Food Waste Friday

Inspired by The Frugal Girl, I have started tracking our food waste.

For the first time in I don't even know how long, there is no food waste this week, courtesy of some furious baking and a little less grocery shopping last weekend.  I love that!

Gratitude Sunday... in pictures

A busy and wonderful weekend, filled with clean laundry, some rain, some homebaked goodies, and some finger painting.

Food for Baby

Finger painting under the trees

Banana bread and zucchini muffins

Food for Baby

Beautiful peaches from the farmer's market near my office called for cooking a little batch of food for my little boy.  I cooked 4 peaches, but I imagine you could do more or less as well. First, slice the peaches into eights.  (Don't worry about peeling yet) 

Next, place the peaches in a steamer basket over about an inch of water.

Steam the peaches for about 5 minutes until soft, but not falling apart.  Take the steamer basket out, cool the peaches, and peel.  The peels should come off easily.  Place in a blender.

 

The peaches are a brighter color, and the edges were slightly pink.  Blend until the right consistency for your baby.

Feed to baby, or store.  You can save home-made baby food in the refrigerator for three days, or freeze for two-three months. 

Food Waste Friday

Sliced Jicama...  I bought the smallest one I could find for a specific recipe, but still had tons left over.  Next time, I have to find what else to do with it before I buy it.  Any ideas?

Monday Menus

This week's menu planning is more a lack of planning really...

Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Breasts, quinoa, zucchini
Wednesday: Salmon with tomatoes and mustard
Thursday: Pork "Fried" Rice
Friday: Indian Food (from the freezer)
Saturday: Steaks on the Grill

Gratitude Sunday

I can come up with a very long list this week, as every week. I continue to be blessed by a wonderful family, good health, a job, a home, and all the other things we easily take for granted.  This week, I am especially grateful for

• A visit from my always amazing Mom and Dad.
• A new Bible - the Busy Mom's NIV - a gift from my brother who could never guess how much his sister needed inspiration and guidance these days.  It is beautiful, and pink, and full of nice study guides.
• The smiles and laughter of a lovely little boy as he plays with his grandparents.
• A freezer full of food for him - bags of frozen milk, little cubes of squash, sweet potatoes, peas, and zucchini.
• The bounty of summer - including beautiful tomatoes for making gazpacho... 

Food Waste Friday- pickles I failed you

I had every intention to make my husband a jar of his favorite pickles with these cucumbers... I bought them from Whole Foods, and shudder to think what I paid for them.  I wouldn't have minded if they were pickles, but now they are just moldy trash.  I couldn't find my recipe, then I forgot... Carelessness.  Must be less ambitious I suppose... There is no excuse for the strawberries at all.  None.