In Season

Peaches. They are an event that have made quite an impression in our household.  Ben bought a case of them, and it has been quite a luxury to simply eat as many of the golden, juicy fruits as we can handle.  I've made baby food, and have frozen many for the future.  Tonight I have had a hard time getting into the kitchen to make all the baked goodies... muffins, cobbler, pie.  I just want to revel in my clean kitchen one more night before I blow it up with activity.

The heat outside has caused me to go minimal with my cooking.  I don't know how I went for years without peanut butter and preserve sandwiches!  Also, I caught Ben saying that the grits and cut up, boiled egg with a bit of butter I made for him were good. 

Other recent creations (I named them): browned-butter mac and cheese, gazpacho pasta salad, Rotell hamburger soup, and chorizo stuffed satellight squash.

A master plan

My friend told me about a website called from food to table.  It is a free site that looks up sales at your local grocery store, gives you a selection of recipes to use your preferred ingredients, then gives you a grocery list.  You can even add your own items to the list, and the site categorizes most of the items.  It made going to the grocery store with two tiered kids much easier.  It is wonderful to know that I have a plan for at least two easy and different meals using the best deals of the week.  This was the second time I used the site, and it suprises me how the best priced meats are so hard to locate.  It's not that large of a meat department.  I feel like I'm on a scavenger hunt, and I like it.

Last week I went with my Mother in Law and her husband to the grocery store, so it was bliss.  We had happy children, and plenty of hands to keep them happy.  I didn't buy many out of the ordinary items except turkey meat from the deli department.  Marina wasn't a big fan of it.  I think we'd like ham better. 

During their visit, I made corned beef..... time for bed. 

Cooking is my life

I used to think that when I oohed and awwhed about Truluck's chocolate cake, that food was my life.  But then today as I calculated all the different meals needed for my family, and their different preparation requirements, I realized that food truely is my life.

My toddler consumes three meals, and two snacks.  She starts and ends her day with whole milk warmed to perfection in the microwave, and placed in a sippy cup for her sustenance and comfort.  She also consumes three meals where I aspire to provide a fruit, starch and vegetable.  Then there are the snacks such as fruits, or cheese or peanut butter with crackers.

My baby consumes 3 meals a day which I make sure are the right temperature and consistency.  I used to try to avoid the microwave, but I now stir things to avoid hot spots.  Our son gets cereal, fruit or vegetable and either formula or mom's milk warmed perfectly.  Then he gets all the mom's milk he can take.

My husband needs to be fattened up, so I do my best to give him hefty meals.  Also, I like providing high protine snacks for when he's running out the door.  Plus, we like to use the produce we have grown out in our garden. 

This week I used Foodonthetable.com, and I'm excited about how it pointed out some meat specials I would have missed (even after reading the flyer).  It's also fun having a different and easy plan for at least a couple of meals for the week!

I want to make:  Taco Salad, something with shrimp, something with chicken... chili, enchilada casserole, my cabbage,polenta soup, cauliflower chorizo soup, lentil soup, zuccini cheese wraps, salad, a fabulous pear/bluecheese/arugula pizza, fresh squeezed orange juice, baked apples, bannana bread, sour dough bread, lots of warm cereals, oatmeal cookies, peanut butter cookies, potato soup, goyza, tea, krispi treats, mac and cheese, cheese dip,

 

Food is Fuel and potential Poison

I have made stir fry, roasted vegetables, quesadillas, turkey pot pie, turkey and rice soup, stir fry, fried rice, key -lime sorbet, peanut buter/chocolate krispy treats, baby food, and a enchilada casserole.

The casserole was awesome, and yet was the catalyst for change in food storage and prep rules in our house.  It could have been a stomach virus, but it also could have been food poisoning that caused my husband severe gastronomic distress.  I would have no more wondering when it comes to my kitchen.  I have gotten rid of anything that hadn't been purchased in recent memory.  It was difficult getting rid of my sesame oil, but I didn't want to take any chances.     

Now he is worried about my sour dough bread starter, but I believe it will be great.  I am starting my first loaf today.

