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- Wednesday, May 19, 2010: Excuses, excuses...
- Wednesday, February 10, 2010:
- Friday, January 29, 2010:
- Wednesday, December 9, 2009: Burnt Applesauce
- Tuesday, December 8, 2009:
- Thursday, November 19, 2009: Replying-to-Comments as Blog
- Tuesday, November 17, 2009: Update
- Thursday, October 22, 2009: Keep it Coming!
- Sunday, October 18, 2009: Not Paris
- Wednesday, October 14, 2009: When Life Hands You Crab Apples, Make Jelly
Crowing the New Frugality–Hodding Unleashed
It makes sense, of course, that a person writing about being frugal in these hard times would lose his platform for financial reasons, but it doesn’t make it any easier–especially since said loss was the result of the unnecessary demise of an excellent publication. Gourmet of 2009 had changed and adapted itself to the times so well that pulling the plug on it only highlights the desperate decision-making currently running amok in the publishing world. I’m sure Bon Appetit, Conde Nast’s remaining culinary magazine, is a decent publication, but I know Gourmet and Bon Appetit is no Gourmet magazine. I’m sad to see the old lady go.
Under Ruth Reichl’s leadership Gourmet maintained an enviable level of dignity and integrity while carefully shedding its stodgy, upper-class past, publishing articles that those who were aware of its reboot actually wanted to read. Again and again, it both whetted and sated our appetite for culinary knowledge and delicious food. Perhaps the general public may not have realized this because the covers didn’t catch up with the new content and Gourmet subscribers who focused only on the recipes may have remained oblivious, but for the last ten years, Gourmet magazine published some damn fine writing (except the few articles by me, of course). I particularly enjoyed the food-politics stories brought in by editor Jane Daniels Lear that other culinary magazines wouldn’t have touched with triple-insulated Teflon oven mitts. I will miss both reading and writing for it.
[Warning: shameless segue] I did want to take this opportunity, however, to announce the rebirth of my old column/blog, Extreme Frugality, that I was doing for www.gourmet.com. I’ve changed the name to The Frugal Guy for now but am definitely open to suggestions. I’d like to come up with something fun and enticing that both includes my whole family and helps attract more miser-wannabes to our site. I’ll send a bottle of Hod’s Mead Batch #2 (the first batch was a failure–remember?) to the person who comes up with the winning name. Lisa and the kids will be the judges. On second thought, I might also toss in a live rooster. They’ve been driving me crazy.
As some of you may know, we birthed a dozen or so chicks last May in Angus’s kindergarten class. A fox (a real one) got 3 or so and we ended up with 8 chickens by the end of this past summer. Five of these turned out to be roosters. While I’ve become a huge fan of these creatures and find them adorable even, our neighbors aren’t too amused by all the crowing. A full grown rooster’s cock-a-doodle-do is difficult to take on account of its volume, repetition and timing (they DO NOT wait until daylight to crow; in fact they seem to crow 24/7; very interesting, huh?) but a rooster-in-training, on the other hand, is intolerable. It’s a waffling, warbling irritating cacophony that will drive you batty–and I’m not exaggerating.
Since our 6-year-old Angus has grown rather attached to the birds, the “fox”, not me, got three of them last weekend. The unamusing irony hidden within these timely deaths, though, is that only two young roosters had started to practice crowing. One would think it would be the bigger, bolder birds doing such practicing and one would really think that the “fox” would have killed at least one of the crowers-in-training, if not both, when he carefully selected his prey late last Tuesday after all the kids were asleep. But no, come Wednesday morning, there were still two cackling roosters, firing up earlier than usual at 3:30 am. What are the odds (really–what are the odds. somebody write in. please.)? Somehow, we recovered the birds from the “fox” and I hung the headless silenced ones in the basement knowing the kids wouldn’t happen upon them because they’re all a little afraid of that dank, dark, moldy dungeon. I was only planning on hanging them for a day–two at the most since they were so young and relatively skinny. I say relatively–sorry about all the asides and parentheticals but I no longer have an editor, hee-hee–because about 2 weeks ago my friend Adam gave us a 10-pound rooster he’d recently raised. It was Costello to our bird’s Abbott and had been so genetically programed to stuff itself silly that it couldn’t even walk to the food bowl, let alone out in the yard, its last few weeks because it was so fat. In comparison, our birds were winged Don Knotts, they were so skinny.
