Food Finds

For me, planning our weekly menus and figuring out what to feed the three of us three times a day ad infinitum can often feel like a Sisyphean task. We tend to throw away our veggies and fruits in great quantities - untouched and unused - and the sometimes picky-ness of all three of us can make healthy eating a true challenge.

So... I was searching online today to see if I could get any good food ideas, and I came upon several new blogs that are truly fantastic and wonderfully happy-making in a "what's mommy cooking tonight" kind of way.*

I have always been a big fan of 101 Cookbooks, which focuses on vegetarian and vegan fare utilizing fresh, local, whole ingredients. Lots of in-season spotlights and great ideas for taking what can often feel like bland and unsatisfying fare to glorious, tasty new heights. Sunday's recipe was Edamame Soup, perfect for our little legume fanatic.

Today I also found The Great Big Vegetable Challenge (originally a blog and now a book sold out of the UK), created by a mother who decided to commit to a year-long task of cooking at least two recipes with vegetables she and her 7 year-old son could identify from A to Z. Brilliant! And the recipes look fantastic. Quite an inspiring and serendipitous find.

Another great discovery: Little Foodies, created by a family dedicated to preparing and eating cuisine from all around the world. Their "kitchen travels" include 11 different countries (and also SPACE, as in "outer"), and the pics and recipes are great (though you will have to convert from metric).

This week, I am trying my hand at making pizza dough from scratch with whole wheat flour, as well as attempting a zucchini and potato pancake that will hopefully make a nice foundation for some chicken. We shall see. I simply like having an excuse to continue incorporating as many fresh, whole ingredients as possible and to hear about and be inspired by folks all over the world!

*It is at this point that I should clarify that my husband, Andy, does indeed cook. Quite often - especially during the school year. However, he is in the middle of several big deadlines and therefore has been somewhat less involved in some of the housely duties he normally undertakes on a regular basis. Hence, my food/menu dilemma.

NO SHU-GAH

Within this new health kick we've been following for about one week now, Andy and I have been biking everyday, I've been doing 20 minutes of Pilates each day (thank you, Melinda!), and we've been trying to eat more healthy foods... eliminating sugars, avoiding chemicals and things that don't sound familiar (or pronouncable), and trying not to overcook and lose our nutrients.

It's been a tricky road at times... old food habits can be very difficult to break, but we're making small changes steadily, taking our little baby steps in the midst of an attempt to transform some of our most ingrained routines.

Things that have helped: Michael Pollan (I know I've mentioned him before... but his books have really influenced the way Andy thinks and feels about food - it's a great way to begin to shift your philosophy about eating and sustenance); Heidi Swanson's 101 Cookbooks blog (FANTASTIC, healthy, easy, and gorgeous recipes that have led to many new and exciting meals); and our local Co-Op, farmers' market, and orchards (great food, good prices, and the extra benefit of knowing you are supporting your local growers/economy).

One really cool thing I've noticed: not eating sugar really has led to fewer cravings. I've been eliminating desserts, sweets, and other manner of sugary treats, which is supposed to mean that those intense, insane, mind-stirringly crazy sugar cravings I get are supposed to decline over time, thereby making denial of such unhealthy eats more possible.

And it's working! I was highly skeptical, having listened to the excited declarations of friends in the past who had similarly restricted their intake, but it really does seem to be working for me. Which is lovely. Of course, we'll see if this holds true as we approach a different phase of my cycle - but hey! Why not be optimistic, right?

That tastes like spring!

I have always loved brussel sprouts - ever since I was a kid. And for a long time, I just fell out of the habit of eating or buying them. But I recently discovered two recipes incorporating fresh brussel sprouts, which my husband and I both love.

They are perfect for spring - and it's lovely to buy a couple of pints all leafy-greeny-freshy-yummy from our local produce market and plop them into meals that make you feel good when you eat them.

Both recipes are from my favorite food blog: 101 Cookbooks. Heidi Swanson, the woman who writes it, is a genius... she focuses on using fresh ingredients and keeps things very simple. But man oh man - it's good stuff!

Here are the two I'd recommend that utilize the cute and plucky brussel sprout:
Carmelized Tofu
Golden-Crusted Brussel Sprouts