I am an Army wife, writer, mother of four (officially, but with an extra I’m feeding 5 children these days). We’re a house full of foodies trying to eat quality dinners on a budget, without sacrificing health or taste.
I’ve decided to get back to the basics with fresh, homemade food and this blog will be my diary, my friend, my confessional and proof that the heart of the home is found in the kitchen.
I’m a self-taught cook dealing with a tiny kitchen. I don’t have a pastry cutter, a pie wedge or a scale. I make do with what I have and fake the rest. I have a camera and that’s about it. When I need good lighting I have to take my food on the deck. Not awesome when it’s 19 degrees!
We manage to sit down to dinner every night as a family. Some meals are a hit, and some are total flops, but at least we ate them together.
I’m attempting to cut down on our monthly grocery costs so my cooking comes with a few rules:
No specialty products (Sorry gorgeous cheeses, but you’re out of the picture for now. Goodbye dear Whole Foods, I’ll miss you)
If I don’t have it, I can’t go buy it. If I’ missing an ingredient, or 12, it’ll have to wait until I shop again. Quick runs to the grocery usually end up with 10 more items than I went for.
It has to be enough to feed 7, with the hopes that I can pack a lunch with the leftovers the next day.
If I can make it, I can’t buy it. Bread, jam, mayo, butter, pie crusts, snacks and desserts fall into this category. Although I still have mayo in my fridge and haven’t had to make it fresh in eons.
Thankfully I have a family willing to try most foods, but as with everything, each person has their own food personality which tends to cut out a lot of dinner options.
No mushrooms allowed (grrrr)
VERY limited casseroles (one of my favorites, but my husband and third child don’t like their foods mixed together. I know, they’re freaks)
Limited soups. Again, some of my people are freaks.
For the most part each meal should have a meat type item, two sides and bread. Surprisingly, we’re all tall and thin.
Although I love to cook, I refuse to make recipes that are overly-involved, technical or ridiculously difficult. I get annoyed and stressed out, and it makes my heart hurt if they don’t turn out.
I’m always on the hunt for new foods, so please feel free to send recipes (with credit to you of course)
Thanks, and happy eating!
I love that you are sharing the journey of your creative moving meditation. Your blog is a wonderful expression of your love for feeding the heart.
I look forward to following your journey on this blog. Thank you for sharing who you are and how your living.
in love and light,
Arthur
Finally a food blog that makes me laugh and I actually enjoy reading! I usually just skip to the recipes as most foodies are better with food than with words. You have that rare gift of both talents.
I plan to stay tuned.
L