. It is OSSI pledged but not commercially available. Fingers crossed I can get some to plant next fall and grow up the seed for a full patch and more.
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm

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worth1
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Location: 25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas

Re: Poverty Food

#126

Post: # 78483Unread post worth1
Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:52 am

Mesquite bean bread.
flour made from mesquite beans.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Tormato
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Re: Poverty Food

#127

Post: # 78493Unread post Tormato
Tue Sep 13, 2022 2:45 pm

worth1 wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:52 am Mesquite bean bread.
flour made from mesquite beans.
That sounds much like the Tuscarora Bread bean grown by the Iroquois of the northeast.

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Tormato
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Re: Poverty Food

#128

Post: # 78494Unread post Tormato
Tue Sep 13, 2022 2:50 pm

Bower wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:46 am @Tormato I don't know about finding a loaf of spelt, that would depend on your local bakeries. I personally have never seen one here. But the spelt flour is available here and there, certainly on Amazon.
I agree 100%, the spelt is the most delicious of flours for bread. I grew two spelts this year, but haven't threshed (or shucked!) yet, and not sure how practical it is without special equipment to dehull them. But my spelt adventures are just beginning... !! It's adapted to the north anyway and is probably the most hardy grain out there. That is aside from being the most delicious!
I'm also hoping to get seed for a hullless spelt from a breeder in Washington. It is OSSI pledged but not commercially available. Fingers crossed I can get some to plant next fall and grow up the seed for a full patch and more.
Elwha?

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karstopography
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Location: Southeast Texas

Re: Poverty Food

#129

Post: # 78495Unread post karstopography
Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:23 pm

worth1 wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:52 am Mesquite bean bread.
flour made from mesquite beans.
https://cappadonaranch.com/products/cap ... bean-flour

This mesquite bean flour is available for purchase. It is also a “Poverty” food as a person will likely soon be impoverished buying this powder at these prices!
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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bower
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Re: Poverty Food

#130

Post: # 78497Unread post bower
Tue Sep 13, 2022 6:42 pm

@Tormato Yep. :) Elwha River.
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm

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worth1
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Location: 25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas

Re: Poverty Food

#131

Post: # 78498Unread post worth1
Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:24 pm

karstopography wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:23 pm
worth1 wrote: Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:52 am Mesquite bean bread.
flour made from mesquite beans.
https://cappadonaranch.com/products/cap ... bean-flour

This mesquite bean flour is available for purchase. It is also a “Poverty” food as a person will likely soon be impoverished buying this powder at these prices!
But it has rave reviews.
They probably make 300K a year.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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pepperhead212
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Re: Poverty Food

#132

Post: # 78500Unread post pepperhead212
Tue Sep 13, 2022 7:37 pm

I figured you'd be growing, drying, and grinding the beans yourself, otherwise it definitely would not be a low price flour!
Woodbury, NJ zone 7a/7b

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karstopography
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Re: Poverty Food

#133

Post: # 78503Unread post karstopography
Tue Sep 13, 2022 8:29 pm

I just ordered some spelt flour. Definitely cheaper than mesquite. I’m all in on a spelt focaccia.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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worth1
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Re: Poverty Food

#134

Post: # 78514Unread post worth1
Wed Sep 14, 2022 5:05 am

I could get rich making mesquite flour in west Texas.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Tormato
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Re: Poverty Food

#135

Post: # 78520Unread post Tormato
Wed Sep 14, 2022 6:57 am

And, I'd be in poverty making mesquite flour, up here, as we have no mesquite trees.

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worth1
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Location: 25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas

Re: Poverty Food

#136

Post: # 78524Unread post worth1
Wed Sep 14, 2022 8:09 am

Mesquite beans are a West Texas pack rat favorite.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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worth1
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Re: Poverty Food

#137

Post: # 78738Unread post worth1
Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:23 pm

There's only one thing money can't buy and that's poverty.
Worth
25 miles southeast of Waterloo Texas.

You can't argue with a closed mind.
You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Sue_CT
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Location: Connecticut Zone 6A

Re: Poverty Food

#138

Post: # 78740Unread post Sue_CT
Sat Sep 17, 2022 3:30 pm

You know Tormato reminded me, a pound or two of whatever pasta is on sale with marinara, or EVOO with some salt, pepper and parm, a few chopped herbs or a sprinkling of dried italien seasoning if you have them, or even just butter, salt, pepper and parm will taste good and fill you up. Not highly nutritious, but will give you calories you need to prevent yourself from starving that is for sure.

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karstopography
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Re: Poverty Food

#139

Post: # 78761Unread post karstopography
Sat Sep 17, 2022 7:41 pm

My daughter lived on Pasta with melted butter and Parmesan cheese. About all she would eat for a few years.
Zone 9b, located in the Columbia bottomlands, annual rainfall 46”

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pepperhead212
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Location: Woodbury, NJ

Re: Poverty Food

#140

Post: # 78767Unread post pepperhead212
Sat Sep 17, 2022 8:16 pm

If you're using parmesan and butter, it's not poverty food these days!
Woodbury, NJ zone 7a/7b

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