Cookus Love
/There is something about having a baby in your life that makes you nutritionally conscientious. Ian's body seems so pure. I scrutinize everything that goes into his mouth. (Is it a real food? Will it help him to grow? Is it organic? Does it have hormones, antibiotics, hydrogenated fats, corn syrup, food dyes, or genetically modified ingredients?) It has definitely inspired me to do a better job of asking those questions for myself and everyone else that I feed.
I love Cynthia Lair's book Feeding the Whole Family. I've relied upon it for years as a great resource for whole foods cooking. She is not pretentious like some healthy chefs are. I love her suggestions for substitutions if you don't have a particular ingredient on hand. Her recipes are yummy, good for you, and frugal. A trifecta.
Did you know that she has a fabulous website? There are tons of hilarious videos just waiting for you. I've been sucked into the continuing storyline, and was somewhat heartbroken to learn that the folks in the videos with her are not her real family- but just actors. They had me fooled!
She even has some really simple "how-to" videos. Pay attention to the messy countertops in the background. I love that!
For some reason, food is way more fun when Cynthia cooks it. Or at least that is what my kids think. They love seeing a preview of what is for dinner. They gather around the laptop in the kitchen and tune in as I'm prepping. No one blinks an eye when Cynthia adds leafy greens to a recipe (as opposed to the whining that I am on the receiving end of). My daughter actually said, "Mom we should try those pancakes!" after watching a video showing sprouted buckwheat groats as one of the main ingredients. Um Ok. Add buckwheat groats to nexts week's grocery list. And so it has gone since I discovered the site a few weeks ago.
A fresh new year is waiting right around the corner, go get some healthy cooking inspiration. (subscribe to her email list and they'll send you updates whenever a new video recipe is posted.)
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