You are so right about what you wrote. And I will add, I used to grow vegetables with my kids in the garden and my kids eat really every vegetable I put on the table, because they are amazed about the growing and harvesting. Can`t wait to have a garden again. This year we have strawberries on our balcony and melons and pumpkins in the stable. The plants are already waiting on my window shelf.

How is the cake, sounds delicious, two of my favorite ingredients cherries and coffee.

1 hour ago, Lyssa said:

You are so right about what you wrote. And I will add, I used to grow vegetables with my kids in the garden and my kids eat really every vegetable I put on the table, because they are amazed about the growing and harvesting. Can`t wait to have a garden again. This year we have strawberries on our balcony and melons and pumpkins in the stable. The plants are already waiting on my window shelf.

 

How is the cake, sounds delicious, two of my favorite ingredients cherries and coffee.

Once i was away from my old life and had worked and saved a bit, i went to cooking school for a short course. I remember going to the local produce market and I wanted buy everything. There were piles of beautiful eggplant and, i've said this before, i'd marry swiss chard if it was possible. It is so gorgeous. There aren't any veg i wont eat, there are some ive never had or come across but i'd try them. I love the idea of melons and pumpkins growing in the stables.. wonderful!!

You know that you can grow swiss chard easily by yourself in a pot? It grows and grows. I had some in my vegetable garden and it came back every year. You can cut the leafs and they grow again, it is the same in a flower pot.

3 hours ago, Lyssa said:

You know that you can grow swiss chard easily by yourself in a pot? It grows and grows. I had some in my vegetable garden and it came back every year. You can cut the leafs and they grow again, it is the same in a flower pot.

 

i may have to try that.. plants dont like my balcony much though i can try..  it's very very hot out there. 120f often in the summer 

Bravo tim!

It's so much easier and healthier to do it yourself.  

It's why I spend so much time on Sunday's prepping for the week.

It's also a great family bonding event.

Menu planning, list making, shopping, I'll take one or two of the kids with me. Then cooking dinner together gives us all a chance to wind down and be together.

So much better physically and mentally than relying on prepared foods.

Thanks for the conversation!

33 minutes ago, mollyhousemouse said:

Bravo tim!

It's so much easier and healthier to do it yourself.  

It's why I spend so much time on Sunday's prepping for the week.

 

It's also a great family bonding event.

Menu planning, list making, shopping, I'll take one or two of the kids with me. Then cooking dinner together gives us all a chance to wind down and be together.

 

So much better physically and mentally than relying on prepared foods.

 

Thanks for the conversation!

You know Mike is Ukranian background. His mother makes just about everything. When I met him he never cooked, ordered in or ate out and not very well most of the time. He's not a great cook, but since my hours changed and he's home before I am, he's really been trying. He starts things, and I help when i get in. It's nice to put the meal on the table together.  We shop together often, too. 

And that 'convenient' microwave meal .. you can make noodles and stir fry in the same time.  

You're right molly .. fresh is best!

3 hours ago, Mikiesboy said:

i may have to try that.. plants dont like my balcony much though i can try..  it's very very hot out there. 120f often in the summer 

Take a little bottle, fill it with water and than stuck it in the earth of the pot head down. The water will flow slowly about a longer period, this should protect your plant in the summer. The biggest problem of balcony gardening is, that the pots dry out very fast.

Just now, Lyssa said:

Take a little bottle, fill it with water and than stuck it in the earth of the pot head down. The water will flow slowly about a longer period, this should protect your plant in the summer. The biggest problem of balcony gardening is, that the pots dry out very fast.

I've grown tomatoes and a low variety of green bean out there .. the cherry tomatoes were happiest ... i'll see if Mike wants to drag sacks of soil up here again .. LOL

Just now, Mikiesboy said:

I've grown tomatoes and a low variety of green bean out there .. the cherry tomatoes were happiest ... i'll see if Mike wants to drag sacks of soil up here again .. LOL

Carring sacks of soil....that is natural body styling. And it is worth the outcome. I always grow salad leafs, they are so much better than everything you can by and they are fast and easy to grow. When we lived in Hanover and had only a small Balcony I already hat a Raspberry bush and 14 Roses trees on it. Moving out wasn`t fun. What can I say, I need nature - especial roses around me.

