Why a long European trip?

I touched on my enduring travel dreams and the kids' curiosity a few days ago. The motivations are deeper than that, though. I suspect that we can find ideas and methods that will change our lives if we travel slowly, intentionally and consciously. I want my kids to see and experience things that shape the adults they will become.

It seems, but we can only really know after spending some time there, that many Europeans live in a way that combines simplicity with fullness. Their cars, homes, appliances and shopping carts are smaller. Their meals appear from this distance to be better, more thoroughly enjoyed and more natural. I read that they spend more than the American-average amount of time each day on the selection and preparation of whole, high quality foods. I want to explore that for myself, wandering through fresh markets and discovering new ingredients.

I also read that the average European spends much less time watching television than most Americans do. Internet statistics tell me that the EU, with a nearly identical population to the US, consumes half the number of semi-durable items like clothing and housewares. Is it that the quality is higher? Are they constrained by less disposable income and higher taxes? Are environmental concerns more in the forefront of everyday life there? How are they approaching work and ambition differently than we? Do they get and fully embrace more time for family and leisure?

As these are all important choices that I am trying to incorporate into our family life, the trip would be worth undertaking even aside from the excitement and fun that is involved. Adding in the opportunity to learn with my children as we homeschool on the move through various languages, cultures, histories and countries makes the whole adventure unmissable.

Please add your thoughts in the comment section!

Choices and tamales

 I promised yesterday to get into our reasons for making sacrifices to gain something the family values, in our case the big European adventure.  But with today being Christmas Eve, I also need to address the subject of tamales.  Yes tamales, and these topics are related so I feel comfortable putting off until next time the exploration of our motives.  As I started to explain, not all of the funds saved for the big trip are still available due to the changes that occurred in the interim with the economy, my life and my job.  In fact, the adventure budget has been cut in half and really should be reduced further so we have a safety net when we return.  Even more changes and choices to conserve have been called for, and one in particular has been a pleasure.  This Christmas season, we have made tamales.  And I mean a LOT of tamales.  They have been wrapped in foil by the dozen with a simple bow and given as gifts but also brought as our contribution to parties with great success.

It started a couple of months ago when friends and family started talking about traditions, plans, parties and family gatherings.  As scheduling started to happen, I felt a little squeeze in the area around my wallet.  But I couldn't opt out of the holidays, could I?  There are the kids to think of, right?  And my own childhood has given me fond memories of family traditions that never bowed down or broke off in lean times.  Then the idea bubbled up.  One of my favorite things had always been Christmas Eve at my grandmother's house with dozens of people (mostly family) filling the tiny place with love and eating tamales. There were a couple of years when I got to go with my mom, cousins and aunts the day before and help make the hundreds of fantastic little bundles of savory joy.  But I could not remember to save my life how the whole procedure should unfold.  After much research, phone calling, double-checking, forum posting and experimenting, we got it!  I know I am a bit late in the season for thinking about getting this posted, but now that I have made all my batches and before I forget, I am sharing the instructions:

Work with a good team of friends and family to make the whole thing faster and more fun. Variations are simple to do, and it is possible to get a healthier end result.  But this basic formula is a good starting point.

Gather:

• Corn husks: I think the nicely separated and sorted ones are worth spending a little more for.  I pay $3-something for a 5 dozen (ish) bag from the Mexican grocery store.
• Masa:  This is the main ingredient and I only use Maseca in the tan bag because it has the taste and texture we prefer.  Many stores carry it and it should be just under $3.
• Solid shortening:  Gross, I know but necessary in this case.  I compromised on a blend of lard (eek!) from the butcher (free because he likes me) and Crisco vegetable shortening.  I did do several batches with ricotta cheese in place of the lard for vegetarian tamales and it does work but the cost is a lot higher.
• A good tall steaming pot:  I got mine for $10 on clearance at Smart and Final but have since seen them in thrift stores and garage sales looking brand new.  But oddly at higher prices!  Borrow one if you can, no one seems to use the one they have.  If all else fails, get something like this gadget to the left and put it in your tallest pot. 
• Fillings:  I found that a mix of meat and veggies gives the best blend of flavor, moisture and satisfaction.  Contrary to traditions that call for all-meat tamales, almost all of mine are equal parts meat and veggie with some peppers, both hot and sweet.  So a successful combination would have, for example: 2 cups of shredded beef from a cheap pot roast, several local hot chilies, a chopped onion and bell pepper (all seasoned with bouillon powder and cooked with the roast) and  a 15 oz can of stewed tomatoes.  It works well to use a chicken in place of the roast and many different veggies depending on what you like.

