For the first time, really in my life, I find myself feeling like I am living in "The Land of the Lost". I was laid off from work on October 14th after having hours reduced from 32/week to 10/week back in May. Since then I have been religiously looking for a job. As anyone will tell you, it is like finding a needle in the haystack to actually get a job right now. So you may ask where "land of the lost" comes from....Well, you see there has always been a reason I have had a job. Bottom line is....I'm a better Mom, wife and person when I am working. I am more productive and I am just happier. Since I have been at home I have had to come up with ways to kill the urge flee for some retail therapy or worse HSN/QVC therapy (yes you can get food from them too). I've been feeling quite lost with this change that I am forced to face, it is really unfamiliar territory. Who knew it would be so difficult? It never was before. As the saying goes, drastic change calls for drastic measures. So it goes.......
I have always loved to bake & cook, but have only done basics. You know what I am talking about - soup out of a can, grilled cheese, tater-tot casserole, tacos, pork roast, chicken with rice..you get the idea. It has only been in the last couple of years that I have really started to experiment with food and baking (yup, some gets thrown away because even the dogs won't eat it...but not much).
I started to make homemade bread when I figured out it would save us between $40-$50 a month....just on bread (this includes loaves, rolls, bagels, etc.) Wow...that is a great savings and I will know what actually goes into the bread I make (kinda makes you think eww doesn't it?). Well as luck would have it, I actually like making bread. I've made white, wheat, honey-wheat, oatmeal, dinner rolls, sandwich rolls, slider rolls, cinnamon rolls, bagels, baguettes & french. I started out by using my bread machine to make the whole thing (yes a faux pas to those who spend hours and muscles kneading by hand - craziness I say), moved onto just using it for dough and now everything is made in the kitchenaid (unless I am crunched on time) and baked in the oven. Kitchenaid = the best invention since sliced bread! I have a couple new recipes bookmarked to try: English muffins & brioche. Maybe this week.
I can't forget autumn/winter transition. 'Tis the season for pumpkin. Oh, how I love anything pumpkin. I have an incredible recipe for pumpkin cookies (that seem to disappear faster than I can get them finished) and just found a great pumpkin muffin recipe. Yah, they don't last long either. Boys eat a lot when they are teenagers. Speaking of pumpkin, I made a fabulous pumpkin soup with bacon, toasted pecans & blue cheese....I know sounds kind of yucky, but it was really tasty. Two teenage boys and one happy husband gave the green light to make it again. Trust me I am just as surprised as you are.
So, I got really lucky in my life. I have one fabulous boy who pretty much eats everything, literally. When I say everything, if you looked in my fridge and cupboards, you would understand. Why didn't anyone ever tell me that teenage boys have two hollow legs? Seriously? The best part is it makes it easy to try new things. The only things I have found that he didn't like were the butternut squash ravioli and butternut squash soup....I think it might be the butternut squash, huh. Oh and the crazy thing he won't eat...tacos. I'm not sure if he really is my child because that just happens to be my very favorite dinner ever. Was he switched at birth? Not likely since he looks just like his Dad. Call me crazy, but who doesn't like tacos? That is just plain wrong. Whatever, he is missing out. I guess to his defense he really eats everything else, even stuff I would not dare try...I'm kind of a sissy with some things. Yes, it is true, I admit I am a complete wimp when it comes to some food items, think slimy or wild.
Anyways, as I said I have been experimenting a lot lately. Tonight is was the pumpkin soup, two nights ago it was homemade Cinnamon-Pancetta Carbonara. Now when I say "homemade" I really mean it. The only store bought pasta you will find in my house is orzo or fusilli (you know the cork screw kind for salad) or maybe once in awhile penne. I have been making my own pasta for a couple of years now and once you make your own, the store bought stuff just doesn't do. I do have to admit I use the kitchenaid with the pasta attachments, much to the dismay of a very dear friend who's Italian heritage finds that to be just shameful. But alas, it is the way I make it and I have not had any complaints, just ask the teenage boy who ate four helpings, a stuffed husband, sister and father. I am really expanding my food repertoire.
All of this just to say that I have enjoyed being in the kitchen preparing savory meals, sweet concoctions and breads, lots of breads. Really it all just started because I'm a terrible stay at home person and needed to find an outlet without breaking the bank. So now I ask, do I really have time for a job?
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