Can I just share with you that it has been 6 weeks since we have been on a non-processed diet!!!

[Blossomhill]

I am so proud of myself. I know that may sound weird saying that and blowing my own trumpet but I honestly never ever cooked. Everything was either ready made or from the freezer.
Well in the past 6 weeks I have made loads of home-made healthy foods. This week I have made a carrot and a banana cake, vegtable lasagne, chicken nuggets, sausage stir fry and fish cakes. The food is so much more filling and tastes so much fresher.
I have had to change my life a bit as you do need to be prepared and there is lots of washing up (even though we now have a dishwasher there are lots of pots and pans etc). Also the initial outlay of stuff was quite expensive, such as herbs and spices, flour, new cake tins, trays etc but now I have everything it is actually working out cheaper.
I plan everything 4 days in advance and then do a shop. The reason I do it every 4 days is that things can go off quickly so that is just about the right amount of time to keep things fresh! Also gives me more time for new ideas!
1 thing I will say is that the book I use loads is "The dinner lady" and has been such a hit with all of us. I have cooked most of my stuff from there and am very impressed!!!
Hope u don't mind me sharing this with you.
Oh, oh and the biggy is my dd who has communication difficulties and finds concentration very hard has really benefitted from it. She is so much calmer and communicates better. Even the school have noticed big improvements. My sons ezcema has also cleared up so we have all benefitted

[RnB]

Message withdrawn

[Mud]

have just been bought that book - which recipes are your favourites? (haen't tried anythjgin yet)

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Well done bh, I remember you posting that you wanted to do it, with your dd particularly in mind.

I like the Dinner Lady book too, only got it a couple of weeks ago, made about 4 dishes from it so far, which we all enjoyed.

Jamie Oliver would be proud of you !

[Blossomhill]

Mud:-

chicken curry
vegtable lasagne
chicken nuggets
aussie pie
macaroni cheese

Oh all of them

[nutcracker]

I am still meaning to get that book, is it really that good ???

[Blossomhill]

Thanks everyone. I actually feel quite liberated now about food and knowing that I am feeding my children healthily is great. I mean they never ate loads of sweets but now they have cut the majority of the rubbish out.
As for mcdonalds, well after that programme I doubt I'll ever let them eat it again!!!
It actually makes me angry at how quick they were to give my dd Ritalin when all we really needed was dietary advice

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Ooh, yes, the Aussie Pie is gorgeous!

I've also made the chicken curry, chicken nuggets and the goulash.

I added a bit more of the spices to mine and dh's curry and goulash.

[Blossomhill]

nutcracker - it's great but obviously time consuming.
It took me 2 hours yesterday to make the lasagne, by the time I chopped, blended and weighed everything, made the cheese sauce and washed and tidied the kitchen. Even if I say so myself it was delicious. The fact that dd and ds ate the lot and there were loads of hidden veg made me a very happy mum and makes it all so worthwhile

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

I think it's good nutty, there's nothing "flashy" in there IYKWIM.

[Blossomhill]

Puff - yes we added medium curry powder to ours. I must try the goulash next week, like the sound of that.
Her carrot cake is gorgeous, so delicious. I made a banana cake tonight and it's in the oven right now. I do want the kids to have treats but if it's something I have made I still know what's in it!!

[KatieMac]

I'm leaning towards this way of cooking - is there a non-processed way of making an Angel Delight type pudding.....my C/Mees love it , so I don't want to cut it out - but I would really like a replacement
Any ideas?

[emily05]

well done blossomhill! I am doing a similar thing to you. After that scare a couple of months back with the chilli powder I decided to start home cooking. I have found that cooking is much more rewarding than I at first thought.
I am really enjoying it and my dh is in heaven! We used to live on a 90% processed diet and have changed to the extend I cant remember the last time we had processed food.

I love the everyday crispy chicken recipie (pg 222 I think!) It is so easy to do and great with cous cous. the pesto is nice as well.

[Blossomhill]

Emily - what book was that in?

[nutcracker]

I really must buy it i think.

[Mud]

i think they're talking about jamie oliver's dinners (its a different book and not as good IMHO - cannot bear people who write liket hey talk 'gonna' and 'kinda' and there's so much prose and pcitures there's barely any room for the simpel recipes)

[Donbean]

Me too. Never been a baker or a cook ive started to venture into making my own stuff. Ive made quite alot of stuff from my slimming world books and its lovely. I bought some scales and have started to buy ingredients every time i go to Tesco. My stock cupbourd is really quite full now.
I have also been googling stuff that i fancy making. Made a banana loaf from a web site the other day.
You really do feel quite quite pleased with yourself dont you when the plates are cleared!

[hunkermunker]

Fan-bloody-tastic, BH! I made fish pie tonight and DS LOVED it, so feeling all domestic-goddessy myself atm

[Blossomhill]

Well done Donbean

I also find the Annabel karmel books pretty good, especially the fish pie yum!

[Blossomhill]

Thanks HM. How weird that I mentioned fish pie before I had seen your post, must have crossed

[hunkermunker]

Mine was Jamie Oliver's fish pie I can't cook anything uncelebrity-endorsed.

Actually, I can I'm in a strange mood tonight. Something to do with banana guards

[hunkermunker]

It's a fish pie kinda day, BH

[Blossomhill]

Oh what's it like? the one I cook has hard boiled eggs mixed with the fish and is delicious!!!

[Donbean]

Annabel Carmel has been my god over the last 18 months. She is fab.

[hunkermunker]

BH, it has carrots, onions, spinach, HB eggs, cream, cheese and mash on top. It's delicious! And prob very similar to AK's

[Blossomhill]

HM - Oh that sounds lovely. Can I get a recipie online as tbh am not that keen on JO's recipie books.