From Canned Food and Probably Back Again

Since for the most part I’m constantly trying to watch what I eat, I find it much more exciting now that I know how to make a few recipes and shop for tasty ingredients at the grocery store. Today I enjoyed white bean chicken chili I made in my crockpot last night, (recipe courtesy of good ole mom and listed below), with a walnut, dried cranberry, apple and chicken salad with raspberry, walnut and Gorgonzola dressing. That sure beats eating things like plain chicken, soup out of a can, a jar of spaghetti sauce poured over noodles, or boxed meals. Watching your figure is less boring or daunting when you’re actually eating stuff that tastes good AND is healthy…

Do you remember the days of grocery shopping in college, or when you first lived on your own? I went into that big grocery store and had NO IDEA what I was doing. For years I wouldn’t go grocery shopping until everything was gone in my cupboards except half a bag of instant rice and a box of pudding, and nothing was left in the fridge besides pickles and mustard. My grocery-shopping trip always ended up costing way more than what I could afford as a college student who made $350 every two weeks. And I still only bought boxed or canned stuff—Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Top Ramen, Au Gratin potatoes, Spaghetti O’s, Chef Boyardee Ravioli. I even went through a phase of eating green beans out of a can for lunch at work. It wasn’t that I was trying to starve myself—it was just easy and inexpensive.

Since college and moving out on my own, I’ve actually experimented with recipes, bought some cookbooks and even ask for practical things for Christmas like a crockpot, knife set and spice rack. (These things make cooking soooo much easier!)

My mom would like to think that this new foray into the cooking world will improve my chances with finding a husband and getting married. She’s totally a “cook for your man, and he won’t ever leave!” type of woman. I think she used to believe that she failed as a mother cause I wasn’t interested in cooking or cleaning—ever. She probably thinks now that I’m learning to cook, she’ll have grandchildren on the way soon. She’s been bugging me to pop out a couple grandchildren for her since 2002.

I suppose being able to cook for my significant other can’t hurt…But I sure hate to think that domesticating myself a bit more is leading me on the path of getting knocked-up soon. Cause learning to cook for myself is fun, but I imagine cooking for a family every night is a whole nother ball game. I'll probably have to revert back to Spaghetti O’s and Chef Boyardee Ravioli. They say life always comes full circle, right? Enjoy that can of beans, kids!

Hey, look! It's a printable recipe card for you! Just click on it...and print!

Currently Feeling: Positive about this workout program during the week at work. It’s so much easier to go home and not have to worry about it…and it’s free!
Currently Anticipating: Getting my Adobe GoLive tutorial books in the mail so I can teach myself how to create a killer Web site for my resume and portfolio.
Currently Hating: No Sex. Weeks, days, hours and months with no sex. Boo. Hiss.