Last night was the last in a series of nine money management classes that my husband and I co-facilitated. I felt a bit awkward, doing the class. I mean, here we were sharing a process that has so radically changed how we handle money and yet, oh dear, what if everyone thinks the whole thing is stupid?

No one said that, of course. They were much too polite.

But the situation is kind of rough. Basically, you take a group of people, people who are fairly comfortable and confident with how they’ve been handling money (because, Hello, we aren’t walking around naked and starving, are we?) but yet are willing to shell out $93 because they want to improve. You spend the next nine weeks showing them how they are doing everything all wrong and then try to get them to change their habits by telling them they must do lots of super-hard work. To top off the whole sorry mess, the lead (and very gifted) teacher is opinionated, sports spotty theology (by my standards), and often rubs people the wrong way. Plus, in recent months he’s gotten in legal and ethical trouble—clearly, the guy is no saint. And yet I still want people to spend nine hours watching him prance back and forth on a fancy stage and then do what he says because, dagnabbit, it works.

Like I said, AWKWARD.

(Also, I am so not a good salesperson, what with my freakish tendency to flaunt the underbelly and all. “Oo-oh! Agony, turmoil, irritation, stress, and despair can all be yours for a small fee of just ninety-three dollars! Sign up now!” This is me selling the class. Someone shut me up.)

In last night’s meeting, I asked the group how they have changed as a result of the class. Answers included:

“My wife and I are more on the same page than ever before.”
“I’m paying more attention.”
“I’m no longer afraid of money.”
“I’m tightening things up.”
“I want my kids to learn this.”

One guy said that he’s feeling both better and worse. Better because he feels like he has a more complete understanding of their financial situation for the first time ever, and worse because, well, the financial situation.

And then I told them (yet again) that it may take another 18 months (at least) of steady chipping away (i.e. making a monthly zero-based budget, attacking debt, etc) before they will start to see any notable difference. And even then, there might not be much! Discouragement will probably continue to be the predominant feeling for a good while. But also! There will be the pride that comes from tackling a difficult job head on, and, if married, the satisfaction that comes from team work! (Actually, I didn’t say that part about pride and team work last night, but I wish I had. Because it’s true.)

We’ll be hosting another class this spring, and our youth pastor will be teaching a junior level of this stuff to our youth group. If you’re interested in the adult class (final dates TBA), let me know.

Signed,
Your Guide To Misery and … (fingers crossed!) Beyond!

This same time, years previous: refrigerator bran muffins, sparkle blondies, chicken salad, and how it really is.

On Saturday, we had friends over for supper. Along with the salad, I served a butternut squash galette.

That afternoon, the rest of the family was working outside so I had the kitchen to myself. I cranked up NPR and had myself a jolly good time. In fact, I was having so much fun that I neglected to push myself at the breakneck speeds necessary in order to get everything done in time. As a result, when the guests arrived, I had only just slipped the first galette into the oven.

No matter. We drank red wine, visited, and gave an impromptu tour of the house. And as soon as the first galette was ready, we dug in. But then we had to stop and wait for the second one to finish baking. So we drank more wine and did more visiting. The meal was turning into a lingering affair, which, I was happy to discover, was actually quite pleasant and not at all disaster-ish.

The second galette eaten (all but two pieces), we tucked into the apple pie (more pastry!) and ice cream and passed around cups of coffee. And then we moved into the living room (while my older son washed the dishes) and visited until after all the kids had put themselves to sleep.

The following morning I ate a piece of leftover galette for breakfast. And the next day, too.  It’s all gone now, but I can’t stop thinking about it. A galette is such a simple, elegant dish with any number of variations.

Butternut Squash Galette with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese
Adapted from Dinner With Julie.

1 recipe of rich butter pastry (but substitute whole wheat flour for at least half of the white flour), divided into two disks and chilled
1-2 pounds of peeled and seeded butternut squash
2 onions, peeled
pinch of sugar
olive oil
fresh rosemary (or dried)
6 ounces creamy goat cheese
salt and black pepper

Thinly slice the squash, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and microwave, covered, for about four minutes or until tender. (Another option is to steam the squash on the stove top or roast it, covered, in the oven.)

Slice the onions in half lengthwise. Place each half face down and then slice thinly into half circles. On medium heat, saute the onions with a hearty drizzle of olive oil, a couple pinches of sugar, and salt. The onions are finished when they are satiny golden, about 20 minutes or so.

Roll out one of the pastry disks as you would for a pie. Place it on a parchment-lined baking tray. Using only half of the filling ingredients, layer the squash with the onions and goat cheese on top of the pastry round, making sure to leave a one-inch border all the way around. As you fill the pastry, sprinkle each layer with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Fold the edge of pastry up over the filling. Repeat, using the remaining ingredients and the second disk of pastry.

Bake the pastry at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This same time, years previous: the quotidian (11.11.13), the quotidian (11.11.12), my apple lineup, a first step, and relieving the mental pressure.