Back to the Basics

So, with all the craziness going on around here I have to admit our eating has not been exactly on the right path. I have been slacking in pre-planning meals and I have found it extremely hard to make "real food" eating happen when we are on the go and need something fast! It is going to require ALOT of pre-planning and work in order to be sure that there are not "slip ups" when we are on the road, going to activities, out and about, and all the other reasons that cause us to slip up and fall away from eating the real foods that are best for our bodies.

My goal is to put together some pre-made quick grabs, like burritos, calzones, ect. Foods that are easy to grab when we are in a hurry and do not have time to sit down and have a freshly made meal.

One of the ways I am trying to incorporate "real food "into out diets is by having a garden. We have had great luck this year and so far have been able to harvest cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and green peppers. This is the first year I have had luck with my green pepper plants and I am so excited to be getting such great results! The main difference this year has been that I have watered nearly everyday, and I started a compost pile about a year ago and added some of that to the soil when I planted.

The kids have loved being able to help in the garden and seeing the results of all of their hard work! They love the cherry tomatoes and I hardly ever see any ripe ones because they eat them as they collect the produce for me.

This year I have decided to take advantage of the cheaper produce during the summer and I have been working on freezing and canning. Last week I found a great deal on peaches at a local farmers stand and bough a box of them. I was able to can 15 quarts. We decided to try a can out last night and they were so good! I remember when my mom canned peaches during the summer and then during the winter when we would get to open on up it was like dessert!

Once my big tomatoes come in I am planning on canning salsa, spaghetti sauce, and pizza sauce. It will be a new adventure for me, but I am excited to see or should I say taste the results!