We have made it to fall. My investment cooking reserves have all been used up and it is time to replenish them. I thought it was funny the other night when my 16 year old made the comment, “I’m so glad it’s cooler now because there is food!” Obviously, I have been feeding my family over the summer but I will admit I was in more of a survival mode of cooking. You know, what is the least amount of effort I can put into cooking and still be able to feed people. We don’t have air conditioning in our house therefore just turning on the stove/oven is very unappealing to me. I absolutely love having a gas stove but it really does heat up the kitchen a lot more than a glass top stove!
My enthusiasm is definitely coming back for the kitchen! I’ve been baking and trying new things and genuinely enjoy being in the kitchen again. And I’ve also been reminding myself that this is ok. I truly believe living our lives seasonally results in the best kind of life. We can’t expect ourselves to have the same enthusiasms and energies at a constant rate. We are not machines. Sometimes what all we need is a break and then we are able to come back to that thing (whatever it is) and enjoy it ever so much more!
One of the best things I can do for my family when my enthusiasm is high in the kitchen is to do some investment cooking. I like to plan in bigger chunks and take the time to prep ingredients to make those days when my enthusiasm is waning a bit easier. Things like if I am cooking ground beef for dinner, go ahead and cook 6 pounds at once and freeze it in 1 pound portions. That means I have dinner that night plus 5 more times! (It also makes it easier if I need someone else to make dinner on a busy night.)
Fall is also the time of year when I can! I love canning peaches, apples, applesauce, jams and pickles. It truly is a wonderful site to step back and see shelves lined with fruit I have preserved that will last for months to come. It is investment cooking at its best!
Let’s harness the energy of a new season and fill our freezers and pantries with food for the coming days! Let’s do some investment cooking!
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