Homemade

Granola, chocolate chip granola bars, and cinnamon raisin bread all in one day...I feel productive :)

Here's hoping the bread taste "normal".

Baby Steps

 flour, cheese and butter

Who needs goldfish (or bunnies or any other cheese cracker) when you can have stars! I can't get enough of www.100daysofrealfood.com! And the kids love them too. Here's the recipe. I used my food processor for the first time today (got it at least 3 years ago for Christmas) and loved it. I dropped a block of cheese in it and it shredded it for me and then mixed the remaining ingredients together. I did add a splash of milk, but I may have just not waited long enough for the mixture to "ball up".

While Jason was at band practice last night I watched Food, Inc. Here's the trailer. (I'm kind of new to this whole linking thing...is what I'm doing right?...anyone?) I was disturbed, to say the least, about the "quality" of meat and other dairy products that are in our grocery stores (not to mention the facilities where they are being produced). The price of organic, real food is higher, but I'd rather pay for it and cut out something else than continue to consume (and fill my kids) with what's cheaper and not healthy. After watching the documentary I see so much more value in buying local and organic. I'm on a quest for such. I love learning new things...especially when it comes to food.

This is not going to become a food blog (I'm not that good at it and there are plenty of wonderful food blogs out there already)...this is just a big part of my life right now and I want to document what I'm doing. On that note, here's a picture of what I had for lunch =)

grilled tomato, mozzarella, and basil

Making bread is next on my list...

Not much of an update...

Today I tried four new things. I'm not against trying new things, I just usually get in a rut and don't.

I cooked a whole chicken in the crock pot and have at least two meals planned for it (I'll probably have it on a sandwich for lunch too). I've now got the juice cooking and will have a stash of chicken broth ready tomorrow. Here's where I got the idea: http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/whole-chicken-in-a-crock-pot/

I made apple chips. They were a little crunchier than I expected (I cooked them too long), but they were delicious! Yes, you read that right...were delicious...I just finished them off :) http://www.delightedmomma.com/2011/09/baked-apple-chips.html

The kids made apple, peanut butter and raisin sandwiches. I'm not sure why we've never made these before, but I think they will quickly become a favorite afternoon snack. This was a great snack they could make themselves and had fun putting together. http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/08/12/real-food-tips-10-ways-to-switch-up-your-kid’s-lunch/

Tonight for dinner I made quinoa. I've been wanting to try this, but just kept forgetting about it. Julie bought some last week at the beach and we didn't cook it, so I brought it home. Delicious! The kids even ate it and that's big for James because he's not big on tying new things.

I've been reading a lot lately over at 100daysofrealfood.com and am inspired to eat more real food in our home. My biggest hurdle will be breakfast food and snacks for the kids. I'm excited to try new recipes and see the kids try new things.

Here's what I plan to make next: http://www.delightedmomma.com/search/label/recipes

And here are a few pictures from our day...