Back to their being hanged in the basement: I couldn’t get to them the second day and then on the third I scratched my eye so badly while clearing brush to triple the size of our vegetable plot that I couldn’t dress them then either. Now, I hate relating this, but I believe in full disclosure, epecially when it comes to my own failings. Wish I didn’t, in fact, but be that as it is, the morning of the fourth day I was planning on throwing them away without Lisa knowing it–but with a guilty heart. However, we’ve been together 17 years. She was on to me. Fast–like Snowflake (our rooster for all you new readers) on his lovely henfolk.
“Hodding, you have to do something about those roosters. Today! It would be plain wrong if you just let them rot. You can’t do it.”
I wanted to be mean and respond, “Why don’t you do it, smarty pants?” but I knew she’d do it if she had the time. I kept my mouth shut and got to work.
I butchered a fair number of birds while I was in the Peace Corps in Kenya in the mid-1980s but I still can’t claim it ever became a pleasant business–and especially after they’ve been hanging around for 4 days. To be clear: they smelled. For the life of me, as I carefully removed the bloated intestines, I couldn’t see why upper-crust Brits extol the virtues of multiple-day hung birds. Ok, hanging may soften the meat but was it worth putrification, and more importantly, wouldn’t we get sick? (Apparently not. We’ve eaten them for 3 days now. I guess it’s just the feces you have to stay clear of.) We love the 1/2 cow we bought last summer and it was hung for 4 days by the butcher but that was in a refrigerated room. Our basement was probably 55 degrees–nowhere near cold enough to ward off bacteria. Anyway, after abusing the first bird so badly while plucking his feathers that I had to remove all his skin to cover my mistakes, I decided that although Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall didn’t suggest dipping the birds in boiling water for a second or two, I was going to give it a try. I had a faint memory of doing such a thing while plucking in Africa and it certainly couldn’t make things worse. In fact, it didn’t. The 10-second immersion in boiling water made the feathers almost fall off on their own. (Hugh, it is my humble opinion that you definitely need to include this step in any future reprints of MEAT. Ok–if you ever see this, that is?)
About an hour later, three slightly smelly, naked birds waited patiently on our kitchen counter for some sort of culinary rescue.
Well, thank God for the French. It turns out Coq au Vin was developed explicitly for dealing with the unwanted, male offspring of laying hens. For thousands of years farmers had no idea what to do with these miserable creatures, shunned on account of their skinniness and toughness, let alone their inability to lay an egg. What to do. What to do. What to do?”
“Mon dieu!” Pierre of the crooked nose and wart-infested face exclaimed one lazy afternoon. ”What makes me more appealing to Mademoiselle Amiee? Lots of brandy and red wine, of course. They make anything appealing. Bring me those coqs!”
And that, roughly speaking, is how the French saved civilization… or at least the unwanted rooster. In MEAT, Hugh bemoans the falling-out-of-favor of this once indispensable dish much as we’re now saddened by the death of Gourmet (like how I’m tying it all back to the Evil Empire’s decision to murder the rebellious Gourmet?), but I’m guessing we’ll soon see a return-to-favor for this hearty meal considering how many people started raising laying hens this year, especially if they follow Hugh’s recipe. It was divine. Our three girls, in the know as to the chickens’ true provenance, have had many helpings and Angus likes it too. The meat was moist, tender and since those birds were the free’est ranging things imaginable, quite healthy too. Best of all, the booze, onions and garlic vanquished the unpleasant odor and so even I was able to enjoy them.
