We took the family to the Orchard today for a day of picking. Go figure it was a smolteringly hot day...but, we survived! We managed to pick 50 pounds of delight! We went nuts; it was a BLAST! We picked 25 pounds of courtland apples, 15 pounds of yellow peaches, 10 pounds of pears and 5 pounds of nectarines. I told you we went a little crazy! I wanted to pick the veggie garden also, but the boys ran out of steam. The best part...all this fruitastic delight cost about $25! I know, I can't believe it either!
So, on the menu:
Applesauce
Apple Butter
Apple Turnovers
Peach Butter
Peach Cobbler
Peach Salsa
Frozen Peaches
Pear Sauce
Vanilla Pear Muffins or Pear Cranberry Bread
Canned Pears
Nectarines- not sure th plan for these yet, but we will see if they make it into anything or if I eat them all...they are my absolute FAVORITE!
Plus, I am going to back a few mini loaves of bana bread since I have some super ripe bananas.
I am thinking it is time for some Welcome to Autumn Baskets! for the neighbors! I figure...win them over now before winter comes and I need to make use of their snow blower! Hee hee!
Showing posts with label food for thought. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food for thought. Show all posts
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Recipe Philosophy
What is your philosophy on cooking?
First...have I mentioned lately that I LOVE cooking? I have been cooking for as long as I can remember. I love the satisfaction of preparing something yummy for those I love. I find it fulfilling. I love the process, be it simple or complex. For me, it is therapeutic.
Step by step, be it stirring, chopping or kneading, it is so easy to get lost in the process. The world slows and chaos subsides. Ok, so the chaos subsides as much as possible with 2 rambunctious little boys and a phone that is always ringing. Either way, a calm sets in and the process begins.
So, how do I chose what to serve to my family. Well, I am a purist at heart. For me this means recipes without all the glitz and glamour. I prefer to cook from scratch with simple ingredients. You won't find 700 spices or the latest cooking gadgets in my kitchen. I don't find them necessary to produce good tasting, quality food.
Food should speak for itself. A potato should taste like a potato. No rosemary infused garlic cream cheese mashed potatoes in this house. I just don't see the need. Sure I could fancy up a box of instant potatoes, but you and I both know you can taste the difference. When you take the time to peel, boil and mash your potatoes you don't have to worry about clearing out the spice cabinet to mask the processed flavor of instant. Sure it make take a little bit longer, but I am confident in the food I serve. I swear I should be living on a kibbutz somewhere...now I know you think I am crazy..lol!
First...have I mentioned lately that I LOVE cooking? I have been cooking for as long as I can remember. I love the satisfaction of preparing something yummy for those I love. I find it fulfilling. I love the process, be it simple or complex. For me, it is therapeutic.
Step by step, be it stirring, chopping or kneading, it is so easy to get lost in the process. The world slows and chaos subsides. Ok, so the chaos subsides as much as possible with 2 rambunctious little boys and a phone that is always ringing. Either way, a calm sets in and the process begins.
So, how do I chose what to serve to my family. Well, I am a purist at heart. For me this means recipes without all the glitz and glamour. I prefer to cook from scratch with simple ingredients. You won't find 700 spices or the latest cooking gadgets in my kitchen. I don't find them necessary to produce good tasting, quality food.
Food should speak for itself. A potato should taste like a potato. No rosemary infused garlic cream cheese mashed potatoes in this house. I just don't see the need. Sure I could fancy up a box of instant potatoes, but you and I both know you can taste the difference. When you take the time to peel, boil and mash your potatoes you don't have to worry about clearing out the spice cabinet to mask the processed flavor of instant. Sure it make take a little bit longer, but I am confident in the food I serve. I swear I should be living on a kibbutz somewhere...now I know you think I am crazy..lol!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
My new kick(s)!
Have you noticed lately that the prices of food are moving sky high! I was shocked this week when I went to the store to buy pork chops and a family pack was prices at $15! How can anyone afford to eat with these prices. Knowing what is going on around the world, with rising oils prices shortages of corn and weather wreaking havoc on many crops, I only expect food prices to get higher and higher. This has lead my normally level headed husband to start watching survivalist videos on youtube. Some of these people are pretty far out, but I totally understand their concept. Between the survivalists mentality and the extreme couponing rage right now, my husband and I are starting to stock pile some food. Nothing outrageous, just stocking up on the foods we eat when the prices are low.
