This blog has quite a lot of topics of me rambling, so read the ones you want! There's also pics to see!
What are your cooking habits?
When you go to the store, what are your staples? My cooking habits are altering as life changes. I still want to and try to find the time for involved new recipes, but frankly, I can't do that on a regular basis. Maybe I'm just behind on my planning and can't muster up the energy to make some involving meals, but they're becoming fewer and farther between. I'm also learning I can use more pre-made or pre-prepared ingredients that cut on preparation time which help out (I'm not going to feel guilty for extra cost incurred, because the time saved is worth it). I do still have an appreciation for homemade meals (with less canned and boxed goods), but there can be a balance. It can be easy and gratifying to take a can of Ragu or Chili or Progresso Soup and expand it to family sized meals by adding more of your own fresh ingredients. In fact, I like the taste of this kind of mix.
Can you believe?
Today I discovered that it is actually cheaper to buy a large bottle of that pre-minced garlic than buy fresh cloves (which take up lots of preparation time and mess in the kitchen). I was dumbfounded! Why had I never done this before?? I always assumed it was more expensive. Granted, this is not always the case; store-bought stuffing or pita bread or salad dressing is probably going to be more expensive than doing them from scratch, but then there's the time factor. I don't want to spend all of my free time planning and preparing and shopping for these sorts of meals. Yet, It's probably healthier and tastier to do things from scratch- so I will not try to forsake this completely. What do you like to make from scratch?
Do you enjoy cooking?
I've been asked before what I like about cooking. I'm not really sure. I think it's the satisfaction and gratification that comes from making a good meal. As you can tell, I could care less for the process in and of itself, except that I know this is a necessary step for the desired outcome and so I try not to dislike it. The planning part is what nags me the most; I can work on that. I mostly enjoy making fresh breads and desserts because they're just mmm. Again, it's all about the outcome.
Sugar Cookies for FHE
Yesterday for FHE, we made sugar cookies. Honestly, if I'm going to use my sugar intake for the day, it better be on something worth it and this is why I don't normally do sugar cookies. I can think of many deserts more rewarding and deserving to eat. (This is also why I can't stand eating cheap ice cream; I don't like it very much, so why waste my desert fill on it.) Back to sugar cookies. I really wanted to do these just so Avery could have a fun time cutting out shapes- and she DID! It was a very rewarding activity for us all. She was so eager to cut out the shapes that she went too fast for us to control her and help her do it right (which is not normal for Avery, so we could tell she loved to do it!). The toddler had a great time and that's what it's all about! We smiled.
This is my fav. pic of Avery
Avery wanted to feed Aspen a bottle. Apparently Aspen liked the idea of sucking air!
Avery Bunk Bed
Okay, so I put Avery in her room for some down time and she climbed almost to the very top of the bunk bed with no ladder! She cried because she got stuck on her way up. When I came into the room, my heart skipped a beat. Tonight we are DEFINITELY doing something about this. Crazy toddler climber! Did I tell you she can climb out of her pack-n-play too? As a side note: Avery still takes naps but now later at 3pm. She also goes to time-out religiously (about 7-8 times a day, but it's good for her. She's really not a bad kid; just needs to be quicker to obey.)
Me Time
What do you do for "me" time each day? For me, it's a hot shower or blogging or checking email. I feel compelled to do other things like plan meals or sew Brian's pants during this time, but if they don't get done because I wanted to blog or take a relaxing hot shower, I know it was of necessity. I would go crazy spending 100% of my time on must-do's.
Recent Trip to Bandelier
After my brother's family left, we still had a pass to Bandelier, so Brian and I went back on Saturday to enjoy a hike to some falls. It was nice. We've sure been slowing down on house projects after going buck wild on it. We realize there's more things in life than working on the house....
We told Avery to stand by the rock for time-out. She did this position on her own. She cracks us up. :)
3 comments:
I am glad you get some me time, but I still need my pants sewn.
I love cooking/baking and trying new recipes, but I too find it labor-some to plan and execute. I think I enjoyed it more when I didn't have a child vying for my attention and having to protect her from sharp and hot cooking items. I wish we could have gone hiking with you, I am really in the hikin' mood! Me time is reading lately. Love Avery's face and Aspen with the empty bottle--awesome! Is the bunk a twin size? I'm debating a toddler bed vs twin and can't decide.
I love trying new recipes, but I find that my grocery bill goes up if I try too many things each month. Mostly because that new recipe requires ingredients that I don't normally use.
I love cooking and I especially love when people say how much they love my cooking. It makes it all worth it when my home cooked food is better than somewhere else.
My mom always used the minced garlic from a jar. It's so much easier to use and I love it! It lasts forever even though I use it all the time.
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