Since this is the first time on my own, I’m not positive I can include his recipe here, but I’ll check out the legality and if possible, post tomorrow.
I hope you’ve enjoyed your time here today and I will do a much better job of reigning myself in in the future. Promise.
Farewell, Gourmet!
By the way, Lisa found the cheapest host possible for this site which explains the picture of the stranger at the top of this page. She came with this “literary” template provided by the hosting company. I’m looking into replacing her with something frugal soon–although I have nothing against her. I just don’t know if she’s a penny-pincher.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 10:01
Congratulations on a speedy transition! “The Frugal Guy?” We can do better than that, I’m sure. Looking forward to your continuing adventures.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 10:52
I’m actually embarrassed that I picked “The Frugal Guy.” There are thousands of them out there. How about: He’s Growing Up. Nah, that’s lame and still doesn’t include my family–the mainstay of our new frugality. Hey… I just googled The New Frugality. I don’t think anyone is using that as a blog tagline. Hmmm. Boring.
I’ve got it! How about: Chasing the Nearings?
Help!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 11:43
Hope you learned your lesson with those roosters … that being that coq au vin is wonderful stuff and it is the culmination of the rooster’s being (at least from the human perspective. You should add a recipe since it is not difficult … brown the cut up birds in some fat, maybe bacon fat, remove, brown some strong onions, add some mushrooms (wild are better this time of year), put it all back together, add water and cheap red wine. Cook slowly (stove or oven) in a closed dutch oven until the meat is falling off of the bone. Variations abound. Like it a bit creamy, dust the chicken in flour before you brown the birds.
As for your month of no money … what is with this peat moss stuff anyhow. It is way over priced, should not be removed from its peat-bogs anyhow and is too acidic for anything except blueberries. You are right, ground leaves and pine needles are a better substitute.
You’re doing ok.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 12:00
Hodding, so glad to see you made such a speedy transition! I look forward to your posts (and read all of them in one sitting when I first found them), and was heartbroken when I found out about Gourmet! Looking forward to hearing more from the Frugal Guy.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 12:49
How about “Living Richly On the Cheap”
I’m heartbroken that Gourmet is done. I hope that, like you, all of Gourmet’s wonderful writers, editors, chefs and cooks find outlets through which they may continue to share their tremendous talents.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 13:27
Hodding, glad to see you’ll continue to blog about your family’s new frugal ways! Looking forward to keeping up with the (working title) Frugal Guy!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 14:38
Thought of you first when I heard Gourmet would be no longer. I have read all of your postings–so fascinating!
Glad you have somewhere else to write–and maybe even more than a post a week?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 15:45
Why not “Frugaland” as you used in one of your articles - its already copyrighted
Just discovered the Extreme Frugality series today through a link on Boston Gal’s Open Wallet (bostongals.com). Read every entry beginning to end - love it! Beautifully written and entertaining. I look forward to a book and reading the blog. Good luck to you on this new adventure.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 15:59
I’ll be visiting. I read some of your old columns on the Gourmet site–love them.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 08:03
Hodding, thanks for starting this blog. Love this series. Cleaning roosters, oh my. Devastated about Gourmet, such greatness/cleverness. Good luck with everything.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 08:48
How about “Hodding Saves”
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 13:22
Great to see you’re keeping the blog going, love it! I too thought, “Oh no, no more Extreme Frugality!” when I heard about Gourmet closing. So glad you’re so nimble! will ponder a name suggestion. However, am very glad to see you liberated from your editor! i love all of the asides and parentheticals, too hilarious!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 13:50
Found you via Boston Gal. Very interesting. Sorry you were sent packing with the close of Gourmet. I always loved their readers’ poll.
BTW, you may wish to fix your blogroll soon since it has the default entries that come with this blog template. (You disable them in WordPress so they are not visible.)
