Category: Learning Project (Page 2 of 2)

So tonight I had planned a supper for my family.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of my masterpieces and I wanted to take a shot at something I had not done before by myself.  If I being honest, cooking sometimes gives me anxiety and the time to prep a meal stresses me out the most, and how to properly cook certain foods.  But I want to learn so badly, and I know that I am not going to learn overnight, so I am taking baby steps throughout this to ensure I do not get discouraged.  So first, I got myself organized and grabbed my groceries yesterday, to my surprise it did not take a lot of effort or ingredients to make happen.  I read this easy cheesy scalloped potato recipe I found online.  When looking at the recipe given, I did try and incorporate my own “twist” to it.  I had a goal at the beginning to try and hide vegetables, because my daughter is very picky when it comes to vegetables and is not open to even trying them, in this instance, I made sure to chop the onion super small so my daughter would not notice and I am chalking that up to a win because she did not complain once, nor did she find an onion of garlic! #momwin

I paired these potatoes with a slow-cooked roast and it was a huge hit.  I did alter the recipe a little bit, as I did not add the tomato paste, and I used beef stock instead of chicken stock.  Altering the recipe a bit I was afraid that it would not taste good or that the paste might make it taste different, but by the sounds of everyone eating at the table, it was delicious.  I found a newfound love for my slow cooker and realized that it takes next to nothing to prep a meal and just let it cook all day on low in there, and this beef roast came out so juicy and flavorful.   

This week I have taken some time to step back and really consciously think about meals, and talk to myself in a positive matter when it comes to food. The fact that I do not need to be perfect, and somethings might be a flop is okay.  They will not always be 5 star gourmet meals, and looking on the internet and finding some quick recipes that are both healthy and filling.  I was surprised on what I can pair together, and what I can make quick for my daughters lunch, etc.  Next week I do plan on looking into some breakfast ideas, breakfast casseroles, smoothies, etc.  Also following my goal of hiding veggies in food.  Smoothies are such a great way to do that. Spinach, avocado, etc.  Next weeks plan is already in the works, so stay tuned!

I have been striving to expand my palette with food.   I am currently a single mom and I live with a picky eater, and I am hoping that I can incorporate some more variety and flavor in our menu at home.  We are quite limited to food I have noticed lately, and I am over making the same things over and over again.  I would love to make food and healthy choices a good experience for my daughter.   I am striving to find some recipes and ideas on incorporating healthy foods into our diet, as we very much lack that in our household.

To start my journey, I want to start small and ensure I make the experience as positive and easy as I can.  I will incorporate some of the ideas outlined in a video I found online, it is a helpful tool, for beginners and is relatable as it is also from another mom on how she hides vegetables within her meals I will most definitely take these tips and tricks into consideration when planning my next meals.  To add, we have a busy schedule during the week with my daughter’s hockey and I would love to be able to take these meals with us to the rink to help eliminate the need to rush for food when we get home for supper, or eliminate the need to buy fast food as it is quick and easy.