From Scratch

In our house we strive to eliminate canned products and processed foods whenever possible. It's much easier than you think, it's called starting from scratch. You see every ingredient in front of you, nothing is hidden, don't you feel safer that way after all you are going to be putting this stuff in your stomach and the stomachs of those you love? Not to even mention it's more economical, no preservatives, no chemical color pigments, no artificial fragrance, and no HFC. Do you even want to know how long those cans have been sitting on the shelves? One of the best ways to taste the freshest (short of buying fresh and in season) is to buy in bulk (organic where possible) and do it yourself.

I guess I'm a bit hung up on the "you are what you eat" principle.


I'm grateful we live in one of the most progressive cities in the America. Loads of local farmers markets and actual “green” grocery stores offer organic produce and bulk foods at highly affordable prices. There is no excuse NOT to make it from scratch unless you are lazy . All it takes is proper planning ahead of time, typically, one day ahead sometimes less. Soak beans overnight, and the cook to perfection in less than an hour, add any seasonings you'd like, drain them, cool them down, you can toss them in the freezer for storage if you have extra. I can guarantee you won't see slimy smelly juice when you open the ones you make from scratch. I don't go into painful details here, success in the kitchen comes from working with what you have. I look for the freshest, cleanest ingredients wherever possible.

You will see these beautiful and fresh organic multi beans and grains anytime you come check out my pantry. It's a common misconception that fiber only comes from "veggies and fruits". In fact, beans and grains contain more fiber sources than veggies. They are high protein, generally low fat and filling. In order to process the fibers properly, it requires your body to do more work, that means, burning more calories, as well as building a healthy bio environment in your body. You should not underestimate the value they provide.