I am also going back to sneaking veggies into my foods. In an ideal world my husband would willingly sit down to a plate of teriyaki glazed portabellas served with brown rice and edamame. Oh yeah and a zucchini, Kale and Cabbage smoothie. Yet, this idea world doesn't exist. My husbands ideal of the dinner is fried pork chops, mashed potatoes and corn. He might throw a nice iceberg lettuce salad in there with oil and vinegar, but that is the extent of it! So, I have to find a way to incorporate healthy vegetables into yummy foods my family will eat with out telling them! So, Dicey Debbie because I am dicing up and dishing out some new healthy recipes. (Hopefully they go over well, I am sure I am going to get the side eye on some of these stuff. That won't stop me though!)
Yet, we are still on an EXTREMELY tight budget. My weekly budget is $75. This must include everything...meats, produce, cleaning supplies, detergents, a bit of formula, ect... So, couponing is a must! The thing I find hard about couponing is finding simple ingredients on sale to stock up on that are not full of over processed crap! I hate that! It is possible though...jut really have to look and work the deals.
Let's see where this process takes me....Are you gonna jump on board?
I am also going back to sneaking veggies into my foods. In an ideal world my husband would willingly sit down to a plate of teriyaki glazed portabellas served with brown rice and edamame. Oh yeah and a zucchini, Kale and Cabbage smoothie. Yet, this idea world doesn't exist. My husbands ideal of the dinner is fried pork chops, mashed potatoes and corn. He might throw a nice iceberg lettuce salad in there with oil and vinegar, but that is the extent of it! So, I have to find a way to incorporate healthy vegetables into yummy foods my family will eat with out telling them! So, Dicey Debbie because I am dicing up and dishing out some new healthy recipes. (Hopefully they go over well, I am sure I am going to get the side eye on some of these stuff. That won't stop me though!)
Yet, we are still on an EXTREMELY tight budget. My weekly budget is $75. This must include everything...meats, produce, cleaning supplies, detergents, a bit of formula, ect... So, couponing is a must! The thing I find hard about couponing is finding simple ingredients on sale to stock up on that are not full of over processed crap! I hate that! It is possible though...jut really have to look and work the deals.
Let's see where this process takes me....Are you gonna jump on board?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Meal Plan Monday...on Tuesday..AGAIN!
Happy New Years! I can't believe another year has passed and oh so quickly! Things have been exceptionally busy lately...even for the holidays. I haven't had much time to think more than a day or so ahead so a meal plan rather low on my list of things to do...even though I find it exceptionally helpful. I also haven't really thought about resolutions because I don't think much of them! I will say one thing I have been focused on at the end of this year that I will continue to focus on with this new year and that is spending!
I have worked really hard to decrease my weekly grocery bill. My first goal was to increase the amount of groceries I was able to purchase with my weekly budget of $100. Then, the goal became to reduce my weekly grocery budget to $75. I have successfully accomplished both. I spend on average $75 a week and purchase between $150-$200+ worth of groceries. I have really struggled to lower my weekly bill below $75, but my goal over the next few months is to reduce it by another $15. Ultimately, I would love to spend about $50 a week on groceries. This is truly a challenge for me (esp. when my husband comes shopping with me), but it can be done! I know I can do it! So, that is my challenge/resolution for this year!
Monday and Tuesday: Bean Soup with Cornbread
Wednesday and Thursday: Sarma (Stuffed Cabbage...I can't wait!)
Friday: Chicken Chipolte Style burritos
Saturday: Marinated Chicken over Tortellini
Sunday: Homemade Pizza
Baking for the Week: Blueberry Streusel and a Birthday cake
The Sarma will be a lot of work..ok...not really a lot of work, but time consuming. Yet, it is SO WORTH THE EFFORT!!! The rest of the week will be really simple stuff! Should make for a really easy cooking week!
I have worked really hard to decrease my weekly grocery bill. My first goal was to increase the amount of groceries I was able to purchase with my weekly budget of $100. Then, the goal became to reduce my weekly grocery budget to $75. I have successfully accomplished both. I spend on average $75 a week and purchase between $150-$200+ worth of groceries. I have really struggled to lower my weekly bill below $75, but my goal over the next few months is to reduce it by another $15. Ultimately, I would love to spend about $50 a week on groceries. This is truly a challenge for me (esp. when my husband comes shopping with me), but it can be done! I know I can do it! So, that is my challenge/resolution for this year!
Monday and Tuesday: Bean Soup with Cornbread
Wednesday and Thursday: Sarma (Stuffed Cabbage...I can't wait!)