Status of food procurement:  I haven't done a major grocery shopping trip in two weeks.   We spent $40 for some milk and highly perishable fruits two weeks ago, and purchased about that amount today.  I am interested in the website my friend found through David Ramsey which has economical meal plans and grocery lists for the family, but unfortunately, I am addicted to using the fresh produce and meat specials available the day I shop.   

In the garden, we harvested lettuce, and lots and lots of potatoes.  I feel too tiered to cook them, but I will rally.  The people on the cooking shows go crazy for fresh potatoes.  We have yukon gold, and a red Kenobek potato.  It was fun harvesting a couple rows of potatoes.  I even saw a little dusty frog.  I wondered where they stay during the day, and now I know that one of the cute green creatures slept near our seed potatoes.

What do you call that? a derivative of California rolls in Texas.

My mom makes California rolls with imitation crab (crab with a K), avocado and cucumber sliced like matchsticks.  Tonight I have the ripe avocado, cucumber, sushi rice, and seaweed... but the Krab had expired.  Also, we were hungry, and I hadn't prepared the vegetables.  So, I made little seaweed, sushi rice, and spicy canned tuna tacos for my family.  I have seen these creations called hand rolls, but I didn't even twist the seaweed into cones.  I just put a rectangle of Korean seaweed in my hand, smacked some Japanese sushi rice, and put some fish-mayo-lemon-srircha down the middle.  After several of these, I got down to the business of shaping some rice for my family.  I put water on my hands, sprinkled them with salt, and put some warm rice in my hands.  Then I put some filling in the middle, and formed some Onigini.  Ben called them pods.  I love how something so common in Okinawa can be new in my home.  After almost four years of marriage, I'm still making surprises in the kitchen.  Ben likes California rolls better, but anything with salty, sesame oil, crispy Korean seaweed, dipped in wasabi and soy sauce, rocks his world. 

All seaweed is not the same.  Japanese seaweed is matte looking, and while not soggy, not crispy.  Korean seaweed is shinier, and has the added flavor of salt and sesame oil.  I thought I was safe bragging about my love of Korean seaweed to my Midwestern husband.  I was wrong.  He loves it too.  My mother comes shaking a bag of it, saying this is for Ben-san.  The addition on san to a name is a way of honoring someone.  I am, and will always be Raika-chan to my mom.  The addition of chan is a form of endearment.  I am her little Raika.  I'm OK with that, and I'm ok with sharing my seaweed too.

Puff Pastry to toast and back

A roll of puff pastry is a beautiful thing when you're not afraid to dowse it in a liquid fat.  I used my silicone pampered chef pastry brush to Picasso our paper thin layers with olive oil before spreading my spinach cheese mixture over it a la one layer lasagna.  Then another 5 layers of the pastry.

Today I carefully placed farm fresh eggs into the center of pan fried whole wheat toast.  I caught that idea on the movie Vendeta.  The entire family enjoyed their bull's eye toast with ham very much.

For lunch I toasted up some bread to house my chicken pot pie mixture.  I remember dad calling his creamy mushroom and meat mixture on toast, "s___ on a tin roof."  But the kids don't need to know that.

The goal of fattening up the family was furthered by my cookie production yesterday.  Chocolate chip with walnuts, and whoopie pies are done.

In the garden, the potatoes are doing well.  The lettuce and carrots are promising.  The green been and pepper seedlings are almost ready to be planted.

Our baby has accepted bananas, barley, bannanas, rice and sweet potatoes with no problem.  He gave me a special look this morning when I presented green beans for the first time, but by lunch he was gumming it down with gusto!

Kid quotes in the kitchen

The other day, our friends visited.  Their 9 year old son helped me make gingerbread cookies.  As he stood looking into our pantry, perhaps wondering what else we could make that evening, he said "you have a lot things to mix together."  On good days, I consider my staples as toys with multiple uses.  On days with poor time managment, I find the status of my unprocessed food pantry frustrating.  I guess that's why I splurged and have many things in the freezer that just need to be opened and microwaved.  Bertoli frozen pasta, I love you!

Yesterday, our daughter mixed olive oil, sliced garlic, salt, and our new potatoes (straight from our garden) with the brussel sprouts from a wonderful farmer at the Barton Creek Mall farmer's market.  She said "Mommy, I cook."  My heart is full of joy to give her the opportunity to find her confidence in the kitchen at such a young age. 

