learn to cook wholesome foods

I’m learning more all the time. But on the whole, I’m a better and healthier cook since I posted this goal. As with the fruits and vegetables, I feel I need to post more specific goals in order to actually feel I can ever check them off. So this isn’t the end of good food goals on my list :)

I am learning more. My BF lent me an excellent slow-cooker cookbook with lots of ideas that are delicious so am trying two of those this week. I feel like there are still things I’d like to learn, especially about dried beans. Those damn dried beans. Once I’ve mastered the beans, then maybe I’ll feel this is check-off-able.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com

This a cool resource for thrifty healthy cooking. I plan to make up some of the convenience foods over my upcoming break. Slowly but surely this goal is coming along. I can throw on a pot of actual oatmeal without it being a chore, for example. I’m becoming more cognizant of the amount of sugar I eat and am trying to cut back. Little by little, the diet will fall in line. Next to tackle will be the exercize . . .

I can’t figure out beans. I’m on my way to the Simple Living Network Forums to ask about it.

I have practiced a lot of recipes and now it is a lot less of a drama to make these foods, because I can be at the grocery store and remember that I need x ingredient and just pick it up. Plus, my roommates are getting a freezer! That means a lot more wholesome frozen lunches. Goody! Money is a motivator, too; I have a cupboard full of food, but not food you can just maw down, it has to be made into something. So I am. Made banana bread for breakfast this week instead of buying bagels at the store. Little by little . . .

There really is a difference between quick-cook oats and rolled oats. These came out a little mushy, but only because I used the wrong kind of oats. Otherwise, the are tasty and cheap.

I cooked some teeny quiches and some oat scones as well as chicken and rice with peas for dinner. Yum, yum. I have enough for work tomorrow. The oat scones are delicious, the jury is still out on the quiches.

I have checked out a ton of cookbooks from the library on the recommendation of my co-forum-members at the Simple Living Network (http://www.simpleliving.net) and am previewing them. Have decided to make some banana bread with whole grain flour, as well as some oat scones, and some teeny quiches for breakfasts for when I go back to work. Will also try some veggie burgers which I can freeze and reheat. All of this will be frozen and reheated, actually.

I want to learn how to cook things from scratch that are chock full of veggies, whole grains, beans, etc. Anyone know where to start? Cookbook recommendations?

I read once that you can make whole grains in a crockpot, like, for a cereal. It’s because they take so long that I don’t usually make them. (soaking beans overnight?! Whatever! ;) ) Anyway, so I got a bright idea to try this with rice. It was to be a beautiful combination of white, brown, and wild rices. Scrummy! But did you know you can burn things in a crockpot? Indeed, if you leave something on high for 16 hours and all the water steams off, you can. That was the end of the crusty rice experiment. But I’m ready to try again!!