Friday: Chicken Chipolte Style burritos
Saturday: Marinated Chicken over Tortellini
Sunday: Homemade Pizza
Baking for the Week: Blueberry Streusel and a Birthday cake
The Sarma will be a lot of work..ok...not really a lot of work, but time consuming. Yet, it is SO WORTH THE EFFORT!!! The rest of the week will be really simple stuff! Should make for a really easy cooking week!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Recipes I wanna try...
I have been whoring it up again...with food porn! I love when I have a few quiet moments (which is like never) and I can just relax. Now if only I had a glass of wine or a brownie sundae that would complete the whole experience! This will have to do for now!
How awesome do these wonderful picture look? I can't wait to try these recipes!
How awesome do these wonderful picture look? I can't wait to try these recipes!
 |
| Coutesy of Jolene from What's cookin, Chicago? |
 |
| Courtesy of The Good Mood Food blog |
 |
| Courtesy of Simply Recipes |
 |
| Coutesy of Kalyn's Kitchen |
 |
| Courtesy of Appetite for China |
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
And today I want...
I am finally getting my bake on...again! I have been making a lot of simple, delicious dinners lately, but have been craving more! I definitely think that is the baby talking. Finally my sweet tooth has kicked in, but it is different this time around. This time I crave pastry and cake along with fruit. In that sense it is not overly sweet per say as it is just crumbly goodness.
So, Here are a few recipes I have found while perusing over the last few weeks. I hope to get to all of these within the next 2 weeks.
1. Blueberries. Since blueberries are in season here...I have been stocking up. It is one of the few fruits my son will eat, plus I LOVE blueberries. I have already made a homemade blueberry sauce that is dying for a nice cheesecake. Yet, in the meantime it is smothering every waffle and pancake I can get my grubby little hands on. So, to mix it up I found Bree. She has this delectable Blueberry muffin recipe on her blog Baked Bree. I can't wait to bake these like delights!
Here is her beautiful picture of the Blueberry Muffin.
2. Apple. What is more American the Apple Pie...right! When 4th of July came and went I was so disappointed not to have this classic American treat on hand. I can see those glorious gooey apples smothered with with melting frozen goodness! MMmmm....excuse me while I drool! Thus, while at the market the other day Apples topped my list. I found two delicious recipes I can't wait to dip into!
The first is a classic apple crips...I grew up on apple crisp with its scrumptious little oatmeal crispies...Cory over at Culinary Cory has recipe I can't wait to dive into! The vanilla ice cream is already in the freeze waiting...
Here is his picture of this simple American dessert.
Yet, one apple dessert is never enough. Remember that I said I was also craving cake. Well, I couldn't resist this recipe the moment I saw this picture.
See what I mean! It just screams crumbly gloriousness. Ohhh...I want some now. So, thank you to the mother and daughter cooking combo over at Russian Season. I can't wait to bake my own!
3. Pineapple. Usually this is not a fruit high on my list of delights, but recently I had some fresh pineapple at a playdate. It was so juicy and delicious, I gorged! So, since I love pineapple on my pizza I knew I would love this recipe. (I will just have to make a separate pizza for the boys! LOL!
Thank you Barry at Rock Recipes for posting this sensation pizza-pie!
I can't wait to dive into these treats...Not to decide which ones to start first!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
A Food Analysis
I am finally getting around to watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution which I DVRed a few days ago. It is really interesting and I have really been looking forward to seeing his take on American cuisine. As I watch the show, Jamie starts by confronting the school lunch menu. As a former teacher I know what a joke school lunches are and only ate lunch when the school lunch ladies actually prepared Greek Salads...which were outstanding. Yet, this gets me thinking...
Overall, I would say my husband and I's diet is pretty good. We do not eat much processed foods...he often complains because there is nothing to eat that doesn't have to be cooked. He is not a cook...he is nuker...and bad at that most times! You know the type that nuke 'til explosion! Yep! That's my hubbie! God love him. I guess I am more overtly conscious of our diets now that I am pregnant again. I gained a large amount of weight with my first and I have vowed not to do that again...so with my doctors approval I have started a diabetic diet that limits me to 1800 calories a day. I looked at a few menus and I already have some concerns. 1. I don't eat fish...no sea life in my diet except the occasion can of tuna which ironically I have been craving. 2. I am not a veggie person. I eat the staples...carrots, green beans, peas, squash, and occasion salad. Almost every meal includes a veggie...I mean ok I get the point, but I prefer to drink my veggies. They go down a lot smoother (and quicker) that way, plus I eat so much more variety this way. Today I had beets, carrots and strawberries! So, I think I can circumvent that issue. 3. My third big issue is everything on the diet is low-fat this and low-fat that...which is great and all, but most low- fat items contain very little REAL products and instead are filled with fake junk. This is something I have worked hard to REMOVE from my diet. So, the diet junk is out and I will be more cognizant of my fats and we will go from there.
