Matt and I have been on an organic/natural kick for a while now, I guess since we've started feeding our son. We've always ate very healthy and bought as much whole foods as we could afford but we are taking a step further and really thinking about where our food comes from. In summer, it's easy to eat fresh and local (that's my time to do the cookin'!) but in winter I run out of ideas and inspiration so Matt usually prepares the meals; lots of slow cooker meals, meat frozen fish, etc. We're trying to stock up on meat and I'm freezing and preserving what little has come out of our garden this year. I really think I could cook full time in my own home. The job is never done and I'm only feeding three mouths!
I feel like I am just discovering food. I've always been one to look at something in the store and think, "I could make that" and I'm finding that I can do that especially well with food. I can usually make it better and cheaper too! And I get a lot of satisfaction doing it!
We have been back and forth between Minnesota and Wisconsin the last couple of months since Matt has been gone. Though it is nice to be with family, I really love our home, our garden, our dog, our town and our own space. I had high hopes for my garden this year and a lot of added knowledge about growing things from my experiences last year. Unfortunately, I had to just let it go and I didn't have the time or energy to put into it this year but I am still reaping some of what I planted and looking forward to next year. Thankfully, I can fill in the holes with vegetables from the farmer's market which they have twice a week in town. The Hmong families grow beautiful vegetables and are so friendly and helpful when I ask for advice on how to cook vegetables that I don't use very often. This week I bought some jicama which I have never had before...yum! I've been busy every night catching up with the garden and making meals for the week. I make all of Marek's food and freeze the pureed stuff in ice cube trays. He's starting to eat more chunks now and I try to have something fresh for him to practice his little pinchers on. Here is some of what I've made this week:
Oregano and sage (dried and jarred)
Pesto (frozen)
Pickled banana peppers
Applesauce (first apples of the year...have I mentioned how much I LOVE fall?)
Pureed vegetables for Marek (carrots, various types of squash)
Granola
Meatloaf
Potato leek soup
Sauteed cherry tomatoes
Roasted beets
Marinated cucumbers
Chicken curry (I mix my own spices, secret recipe!)
Hummus
And of course hot drinks: coffee, chai, and my latest favorite: homemade hot cocoa!
This week I am going to make fried eggplant like my dad used to make topped with fresh tomato and ranch dressing...it's been too long! I'm also going to introduce the girls to swiss chard. I saute it in bacon fat, a great way to introduce a new food to kids :)
I think Marek is going to be a good eater like his Momma and Daddy. I haven't found anything that he won't eat so far. It is a lot of fun to try new things and watch his reaction to new flavors and textures. He better grow some more teeth because the two that he has are getting a lot of use! Tonight he snuck an apple out of the fridge and gnawed on it for a good hour and a half. By the time he got sick of it, he consumed a good portion of the apple! When he was done eating it he was feeding it to me and cracked up every time I took a bite, it was so cute I almost ate him up too. I am so in love with this little guy.
