A Garden to Feed the Masses

Its that time of year again, time to gather up the trowels, irrigation hoses, seeds and the like, time to start planting the summer garden. With a household of, well quite a few, its not only healthier but cost effective to start growing some of our own fruit and vegetables.

A first for the house we have planned, and built, two raised beds. Eight feet long by four feet wide and six inches deep. The dimension is not to be so big that we cannot manage them but also that that we can easily reach across the beds to weed, harvest and water accordingly. Still early in the building but we have the frames set and ready to be filled with soil. Before we fill the beds a layer of cardboard will be put down to discourage grass from sprouting up from below. If all serves well there might be a few more as we become more adept at tending our urban garden. 

The seed trays are primed and ready now its just to wait for mother nature to work her magic and then a summer of abundance will begin.

Soon to come rain barrels for the gardens, possibly a few for the down spouts of the house. The continued feeding and turning of the two compost containers begun earlier in January, we all have a lot of work to keep us busy this summer.  

Polyamory ~ Priestess S

Prior to meeting Jack the prefix 'poly' was just another Greek term for many. After a series of failed monogamous relationships I found myself vaguely searching internet sites for someone to share my life with. You know that fairy tale so popularized by society, I had not found it and, up to that point my options online they aren't all that great.  But I digress...

  I had not looked in on that site for a while, nor the email account attached to it, then something told me to check up on both accounts and see if there had been any activity. There it was, an email letting me know I had a message; a simple invitation to peruse a profile and then make a choice.

At first I was hesitant. Like so many, the notion of poly anything in regard to a relationship brought up images of early mormons and current offshoot cults and their activities recently in the media. The missive was old, almost a month, but after mulling in the solitary life I figured 'what the heck, lets see if I even get a response.'  If I gained a friend that would be preferable to nothing.  The worst that could happen would be I was too late and wouldn't hear from him. To my surprise, I got a response. After a quick exchange of cell numbers and a series of questions, we met up for coffee.

     Admittedly, I was nervous as heck and expecting that, like so many times, I was setting myself up to be disappointed. I was mistaken, for it was a roaring success.  We continued to text and soon he invited me to come and meet Lily and Cupcake, already a bit leery of how I'd be accepted, or even if I'd be accepted. I agreed and in a short while, met two wonderful women and a gaggle of great kids.

  Fast forward a year and I'm still here. I cannot imagine not being with Jack or spending time with the family. I haven't given up on that fairy tale completely, hopeless romantic that I am.  I'm still looking for others to share my life with and as it goes right now I would want to continue expanding my branch of this poly family. Time will tell.

-Priestess S

House Recipes

With a goal to be as healthy as possible and, well of course, to feed everyone. Jack and Lily have compiled a few scrumptious recipes that are healthier than some and definitely filling!

Here they are:

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

2 cloves garlic, Minced

1 (15 oz) Can garbanzo beans, drained

1/3 cup Tahini

1/3 cup Lemon Juice

½ cup roasted red peppers

¼ tsp dried basil.

Bison & Broccoli

2 tsp peanut oil

1 inch fresh ginger

2 scallions

2 garlic cloves

½ tsp red pepper flakes

Zest of 1 orange

½ lb bison steak

2 cups broccoli

1 red bell pepper

2 Tbsp soy

2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar

½ cup beer

1 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp water

In a skillet combine in this order:

Oil, ginger, scallions, garlic: 30 seconds

pepper flakes & Orange Zest: 20 seconds

Meat: light brown (2 min)

broccoli, Pepper: 1 min

Soy, vinegar, Beer- bring to boil

Mix water and flour: add to mixture. Cook for 15 min

Serve over rice.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

1 cup strong coffee

¾ cup milk

2 Tbsp Pumpkin

½ tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp ginger

¼ tsp nutmeg

Heat milk, pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg until very hot and our into a blender, blend until frothy & add coffee.