Yesterday, I cooked frozen blueberries, lemon zest, a touch of sugar with the overripe strawberries Ben bought at the farmer's market to make a nice sauce for Marina's cereal.  I thickened it up with cornstarch.  I also made a white sauce for my intened chicken pot pie.  I started creaming the sugar and butter for the chocolate chip cookies I made today, and I made the icing for the whoopie pies (from mix) I am completing today.  Next I will make Spanakopita and a vegetable soup.  I must get to the spicy Krab rolls because I don't want to miss using my avocado.  They go bad so quickly.

I made 3 perfectly healthy, perfect temperature meals each day for the kiddos.  I want to describe the way I warm up my son's cereal, vegetable, milk to my idea of perfection, but that must wait for another post.   

Inferno Chicken

I am married to a grill master.  His expertise accents my lacking in the hot coal department.  Last night was no exception.  After he grilled our sausages and smoked ribs to perfection, I insisted in using the last of the coals to sear some chicken I had set for the crock pot.  I thought if browning in a pan is helpful, searing on a grill would be fantastic.  There weren't that many coals, so after placing the chicken directly over waning embers, I took some dishes in.  When we walked outside, the chicken was ablaze in a 2 foot inferno.  I ran and covered the grill.  I took my blackened bits back to the crock pot and poured Shiner's seasonal grapefruit, ginger beer in with it.  This morning, I must say, it looks like we're going to have a delicious lunch. 

In order to make room in the freezer for the massive amount of food I purchased, I had to thaw out meat.  In addition, Ben directed me to purchase some meat to grill.  Hence, the meat bonanza in my refrigerator.  I figure this abnormal amount of protein will help jump start my goal of giving my husband the fuel his body needs, in a form he enjoys. 

I placed green bean casserole, thick pork "steaks?" and a sweet potato in the crock pot for another meal.  I browned the meat in my non stick pan this time... how boring.

The goals

 I plan on using this blog as a place to keep track of my plans and results. I wish I had time to be witty, or at least grammatically correct, but this train stops for no one and nothing.  I should figure out how to use any available spell checks!

My food goal is to help my husband, daughter and son gain weight healthfully while losing weight myself. 

We haven't indulged in junk food in a long time.  I weigh 15 lbs less than I did before I had my first child.  My husband is so thin, his wedding ring falls off and his watch twirls around his wrist.  Our children are not pudgy.  So I have no guilt for enjoying our banana bread, French bread with pepperoni and cream cheese spread, and fake Doritos. 

This morning my daughter squealed with delight about the raisins I had yet to put away.  Yet she is familiar with a chocolate morsel or two.  While I was mixing up my son's baby food, my daughter said chocOlate?  CHOCOLATE?!  I told her the container had prunes, and she didn't get it, so I let her have a spoonful.  While she loves dried fruit, even a two year old knows there is nothing like chocolate.

Grocery Shopping at night

In order to really concentrate on what I'm doing at the grocery store, I go at night.  My husband had both monitors out at the shop with the volume set at high in order to make sure the sleeping cuties were still as I left them... well fed and fast asleep.

I arrive at the grocery store at about 9pm and left at 11:30.  It used to take that long to have dinner and drinks, now I took this rare opportunity to fill in some non-food purchases, and make the best food purchases I could find.  I am really looking forward to this new round of cooking.

In many ways, purchasing and cooking foods before they go bad, remind me of the computer game Tetris.  It's always moving, and you have to fit things together before you lose control, and things back up.

During the last two weeks: 
*Our daughter really loved her strawberries.  While they are still a very reasonable price, they are not as shiny skinned or red as about two weeks ago.
*I made:  Gold Medal Flour's confirmed best bannana bread ever; lots of bowls of hot and cold cereal with fruit, lots of cut up apples in lemon water, terriyaki chiken, spagetti with meat sauce, carrot parsley juice, apple beet juice, freshly squezed orange juice, a cream cheese spread with cheddar for french bread slices, a huge amount of roasted vegetabes, barley and bannana baby food, mini quiches, nutela and peanut butter crisps, fried potatos, gingerbread tree cookies, brownies from a box, salmon patties, peannut butter/pinapple stew on top of brown rice, a blueberry sauce to go with our daughter's cottage cheese, fried rice, fettuchini alfredo with ham, several ham sandwiches... We had to throw out the brisket that Ben made because he forgot it out on the grill.  I made a lot of my favorite Earl Grey Tea.  Last week my daugher and I enjoyed a meal at Whole Foods where she had all the blueberries, blackberries and other fruit she could consume along with strng cheese, strawberry milk, my fries and my cheeseburger.  Our daugher loves Gerber crunchy snacks. 

