back to basics

I’m kicking off the new year by making a large pot of soup. Okay, so technically I kicked off the new year yesterday by making bread pudding, but that was a special dish for a holiday brunch.

Today is actually back to normal living, with no excessive amounts of cooking extravagant desserts, candies, and meals that people wouldn’t normally consider a meal (like bread pudding). Instead, I’m making a lentil and tomato soup from the Cooking Light website. I guess you could say that my 2009 resolution is to cook even more of my own food, and to keep trying new things. I’m starting things out right with this soup, because never before have I eaten lentils. I do hope that I like them, because they are a good source of plant protein and fiber, both of which I’m trying to consume more of. I will never give up meat, but I’m trying to be very careful about the quality of meat that I buy. Good quality meat (by good quality, I mean raised ethically, without hormones or antibiotics, and with the appropriate feed) is very pricey however, which means I’m not able to purchase meat as often.

I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I’d much rather support a farmer who is raising the animals ethically, and I know that this food will be much better for my health in the long run. I think you (well me, at least) tend to feel more connected to your food when you’re aware of where it came from. I know a lot of people try to view food as fuel only, but I don’t know that it’s the best idea. I think we appreciate it more when we know where it came from and approach our food as more of an experience; we’re more likely to cook it ourselves in new and interesting ways, rather than just heat up a Lean Cuisine.

As someone who has struggled with weight but yet loves to bake, I find that I’m less likely to overdo it with food when I make it myself (whether it’s a dinner or a dessert), than when I get takeout or buy a package of cookies from the store’s bakery. Now if only I could love cleaning up the mess I make in the kitchen as much as I love creating the mess…

If you’re interested in the soup recipe, here’s what I’m making: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=249952

Trackback URI | Comments RSS