The Tasty Space
I decided to work my way through the produce section and learn how to cook EVERYTHING! We have a lot of grocery stores out here and each one has it’s own variety of what-the-heck-is-that kind of fruits and vegetables. I know you know what I mean — you’re walking through the aisles, grocery list in hand, scoping over all the bins and shelves looking for carrots, tomatoes, celery, apples, kiwi, whatever… and you see something strange: jicama - what the heck is that? who eats it, and how? how is it even pronounced?
Jicama - /ˈhikəmə/ - Hick-um-uh - The crisp, white-fleshed, edible tuber of a Central American climbing plant of the pea family (Pachyrhizus erosus, family Leguminosae), cultivated since pre-Columbian times and used esp. in Mexican cooking
That’s why I’m doing this blog, If I don’t know what something is, how it tastes, or how to prepare it, then it’s going in the cart! I was trying to come up with some kind of limits restrictions or rules for myself… (Like 1 a week, 5 a week, 4 every two weeks, all in one meal, one in each meal, a week of desserts from time to time.) but I decided that would be no fun… Truth is, I’m a mother and a wife FULL-TIME, and only a part-time chef… So I will cook these things as I get around to it and it may take even longer to write up my blog about it, but I’m sure your mouth will water just the same. Not to say that i want you to be jealous of all the good food we’re eating, but rather that I want you to be inspired to try some of these things yourself!
Eating is a very important part of life. We must eat to live. What is a travesty, is that some people are living to eat while others are dying from starvation. Our culture is one of greed and “more is better.” and what do we have to show?
if you answered “our guts” then you’d be right.
I acquired a habit of eating anything I could during the morning sickness phase of my pregnancy. If I could keep it down, it was worth eating, after all, I had a little life to support and it was important that he got plenty of nutrients, it would do no good going down the toilet. However, into my second trimester I was feeling great, and I could eat practically anything I wanted, and I did just that! The intake didn’t have much of an effect on my figure as the baby did. On into my third trimester, still eating a lot, “because I could.” I think throughout the pregnancy I gained around 30 lbs, and everyone assured me I’d lose it after he is born. Then, because I was nursing, I knew I was burning enough calories to enjoy an apple fritter, or a Frappuccino. Haha! Well I am finding out (only 15 months after his birth) that maybe had I eaten better, those calories I was burning would have helped me to lose some baby-fat. I lost around 12-15 lbs immediately after birthing, and since then, I’m sure I’ve gained 5-10 back… are you keeping track?
Now, beyond just what I am eating, I’ve been rather lazy… I could exercise, but there’s Facebook. Spending too much time on Facebook, not enough time exercising, too much time baking brownies, not enough time eating vegetables. This is where my wonderful husband comes in. He is so passionate about exercise and nutrition, and I am passionate about good tasting food and being in the kitchen, together we have begun a journey to form habits of eating right, while learning how to prepare everything in the produce section. Also, I have committed to quit Facebook until I lose 10 lbs… wish me luck!
With love,