I have started to track my food intake again to accurate detail what I am eating. I am hoping this will help to control my weight gain with this pregnancy. So, far so good, but I have 32 more hard weeks to go! We shall see....
Anyway...I got off on a tangent. What I really realized in watching this show is that although my hubbie and I eat well, when I was watching the Jamie Oliver show all I could think about was my son's diet. Jamie O. was appalled that the kids were only eating chicken nuggets and pizzas as their primary staples. Yet, aren't these the staples of my son's diet?
AJ is Mr. Picky just like his daddy and the only processed foods in the house are his. Processed chicken nuggets, pizza rolls, crackers, ect... It is a bunch of crap. I will say that he does not eat all that much in the way of snacks...like cheezits and stuff. He snacks on some fruit, applesauce, yogurt, peanut butter crackers, and cream cheese toast. But, the point is he eat junk. I know as he gets older and can eat our food he will, but when does that start? He hates meat...no pork shops, steak, hamburger meat (although he loves McD's hamburgers), chicken breast...nothing. So, there is not a lot of our dinner he will eat now. He also does not eat potatoes...unless again it is from McD's. There is something in that food that makes kids predisposed to craving it!
Anyway, so, my new goal is to start searching around and finding some healthy dinner and lunch alternatives for AJ that he will actually eat. I will share what I find...
Oh and let me know what you come up with!
Overall, I would say my husband and I's diet is pretty good. We do not eat much processed foods...he often complains because there is nothing to eat that doesn't have to be cooked. He is not a cook...he is nuker...and bad at that most times! You know the type that nuke 'til explosion! Yep! That's my hubbie! God love him. I guess I am more overtly conscious of our diets now that I am pregnant again. I gained a large amount of weight with my first and I have vowed not to do that again...so with my doctors approval I have started a diabetic diet that limits me to 1800 calories a day. I looked at a few menus and I already have some concerns. 1. I don't eat fish...no sea life in my diet except the occasion can of tuna which ironically I have been craving. 2. I am not a veggie person. I eat the staples...carrots, green beans, peas, squash, and occasion salad. Almost every meal includes a veggie...I mean ok I get the point, but I prefer to drink my veggies. They go down a lot smoother (and quicker) that way, plus I eat so much more variety this way. Today I had beets, carrots and strawberries! So, I think I can circumvent that issue. 3. My third big issue is everything on the diet is low-fat this and low-fat that...which is great and all, but most low- fat items contain very little REAL products and instead are filled with fake junk. This is something I have worked hard to REMOVE from my diet. So, the diet junk is out and I will be more cognizant of my fats and we will go from there.
I have started to track my food intake again to accurate detail what I am eating. I am hoping this will help to control my weight gain with this pregnancy. So, far so good, but I have 32 more hard weeks to go! We shall see....
Anyway...I got off on a tangent. What I really realized in watching this show is that although my hubbie and I eat well, when I was watching the Jamie Oliver show all I could think about was my son's diet. Jamie O. was appalled that the kids were only eating chicken nuggets and pizzas as their primary staples. Yet, aren't these the staples of my son's diet?
AJ is Mr. Picky just like his daddy and the only processed foods in the house are his. Processed chicken nuggets, pizza rolls, crackers, ect... It is a bunch of crap. I will say that he does not eat all that much in the way of snacks...like cheezits and stuff. He snacks on some fruit, applesauce, yogurt, peanut butter crackers, and cream cheese toast. But, the point is he eat junk. I know as he gets older and can eat our food he will, but when does that start? He hates meat...no pork shops, steak, hamburger meat (although he loves McD's hamburgers), chicken breast...nothing. So, there is not a lot of our dinner he will eat now. He also does not eat potatoes...unless again it is from McD's. There is something in that food that makes kids predisposed to craving it!
Anyway, so, my new goal is to start searching around and finding some healthy dinner and lunch alternatives for AJ that he will actually eat. I will share what I find...
Oh and let me know what you come up with!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
