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I guess I am ‘nesting’ as women often do in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy and was trying to think of a way to get my recipes out of their Windows/Powerpoint cage and online and figured I would start to write about them on a blog. I envision this to serve two purposes (well–maybe three):
1) a means to get my recipes online in a way that documents how I made the recipe and what I liked and didn’t like about it
2) a way to keep my focus in the kitchen as a new mom without resorting to quick fixes which would destroy my passion for cooking
…and as a bonus – 3) a way to update my family on the new baby and how we are doing as a family
My cooking philosophy is simple:
- use local, farm fresh ingredients for inspiration – we belong to a Community Supported Agriculture program through Johnson’s Backyard Garden here in Austin, TX. Every two weeks I get a box of fresh veggies (and sometimes fruit!) from them and that serves as my inspiration for new recipes to try with those ingredients. This is such a creative outlet for me and has really broadened my food horizons a great deal since we started.
- go back to basics, simple recipes which highlight the ingredients – I particularly love Ina Garten’s (the Barefoot Contessa) recipes but will search for any online that I think look delicious and simple.
- sprinkle in some tradition – recipes should mean something and nothing is better than trying and perfecting a recipe from your grandmother or mother or mother-in-law – nothing! The other day I made the cupcakes my mother-in-law used to make for my husband’s birthday parties!
- It doesn’t hurt to try – through this ‘nesting’ period, I have had a major urge to start baking. I have always considered myself a good cook, but definitely not a baker – that was much to precise for me. It may seem like I am following the recipes that I post to the letter, but I am always fiddling with them and, with baking, that is hard to do. I have been trying my hand at baking and am finding that it isn’t that hard and that it is actually a lot of fun. And while a good entree or side will get praise from your guests, nothing brings a bigger smile to my husband’s face than a good piece of freshly baked, homemade challah or some new cookie/cake I spent the day working on. Truly worth it!
All for now – look for my first try at a Butternut Squash Kugel (casserole) recipe I am trying (and changing a bit) tomorrow.
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