Pictured above: preparing Jamie Chicken
Sounds like an oxymoron, eh?
As it turns out, it is really appealing, and tasty.
Mid way through 2010, I decided to cut out all processed and almost all prepared foods in our diets. No more pizza ordered on Friday or Chinese Take Out on the occasional Saturday, no emergency run to McDonalds to feed starving hockey players, we even cut out the occasional donut at Tim Horton's. As much as I loathe cooking, and I do loathe cooking, I decided for the health of my family, I would make good, healthy, mostly-made-from-scratch food. I became the ultimate perimeter shopper.
[Actually, I became the ultimate perimeter list maker since I do not do the grocery shopping. After 20+ years in the retail food industry, I find it to be a frustrating experience so I make the list and Louis, who enjoys the process, does the shopping.]
Mid-year, I discovered Stone Soup and downloaded her 97-page e-book: [5 ingredients | 10 minutes] In it I found oodles of good stuff to supplement my meagre (read: boring) offerings. Go check it out! Of the seven reasons she lists why her book will help:
1. less time in the kitchen
2. less time shopping
3. eating more fresh, healthy food
4. more pleasure & enjoyment
5. save money
6. less stress
7. more kitchen confidence
the most appealing to me is the less stress. With four kids going in four directions on a regular basis, it's important to feed them well and quickly. I'm all about the less stress!
Over the holidays she came out with another e-book: [5 ingredients | simple baking] which has some fantastic ideas packed into 73 pages. My kids have folded over or starred just about every recipe in the book! I'd give you a favourite, but there are too many.
Anyway, if you are like me and have limited time and a full calendar of activities but want to give the best food options available to your family, download these recipe books. Let me know how the recipes work for you!
I think there's something to this minimalist thing!
Now, on those occasions when I'm going a bit less minimalist, I head on over to Baked Bree. Delicious! And, of course, since the Jamie Oliver invasion of our house, some of his creations have become staples around here. The favourite? Jamie Chicken. Yum.
Oh no! I think I'm enjoying this cooking thing. * gasp *
