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Learning to Cook: What I Didn’t Learn From Cracking an Egg

Learning to Cook: What I Didn’t Learn From Cracking an Egg

by Charlotte Siems
[break][/break]Back in my high school days we had a class called “Home Economics.”  A classroom in the school was dedicated to  a full-fledged kitchen, with a table and chairs and pink applicances and aqua gadgets.
[break][/break]The teacher looked like Betty Crocker, the very model of homemaking efficiency, apron and all.  The class  gathered around for a cooking lesson on making brownies.  One student cracked an egg, another one measured  the flour—I kid you not.  I don’t know why they thought that cracking an egg would prepare teenagers for life in their future homes, but that was the system.
[break][/break]A few years passed and I married and had a tiny kitchen of my own.  The menu for our early married life included an awful lot of frozen pizza.  This was 30 years ago, folks.  Think cardboard.  Awful is the right word, and my husband is still not fond of frozen pizza to this day.
[break][/break]I learned to grocery shop and cook and plan meals by trial and error while adding a baby to the family every year or so.  Fortunately my skill grew as the family expanded and I managed to adequately feed the multitudes on a limited budget.
[break][/break]It is a fact of life in a very large family that time is precious.  I suspect that the same is true for very small families.  Here are three thoughts on the subject of feeding the family based on a small budget and a busy schedule.
[break][/break]Be careful of food advice.  Much of it is offered in a way to complicate the whole process.  TV food shows are fun to watch and yes, special occasions call for some extra effort.  But when it’s time to cook for our own families, we are the final authority.  You decide whether food will be nourishment or entertainment.  There is a balance between gourmet dishes cooked with sauces and exotic spices in a  special non-dishwasher safe pan, and simple, everyday food.  If you’re feeling a time crunch, food may be the place to simplify.  I check labels and avoid certain ingredients, but I’m not above an occasional can of Ravioli on a hectic day.
[break][/break]Write it down.  Many a time I wandered through the grocery store trying to figure out what to have for supper or worse yet, what to have for supper every night that week.  A simple list of your family’s favorite meals can be a lifesaver when your brain function is a little foggy.  We tend to eat the same things over and over, and if you had a list of 18-21 meals you’d be good for the year.  You could even divide it up into main dishes, side dishes, breads, etc. and mix-and-match.  The key word is simple.  Use the list of meals to write a grocery list for the week and you’re on your way to efficient shopping.
[break][/break]Stock your pantry with mostly inexpensive “real” food.  Certain foods are more nutritious, filling and cheap.  Eggs, beans, rice, pasta, cheese and tomatoes in various forms can be combined in delicious and savory ways to feed your family.  Omelets, beans and rice, spaghetti, enchilada casserole, chili—these simple dishes fit the criteria of easy recipes and plain ingredients.  Keep it simple, keep it real.  The more you eat homemade, the more you avoid chemicals and scary ingredients.  Your budget may not allow for quantities of organic produce and food from the specialty organic section of the grocery store, but you can make good choices in the rest of the store and feed your family well.
[break][/break]After catching the nachos on fire in the oven as a young bride, I determined to get this cooking thing down right.  With determination, lots of mistakes, asking questions and reading cookbooks, I finally got to the point that I can whip up a meal for 15 or more on a regular basis without batting an eyelash.  Just like anything else, practice makes, well, better.  Cracking eggs was just the beginning.
[break][/break]********************************

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About Charlotte

I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU!

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I'm a grateful wife & mom of 12 amazing persons. I love to inspire & teach busy women to find beauty in everyday life by caring for themselves, creating comfortable homes with their families and living out ordinary days with grace and gratitude. I'd love to encourage YOU! Read More…

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valuethislife

valuethislife
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
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Looking For Something?

valuethislife

valuethislife
Have you ever procrastinated about doing something Have you ever procrastinated about doing something, with thoughts of dread and overwhelm?😬And then done the thing,  finding that it was easier and faster to get done than you thought it would be?🥴Yeah, me too. Note to self: The dreading and putting off costs a whole lot more emotional energy than just doing the thing. 😊
In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to In our busy ordinary lives there is a tendency to get by with the barebones of running the household—but we skip the joy, comfort and encouragement part.   We trade an artful arrangement of beautiful things on the coffee table for a stack of newspapers and mail. The TV takes the place of a board game. Irritation with our family flavors our speech.   Sometimes this happens so slowly that we barely notice it, and then one day we realize that our home life is out of sorts.  With that realization comes the choice to fix those little things. Tidy up the clutter, get the laundry caught up, read aloud to children, and set a pretty table for an ordinary supper.  Look around your home with fresh eyes to see if it needs a reset. Even 20 minutes of tidying can make an amazing difference.❤️
Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power ha Unexpected October ice storm in Oklahoma. Power has been out for 2+ days, grateful for a generator and hot water. I figured out that complaining doesn’t make electricity come back on. 😊
Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthst Always wanted a “mother’s ring” with birthstones of our children but we never found a design with 12 stones. 💍 It was a forgotten wish until I received this bracelet as a sweet gift. I can rattle off their birthdates like a boss but sometimes the size of our family still surprises me. It grew one baby at a time and I grew along with them, like all mothers do. There’s no rewind button, and we can’t go back and have a do-over. But we can be grateful during EVERY season for what we have, and I am!❤️
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Not “they that complaineth much” or “they that talk about their issues all day long.” I’m guessing that “not waiting” means sucking the life out of strength instead of renewing it. But waiting can begin in this very moment. 
•
(pic from my kitchen window)😊
Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a t Sometimes it’s a struggle getting started on a task, but we all love how it feels when the task is done. Maybe it would help to think about how good the result will feel before we start!
Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before Yeah, I had to run to the store to get eggs before 14yo could mix up cookie dough. 
👉🏻Note to self:
Don’t wait until it’s time to do a task to check whether you have what you need to do it. Realizing you’re short on supplies or information at the last minute costs time and causes stress! Knowing that you’re prepared eases the pain of getting started. Put “check for ingredients” on your to-do list!
How much life do we waste worrying and fretting an How much life do we waste worrying and fretting and dreading....when the thing we’re upset about IS GOING TO GET DONE?! It’s going to happen, it’s all going to work out, and we probably won’t even remember it by next week. Sometimes it helps to remember that!💕
We bought a house built in the 80’s and have bee We bought a house built in the 80’s and have been doing that fixer upper thing. Sorry for the blurry “before” but just think “black hole” and you’ll get the idea.😂 Amazing what paint and decor can do for a space. Sold the old mantel on FB Marketplace for $60 and bought the unfinished new one for $45. Found the print in my garage, lol. Mirror from Hobby Lobby. Sorta reminds me of my life pre-Jesus. Dark to light. Old to new. Same basic human, transformed with light and love.❤️
Follow on Instagram
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Value This Life | Charlotte Siems © 2021