During the next couple of weeks:
I plan on making a friend's glutten free cupcakes for her birthday, along with Amish coleslaw for her party.  In order to make the most of the large purchase of food and home items I made tonight, I will make:  more french bread/cream cheese spread/pepparoni snacks, serve daughter kiwi, then mango, then bannanas then bluberries, then cherries, then more applesauce.  Will serve son prunes, then more bannanas, then sweet potatoes.  Will serve husband addional snacks like Muscle Milk, protien bars, and ham sandwiches.  Will make:  things with frozen vegetables, support my husband's grill of ribs, pork and chicken.  I will make a chicken and vegetable soup, beans with brown rice, ham and cheese sandwiches with tomato soup, I'm heating up some Bertoli's shrimp alfredo pasta, roasted cauliflower, seafood gumbo, chicken and alphabet soup, green bean casserole, beet apple juice, and crepes.  I will make sugar cookies shaped like easter eggs.  I will make chocolate tapioca pudding, macaroni and cheese, spici Krab rolls, miso soup, blueberry pancakes, spagetti and meatballs, salmon, broccoli and soba noodles, pizza, grilled fish with vegetables, Spanokopita, pita bread, humus; little vegetable dumplings, carrot sticks with ranch dressing, koolaid, juice, peanut butter, chocolate krispi treats,

I picked up extra baby food, household items like garbage bags, diapers, and medicine such as peto-bismol, and even brussel spouts.   

I would like to make my daughter homemade goldfish treats.

Can't Wait to Get Cooking

In order to go to the grocery store without my two children who are two and under, I ended up going to the grocery store at 10pm.  My husband made sure the house stayed up over the sleeping children as I drove to the nearest town, and purchased three weeks of our family's  groceries, dishwasher detergent and 140 size three diapers for $200. 

I plan on making Turkey pot pies, brownies, Terriyaki Chicken, Mini Quiches, Roasted Vegetable Calezones,   home made ranch dressing,  peanut butter cookies, granola treats, French fries, blueberry sauce for homeade yogurt and cottage cheese, eggs florentine, Nutella and banana Crepes, Oatmeal chocolate cookies, Oatmeal with raisins, Malto Meal with Cinnamon Apples, Corned Beef with cabbage and vegetables.  I look forward to a salad with my red bell pepper and cucumber.  I also look forward to a nice pasta dish with grated zuccini, garlic and cream cheese.  I also would love to make a carrot cake.  My husband will grill some ribs and perhaps the other chicken.  I enjoy carrot sticks.   

The baby will be getting momma's milk with Barley all week.  The toddler will be loving her strawberries.  Then her bannanas, and apple blueberry sauce with everything.

Juicing will include:  Carrots, Kale, Beets, Apples, and lots of Oranges.  I actually bought a 16 lb bag of oranges because it was only $7.  Celery will be added to a couple of drinks, and I purchased some parsley too.   
  
I could also make salmon patties, soba noodles, sweet fried tofu pockets, cooked carrots, my own version of tuna helper, baked potatoes, broccoli and beef stir fry, muffins, roasted cauliflower, miso soup,

Feeding Family of Four

I went from an applauded, occasional baker, to a person who prepares the food for a family of four.  I went from single, to married, to the mother of two in the span of 3 years.  I moved from a downtown condo, to a home in the central suburbs, to the country in the same time frame.

I used to make one fabulous meal a week.  Now I make many, many more meals.  Some are fabulous, and some just do the job of filling an empty stomach. 

I do my best to make the most of affordable food options.  I am proud of taking a limited budget for food, and applying all of my intelligence and creativity to turning raw ingredients into healthy, satisfying, meals.  Satisfying to my family means, variety, attention to tradition, and the use of cheese and chocolate on a regular basis.