I don't really consider of myself to be a serious foodie. I just feel that it is important to eat healthful foods, and have some sort of control over what we eat. Home-cooked meals are generally much tastier, and better for you, especially if you start with whole ingredients, with nothing pre-seasoned or overly-processed.
Many dishes are great when prepared in advance:
- Sauces, soups and stews taste better the next day.
- Marinating meat overnight increases the flavor when cooked.
- Cooked seafood or meat are great chilled for salads.
- Leftovers can be incorporated into sandwiches or a fried rice.
Having children participate in food preparation is important too. Kids should know and recognize what goes into the food is that they eat, take pride in food they prepare and love eating. I have tagged the recipes that are the most kid-friendly cooking, but my kids help me with pretty much everything. Get ready for a little more mess, especially with the littler ones, but a bit of time and patience will pay off in the long run.
All recipes are for foods for both kids and adults to enjoy. They have been adapted and modified to keep things simple. Essentially, each recipe is a backbone for you to work in your own preferences and tastes. Although we don't have any food allergies (yet), I like to take others into consideration, like not always using butter, and more recently, going vegan when making cookies or cupcakes for school events. Although I am not vegetarian, I feel that veggies are neglected and under-rated. We are conditioned that protein = meat makes a good meal. The thing is, the majority of Asian countries are have a plethora of vegetarian and dairy-free foods, it's the norm, so it really should be simple, easy and accessible.
The recipes have all been tried at least once to great results. They are meant to be a foundation to be referred again and again. I make the pancakes, granola bars, ragu, cauliflower soup, empanadas, gazpacho, couscous, chicken chili, curry, fried rice, pesto, hummus, and of course, cookies and birthday treats ALL THE TIME, following the recipe for measurements. It's just easy to refer to. I don't know about you, but I don't have time for meals to not turn out right. This website also helps me with the shopping list.
Most ingredients are readily available, ones that can be used again and again in a variety of foods. All the spicy ingredients such as fresh chilis, chili powder and fresh ginger, are listed as optional, so the foods aren't too hot for the children. Usually, I add this spicy hotness right after the kids' portions are served up, so the adults can have that extra "kick" in their chili or curry. Again, there are many recipes that are flexible with the ingredients, to provide variety, despite being the same basic dish. Cooking should be fun, not rigid, and always evolving. Sharing tips and tricks with friends and family is the best way to learn. Experiment, adapt, enjoy! And let me know how it all goes! (comments are always welcome.)
Thanks for stopping by!
christine
christine@c-cooking.com
FOOD BOOKS
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FOOD MOVIES
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• Tampopo
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• Chocolat
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• Ratatouille
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