Slow cooked Tex-Mex Chicken

1 lb chicken, cubed

2 Tbsp flour

2 Tbsp taco seasonings

1 jar salsa

2 peppers (One red one green)

1 cup frozen corn

rice

Combine flour and taco seasoning in a crock pot. Add chicken, salsa, peppers. Cook for 6-8 hours on low, 3-4 hours on high. With 1 hour left add the corn to the mix. Serve over rice.

Nutella-ish

Smashed banana

crushed hazelnuts

sugar/sweetener

cocoa

Toss all items into a food processor, add sugar/sweetener & cocoa to taste and mix away till smooth. Also, yogurt can be added and the whole mixture frozen for a tasty treat.

Chicken Gyro

Pitas

¾ cut cooked brown rice

1 large chicken breast

1 cucumber

½ cup Greek yogurt

1 tsp fresh basil

1 tsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic

salt

1 tsp olive oil

pepper

Season with pepper and cook chicken breast in the oil. Shred ½ of the cucumber, sprinkle with salt and let sit for 30 min. then Mix it with yogurt, basil, lemon juice, garlic and salt.

Greek Yogurt

1 liter whole milk

2-3 Tbsp yogurt

Heat milk to just under boiling, pour in glass dish

let cool to 104F, add yogurt to a few Tablespoons of milk, pour into milk with out disturbing the surface.

Cover with cloth, let sit in warm place for 8-12 hours. Drain excess liquid.

For Thicker yogurt put mixture into a muslin bag to drain more liquid.

Curry Tuna Salad

½ cup cottage cheese

1 can tuna

1 stalk Celery

½ tsp curry powder

Mix together and serve on bread or crackers.

Artichoke Spinach Dip

½ can artichoke hearts (drained)

2 cup spinach, chopped well

½ can white kidney beans

¾ cup cottage cheese

1 egg

Add to food processor & bake at 400F for 20-25 min.

Balsamic Honey Chicken

1 ½ tsp dried thyme

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

1 tsp olive oil

1 lb chicken

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp honey

Combine thyme, salt and pepper and season the chicken with it. Cook chicken in oil until done, remove from heat. Add balsamic vinegar and honey to pan and cook on medium/low until thick, pour over chicken.

Salmon Patties

2 cans salmon DO NOT DRAIN

1 cup large flake oats

1 Tbsp lemon juice

3 egg whites

2 green onions

1 ½ Tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp celery seed

pepper

Mix all together, bake 4 patties at 350F for 20 min.

Frozen Chocolate Bananas

5-6 ripe bananas

1 ¼ cup unsalted peanut butter

½ cup honey

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Blend and pour in lined mini muffin pan, freeze. Before serving thaw for 10 minutes then eat.

Enchiladas

1 chicken breast-cooked

onion

1 head garlic – pressed

1 cup zucchini

1 red pepper

handful chopped olives

1 cup frozen corn

¾ cup button mushrooms

3 cups spinach

10 corn or whole grain tortillas

2 cups enchilada sauce ***

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp oregano

salt & pepper

Saute onion and garlic and add spices. Add veggies and cook until soft. Add mushrooms & Spinach. Once wilted remove from heat. Use 1/3 veggie mix and add to chicken and ¾ cup enchilada sauce to bottom of a pan, fill a tortilla, roll and top with sauces, cover with foil and bake at 375F for 20 min. remove foil for last few minutes.

Enchilada Sauce***

2 cups water

8 oz tomato sauce

juice of 2 limes

cumin

chili powder

Salt

Pepper

1 tsp corn starch

Toss in a pot, Cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to simmer and add corn starch to thicken, whisking constantly.

Chicken Parmesan

2 tsp olive oil

½ cup onion

green pepper

2 cloves garlic

2 tsp oregano

28 oz crushed tomatoes

1 tsp tomato paste

½ cup whole wheat bread crumbs

1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

½ tsp thyme

¼ tsp salt & Pepper

4- 4 oz chicken breast pounded to 1 inch thickness

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

½ cup shredded mozzarella

8 oz pasta

¼ cups fresh basil (garnish)

In a large sauce pan put the olive oil, onion green pepper and garlic to saute. Add oregano, tomatoes and paste and bring to a simmer for 20-30 min.

Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, thyme, salt and pepper, for breading. Dip flattened chicken breasts in breading then brush on the Dijon mustard and place on greased baking sheet. Bake at 400F for 20 min. Top with sauce and cheese, bake 10 min more. Serve with rest of sauce and pasta.

Double Chicken Breading

Dry dredge:

½ cup oat bran

½ cup wheat germ

2 Tbsp flax seed

½ cup ground almonds

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp white pepper

½ tsp garlic powder

Wet Dredge:

1 cup chicken broth

2 egg whites

Combine individual dredges in their own bowls. Apply to chicken and cook 10-15 min or until golden brown.

Taco Seasoning

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 ½ tsp cumin

½ tsp paprika

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp onion powder

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

¼ tsp oregano

Pizza Dough

1 tsp Sugar

1 ½ cup warm water

1 Tbsp yeast

1 Tbsp oil

1 tsp salt

2 cup whole wheat flour

1- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour

Combine sugar and water and let sit for 10 min. Then add the yeast oil and salt. Add both flours and mix until combined in a kitchen aid with a dough hook or with a wooden spoon. Turn out in an oiled bowl. Let rise for 1 hour. Form into a ball, let rise again for 45 min. bake 16-20 min with toppings at 450F.

Pumpkin Bread

3 ½ cup flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 ½ tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup apple sauce

4 eggs

2 cups pumpkin

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup water

Mix wet ingredients together in one bowl. Mix dry ingredients in another bowl. Combine wet and dry together. Placed in a greased bread pan and bake for 1 hour 20 min. Bake for 25 min if you want muffins.

Pancakes

3 cups flour

7 tsp baking powder

2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar

2 ½ cup milk

2 eggs

6 Tbsp butter

(Doubled Recipe: yeah we need this a lot)

6 cups flour

4 Tbsp & 2 tsp baking powder

4 tsp salt

4 Tbsp Sugar

5 cups milk

4 eggs

12 Tbsp butter

Chocolate Chip Cookies

¾ Cup Sugar

1 ¼ cup brown sugar

½ Cup honey

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup apple sauce

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

4 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 bag chocolate Chips

Bake at 350F for 8 min on an ungreased baking sheet.

Rolls

2 Tbsp yeast

½ cup warm water

½ cup butter, softened

¼ cup honey

3 eggs

1 cup butter milk or milk

4 ½ – 5 cups whole wheat flour

1 ½ tsp salt

Bloom yeast in water. Cream butter and honey in mixer. Add eggs, milk, yeast, flour and salt.

Change to dough hook, knead 2-3 min until not tacky (add flour if tacky). Let rise 1 hour. Turn out onto a floured surface, knead a few times, cut into 24 pieces. Put in buttered 13x9 pan, let rise 1 hour and bake at 350F for 20-25 min.

Corn Casserole

10.5 oz bag of frozen corn

1.5 Tbsp flour

1 cup milk

1 ½ Tbsp butter

2 large eggs

1 stick butter, melted

2-3 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup sour cream

2/3 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp baking powder

¼ cup & 1 Tbsp maple Syrup

½ cup corn meal

Microwave the frozen corn for 4 min.

Cream flour, milk and 1 ½ Tbsp butter. Add the remainder of the ingredients and corn. Pour into greased 9x11 pan and bake at 350F for 30 min. Top with shredded cheese, and bake for 5-10 min more (until melted).

The Cupcake story

     I did not start off as Poly. I found out at 17 that I was pregnant with Goat-girl. I had her at 18 and moved back to my hometown where I met my husband. We got married and I had a little boy. Three years later I was very unhappy in my marriage and decided to end it. My daughter stayed with me, my son with him.

