Real Food

I love to cook.  I also love to look at food and recipes that are posted on FB and Pinterest.  Recently, someone suggested that I like a page on FB because they post great recipes all throughout the day.  I spent a  minute of two looking at the page and loved the wonderful  foods that they had posted.  I "liked" the page thinking I would be able to get some great ideas from them.

I have viewed posts from this page for 2 days now.  Granted, the pictures of beautiful food get my attention every time but the recipes!  The recipes have made me wonder how many people really cook anymore.  I don't know about you, but I don't use a "baking mix" when I want to make homemade muffins.  I have my own "baking mix".  It's called flour!  I can easily add the baking powder, baking soda, salt or whatever I need without paying extra for someone to mix it for me.  If I want to use premixed ingredients, why not just get a muffin mix from the store and add water OR, better yet, just buy muffins at the store and save the hassle.

It's not just baking that we have taken the easy route on.  Take a look as you pass the meat counter in your local grocery store.  Have we come to the place where we can no longer season our own steaks or burgers?   You can pay a little extra and your steak and burgers are pre-seasoned and ready to cook.  I saw a new commercial this week that shows butter with olive oil and spices mixed in.  There's no reason to season your food, just melt this chunk of goo in your pan and add food.  Should I even discuss the fruits and vegetables that come pre-chopped just for you?  How long does it take to slice celery or apples?

I have an idea.  Why don't we go back to cooking real food from real ingredients.  Lets take out the fillers and the stuff we can't pronounce.  Take away the preservatives because we don't need them if we are cooking the food ourselves.  I wonder what that would do to the cancer rate?  I wonder how much better we would feel?  It is something to think about.

Now, if you would excuse me, I've got to check on my bread that is rising...

Eating...on a Budget

Are you paying attention to food prices?  I mean, really paying attention?  I am amazed and a little frightened every time I go to the grocery store.

Last year, we purchased a side of beef from a local farm and we purchased 80 lbs of chicken breasts.  We have just about come to the end of our stock and now I am wondering how I will buy meat for our family.  Why is ground beef now over $4/lb?!  Well, I know the reason.  I guess I am wondering if or when it will change.

I have clipped coupons for the past couple of years...which is one of the reasons I started this blog.  Thanks to certain tv programs, couponing has changed!  Now, it is not even worth buying the Sunday paper.  There are not enough coupons that I use to make it worthwhile.

So, what to do?  I have started serving more meatless meals at home.  With 3 men in the house, this is not always a welcome alternative!  I have also started incorporating meat into the meal so that it is not the "main dish".  This is easily done in things like fried rice.  Another option is adding more beans to your menu.  Personally, I love all bean soups.  It is what I grew up on so I have no problem eating beans every week.

Right now I am scouring the Kroger add for good deals and luckily, it's a good week.

Daydreams and Canned Beets...

January 2013 is quickly coming to an end.  I am amazed at how time seems to fly by.  I see it as I watch my boys that once toddled around the room now tower over me and will soon be asking for the keys to the car. I cannot slow down time so I am trying to learn to enjoy the quick moments that I have.  If I do not, I will soon look back in a mirror of regret.

Today I am enjoying the beautiful 70 degree weather.  The house windows are open and the chickens are free to scratch around the yard to their heart's content.  We must enjoy it quickly because the warm weather is ushering in severe storms which will then give way to cold temperatures again.  Right now, the warmth makes me long for the garden.

The seed companies have already begun their battle with my willpower.  Every year I promise myself I will only plant a small garden with items that we truly need but every year the seed companies lure me in with the promise of a huge yield of some new vegetable that I must try.  I will practice restraint though.  My seed box runneth over.

My daydreams must wait.  The problem of the moment is what to cook for dinner!  I had planned on cleaning out the pantry during the month of February and boycotting any and all supermarkets during that time but I believe I will start early.  I have canned goods that I need to clear out and frozen fruits and veggies that need to be eaten to make way for this summer's crops.

For some reason, I have an abundance of canned beets?!  I learned last year that I like beets fresh from the garden but I have yet to try any from a can.  I guess I will leave my blog in search of a good recipe to try for dinner.  Any suggestions?