About ten years ago I read a book about the importance of eating real food. I admit I was very inspired and endeavored to change my family's diet. At the time my youngest two had no problem with the change but my eldest...to this day would rather eat out of a vending machine than a nice variety of veggies.
Throughout the years I have had children come and go through my front door, eat at my table when visiting my daughters. I've had many questions about my daily routine; many comments on how things are done in their own homes. The one comment which has made me stop and think more than once was a young friend of my youngest daughter. He stopped in the kitchen, gazed the room as I was working on dinner. They proceeded to living room and I heard, "Does she cook like this every day?" Oh, my heart hurt for the young man. His question was one of wonder towards my daughter. When she answered "yeah, most times," he said..."Wow."
Does She Cook?
I believe many know what the right choices are when speaking of preparing meals. Many know carbohydrates are to be eaten for energy, veggies and fruits for nutrients, dairy for good digestion and calcium, water for hydration. However, many of us homekeepers labor in cleaning, organizing, taxi, and meal preparations come last. The thought about preparing a meal as 4 or 5 in the evening approaches and one may think..."what am I going to do? It will have to be take-out tonight." Or as you drive toward home after a long day out..."How about ____________?(enter name of favorite fast food restaurant).
Obviously, such things happen to us all. I am no exception. The problem lies with this incident happening once or twice per week. This is not a healthy choice and has more than one consequence. Not only does it wreck havoc on our bodies but the check book as well.
Home cooking cost much less than pre-prepared boxed, prepared deli, fast food and any restaurant fare. Plus, you can make it more tasty, healthy, and comforting. Sitting around the table eating meals together offers so much more than eating a hamburger in the car on the way to a class or extra-curricular activity.
A typical home cooked meal for a family of four will cost less than eating out anywhere else. Plus the cook knows exactly what is going into the family's diet.
If you've never considered these thoughts before I ask you to think about the perimeter of your local market. The perimeter is where the healthiest of items will be. Produce, dairy, meats and breads are on the extremes where you might would want to graze about the isles of prepackaged foods inside. Better yet, try your nearest greengrocer or farmer's market for your fruits and veggies. If you have a local butcher most times their meat will be better quality and can be cut to your liking.
If the concern over your cooking ability is what's keeping you from preparing home cooked meals I will say this...practice! Practice in the kitchen and your family will thank you...even if you burn the pie.
Pamela's Apple Pie
2 Crust:
2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 c unsalted butter
1 TBS sour cream
5 tsp cold water
5 apples peeled and chopped
lemon juice from one lemon
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 TBS cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp corn starch (for thickening if needed)
To prepare crust in a food processor: Add all dry ingredients into food processor. Add butter and pulse 5 or 6 times. Add sour cream and pulse a few times. Add water a bit at a time until the dough becomes thick and beginning to ball up. Take out and half dough. Place one half on a clean, floured surface to roll out with rolling pin. Make circle with dough and lay in pie pan. Brown in oven at 350 degrees. Bring out to cool.
Pie filling:
In a medium sized sauce pan place all ingredients on medium heat. Mix with spoon occasionally. Filling should thicken within twenty minutes or so. Pour into browned pie crust.
Roll out second crust and cover pie, pinching the sides together.
Bake in oven for twenty minutes.
2 Crust:
2 c whole wheat flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 c unsalted butter
1 TBS sour cream
5 tsp cold water
5 apples peeled and chopped
lemon juice from one lemon
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 TBS cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp corn starch (for thickening if needed)
To prepare crust in a food processor: Add all dry ingredients into food processor. Add butter and pulse 5 or 6 times. Add sour cream and pulse a few times. Add water a bit at a time until the dough becomes thick and beginning to ball up. Take out and half dough. Place one half on a clean, floured surface to roll out with rolling pin. Make circle with dough and lay in pie pan. Brown in oven at 350 degrees. Bring out to cool.
Pie filling:
In a medium sized sauce pan place all ingredients on medium heat. Mix with spoon occasionally. Filling should thicken within twenty minutes or so. Pour into browned pie crust.
Roll out second crust and cover pie, pinching the sides together.
Bake in oven for twenty minutes.
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