     
     I started in on rebuilding my life. I dated but nothing really came from it. Then I met someone off a site I was on and we hit it off. He told me he also had a girl friend, she is married,poly, and she was OK with him dating other people. At first I was very shocked that people live like this, coming from a very small town you didn't hear of things like this and if you did it was frowned upon. I told him I would have to think about this and if I wanted to move any farther with our relationship. I thought over all this new information for about a week when I had a small light go off. This could work, I mean why not, everyone knows everyone they are open with who they see and how they feel about each other. We started dating and were together for a little while when things started to change. I was introduced to everyone in the house (the girlfriend, her husband, and his girlfriend). I quickly found where I stood in the house and did not like it at all. I was treated like a secondary person, kinda like a cat that isn't wanted but you pet it every once in a while, I felt ignored and just unwanted. But against better judgment I didn't say anything, I kept it to myself, that maybe I was just over thinking thing that it was just me. During this time I was in a chat room that I appropriately named "The meat market" and started talking to a very nice guy. Jack and I were very close right from the start, we talked every day, he became my best friend. I talked with Jack about the issues I was having. And like an amazing friend he listened and was there for me.

     
     As we talked we got closer. A day didn't go by that I didn't talk to him or at least send a email to him. Soon I knew I wanted to be more than just friends with him, and come to find out so did he. So we made plans for me to visit in February.

     
     Fast forward about four months (January) and my life crashes, I lost my jobs, I didn't know where I was going to live, and was stressed out the max. I called my boyfriend and told him what was going on and that I really needed him, I understood that he was with “her” but I needed him and if I could stay with him for two weeks till I got my last check and I would work something out. Well, in the end he choose her and told me no me and my daughter can not stay with him and hung up the phone. In a panic I called Jack asking “What do I do?”. He's answer was simple. “Move here.” he says. I'm thinking he is crazy, there is no way I can moved out of state, into a mans house, whom I had never met. No way. I told him I needed to think about it, so he gave me time. I talked with my best friend in the world who is like an other mother to me, and she basically told me I was crazy not to do it, if he loved me that much to drop everything and move then I was very lucky to have someone that cares that much.

     
     A little while later that evening I received a message from Lily, about me moving. She and I had talked before but normally as a “Hi I'm in the background and hear you” type thing, so I was a tad shocked to have a message directly from her. The thing that touched me the most in the message was this. “You and Goat-girl would be like family, not just roomies. Know that we would not be making this offer if we didn't think it would work.” I sat and stared at the message for a long time. I was very scared that I would be treated the same, the pitiful cat in the corner (even though Lily was much more welcoming than “She” had ever been). What if I get there and these people are crazy? And I don't mean the funny “Haha” crazy, because lets face it not all of use are completely sane, but like scary holy crap crazy and I was now stuck out of state with crazy psycho people. By the time I got the these thoughts I was so emotionally drained I couldn't take it any more, I passed out. When I woke up the next morning I had my answer.

     
     So I called Jack and said OK lets move me. Well for the next three day I swore up and down that Jack would bail on me that no way was he going to show up. Well sure enough here he came. I couldn't believe it he was here, flesh and blood, right in front of me. I had never been as happy to see an other person as I was in that moment.

     
     After a very long car ride and one very over tired child later we pull up to the house. I didn't know what to think or say. I still had this feeling of this is too good to be true, and looked up over me to see if I could find that shoe that likes to slam into my life and leave a huge foot print.

    
     I was kind of in a daze for the first few days, shock had set in and I couldn't believe what I had done. I had moved my daughter and myself to a different state, into the house of someone I had never met, and everything is Okay. The world wasn't on fire, no huge disasters, they didn't turn into crazy scary people. Everything was going great, then my mother happened. One week to the day that I had moved my mother lost her mind and wanted me to come home. So after a huge fight and craziness I made it clear I wasn't leaving. I knew that this could be my home, this was my family. Yes I “barely” knew them but whatever, they had already done so much for me and I didn't want to leave.

