Comments on: Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade: Pantry Staples

By: Winter Giveaway Week: Win 1 of 10 Copies of the “Better Than a Box” eBook

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:01:07 +0000

[...] on primarily processed foods and having to both learn to acquire a taste for real food, as well as learn to cook it, has given me a genuine desire to want to offer resources to help make the transition easier for [...]

By: Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade: Baked Goods

Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade: Baked Goods — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:57:23 +0000

[...] you missed the first post in the Simple Steps to Begin Cooking Homemade series, we talked about some essential pantry staples [...]

By: Jennifer G

Jennifer G — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:05:35 +0000

I almost always have some homemade chicken broth in the freezer. It's not organic, yet. I haven't figured out how to work organic meats into our budget, but I'm working on it. I didn't realize how easy it is to make. I just add a little water when I am "roasting" chicken thighs in the crockpot and then once it is cool, I strain it into a large bowl, place it in the fridge overnight, scrape the hardened fat off the top (I've heard you can save that and use it in savory pie crusts...like for meat pies, but I haven't gotten brave enough to make my own pie crusts yet either) and then freeze the broth in usable portions. It tastes so much better than canned broth.

By: Cathy Lynn Crosby

Cathy Lynn Crosby — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:32:46 +0000

I try and make real food each and every day. I am the CEO of a company, have three kids and well, not a lot of time. I try and prepare a menu for 4 weeks at a time. Do one massive shop (including a trip to that warehouse store) and a quick shop about every 6 days to get fresh veg and fruit. When I know I am going to be swamped with work, I take a Saturday and fill my freezer with casseroles, soups, etc. I love suppertime, it is my favourite time of day with my brood (although bedtime is pretty sweet as well)

By: Kristy

Kristy — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:09:46 +0000

Thanks Brandy for your reply and the link. I'm finding out so much good information from this series.
It has helped me so much. Good luck with your gardening adventure, Sometimes by the end of the harvest I run out of steam for canning it all! Congratulations to you on your beautiful family as well. We are blessed.

By: Wren

Wren — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:10:22 +0000

I've been on my real food journey for probably about a year, and have made a lot of progress. You mentioned replacing white sugar with honey or maple syrup, but do you have a preferred substitute ratio (as in, a half cup of honey = a cup of white sugar, or whatever it is)? Or is it different depending on what you're making? Do you have a good reference for this?
As it is now, I always make sure I am getting sugar labeled cane sugar, because unlabeled likely comes from sugar beets, which are often GMO. I try and get turbinado or Florida Crystals brand when I can afford it. Maple syrup wouldn't be any cheaper, but honey might work, so I'd appreciate any info! Thanks!

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:00:44 +0000

Awesome, wonderful, simple, basic article! I have been making the switch to organic and homemade over the past couple of years and was happy to see that even though I wasn't following you when I started my journey (thus have taken the more difficult route ;), that my pantry had been switched over to all of your suggestions! I love my local food co-op and our meat CSA. I have many friends wanting to follow our healthy example and this post will be my go-to article for their beginning steps in their kitchens! But recently, a friend shared with me the following article and I've had to take quinoa off my shopping list. I think it's important for us to be aware that in some cases, our desire to be healthy can greatly hurt someone else's ability. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/vegans-stomach-unpalatable-truth-quinoa

By: Lacey Wilcox

Lacey Wilcox — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 23:39:46 +0000

I would love to hear your budget for this each month or every few months. One of my goals for this year is to really get our pantry into shape. My hope is that by having it stocked well, I'll be able to save some of our grocery money each month to purchase a large amount of grass-fed beef.

Looking forward to this series!

By: Brandy Ferguson

Brandy Ferguson — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:38:59 +0000

Sounds like you've got that figured out, Amanda! Good job! :)

By: Brandy Ferguson

Brandy Ferguson — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:36:47 +0000

Hey Kristy! Congrats on 21 years!!! Wow!
GMO's can be tricky, especially since we have to guess (at least in the U.S.) what they are and are not in. :( About canned tomatoes, if you can can your own, then go for it! I used to do that a few years ago when we had a large back yard, but when we moved, our new home had a much smaller backyard. (I am going to be exploring the Suburban Backyard Gardening technique this summer, though - Yay!) The reason I suggested canned (and organic) tomatoes is because they can be a lifesaver to a mom who is new to cooking homemade. Can you imagine? Asking her to can her own tomatoes first? ;) As far as labeling, I do know that often, organic products will be labeled BPA free. And Muir Glen, supposedly DOES package BPA-Free! :) Here's the link: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20714.cfm