An Adventure

So on this rainy, soon-to-be-bad-weather day, I am obviously blogging, but also working on some new recipes... raisin bread and blueberry muffins with a lemon glaze to be precise.  I love baking cupcakes and cakes, but sometimes, bakers need more than cupcakes to be fulfilled in the kitchen.  I guess, life is kinda like that... you just need more.

Lately, I have found myself not really sticking to my food principles.  Don't get me wrong, I have not taken complete leave of my senses and brough a cake mix or brownie mix into The Tipsy Bee.  But life has been busy and crazy, and I have used that to justify my sweet tea addiction and grabbing a quick bite.  It kinda disappoints me in myself.  Sometimes, I find that I have to recenter myself, not to sound new-agey (not a word, I know, but still catchy!), or get back to basics.  I find that at times, I need to be inspired.  So, as I announced on my facebook page, I have decided to give up processed foods for Lent.  I can occasionally be impulsive, but this is something that I have put a great deal of thought into.  It is something that I need to do for myself for my spiritual health and my physical health. 

In general, I have never cared about fast foods.  As a little girl, I wanted a steak, bake potato, and broccoli, not a Happy Meal from McDonald's.  I think that is probably what disappoints me most in myself... I have fallen prey to the pressure that life has to be lived at warp speed and consequently turned to foods that I would normally never find even remotely appealing.  I have become caught up in a rat race and lost touch with myself.

In preparation for my new adventure, I first drafted someone to be my buddy in the world of unprocessed foods (thanks, Matt!), I began to scour my cookbooks for recipes that are both wholesome and good (so long white rice), and have begun to make a list of foods to purchase.  My start date is Saturday.  Ash Wednesday typically begins Lent, but I needed a day or two to get organized (see how I am not being impulsive... lol).  I am excited about the adventure.  I guess though that is the neat thing to me... it seems more like an adventure as opposed to a challenge or obstacle.

Does this mean that I think that the sweets which I love to bake are suddenly bad for me... not in the least.  It is the deep fried (in only the good Lord above knows what) chicken strips with the side of french fries that I think may kill me... and the rest of the world.  I think that when our ancestors were preparing their meals, they made everything from scratch, could pronounce all of the ingredients, and were far healthier than people are today....  That is the world that I am yearning to go back to... the world of fresh and local and butter and lard.  As I begin this adventure, I plan to blog about it... discuss the challenges and the rewards, and I hope that you will follow along.  Thanks for reading!  Christian
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Christmas meal - Made from Scratch