Easter Weekend Aftermath

Hey y’all! I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter/Spring weekend if you had anything special going on. It was my first year cooking for our special family get together and it was a success!!

With a bit of fear, I decided to forego our usual casseroles. Keep in mind that my “second family” as I call them, are pretty much set on their traditional southern dishes and their special holiday menus. Don’t get me wrong, it is tasty and comforting but unfortunately loaded with both sodium and canned goods.

 I try my best to eat whole fresh foods. I used to be a daily processed and canned food eater and it’s been hard to retrain my mind to think in terms of health rather in term of cents I can save. So when planning my menu, I went back and forth between trying to healthify our traditional dishes or cooking something different that fit my food template better.

 Remember, that one of the main reasons I wanted to cook was for me to have control over the eating options. I decided that I would just make my life easier by making tons fresh veggies as side dishes, one hearty pan of scalloped potatoes for the carby cheese lovers and the only canned product would be the green bean casserole I didn’t touch.

 I made three big trays of roasted veggies: Brussels sprouts and onions, yellow squash and carrots, and zucchini. I figured if my family didn’t eat much of those, then hey I would be ahead on meal prep for the week…win win situation. The roasted veggies were met with certain skepticism but also an open mind. 

Out of three trays, only half of one was left. Someone requested to take those leftovers home.I was so happy to see people going for seconds! I placed a pink Himalayan salt grinder and I believe it made people so curious to try that they would eat veggies to do so haha. Half the potatoes and green bean stuff was leftover and I had most wanting to know how to cook the veggies. I was very proud of everyone! 

The lesson we learned as a family is that different/new is not always a bad thing. Another important discussion we had in regards to fresh veggies was that you cannot claim to not like something when you haven’t even tried it. 

My second mom says growing up; she ate canned beans, corn, peas and greens. So that’s what she bought for her kids specially because there was not a lot of money. Even now that she could buy fresh, she still goes for what she’s always known. 

I am encouraging her to reduce the processed and canned foods for their health; we want them around for many years to come! We will be going on a farmer’s market trip together as soon as they open! It should be fun! 

I declined the cakes that had been brought for dessert but did indulge by biting off the ears of a small dark chocolate bunny. It was good but not something I want to have again anytime soon. After not eating candy for a while, I realized it wasn’t something I love that much. I gave it away and enjoyed the rest of my day. 

The weather is so beautiful and I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can. I have a new camping hammock that I am enjoying being in it enjoying the view tremendously! Have a great week!