Good luck and happy blogging!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 15:44
you would “rein” yourself in, not “reign”
rein as in horses, not reign as in kings.
editors! editors are good!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 16:28
Always loved the term “austerity binge”
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 19:44
What about “Substainable Sustenance” .
Or, as one famous rooster used to say ” Sufferin’
Succotash “. I wonder if he ended up on the supper table?
I once helped my husbands’ grandmother slaughter a rooster and an old chicken . She hung them upside down on a clothesline and cut their throats. She let them bleed out and then we dunked them in boiling water and plucked them. They had had good lives on the farm and her method of slaughter was matter of fact but, humane. It is very humbling to help “kill” your dinner .
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at 22:20
Hodding - Keep trying to comment and it thinks I’m spam for some reason. Sorry to hear about Gourmet, but glad you found a place to continue blogging.
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 09:23
I thought Extreme Frugality was an excellent name. Perhaps a new name could be Extreme Frugality with the Carter Family.
Thanks for keeping Frugality alive!
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 22:51
I loved your Extreme Frugality blog on Gourmet and am happy to see that I can continue to follow your extreme adventures online. Here’s my suggestion for a new blog name: Mainely Frugal.
Friday, October 9, 2009 at 09:08
I am happy to see that you have found a site to continue your ramblings/writing on frugality. At least one thing that I love about Gourmet can continue. As for titles, how about
Living Cheap
The Frugal Family Life
On Being Frugal, Teenagers Included
-Robin
Friday, October 9, 2009 at 09:14
I just wanted to let you know that the time stamp on your blog appears to be off in some way. I added your web address to a list the list on my blog of blogs i follow and it says your last post was 2 weeks ago, which is back when we all thought Gourmet would continue forever.
-Robin
Friday, October 9, 2009 at 11:21
I am so pleased to see that you are continuing your blog!
Carters That (or Who) Barter is my name suggestion.
Keep the Dream Alive!
Friday, October 9, 2009 at 19:56
So glad your still here.
We need all the help we can get here in the metro Washington, DC area.
How about Ruthlessly Frugal? Although Chasing the Nearings is pretty good.
- Kelly
Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 02:18
I’m so glad you got yourself a blog of your own! I was so sorry to hear about Gourmet shutting down after so many years - quite a curve ball for you guys to catch.
Enjoy the freedom of the blog - it’s kind of nice being able to Just Talk without an editor saying, “Well, but, THAT’S not ‘on topic’ now, is it. How about another piece on washing Ziploc baggies, THAT’S always a winner…”
Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 12:05
Dear Hodding,
I caught your interview on Marketplace Money. I made the move to frugality in 1969 in Alaska of course. Your goal is to pay off debts. I think you’ve set the goal a bit low and are hanging on to needless nescessities.
I went to no car, no TV, no phone, and of course there were no computers to rid myself of in 1969. It took six months- just like any addict needs to come out of their addiction. I understood that the possessions owned me. I was their slave. The sence of freedom was exquisite.
You can see I do have a computer now. But it serves me and that makes all the difference.
My website is “Free For All” I don’t need to be reimbursed for my stories and novel. Enjoy at: http://www.tofreeforall.info
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 12:50
how will you handle clothes for kids as they grow out of them? (especially in the clothes-conscious/brand-conscious teen years) won’t you just write a book about this and get out of debt that way? sure worked for the writer of the tightwad gazette.
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 16:03
Just heard you on Marketplace and couldn’t get to my computer fast enough to follow up. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts. Frugality rocks!
How about “Fortunately Frugal”? Sounds as though you are feeling pretty fortunate to have discovered your new lifestyle - and you’re saving a fortune living this way.
Can’t wait to hear the continuing saga. Keep it up.
Monday, October 12, 2009 at 00:41
Glad to catch the blog, and to see that you’ve fixed a few of the formatting hiccups! One techie note, since you said you’re still figuring things out - it’s def. best to post photos with somewhat low resolution (72 dpi is the general practice, since few monitors have higher resolution than that). I love the image of your son, but at 2M, it slows down the page load time appreciably especially for frugal folks on dial-up.
