Lately I've been really trying to step it up in the kitchen. For a good portion of the pregnancy and first 6 weeks or so with the baby, it's been lots of not so yummy goodness. Well except for when my lovely friends brought us their lovely dinners. Then there was some goodness!
Anyway, a few weeks ago I used up one of my last freezer meals that I pre-prepared in those last few weeks of being pregnant. That was when it hit me that real life was back again and it was time to start feeding my family some decent meals.
Since I need routine and organization or else I'm a big messy slob I decided that every Tuesday would be my grocery shopping day. I have notepads on my fridge for each store and write down what we need throughout the week and then on Monday night I plan our dinners for the next week and list anything else we need.
I joined our local Organic Co-op Market, People's and go there and Trader Joe's every Tuesday. We have Joaquin's swim class in the morning so he gets out all his wiggles and is pretty content in the cart helping me shop. I just wear Isela in the sling and she sleeps through it all while taking some nursing breaks here and there. It's actually kind of a fun day for us believe it or not...who knew, grocery shopping fun?!? I think the fact that everything is all planned out and we're in and out really helps.
So what have I been cooking? Well, I checked out Deceptively Delicious from the library and that has inspired me to sneak all kinds of veggies in our dinners. I of course still have regular whole veggies for us, but like that I can sneak in a whole bunch more. I don't think I've really followed many of the recipes, except for the addicting Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip with carrots, but it's been a place to get ideas on where to add more veggie goodness.
A Year of Slow Cooking is one of my favorite cooking blogs right now and this Orange Chicken was good enough that I'm doing it two weeks in a row. I'm also loving this Tomato Basil Creamy Pasta, it's vegan and made with cashews. While I'm not vegan, I love using vegan recipes for inspiration...and then I add meat! These Ginger Peanut Soba Noodles tonight were also pretty delicious. I used a Wasabi Sesame Drizzling Sauce instead of sesame oil and it was just the perfect touch...for me anyway. If it was up to Dan, we would have hot dogs and burgers everyday.
Yeah, not going to happen with me in the kitchen, coconut oil roasted Sweet Potato Fries with Brussels Sprouts and Turkey Sloppy Joes with hidden broccoli are as close as you're going to get with me lately!
Anyway, I'm having fun and trying out new stuff while we're all eating a whole lot better. I better keep it up!
- Ciria
- I'm a mom of two and wife to one and teacher to many. About my family: We practice attachment parenting and are learning to live life on the more natural, earth friendly and healthy side. About my name: It's in Spanish and it's technically pronounced See-dee-ah. But most say Sid-ee-ah. I'm cool with either way.
My Family
My Husband, Dan
My Son, Joaquin
My Daughter, Isela
My Dog, Bella
4 comments:
Sounds good! I've been out of my meal planning routine lately and need to step it up again. Makes such a big difference!
Thanks for the info. I should start meal planning. I never want to cook and we end up doing FAST FOOD. I keep telling myself we need to start eating healthy, I hope to get there before I am 30.
Honestly Cory, it wasn't until I was pregnant with Joaquin that I became more health conscience. And now that he's eating what we're eating we have to be even more aware! The kids brought out the hippy in me ;)
We've been having a really hard time of it lately, with me working nights. I can't seem to get myself together enough to make meals in advance and since the Mister is feeding the kids most nights... we'll, it's been kinda lame. Sigh. I should be using the crock pot more.
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