May 2022 Edition

Culture & News

Inflation: Rising Food Prices

The United States has experienced a recent rise in grocery and gasoline prices. This inflation has many clutching their purses and wallets in quite a fright. Take a deep breath and let us consider the situation. There are things that can be done to ease some effects on a personal level. It is a time of global uncertainty with the Russia-Ukraine War and the Covid Pandemic. Both are suggested to be economic contributing factors to the inflation. This provides even more reason that you should be prepared.

This is not a doomsday message of fear. Activate faith not fear. Consider my homemade analogy, for example: The weather report states Highway A has a lot of flooding, we suggest drivers take an alternate road. City workers are en route to the site, expect traffic delays. Drive at your own risk. Highway B is open and no flooding, but it is out of the way. It will add 15 minutes to your drive and you’re already in a hurry. A time of uncertainty. What will you do? Activate faith not fear. And prayer is your GPS. When you pray and ask the Lord for guidance, you will receive the instructions that are best for you, your family, and situation. Perhaps, you will be told to take Highway B now, or reschedule your appointment and avoid road travel for today, or wait two hours then take Highway A. If you chose to go against such guidance and act out of fear, then you drive at your own risk. Do you understand? The ancient Biblical world had wars and times of uncertainty-go back and read those stories. The comforts of living in a modern prosperous nation can induce forgetfulness. But that Biblical world still exists today, it’s just a little older.

Now let’s talk about these high grocery bills y’all! Here’s some tips that may be helpful.  

• First set a budget and shop grocery store sales.
  
• Start an emergency pantry of can goods and bottled water. If you live in areas prone to hurricanes or winter storms this info is probably already familiar. But stock-up as a routine habit and not wait till the shelves are getting bare.
  
• Buy low sodium varieties of can goods with pull off tops when available. Check the item’s expiration dates. Buy can goods that you actually like to eat! If your family loves peas but not so much a fan of carrots. Buy more peas and just a couple cans of carrots.
   
• Buy fresh produce or frozen produce, especially when on sale. Fresh produce can be chopped up and frozen in freezer bags. I already do this with onions and green bell peppers.
  
• Freeze your bread. Take out some slices to eat and freeze the rest to use as needed. If your family eats bread quickly, then apply this method to those extra loaves of bread you got on sale.
  
• It’s okay to start small. Buy extra can goods, bottled water, and other pantry staples a little at a time as your finances allow. Every pay period devote a specific amount of funds to these items. Even a skipped fast food meal can give funds to start a small pantry. It’s okay to start small, but don’t delay.  
  
• Beans and cornbread is an inexpensive and delicious meal. Choose beans like: Black-Eye, Red Kidney, Pinto, Butter, Baked, Field Peas, or whatever variety you like. Grab a big ole pot (or crock-pot) add the beans, water (or roux), seasonings, and a bit of meat. Serve with cornbread on the side. Yummy! # Good Southern Cooking  

Cooking at home can save money and be a family fun time. Put those kids to work! (smile) Of course for safety reasons, little children are more limited to participate, however older kids can help out. Assign everyone a dish to make. Even putting a simple pre-packed salad in bowls is a task that can be done by a tween. Many helping hands lifts the heavy burden off of one. And it teaches children independence and important life skills. Just a few tips from my neck of the woods. Remember, activate faith not fear. And prayer is your GPS.    

For Additional Reading

Detroit.com 4 News: How to save money at the grocery store as food prices soar

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/04/04/how-to-save-money-at-the-grocery-store-as-food-prices-soar/

CNN: Buy this, not that: Pro tips to save at the grocery store

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/22/business/grocery-store-prices-saving-money-inflation/index.html

The Washington Post: How the Ukraine war and avian flu are driving up food prices: Four hidden reasons food prices are crazy right now

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/04/21/food-prices-inflation-surge/

Art/Film/Literature News

Katie Fry Private Eye

Katie Fry loves to solve mysteries. She finds a lost kitten and knows exactly what to do-be a detective! Read more of her exciting adventure in the book: Katie Fry Private Eye: The Lost Kitten by Katherine Cox and Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. This book has a fun storyline and nice illustrations!

Business/Non-Profit News

Cafe Neo

Lagos, Nigeria. Cafe Neo is a rising star coffee chain started by two brothers, Ngozi and Chijioke Dozie in 2012. After living abroad in London and New York, the brothers returned home to Nigeria to launch their business. Today, they have ten stores. The word neo means “gift” in Tswana, a Bantu language of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Cafe Neo uses coffee beans produced on the continent, specifically on the shores of Lake Kivu, in the Hills of Rwanda. Their motto is: “Celebrating the return of coffee to its African roots, one cup at a time.”

*Notice: Cafe Neo was first featured in the Sankofa Newsletter July 2019 Edition.

How two brothers established Café Neo, Lagos’ first coffee shop chain

Book Review

The Gathering Table

The modern world moves so fast with seemingly never-ending news of the latest calamities. Sometimes, we all need to take a moment to gather around the table, to reflect on our blessings with good food and family. Learn more about how to do this in the book: The Gathering Table: Growing Strong Relationships through Food, Faith, and Hospitality (256 pages, 2020, kindle edition) by The Gingham Apron. This cookbook was the creation of five women family members (Annie, Shelby, Molly, Jenny, & Denise), who have a generational legacy of farming in Iowa. It has delicious recipes, helpful tips, and Christian faith-based principles for life and home. The realistic narratives of the women reveals their own journey with issues such as, an unexpected diabetes diagnosis and dealing with winter blues.

The book is divided into four sections related to each season: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. It also has recipes for fun dining ideas like a Ladies’ Brunch, Anniversary Picnic, and Friday Night Pizza Party. There are mouth-watering recipes for: Strawberry Lemonade, Pimento-Crab Sandwiches, Southern Fried Chicken, and Italian Wedding Cake. Shelby writes: “ Reflecting on the conversation and the fun of having a pie “potluck” at the end of a long, ordinary day reminded me of how essential it is to not let things slip into “just getting by” but to stop and celebrate before moving on to the next thing. Sometimes life can get so rigorous that I think we forget to enjoy it, and we forget to join with others” (p. 75). A very good read with great foodie photos!

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