As i packed up my kitchen i thought about LHB a lot. I took note of the investment i made in my pots, my roasting pan, my vintage Kitchenaid mixer (LOVE IT!, but the real difference i noted was in my pantry.
I felt proud of myself as i packed my different oils, before all i knew was vegetable oil, period. Now, i have a few different olive oils: fresh & fruity, mild & mellow, dipping; other oils such as sesame, hazelnut, etc......sometimes i dont know what the heck to do with them, but i bought them and love experimenting and just learning how to use them. i also have some different vinegars, chili paste, Durkee sauce, and a lot of other things that i can't remember right now.
I have a bunch of different flours as well. Whole wheat, 50% wheat & 50% white, soy flour, spelt flour, white lily just for biscuits, etc. I have good vanilla, bourbon vanilla, flaxseed, different types of fresh peppercorns, different syrups for baking, etc.
we eat a lot of fresh veggies, and i can proudly say i had very few canned things to pack.
and i have real butter, lots and lots of real butter!
I don't go to Lotsa Pasta, Whole Foods, and the other places that are usually mentioned. But i still have tried to get good quality things that i can play around with.
We do not go out to eat as much. (of course this week has been the exception, Tuesday in between trips i asked my daughter, "what do you want pizza or chicken?" arghhhh! she actually twisted her face and said, "i guess chicken." i just keep telling myself: this will be over, this will be over, we will have a normal meal again.) We used to go to Denny's a lot, it's affordable (somewhat) and close to us. But one day i looked at my plate, and for some reason my reheated-once frozen chicken fried steak and sad looking veggies, just looked well, like reheated meat and sad veggies. It was like a moment of reckoning, i said to myself, this IS NOT worth what i am paying for it; i don't want this.
so, we don't go to denny's anymore, havent been to chili's in almost 2 years. if we want to eat something we go to Indi's or a local taqueria, or when i treated my husband and i to Joe's. Yeah, they are not fine dining, and i would love to experience the flavor explosions that are often discussed here, but i am at a season in my life where that just is not possible. And i am OK with that! My husband and i actually really enjoy sitting at the little counters with the music blaring enjoying some great little tacos, it has become kind of "our thing". We both eat very well, share moments, give the guys a great tip, all for under twenty bucks, you just cannot beat that.
I believe i joined this forum when i was pregnant with my oldest son, he will be three in May. I have learned a lot here. I don't jump in on a lot of the discussions, but i read them all the time. Always learning about different foods, cooking, etc. I love it and i am different because of it. Even though i cannot go to all those great restaurants, i know what is out there and i have made the decision that i want better. So, i just stick here, do what i can, and just enjoy the rest through others!
and i just wanted to say THANK YOU!
