Putting up food is no good if you don’t ever get around to eating it. I tend to have an out-of-sight, out-of-mind problem, so attacking my freezer with this focused mindset is really necessary.

My boss just lent me Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. Anyone who’s interested in this topic will already know the gist of this book, if not the specific examples. But I think it’s still important to read because we periodically need to be reminded exactly why we have the convictions that we do.

I got a slow cooker weeks ago but haven’t had the chance (or the guts) to make anything with it yet. Since I often have more energy first thing in the morning than directly after work, I think it’ll help me actually cook on weekdays. And compared to the oven, slow cookers use such a low wattage that they save energy. Bonus!

It may seem early, but if you wait to find a CSA much longer, choices will dwindle. Most already have waiting lists of people who expressed interest during the year. I loved Stone Soup and am definitely signing up with them again. (If you wonder what sorts of things you’ll get, check out my weekly photos.) But there are a lot of options out there. If you live in the Boston area and don’t know yet which to pick, Boston Locavores has a pretty full list of farms on their site. It’s a relatively large investment up front, but worth it when summer rolls around. And doesn’t just thinking about it now make summer feel that much closer?

We’re not big wine drinkers, but we’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party this year, so champagne is a must. And although I know a once-a-year purchase isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, I figured that since I had to wade into unfamiliar territory anyway, I’d try to find an organic champagne.