Directions:

1. I put everything for the filling (except the can of stewed tomatoes) into the Crockpot with some good stock the night before with the timer set so it is cooked and cooled when I get up.
2. Check through the husks for stringy silks, dirt or other problems. Soak them by weighing down in warm water for the hour it will take you to do the next steps. 
3. Sort the good meat, peppers, veggies and the can of tomatoes into a bowl, discarding the fat and other inedibles.  It should all be falling apart but use your fingers to make sure everything is in small bits.
4. This leaves the wonderful bullion enhanced juice at the bottom of the pot; it needs to warm back up just a touch for use in the masa.  If there is less than 4 cups of liquid you can add water and this is also a good time to be sure it has enough flavor to carry the bland masa.  I add salt, chili powder, liquid smoke, garlic or whatever it "asks for".
5. To make the dough I first beat together 1 cup each of lard (or ricotta cheese) and vegetable solid shortening in a VERY big bowl with a hand mixer.  Gradually beat in 6 cups of dry masa mix and a tablespoon each of salt and baking powder.  You will have a crumb mixture.  Now slowly add in your slightly warm juices.  It may be easier to mix with your hands if you are comfortable doing so.  If it feels too sticky to work with add more dry masa and at any point if the dough gets too dry squish in more broth.
6. Wring out and pat dry some husks.  On the smooth side, spread a glob of dough to about the size and shape of your palm. Use your hands to flatten and stretch it, leaving a clean strip on either side and a few bare inches at the bottom.  Run a line of about a tablespoon of filling down the center of the dough, stopping before the bottom.  Get a row of these ready.
7. Pull the sides together and roll like a cigar to close the dough around the filling.  Pinch the bottom to seal it.  Fold the bottom flap of husk up, then one side, the roll over to rest seam-side down.  I keep my steamer pot next to me on it's side so I can stack them in there on top of the steamer deck. It holds 60 and works best with a full batch so they stand up straight.
8. Stand up your full pot and add plenty of water to the bottom , trying not to splash your tamales in the process.  Put a tea towel over the top, then the lid.  Simmer for 40 minutes then cool for 20 before you lift them out to package and give.

My little family is heading to Europe for a really big adventure with a tiny budget. Please join the discussion!

Thanks for stopping in. This is the first of many ponderings leading up to Our Recession Adventure:
9 weeks, 4 countries, 2 kids and 1 AdventureMom!

I have wanted this trip for decades. As a girl I dreamed of Tuscan landscapes, German villages and British landmarks. The serious research started in 2003 when my then-husband was deployed to Europe. The children and I followed his movements virtually with maps and online resources. They caught the travel bug with enthusiasm equal to mine. Those ideas evolved as the kids grew until we now have an itinerary roughly planned, provisions in place for virtual schooling and the budget set aside.

How to move dreams towards reality, though? Especially in the wake of the economic downturn and my marriage coming to an unexpected end? Some of the methods I employed to save up for this trip are unusual. To list a few from the last 2-3 years:

• I quit smoking, saving over $1500 annually for a total so far of $4000.

• We canceled cable TV (the occasional show we want to watch can be found on Hulu.com, or other sci-fi, nature or family venues) saving $700 annually for a total so far of $1400. More importantly we have an amazing amount of time to talk, play, read, bike, cook and so much more.

• We kept our little Honda Civic (now topping 135,000 well-maintained miles) and started using a modified and very safe version of hypermiling that brings our average MPG up to 42. Combined with an overall reduction in driving, these actions have saved me about $3000.

• Those choices gave me the courage to raise the deductibles on all of our insurance options. This lowers premiums considerably but can make you nervous if you aren't very confident of your family's good health and safe driving. To date the savings on this choice top $1900

• We eat real food that is made at home. The packaged stuff is less healthy and costs more in terms of budget, the planet and our wellbeing. The kids get to choose 1 meal "out" per month and that is their chance to have a soda as well. If our busy schedule puts us on the road at mealtime we bring bars, fruit, burritos or any number of easy choices that I make in advance. In a pinch I can whip a batch of smoothies up in minutes. We feel great and have gone from over $200/week on food (half that budget went to various restaurant and take-out places and half to groceries) to $300 a MONTH to feed all three of us really well. I share healthy frugal recipes on Sparkpeople and I would love to post more on that topic here if anyone is interested. The savings just this year? At least $6,800.

• Eating so well let us give up a variety of fancy expensive vitamins and use just a plain multiviamin. The reduction looks like around $400.

• Without giving up travel completely, we have gone on fewer trips the last couple of years. The destinations have been closer, simpler and cheaper than usual. We have taken advantage of last-minute deals and free attractions. Friends and family have traded enjoyable visits and we have done without popular (ie crowded, overpriced) tourist activities. I guess it depends what your family normally spends on vacations and getaways, but in 2 years we cut that expense in half to save about $1000.

Not all of these options are available to nor advisable for everyone. But there are some habits that do only harm and should be let go of whether your family is saving for adventures or not. This list isn't comprehensive. There were more things, big and small, that the kids and I do to live more simply and save money. Within 30 months, almost $25,000 was set aside for our huge trip . Luckily we don't really need to use even half of it since (in a mixed blessing) I have been laid off from work. This leaves us with a tighter budget but a lot more time for exploration.  Plus I am writing a budget family travel book that may, if published, put us ahead financially.  The bottom line though is the willingness to sacrifice and strive for something of value. Next post I want to outline why, for me, this adventure is worth the struggle. Eventually I will get to discussions of the trip itself, I promise.

Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel National Geographic Traveler Miserly Moms: Living Well on Less in a Tough Ecomony