Compared to the people I lived with and the things I had been though I was still very worried that this would not be this good forever. I swore up and down the shoe would drop anytime and that I didn't deserve to be treated this well. I had become too comfortable with being treated as a second or a lesser person. I quickly found that this was not the case with Jack or Lily. I found out that I had a voice and they cared very much to hear what I had to say. I had no clue how to understand this, in the past when I would speak no one would hear me and I had just come to expect this.

     I also had a very hard time trusting anyone or letting anyone get close to me. This held true even after I had been with Jack for 6 months or more, I held many things close to my heart and wouldn't let him see that part of me. I was very scared of letting him in and being completely open, I didn't want to get hurt again. Jack was very sweet, slow and didn't try to pry me open by force. Slowly as time went by I opened little by little.

It seems like all I did was blink and it had been a year, I had grown so much, my family had grown, and I couldn't see me ever being somewhere else. I had found a man I could be completely open with, a “Sister” I could talk to, most of all I had found friends. True friends, a family, people who want me to be the best person I can be.

     This October was a very big day for Jack and I. I have always had I fear that I would be replaced one day, that he would find someone else who was a better fit than me (now I am starting to see this is an insane way to view things). I'm not sure who came up with the idea it was something we had bounce back and forth but I didn't see anything coming of it. We decided that we wanted to have a handfasting ceremony (a historical term for "betrothal" or "wedding"). I was a little shocked when he asked me if I wanted to do this (enough to stop mid bite of a cupcake which I never do). I just kind of stared at him, mouth hanging open like a stunned fish thinking holy crap this man wants me around forever, yep I was right - he IS crazy.

     After regaining control over my motor functions I was able to close my mouth but couldn't answer in any words other than “uh”. We talked for a long time that day and I said yes I would love that. So the months of planning started, and I seems like no more did I say yes the day was here and I was unbelievably nervous. It was beautiful and perfect and touched me so deeply. To have my family there and friends of ours to spend this moment with us, well its a moment I will never forget.

     Here I am I cant wait to see what lays ahead for me I hope everyone keeps reading and follows us on our adventurers.

Polyamory - Jack Style

Jack’s Story….

It started for me long ago.  I had dated many girls in school and one special one changed my life.  I asked a friend about helping me find a girlfriend and he hooked me up with Lily.  We were great together and I was in love for the first time ever.  But as life goes I was a teenage boy and I let other things come into my head and dumped her.  That was stupid and I never should have done that.  I regretted it the moment I did it.  So I sat back and watched her and waited for my moment to come back.  It happened in our senior year.  I asked her to marry me that summer and we have been together ever since married for over 10 years.  We are a great couple and we were never “Normal”.  We had always discussed the fact we had been each other’s “First” that there must be more to life and we always liked the idea of communal living and having help and others to love.  I had even flirted with other girls we worked with at a big name Italian restaurant.  I even lined up a possible three way date.  That never happened.  So when it came time for me to start my new career knowing it was going to take me away from Lily for a few months at a time I told her to look for someone else to fill some of her needs.  She did and it made me happy.  After I started my job both of us never really had much luck finding someone else.  Hell at the time we did not even realize what to call the way we thought and lived.  

I spent years online and looking around for someone to fit for me with no luck.  Until one night when Lilly and the kids were gone I was online in a chat room I call the meat market when I met Cupcake  She was from out of state so we planned a meeting for a few months down the road to get to know each other.  She was in a bad situation and I felt I could help her and in turn she could help my family.  Fast forward a few months the shit hit the fan in her life and I was there to pick her up.  I had discussed with Lilly having her come live with us to help with the house and kids and she thought it was a great idea.  So I offered Cupcake the opportunity.  Her friend told her that she was stupid if she did not take it “You have a man with balls offering to help you” her friend said.  So Cupcake said yes and that weekend I went to get her and Goat Girl.  They both moved in to my house and minus some family back home drama we have been happy ever since.  We were so happy in fact that I asked her to become mine forever with a Hand Fasting just past our two years of knowing each other anniversary.  

