The Small Farmer's Journal published this column a couple of months ago. It made me cry. Today I talked to the lady who wrote it and asked her if I could share parts of it with you. I couldn't share parts of it. I have to share the whole thing. This is how we want to live.

In Praise of Fast Food

By Debbie Sams of Kemp, TX

Our family really enjoys fast food. Food that tastes delicious but is quick and easy to prepare with very little labor involved.

Early in the afternoon I unwrapped a fresh ham roast, laid it in a roast pan, poured a bag of frozen black-eyes peas around it, added a little water and salt, put on the lid, an slid it into the oven. It took me less than five minutes.

Now, of course, it took a little time to raise the hog and load it in the trailer and take it to the processor. And the peas had to be planted, watered, hoed, picked and shelled. But today they were a convenient "fast food" to be cooked with the ham.

Later, with the delicious smells of ham coming from the kitchen, I washed some sweet potatoes and put them in the oven beside the ham to cook in a soft syrupy sweetness. It just took a couple of minutes to do. A few months ago we were planting, weeding, and digging. But today the sweet potatoes were a quick and easy "fast food."

After sewing leisurely all afternoon, I went to set the table for supper. A nice clean tablecloth, pretty dishes, and glasses made the table inviting. I decided pickles, beet pickles, and salsa would make nice side dishes for the meal. And even though last summer we spend a lot of time growing, picking, chopping, and pickling, a quick pop of the lid made them ready for a pretty dish for the table.

Yesterday after grinding wheat to make flour, I made some homemade bread. It took several hours to knead, bake and slice but today it was all ready to eat with our homemade butter and homemade jelly. All I had to do was put them on the table.

As the family gathered around the pretty table laden with good food, sharing the news of their day and enjoying the fellowship of each other, we all agreed. There is nothing quite as good as "fast food" country style.

He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread. 
                                                                                          Proverbs 12:11