I’m more excited about the content than the name, but really like austerity binge, as Jane suggested above. Good luck on this next step in things!
Monday, October 12, 2009 at 11:48
Why not use Blogger it’s Free! But I guess you’ve already paid for hosting.
And PS, Gourmet was anything but frugal - and FOR anyone but frugal lifestyle folks - you have made a step up IMHO.
Your subtitle is pretty good - Life In The Cheap Lane - how about Family Life In The Cheap Lane? “Family” and “Cheap” are good search terms
Good luck we need more like you out there.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009 at 10:40
I’ll try to stay current with responding to comments but don’t really know the best way to do it. Besides thanking you all for reading and then an extra thanks for those who left comments, I’d like to address abondanza’s comment concerning clothes and my future book. As far as the clothes are concerned, we’ve been wearing hand-me-downs for a while and will continue to do so. Lisa and I don’t buy new clothes unless we’re out of something or every type of clothing is ruined or has too many holes. While we don’t expect the kids to follow suit, we’re hoping this will rub off on them. That said, we don’t want them to feel left out so this fall we bought them a new outfit and then they used their own money to buy whatever else they “had to have.” That’s where having so many laying hens comes in handy. Even after paying for the feed, the 4 kids usually make $25-30 a month.
Now, as far as getting out of debt on the proceeds of my next book: please, oh please, let that happen! I’ve been writing professionally for 20 years and haven’t struck it rich yet–but you never know. However, since that outcome is highly unlikely, I’d say our new lifestyle and way of thinking will simply make being a writer more financially manageable. In other words, I just don’t see the striking-it-rich thing happening. But if it did, despite the 1,000,000 to 1 odds, I doubt we’d go back to the way we were. We’re a happier and better family as things now stand.
Lastly, thanks for all the blog title ideas. I like them all but don’t want to say which one I’m leaning toward until I make a final decision later this week. I just tried another bottle of the mead this weekend and it’s getting better and better. Hope the winner enjoys it!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 08:44
I’m happy that you’ve picked up the banner and writing here. I’ve enjoyed your adventures in frugality and have been a fan of the assorted hodding carters for some years (being a sometime Mississippi girl). I’m so sad for everyone at gourmet. The lady is greatly mourned.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 22:25
Oh, I just love coming up with names for things. I think Lisa already named it for you though; “Frugal Hodding” is just perfect.
And while I’m mourning the loss of Gourmet, it’s because of that event that I found your blog (I generally never looked at the website but found myself browsing for memories). Have happily bookmarked, RSS’d, labeled, and tagged the spot for return visits. More please!
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 18:11
Love the initiative you’ve taken with this website.
About the building- I think it’s common? I watched food inc, and in one segment during an interview, the farmer butchers the chicken, then quickly dips it in boiling water, etc like an assembly line.
In terms of names… just don’t pick anything cheesy!! Extreme frugality was great bc it wasn’t cheesy. If it is cheesy, it tends to get lost among the crowd you know. Frugal Hodding sounds great.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 23:25
What about one of the words you\’ve previously made up? Like \’Frugaland\’ or \’Fellow Fruglaistas\’. Ok, so they are cheesy, like Alisa says to avoid. I\’m with her on liking Frugal Hodding. It\’s easy to remember and google, too. I just found your posts on gourmet, completely by accident. I loved them. I\’m so glad there are more, and will continue to be. I am not brave enough to go anywhere near as extreme, but I am trying to at least be more thoughtful in my spending - and not to just give up and buy skanky supermarket veggies. When I was a poor student, I not only wouldn\’t have dreamt of it, I wouldn\’t have been able to - it was the markets (mmm, delicious) or home grown or nothing. I\’m aiming to get back to how I lived then, except maybe with fewer noodles. And maybe some chickens? Thanks for the inspiration!