I had stopped looking for more after Cupcake came into my life and it was not until Lilly and Cupcake started looking for others that I did the same.  I spent time in chat rooms and on dating sites with not much luck.  Every time I look I keep finding people who want to “Cheat” not live in an open truthful way or many people just ignore me.  I was on a dating site when I came across Priestess and her profile.  I sent a message to her and it took her like two months to get back to me but she eventually did.  We met up and talked for like three hours and spent the following week texting like crazy.  It did not take us long to realize we were good together.  I am no longer actively seeking others I have some people I talk to locally and online.  Along with poly I am active in the BDSM world and have some submissives in my life online and the possibility of meeting them.  Poly is my life and I love every moment.  I wish others would realize how wonderful it is.  When I am gone I have so many people caring about me that when I am down all I need to do is think of them.  I think that should be my next post.  Poly when you are not with your partners.

Poly Misconceptions

There seem to be several themes that come up when I start getting questions about poly relationships. Here are my responses to just a few of them.

Misconception 1:
Poly people have commitment issues.

First off, bwahahahahaha!!!!! I'm sorry, but commitment issues are the last thing poly people have. We actually have OVER-commitment issues if we have any issues at all. Poly is about having MORE THAN ONE COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP. We are master committers! My relationships are equally important to me. I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. I am fully and equally committed to both of my partners. This is not to say that all poly people do this, some do form a hierarchy as to the level of commitment to different partners, but the true definition of poly always contains that commitment.

Misconception 2:

People who are polyamorous are just in it for the sex.

Um... Hi. I am so not promiscuous. I am not a slut, whore, or a hoebag. I have a ton of respect for myself and my partners. I would NEVER do anything to put them in harms way, so why in the world would I want to sleep with anyone who asked? I can have sex whenever I want, it's so, so, so not about that at all. It's about connecting with someone else, sharing thoughts and feelings. Being allowed to be in love with more than one person at a time. I shouldn't have to fall out of love or give up someone just because I fell in love with another person. It's not, Oh, I realize that I love Joker, so I must not love Jack anymore. That's just asinine. I love them both. So, anyhow... Polyamory. It's about love, y'all! Not sex.

Misconception 3:

You must be so JEALOUS when he/she spends time with someone else.

Yeah... Nope. I'm happy when my partners are happy! Jealousy is an emotion that springs from an insecurity in oneself. I'm confident in myself and in my relationships with my partners. What do I have to be worried about? If our relationship ends, I know that it is because of something that came between us, not because they found someone else. The keys are honesty and open communication. That's it. Nothing magical. I know when there is trouble or issues that they will be talked over and dealt with. So, is there jealousy? Sometimes. But for the most part, I experience the opposite; compersion.

~Lady Lily

What is, and isn't, Polyamory

Let me preface this by saying this is just my humble opinion and may, or may not, be the widely accepted or socially correct definition of polyamory.

What is polyamory?

It is consensual non-monogamy. It's the allowance of any person to have more than one committed, loving relationship. It may, or may not, incorporate sexual behaviors. It can occur in a myriad of arrangements, but the one theme that always follows successful poly relationships is the fact that it is built on honesty and communication.

What isn't polyamory?

Swinging. There's no commitment, no love, involved here. This is not poly. This is permissive promiscuity.

Polygamy/Polyandry/Polygyny. These are just not fair. Why should only one gender be allowed to have multiple relationships? These are selfish and archaic at the least.

Cheating. It's not poly if all parties are not fully aware of the situation. Cheating is wrong, plain and simple. Cheating hurts people.

Serial Dating. Dating someone until something “better” comes along, keeping both around but not giving much thought or attention to the older relationship until something else comes up and then finally deciding to keep only the newer ones. Not poly. This is deplorable. Joker will have more on this subject later.

~Lady Lily