After returning from vacation, I realized that I had returned
with a few unwanted souvenirs in the form of extra pounds.
On top of that I had
started reading French Women Don’t Get Fat, and I was feeling like
a fat, lazy American. OK, not really, but honestly I wasn’t feeling so hot.
started reading French Women Don’t Get Fat, and I was feeling like
a fat, lazy American. OK, not really, but honestly I wasn’t feeling so hot.
The
book talks a lot about cooking for yourself and eating fresh fruits and
vegetables. Both things that I love to do but haven’t really been focused on
since I got pregnant with Jack, nearly 2 years ago.
book talks a lot about cooking for yourself and eating fresh fruits and
vegetables. Both things that I love to do but haven’t really been focused on
since I got pregnant with Jack, nearly 2 years ago.
Before pregnancy I used to
make wonderful home cooked meals and we ate a variety of fruits and veggies.
But pregnancy destroyed my love of cooking, and for 9 months I was happy to eat
as long as I didn’t have to prepare it.
make wonderful home cooked meals and we ate a variety of fruits and veggies.
But pregnancy destroyed my love of cooking, and for 9 months I was happy to eat
as long as I didn’t have to prepare it.
Then Jack was born and who has time to
cook with a new born. Now, I’m dealing with a 16 month old whose likes and
dislikes seem to change daily.
cook with a new born. Now, I’m dealing with a 16 month old whose likes and
dislikes seem to change daily.
So I decided me to make some much needed changes in
my family’s diet. I wanted to get back to cooking meals that we loved and that
were healthy.
I wanted banish prepackaged and premade foods from my home. I
wanted to go back to food being a joy and not a necessity and a chore. Yeah, I had some lofty ideas but I did make 3 really delicious dishes.I turned to Pinterest because for months I had been
pinning dozens and dozens of recipes. Rather than let those recipe’s go to
waste I decided to give them a try. And I have to say that all the recipe’s
I’ve pinned have been delicious.
my family’s diet. I wanted to get back to cooking meals that we loved and that
were healthy.
I wanted banish prepackaged and premade foods from my home. I
wanted to go back to food being a joy and not a necessity and a chore. Yeah, I had some lofty ideas but I did make 3 really delicious dishes.I turned to Pinterest because for months I had been
pinning dozens and dozens of recipes. Rather than let those recipe’s go to
waste I decided to give them a try. And I have to say that all the recipe’s
I’ve pinned have been delicious.
I started with these Quinoa and Sweet Potato cakes. I served
them with sauteed spinach with garlic. These cakes were very easy and big hit
for the whole family. I decided to freeze the leftovers and they defrost very
quickly in the microwave and still taste great. Next time I make them I’ll
probably double the batch and freeze half.
them with sauteed spinach with garlic. These cakes were very easy and big hit
for the whole family. I decided to freeze the leftovers and they defrost very
quickly in the microwave and still taste great. Next time I make them I’ll
probably double the batch and freeze half.
The next night I made Penne with Roasted Broccoli and
Balsamic Butter. The recipe calls for asparagus but suggests using broccoli or
other veggies if you don’t have asparagus. Since I had broccoli on hand I
decided to use that variation. I also added the toasted pine nuts as the recipe
suggests and I cut some grape tomatoes in half and added them because I had a
hard time imagining pasta without tomatoes. This dish was awesome. Jack wasn’t
a fan but, John was and we agreed that the pine nuts put this dish over the top.
Balsamic Butter. The recipe calls for asparagus but suggests using broccoli or
other veggies if you don’t have asparagus. Since I had broccoli on hand I
decided to use that variation. I also added the toasted pine nuts as the recipe
suggests and I cut some grape tomatoes in half and added them because I had a
hard time imagining pasta without tomatoes. This dish was awesome. Jack wasn’t
a fan but, John was and we agreed that the pine nuts put this dish over the top.
On St. Patrick’s Day I decided to make Guinness Stew. Before
we were married John and I were on Grand Bahama Island for vacation and went to
an Irish pub for dinner. At this pub John had what he believed was the best
Guinness Stew ever. To this day I do not hear the end of how great this stew
was. So I decided to make my own and it was surprisingly easy. I left out the
onions because I hate onions. I added potatoes to the stew and instead of the
potato top, I used Pillsbury crescent rolls because it just seemed easier. This
came out really well and of the three I’m going to assume it was John’s
favorite. Though for me this meal, while tastey, was a little too manly for me.
we were married John and I were on Grand Bahama Island for vacation and went to
an Irish pub for dinner. At this pub John had what he believed was the best
Guinness Stew ever. To this day I do not hear the end of how great this stew
was. So I decided to make my own and it was surprisingly easy. I left out the
onions because I hate onions. I added potatoes to the stew and instead of the
potato top, I used Pillsbury crescent rolls because it just seemed easier. This
came out really well and of the three I’m going to assume it was John’s
favorite. Though for me this meal, while tastey, was a little too manly for me.
I’ve pulled a few more recipes off Pinterest which I plan to make this week. I’ll post them on my facebook page as I make them. Or follow me on Pinterest.
Cooking these new recipes has helped to renew my faith in cooking and healthy eating. It’s amazing what a few good, home cooked meals can do. And I’ve lost a couple of those unwanted souvenirs along the
way.
way.
Linked up with Mama Kat’s prompt #4 Pinterest Challenge, find something you’ve pinned, TRY it and share it. Was it worth pinning?
Came over from Mama Kats..I LOVE pinterest and all the neat ideas from others gets my creativity juices flowing!
Pinterest can be so inspiring, thanks for stopping by.
I am a Pinterest addict and sometimes wonder what I ever made for dinner before it! Good stuff!
It is easy to get addicted to Pinterest.
yummy–I've pinned a number of recipes but haven't tried them. I follow the pioneer woman's blog and have made a few of her dishes. have a nice day. kaye—the road goes ever ever on
I'll have to check her blog out. Thanks for stopping by.
I pinned food all the time, but don't make it….good for you! *Stopping by from Mama Kat's
Thanks for stopping by. I find the more food I pin the more food I want to eat, lol.
Good for you for making 3 homemade meals. I love to cook (you can probably tell) but honestly after my third kid I rarely cooked for 3 years, it was just too much. I mean we had homemade food but it was pasta, chicken with a veggie, grilled cheese, things very easy to whip up.
You're doing great Julia, having a baby is the hardest thing ever, the best, but the hardest.