Mom grows a big garden every year, and having that fresh produce has ruined buying it at the store for me! I love to cook, and everything just tastes better when it’s picked fresh out of the garden. We also try to can and freeze some of the produce for later, and that even tastes better than the frozen and canned food you can buy at the store. Another thing that has been a blessing to us is being able to raise our own beef. I absolutely refuse to buy meat at the store because it doesn’t even look fresh sitting on the shelf! Since getting rid of the milk cow in 2012, Mom recently bought another Jersey. Dad loves to make cheese, so Sunday is the cheese-making day (It is an all-day process). He gets really scientific about it, trying to make it come out just right! So now I don’t have to buy milk, cheese, or butter. My parents also have chickens, so I don’t have to buy eggs, either. Wow, I didn’t realize how much I get from my parents until I had to write it all out! We will never be completely self-sustaining (we still have to buy the raw ingredients for some things), but we are trying to get as close as possible.
I have been very lazy about my cooking in the last year or so. I live by myself, so it is hard to find the motivation and inspiration to cook well. Especially in the winter months, when the garden isn’t producing, and I have to buy produce from the store. It just isn’t the same. I also live almost an hour from the nearest grocery store, so I try to limit my trips to the store. I still haven’t quite gotten the hang of buying groceries to last me a couple of weeks. And, my fridge seems to be where food goes to die. I see it in the store and think I will use it, but then it goes bad before I get around to making anything with it!
I would love to hear your tips and tricks for staying motivated to cook for yourself, as well as the recipes you love. I love to try new ones! In 2021, I will be better about cooking my own food and throwing it in the freezer for those unmotivated nights. Upcoming posts to look for in the Cooking section include Mississippi Roast and Bread Pudding.
Happy Journeys!
Shayne
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