Cooking Fresh

I've been thinking lately about shaking up our family diet to include some new recipes. We have our old favorites, but over the long winter that routine has gone stale. Knowing that the farmers markets are starting to open up gives me great motivation to start cooking with fresh, healthy ingredients. With the longer days upon us, I'll actually have time to make decent meals before the sun sets. The Cauliflower Dill Salad I made tonight will be part of tomorrows supper. It's a very easy side, just a cut up head of cauliflower, lemon juice, some fresh dill and a tablespoon of olive oil. I love using a LOT of dill. My mom grew it for years. The smell is one of my favorites. Shake it up and leave to marinate overnight. That's my kind of recipe.

There are a couple of downsides to eating healthy. The time investment and planning it takes to make a meal out of fresh ingredients can be challenging for busy families (which are all families). A shopping list must be directly based on a set weekly meal plan that works for the time you have to prep and cook. Some weeks that works, and others end up with a crisper full of expired food. Honestly, what puts me off even more than the planning is the price. It's shocking how much money a cart full of fruit and veggies costs vs. pre-packaged carbs and sugars. I picked up produce for the week today and the bill was $50. Yikes! That amount of money would keep us in mac and cheese for months! It makes me think that eating healthy is a privileged choice - unless of course you have a green thumb and some good land to grow your own garden. That's another topic entirely (and one I am completely under qualified to comment on).

How do you make the most out of your fruits and veggies? Where do you usually shop in the spring and summer months. or do you grow your own? Cooking has never been my specialty, but a girl can change - right? 

a rainy spring day

It's an extra long (and rainy) weekend for us here in Canada. A few drops won't melt us, we're just happy the snow has finally stopped falling. It finally looks, feels and smells like the spring we know and love. Here are a few pictures from our day at the park.

these two are so sweet together

my delicious garden burger with sprouts and hummus.

Winnie the Pooh was named after Winnipeg

This bird landed on the cup in my hand for a second! Scared me, but he sure is pretty.

notes on the day :

Luke and Eve are so sweet together, today especially. I ate a delicious garden burger with sprouts and hummus (my favorite condiment). I also tried Stevia for the first time and did not like it AT ALL. Winnie the Pooh is named after Winnipeg. Eve thought the boy with the boot fountain was peeing. The little blue bird flew off the trees above and briefly sat on the coffee cup in my hand! Then he tried to sit in Todds palm. What a forward bird! We were so happy to see the little shed cottage in the English garden has been re-built. I was so sad to find it had burned down last year, and this was a nice surprise.

the grand canyon

Here it is, the final post of our trip to Nevada/Arizona. I suppose I didn't know what to expect of the Grand Canyon. Seeing as it's one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, I knew we were in for an experience. The truth is, these photos just can't capture the awe inspiring views of the canyons south rim. It is an incredible place that must be seen to be believed. 

Have you been to the Grand Canyon? What was your experience?