8 minutes ago, Lyssa said:

Carring sacks of soil....that is natural body styling. And it is worth the outcome. I always grow salad leafs, they are so much better than everything you can by and they are fast and easy to grow. When we lived in Hanover and had only a small Balcony I already hat a Raspberry bush and 14 Roses trees on it. Moving out wasn`t fun. What can I say, I need nature - especial roses around me.

LOL. I'll tell him you said so.. he'll do it if i ask him.  Yeah, i've thought about a spring mix of greens, maybe the cherry tomatoes and i'll try the swiss chard. i really enjoy that.  Miiiiiiiiikkkkeeeee  !!!!!

38 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

LOL. I'll tell him you said so.. he'll do it if i ask him.  Yeah, i've thought about a spring mix of greens, maybe the cherry tomatoes and i'll try the swiss chard. i really enjoy that.  Miiiiiiiiikkkkeeeee  !!!!!

Swiss chard is called Mangold in German, if this isn`t reason enough. xoxoxo

I feel bad for your Mike! I'm definitely not a baker, but both I and my bf have sweet tooths. So, I've been through all kinds of different pies you get at the store if he's really got a craving, tell him to try the Sara Lee frozen pies, they're pretty good and no assembly required!

Anyways, I don't have the funds to eat super healthy. I eat a lot of frozen junk and stuff out of boxes because it IS cheap. And if you don't have the time to cook, it's just easier. I swear they're trying to kill us poor people... 

My lovely grandmother sent some carrots, potatoes and Vandalia onions over last night! Yay! I have some meat thawing now, I'm going to make a roast! 

Grandma used to have a wonderful garden when I was growing up. She grew the tastiest cherry tomatoes and I'd run through her garden stuffing my face with the squishy little buggers. My face and shirt always had tomato juice smeared on it lol. I hope one day I can have a garden like hers...

I am reading this after returning from my greengrocer - we used to have those monster strawberries for a few years, whoppers but no taste, everyone stopped buying them and now we have good flavoursome strawberries again (some big, some small, all tasty) - I have half a kilo calling my name  

Tomorrow I am back at work and I think I will have instant soup in a cup for lunch. Before you all hit me, home-made instant soup. I can't remember who sent me this link but I will love them forever...   http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/09/diy-chicken-dill-instant-noodle-recipe.html, and this one too http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/09/diy-instant-noodle-cups-food-lab.html

This is one of those ideas you can play with depending what you have in the cupboard. I looked at the original recipe for the chicken and dill and my version is now way different but it works. And the title of the second link is true - my work colleagues do get jealous and it is so simple.

You can earn millions writing food blogs.

2 hours ago, mastershakeme said:

Anyways, I don't have the funds to eat super healthy. I eat a lot of frozen junk and stuff out of boxes because it IS cheap. And if you don't have the time to cook, it's just easier. I swear they're trying to kill us poor people... 

 

That is interesting, as it is in Germany more expensive to eat convenient food, as cook by yourself. Somehow it always seems to be cheaper to buy a frozen thing, but if you break it don`t and you come out cheaper if you take two carrots and some rice etc. and start cooking. But I heard that Germany has low prices for groceries. Maybe that is the difference.

19 minutes ago, Lyssa said:

That is interesting, as it is in Germany more expensive to eat convenient food, as cook by yourself. Somehow it always seems to be cheaper to buy a frozen thing, but if you break it don`t and you come out cheaper if you take two carrots and some rice etc. and start cooking. But I heard that Germany has low prices for groceries. Maybe that is the difference.

Honestly, I really want to eat healthier. It would take more effort, but getting some carrots from grandma shouldn't be such a luxury. There will be all kinds of different farmer markets in my area this summer. I just have to make a point to add more greens to the diet. The chemicals they put in our foods nowadays aren't things human beings should ever ingest. It's insane that it's allowable to mass produce crappy foods that over time, kill you, but it's my own fault... I'll stop complaining and make plans to change

39 minutes ago, mastershakeme said:

 

Honestly, I really want to eat healthier. It would take more effort, but getting some carrots from grandma shouldn't be such a luxury. There will be all kinds of different farmer markets in my area this summer. I just have to make a point to add more greens to the diet. The chemicals they put in our foods nowadays aren't things human beings should ever ingest. It's insane that it's allowable to mass produce crappy foods that over time, kill you, but it's my own fault... I'll stop complaining and make plans to change

Maybe we should start a thread, recipe of the day, fast to cook and with reasonable price.

Just now, Lyssa said:

Maybe we should start a thread, recipe of the day, fast to cook and with reasonable price.

Yes! That would be fun I'm so excited it's almost summer! I want to celebrate with fresh, vibrant food! 

5 hours ago, mastershakeme said:

I feel bad for your Mike! I'm definitely not a baker, but both I and my bf have sweet tooths. So, I've been through all kinds of different pies you get at the store if he's really got a craving, tell him to try the Sara Lee frozen pies, they're pretty good and no assembly required!

 

Anyways, I don't have the funds to eat super healthy. I eat a lot of frozen junk and stuff out of boxes because it IS cheap. And if you don't have the time to cook, it's just easier. I swear they're trying to kill us poor people... 

 

My lovely grandmother sent some carrots, potatoes and Vandalia onions over last night! Yay! I have some meat thawing now, I'm going to make a roast! 

 

Grandma used to have a wonderful garden when I was growing up. She grew the tastiest cherry tomatoes and I'd run through her garden stuffing my face with the squishy little buggers. My face and shirt always had tomato juice smeared on it lol. I hope one day I can have a garden like hers...

You feel bad for Mike? He's the luckiest man in the world.. so i keep telling him!! LOL.   Yeah, I know about having to eat that way. I did it for years. When i got off the street i swore i wouldn't again .. and i've been very lucky.. very.  

I hope you get that garden too!

xo tim

2 hours ago, Lyssa said:

Maybe we should start a thread, recipe of the day, fast to cook and with reasonable price.

I like that idea, Lyssa. Be fun.  I'm still careful when i shop and hate to waste things, even though money isn't an issue anymore.  But more important.. even if you have millions.. you should not waste anything.  It's wrong in my opinion. 

Just now, Mikiesboy said:

I like that idea, Lyssa. Be fun.  I'm still careful when i shop and hate to waste things, even though money isn't an issue anymore.  But more important.. even if you have millions.. you should not waste anything.  It's wrong in my opinion. 

Than lets do it, I am on board.

4 minutes ago, Lyssa said:

Than lets do it, I am on board.

I'm wondering the best way to do it .. on a blog?  I know there is a recipe forum already on GA. 

Just now, Mikiesboy said:

I'm wondering the best way to do it .. on a blog?  I know there is a recipe forum already on GA. 

I just looked at this recipe thread. Maybe a blog might be the right thing, or a thread that is named exclusive for fast, healthy and not expensive.

6 hours ago, Bucket1 said:

I am reading this after returning from my greengrocer - we used to have those monster strawberries for a few years, whoppers but no taste, everyone stopped buying them and now we have good flavoursome strawberries again (some big, some small, all tasty) - I have half a kilo calling my name  

 

Tomorrow I am back at work and I think I will have instant soup in a cup for lunch. Before you all hit me, home-made instant soup. I can't remember who sent me this link but I will love them forever...   http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/09/diy-chicken-dill-instant-noodle-recipe.html, and this one too http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/09/diy-instant-noodle-cups-food-lab.html

 

This is one of those ideas you can play with depending what you have in the cupboard. I looked at the original recipe for the chicken and dill and my version is now way different but it works. And the title of the second link is true - my work colleagues do get jealous and it is so simple.

Omg.. brilliant .. and how did you know I was gonna slap you?  LOL .. I have a copy of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Light and Easy cookbook!

4 minutes ago, Lyssa said:

I just looked at this recipe thread. Maybe a blog might be the right thing, or a thread that is named exclusive for fast, healthy and not expensive.

K just to be a bit pedantic .. do they have to be fast?  I'm thinking simple and good for you ... sure some with speed would be welcome, but somethings take a bit of time.