I'm usually domestically challenged -- I aim to prepare healthy and balanced meals, but I don't cook from scratch and create one-pot meals, with perhaps one side dish and no more! Yes, I'm a stay-at-home-mom, but I really don't like cooking! With admiration, I desire to be like those moms who thrive in the kitchen, find organic products on discount, and grind their own whole wheat flour.
But recently I've been reading more interesting and simple recipes, and last week I tried a Garden Ratatouille (which turned out great, except that the little one decided she didn't want any part of it). This week, I made my own cornbread -- move aside Jiffy mix; when I was shopping for corn meal, I opted for the most expensive, organic meal with germ -- I think that's good -- and could purchase that because I was saving so much with coupons on my other products -- I digress.
I also indulged in making my own protein bars and granola bars; protein bars were a grand success -- granola bars were a failure, but I do have lots of crumbly, homemade granola to top my yogurt...homemade yogurt. Yes, a couple of days ago, I decided to make my own yogurt in the crock pot, and in spite of my nervousness about whether the cultures would work, I'm thrilled to report success! Unfortunately the little one does not like homemade yogurt...I think it's too tangy for her -- so if you have suggestions on how I could get her to eat more and also on how to get my homemade granola bars to stay together as bars, I'm all ears! But I'm realizing that it is reassuring to know what all the ingredients went into creating what I'm eating, and perhaps I'm proudly one step closer to being a mom who can thrive in the kitchen, find organic products (on discount) and know how to use them, and grind my own whole wheat flour!
I'm totally totally impressed! I don't have any tips for you on the granola bar cohesiveness though. I just aim to get in an appropriate amount of fruits and veggies in a day- that's what we call success around here!
ReplyDeleteYay for taking baby steps toward cooking from scratch. (Don't get too wrapped up in worrying about grinding your own flour.) I started cooking from scratch more after baby #2 arrived, just to save money. I was pleasantly surprised a month later to discover that my digestive health had improved as well. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteThe title of your blog definitely got my attention. I'm a mommy of 3 boys, and I think it's a constant challenge to find the right balance between being a "mommy" and being "me". Balance is definitely the key word here … very hard to find sometimes. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteI have a great granola bar recipe...you just inspired me to pull it out after a few years. Mommyhood is an adjustment in every way, and you will get that "me" back in full force! I've been through much self discovery, and its a beautiful journey.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a beautiful blog!