Quinoa...

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I'm not quite ready for cooking it, especially since learning some things.  The first thing I learned was that the man, who I thought had mispronounced it, was actually right.  Quinoa is pronounced KEEN-wah.  And I wasn't sure if it was a grain or seed, so... As it turns out, it is a seed.  I did find out why, when I made it, it didn't turn out well.  If purchased in it's raw form, it needs to be rinsed very well, scrubbed a bit really as I see the description.  Otherwise a coating on the seed gives a soapy or bitter taste.  Further, it looks like they advice toasting it before then boiling it.  I am usually careful with finding good instructions when trying a new food.  The one thing may have been that some boxed quinoa has been pretreated, so instructions differ.  If I bought raw, but had cooking instructions for prepped seed, that would explain the problem.

Now, the seed is a full protein, by itself.  There are a lot of good qualities about quinoa.  However, after returning from the store, I looked at the prices.  This stuff costs almost as much as hamburger.  Granted, it has a better shelf life.  But at about $4 a pound, it isn't affordable to stock in much quantity.  Then again, all grains and such are going up.  All food is going up.  I simply cannot believe how expensive food has gotten.  You don't see reports about it, at least I don't.  My guess is the government is pushing the price increases because of the "fat epidemic", and the media is simply playing lap-dog and not noticing a huge story. 

I would like to say some foods, like the evil beef, or other "fatty" foods are what is increasing.  But this story just proves that not to be the facts.  Wheat, quinoa, produce, even potatoes, are much more expensive.  I actually think we are being lied to about just how much food has increased in price.  Like I said, I make a solid middle class yearly income.  While I am buying my home, and a vehicle, so are many middle class families.  I am single, so have a much greater access to my income.  And I cannot afford ribeyes.  At $14 or $15 a pound they simply are outside of my affordability scale.  Essentially I won't buy something if I can't maintain it even somewhat regularly.  I literally can't afford a couple of those a month.

This government is doing a lot more than people think.  They are placing activists in departments, which doubles and sometimes triples the effects of outright government interferences.  Fuel is more expensive, employees are more expensive, packaging and delivery are more expensive, and following the new regulations is expensive.  Basically this government is shutting America down.  Closing shops.  Raising prices.  Curtailing employment and entrepreneurial opportunities.  And enough people are happy with that, or getting something out of it, that it doesn't look like that will be changing soon.  Well, until it fails.  Not the way you want to see change happen but sometimes there isn't a way to do much about it.  We are becoming Russia.  New or old Russia, not much difference to be honest.  It is who you know and who you will kill for that decides if you are allowed some small access.  A Godless communism or a Godless crony capitalism, all the same.

Just grumping a bit.  Oh, I did only drink a fifth, actually less.  It did help settle me down though.  Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.  Later, or more likely good night.