Changing directions in 2012: Frugal Nosh makeover, transition, rebirth

It has been quite a year for Frugal Nosh. Actually, the past few have been a little nutso. I've written only sporadically the past two years mainly because I spent them as a full-time web producer for the Los Angeles Times -- and who wants to sit staring at a computer any more than one has to? That is not to say that I didn't have the desire - it's most easily compared to kids forced to read in school, where the pleasure and novelty of reading somehow withers away when you have to read 10 books every month or whatever insane amounts of reading they gave us. There were also plenty of changes that were going on on the side and thus, very little time for blogging, no matter how dear it was to me.

   

What we've been eating: Curried butternut squash soup; Oktoberfest's brats, beer and sauerkraut

For those who don't know, 2011 had the extreme distinction of being the year that I walked to the proverbial altar (it was actually in the desert) and married my very best friend and dearest love. What followed was a bit of insanity (but isn't all of life?) A few months after we were married I fell victim to the inevitable budget cuts in journalism and left the Times; we then moved from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City just a few months later (a longtime dream of my new husband's), my only sister-in-law was married as well, to my husband's very dear friend and moved to Salt Lake with us; and after floundering around a bit in the dreaded unemployment arena, I'm now happily working at a nearby ski resort.

Perhaps the most important -- certainly the most devastating -- change this year was the very unexpected death of my father. My Brooklyn-born father, after all, was the main inspiration behind this blog, and the source of the significance behind its name. Back in the day, Frugal Nosh, as simple as it is, was what set me apart and landed me the unpaid internship at the Times, an internship that later turned into a wonderful full-time job for two and a half years. My most faithful reader from beginning to end was always my father.

After all that has happened, I've been thinking long and hard about where this blog is going and two things remain clear:

1. Frugal Nosh must be revived
2. Frugal Nosh must change

The most obvious change is the focus. This can no longer be a blog about the restaurants and highlights of L.A. because we no longer live there. I wasn't exactly sure then what to do - we aren't eating at restaurants as much as I used to in order to save money, the food culture here is far less interesting than bustling Los Angeles, and I don't live under the constraints of a college student's budget any more (though we are still very frugal.)

Then I remembered one of my husband's favorite passages in Ecclesiastes.

I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

And I realized that that's it - that will be the new blog direction. Frugal Nosh already combines three things I'm passionate about: a love of food, a love for sharing food with people, and the ideals of frugal living – the word frugal actually comes from the Latin words frugalis and frui that mean "virtuous" and "to enjoy." We are here on earth for such a short time, and I hope to focus more now on how easy and worthwhile it is to live generously, eat well, and spend wisely the dollars we have been given.  

Thanks for reading - I would love to hear from you in the comments section below.

We like to barbecue in our garage

Among the many challenges we face in the City of Angels, apartment living is right up there with there with the treacherous 405 and the ever-present, menacing layer of smog. We're talking rent that's through the roof (I think we could have paid off half a mortgage by now), neighbors all up in your business (the noises we hear...*shudder*), and a battle every time you have to look for parking at the end of the day.

Thankfully, Hubs and I have found a lovely little quiet place in west Los Angeles with lots of trees, ample street parking with little signage, relative quiet, and our precious treasure: one covered garage parking spot. Did I mention that the previous tenants also left an adorable little propane grill in the garage to welcome us? I guess there's some good in the world after all.

At the beginning of the summer, we made a pact to grill at least twice a week.
 It may have been the best decision ever.

So here we are, grilling all kinds of delicious things (chicken breasts, fresh carrots, and frozen asparagus from trader joes -- so easy and tasty and ready to go!), pressed right up against the back of Hubs' Outback in the garage so we don't get run over by other neighbors in the alley (see photo below). <3 L.A.

Dinner tonight: Open-faced turkey burger with brie cheese, sauteed red onion

Open-faced grilled turkey burger with brie cheese, sauteed red onion, crunchy lettuce.



Add a Stella on the side for best results.

Camping food: Deluxe turkey-avocado pita sandwiches for the trail

This, my friends, is how you make your hike even tastier.

Combine turkey, salami, Havarti cheese and red onion on a pita sliced in half. Bring a ripe avocado with you, un-cut, and keep it protected from bruises in a container. Also bring a sharp knife, preferably one with a sheath or a pocket knife (so you do not slice your fingers off while digging in your pack.)



When you've reached the Zen Garden (our affectionate term we stole from a friend for the destination of the hike -- usually the highest peak or the halfway point before turning back), find a beautiful view. Sit near it. Slice your avocado in half, remove the pit, and slather your pita sandwiches with fresh avo on the trail. Your already-delicious sandwich just got even better.



(These photos were taken on a recent hike in the Grand Canyon.)

Camping food how-to: Nachos on the propane stove

I realized I'm always very boasty about our camping food. It's because I'm very proud of it and because we haven't camped much and I'm happy about any small achievements we make together. But we really are all about getting people out to sleep in a tent and saturate their clothes with the warming smell of campfire, so we hate to elevate ourselves so snootily with my camp food hubris. 

Because of this, I will share with you our best camping secrets -- and also show you cool photos I've transformed with the Instagram app for iPhones.

How to make camp nachos when you forgot to bring nacho stuff 
(but conveniently have chips)

1. Spread chips out evenly in a frying pan.
2. Break up sandwich cheese on top (or string cheese, or whatever you have -- shredded cheese is ideal, warm nacho cheese is best but you probably didn't pack that)
3. Cover and cook on low heat on propane stove (or over campfire if you have a cast-iron pan), so as not to burn the chips
4. When cheese is fully melted, serve on a plate and douse with hot sauce of choice (salsa is best because it won't scorch your mouth so much, but use whatever you have)
5. Voila! Nachos while camping when you forgot to bring nacho stuff (but conveniently have chips)