New fun with food.

Well, I have been very busy lately. It is busy in a way that I never thought I would be. It is busy in the kitchen. Or busy at Trader Joe’s, New Seasons, Fred Meyer, Gross Out (Grocery Outlet). There is such a limited amount of food that I can eat now, but this means that I need to search them out all over town. I know what it is that I can eat, so I have stocked up on the basics. I have also created a list that prices out what each are at TJ, NS, and FM. The price difference is incredible! I go to New Seasons to get the specialty items, but not for anything else. Most items are priced way more than normally. They also have an incredible bulk section of spices and this is where I go. It is best to get a small amount to keep it fresher.

Trader Joe’s has a great selection of items for the diet. The main thing is that they have cheaper nuts. I don’t get my veggies here because most of them are packaged. I can’t wait till farmer’s markets come around to get my fresh veggies.

Speaking of fresh veggies, I have already started to get my garden ready for spring. I had an intense head cold this last week, but the sun could not keep me from going outside. 60 degrees out!! I had a little bit of energy and I thought that getting some Vitamin D and a little of work would get my blood flowing. So, I put my Land Girl pants on and went out to my garden space.

I used my limited energy and dug up two of the beds. I want to start some spring crops here; peas and carrots. I bought some bark mulch to add and will transfer my compost. I decided to wait till I was feeling better to do more.

I also dumped out the soil of a lot of pots that were used last year. I put this soil in a bed near the house that needed more. I then washed out each with soap and water to get them ready to start some seeds indoors (with seed starter and slow release potting soil).

I love this photo. I may want to turn it into a piece of art….

I decided to stop things here. I needed some lunch. Well, while I was gardening, I noticed these lovely plants that had overwintered.

They need to be eaten before they bolt in the spring anyway. I cut them along with a few sprigs of chives.

I sautéd the kale with a little olive oil, onions and then apple cider vinegar. The night before, we had cooked an butternut squash that my father had grown. (It is part of our family tradition to send each other food). I took the leftover squash and mashed it with butter. Earlier, I had made my legal sour cream using yogurt that had sat in a coffee filter for a few hours to get the moisture out. It works great! The yogurt tastes like sour cream, yet it is full of healthy bacteria. I added the chives and spices to this. So good!

I would like to point out what I would usually eat before looked like this:

and now…….!!

I don’t just eat something just to fill me up. I eat something that I know is benefitting my body. Yes, I spend more time in the kitchen, but with time, I will know how to cut corners and preserve things…

Speaking of preserving things, I just purchased this on Amazon!:)

I remember my Mom using one of these growing up. I will be able to use to make snacks for myself. I can also make nacho chips (sans corn) and jerky. I can dry my own herbs.

This diet has made me feel like such an intense hippy, but it has made me feel so good. To have my body work properly has been amazing for me on so many levels.

Have you used a dehydrator and have any tips?