Last Friday at this hour, I was sitting here at my computer excited about our first trip to the farmers market. Excited and nervous, in fact. What would it be like preparing and consuming only locally grown, fresh foods and organic goods? Could I do it? Would I go insane? Was it too much work?

I am happy to report I met the challenge this week! It took a lot more time than usual, but I’m getting smarter and faster and more organized in the kitchen. I’m speeding up on getting great meals on the plate. If I did just a little more pre-planning, I could cut that time down even more. As it is, this week is already going to be easier in that I have food in the freezer. Stew, several kinds of veggies, chili meat that’s already cooked. Eventually, the selection in the freezer will be larger and better. I could easily stretch what we have in the house now for another week, if I had to. After next week, I may be able to take a week off from actual cooking and live out of the freezer goods. Or I could keep stockpiling as much as I can, which is what I think I will do. Wouldn’t it be nice if I were sick and didn’t feel up to cooking? I’m calling it my Kitchen Insurance. The food will flow, even if I am flat on my back sick in bed or some other crisis keeps me from being able to spend hours cooking and planning.

The only storebought food we ate, the only thing I didn’t actively have a hand in making (other than dairy and condiments, of course) was four slices of bread. My homemade bread is great and all, but it doesn’t make a good egg sandwich. :blush:

Wow.

I really didn’t think it was possible for me to pull it off, what with me having the largest case of the Lazies on the planet. When my sleep cycle got messed up, I thought I was done for. But I still managed to cook and keep the kitchen in order and clean … as well as getting most of the usual household chores done too … and I still had some time here and there to surf the ‘net, upgrade my web site, play some games and have fun! Go me!

And you know what else? I feel great about the last week. I guess that means we are going back to the market tomorrow morning and shooting for another week of organic, home-fresh goodness! I’m really excited! This is going better than expected! Why, I am even well-rested!! :o

:chef:It’s been a good week in the kitchen.

One last thing: I was worried about getting the pizza done tonight, because I turned off my alarm during my nap this afternoon. When I got up at 5:30 pm, I thought I was doomed. I managed to turn out a pizza from flour to mouth in just about two hours, which includes the rising time on the dough. If I’d ever get my act together enough to pre-make and freeze some dough, I can cut that down a lot. But still, from bags of flour and whole vegetables to a pizza sitting on my plate in two hours? Yes, I am proud of myself … so let me CROW!!!! :lol: