Just a 47-year-old mom of 2 in Northern California. My kids are Monkey Monkey(MM) and Drama Llama (DL). I am married to Monkey Hubby (MH). First off, I am terrible at eating my fruits and veggies. Doesn't matter how well dh cooks or stocks the house, I've got 25+ years of bad eating habits to overcome! (I don't think I ever saw a fruit or veggie as a child - don't ask. Thank goodness for dh to set us all straight).
Secondly, my unofficial goal this year has been to expand my culinary skills. Dh and I cook a fair amount, and well more than the average American, but that isn't saying much!
I suppose it started when my mom gave me a pile of extra potatoes. I decided I better figure out what to do with them. I've never cooked a potato before. I might have made mashed potatoes from scratch - once?
Of course, I felt silly because it was uber easy to cook with. & I love potatoes. A good way to add something on the healthier side, to my diet. We are hooked on potatoes now. I just fry some up every weekend with some seasonings. I never have to order a french fry again - home made is so yummy! & much healthier, I presume.
Next was fresh salmon. I decided to be adventurous and try some new things.
Of course, since then, I haven't thought of anything new. We did try some lentils, I suppose (dh did, in the crockpot).
Until, slaw!
Actually, it all started when we pigged out all weekend. The in-laws ordered us a pizza. My parents treated us to a mexican feast, etc., etc. Come Sunday night I told dh I would be happy to skip dinner. I told him all I could possibly eat was a salad. Very out of character for me, but I couldn't take one more giant/greasy meal, either.
SO, I don't remember what I ate Monday, but Tuesday I came home and still felt bloated from the weekend. Dh had a package of cole slaw in the fridge. It sounded DIVINE! I have never had it but for at a restaurant and always thought it was super yummy. I don't even know what cole slaw is. I am not a veggie fan, but love salads, for whatever reason.
So, I asked dh if he needed it, and actually, he had no idea what to do with the leftover slaw (had used some for a recipe).
I wondered aloud what I should do for dressing, and dh pointed out it had a recipe on the bag. It was okay.
Today I perused online and found this recipe, and read how great cole slaw (cabbage) was for the diet.
Anyway, this link had a vinegar-based and a mayo-based dressing. I will try them both.
I am sure I could get sick of it real fast, but today a summer of cole slaw and frozen fruit smoothies sounds divine!
I could eat that stuff all day. (I'll eat any fruit in blended/frozen form). I don't even care so much about the cole slaw dressing. Just something to help slide it down a little easier. A little dab will do!Actually, I also love green onions, which was mentioned in the recipe above. Carrots, green onions, and cabbage. Yum!
Anyway, dh asked if I wanted more cole slaw, when I told him I got some dressing recipes. Oy vey. No, I need some cabbage, carrots, green onions, and maybe some radish to spice it up. Prepackaged, shredded cabbage? Is he kidding me?
It's just one of those things we generally don't *get.* How hard is it to chop up a few veggies? Particularly now that we have the big processor and a mandolin slicer. I told dh I think I could handle shredding some cabbage up.
---------------------------------------------------
Cole slaw and potatoes. Pretty basic stuff, eh? I am learning...
I've actually been experimenting with rice recipes as well. Screw rice-a-roni. I think the internet is awesome as far as finding those "just right" recipes. I always tell people that a well rounded cooking repretoire takes time. We've eaten primarily home cooked meals for about 8 years, and we still have so much room for improvement. But, it's like one habit at a time. Get used to home cooking A, then B, then C, and on and on and on. Slowly the prepackaged items have been disappearing from our pantry. Which means, our grocery bill continues to go down, with time. The learning possibilities still seem endless.
So, what shall I tackle next???
May 20th, 2010 at 05:09 am 1274328557
http://cptacek.savingadvice.com/sausage-and-cabbage-stirfry.html
http://cptacek.savingadvice.com/napa-cabbage-salad.html
May 20th, 2010 at 07:02 am 1274335360
May 20th, 2010 at 08:38 am 1274341088
I have also made my own felafel mix for the first time, which was super good (and healthy!)
oh and you mentioned lentils... a super easy slowcooker recipe that's yum is a spicy lentil & sweet potato (kumara) soup that I've been making (it's winter here...)
May 20th, 2010 at 12:56 pm 1274356617
I also try to throw veggies into everything else. Spinach in my omlette or pasta sauce. Salad as a side to meals - I do cucumber & tomato, garden salads, grilled buffalo chicken salads, nicoise salads. All easy to fix & yummy.
Also - I use potatoes to make healthier (Non-fried) hash browns, baked fries and baked potatoes. LOVE my carbs too! haha