Great Depression Cooking with Clara

Clara Cannucciari a 93 year old grandmother in upstate New York has become the latest YouTube sensation after her grandson filmed her making meals that her family ate during the Great Depression.

In this video Clara cooks what she calls “the three-course Poorman’s Feast,” which includes salad and lentils, rice and a little bit of meat cooked in lemon and oil.

Part of her appeal is of course that in these times of financial troubles people are doing whatever they can to stretch their dollar. But I enjoy it because they're simple meals with simple ingredients that are easy to replicate. As an added bonus, while the food is cooking, Clara sits down on the couch and shares stories of her life during the depression. It's like spending time with your grandmother while she cooks. Something very endearing about that.

The perks of having a weekly babysitter

The stars aligned when we found our babysitter Jill who's been with us for over a year now.

Recently we introduced cooking to the agenda - to mix it up a little and keep the little one interested and busy measuring, pouring, and stirring, so that she doesn't mind when mama and papa head out for the evening.

So far they've baked cookies, cornbread muffins, and scones. (The scones were especially delicious!)

So now when U. and I come home, not only is our little one freshly bathed and fast asleep, but the house smells great, and we have freshly baked goods to munch on. Perks I tell ya!