Family Food for Moms Podcast I Inspiration for Family Cooking and Dining I How to Enjoy Special Meals Together

Today we're going to talk about eggs, or rather about if you don't like eggs, and what's a good thing to have for breakfast in that case - what's a good way to use eggs, so that they don't taste too “eggy”? Here are creative ways of using them so that you still get the protein and the benefits like choline from eggs, but you don't have to just have scrambled or fried eggs. Maybe those are things that you don't enjoy. I seem to go through phases. Sometimes I don't mind eggs for breakfast, and other times I really can't stomach them, though I still enjoy the sides like grilled tomato, mushrooms, zucchini, and avocado. All those things are great, but it's hard for me to have eggs with them. So, let's talk about some ways to use eggs in your breakfast even if you don't like them. We want to try to incorporate them into dishes where their flavor is a little masked, or complimented by other ingredients.

Today we’re going to talk more about what we can learn from previous generations about cooking, nutritious eating, and how to make healthy meals for our families. In the past, we've talked about things like cooking from scratch, cooking at home with fresh ingredients, and using local foods and seasonal produce. We've talked about eating all the parts, nose to tail, and about some traditional cooking methods like slow cooking, et cetera. We've talked about eating as a family, and how that connection is so good and so healthy. We've talked about being balanced, and not going along with all the trends or diets. We've talked about recipes that have been passed down from our grandparents, and their simpler, healthier way of life in general. Today, I want to talk about some of the less obvious things that we can learn from previous generations about cooking and nutrition. This is not just what they ate, but how they thought about food, and how they made it healthier. We’ll talk about their habits; things that were second nature to them, and how they would be really helpful to us. It's been a while since I've done a ten point episode. Some of you like that. I don't easily stick to points - I tend to have a brain that goes in all directions, but I thought for this one we'll do ten points to hopefully make it easier to remember.

Today we're going to talk about a particular theme for a date night in our family. With our five children, we love to have times where we eat together and have special meals, and we also love to have a date night every week for my hubby and I. The kids know about it; they have their own special meal beforehand, and then they're upstairs early. We like to go out for it when we can - usually we do that on one night out of four. We also like to have date nights at home when we can because somehow there's something different and special that you get out of those date nights, something that’s different to when you go out. Today I want to talk about having your own personal black and white ball for a date night - a black and white themed date night. Let me tell you some of the details of what this could entail. I'm bringing out a date night recipe book later this year, and this will be one of the date themes in it.

Today I want to talk about having a celebration brunch. It's great for summertime, and you can even do brunch in the winter. We’ll be talking about a fun festive brunch with your family or your extended family, your friends, or just anybody that you want to do something a little special with. I'm going to mention some food ideas and then a couple of different themes with a few food-related activities that you can add to it to make it extra special. Having brunch is fun because it doesn't have to be as early as breakfast, and you get to eat foods that are a mix between breakfast and lunch, ones that you may not normally eat. You don't really need lunch either afterwards, and you can make it a little special with a few extra things.

That delectable flaky butter-filled pastry! Today we’re going to be talking about puff pastry. Puff pastry is that flaky light, airy pastry which is made by folding and rolling dough with lots of layers. The butter is folded in, and then it’s folded in half again and rolled with a rolling pin. It's a real crowd pleaser because it's delicious and it's so easy to use for quick appetizers and elegant desserts. It's very distinctive as far as pastry goes because of its light, flaky texture. You get croissant roll pastry, and you get philo pastry, but puff pastry is the best kind to buy because it's so delicious. It's good to buy all butter puff pastry, which is much healthier than the margarine kind. So, today I'm going to tell you the history of puff pastry, and then give you some ideas of what you can cook with it. It’s very easy to use, and a great way to make something fast!

Today we’re going to talk about how to get re-inspired; how to get a new passion for cooking. Hopefully, at some point you've had a passion for cooking, or you’ve felt inspired about making food for your family. Today, I want to talk about what to do if you've lost that passion a little bit; if you’re just feeling tired or if it's been a crazy season and you're a little overwhelmed. Having less mental energy to focus on cooking and planning food makes it harder, so hopefully this will give you some ideas of how to renew that passion, how to get excited again, or how to try something new in the area of cooking in your family.

It can be such an amazing experience to go to a restaurant. We recently went out for a date night meal. We don't often have our date night out - usually we have it at home; we get takeout or we make something ourselves, and we do it slowly and relaxed. But every now and then, it's so great to go to a restaurant, and when we do, we want to go to a fancy one, not just an ordinary one. That's what we did. It was at this big, beautiful hotel. From the moment you walked in, the decor was just gorgeous. There was a dark theme - I'll put some photos in the blog post if you want to see. There was such beautiful decor. There were these tall, green, leafy plants and the chairs were luxurious - really comfortable to sit in. There was dim lighting, but it was bright in places with very elegant hanging lights. There were just really beautiful and luxurious decorations, and the people were so polite and friendly. You could feel that they were there to make your experience special in the way they greeted you, and the way they seated you. Soon after we were seated, they asked us if we had any dietary restrictions and we said, yes, my husband's gluten-free. Then they said, okay, great, and they went away. You know how sometimes they bring a roll or a piece of bread. This time, it was a step above anything else I’ve ever seen. They brought this cute little dark ceramic cup with a little handle, about espresso cup size, and in that was a little bit of carrot and ginger soup. It had a gorgeous flavor. The ginger wasn’t strong; it was just right...

Today I want to talk a bit about lunches, and look at Europeans, especially the people in places like France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and what their approach is to lunch meals. Then we’ll think about the United States and how they do things differently. We’ll also think about our health. I've been thinking a lot about what can contribute to poor health, to aging, and to metabolic syndrome, and one of the biggest things is stress and eating too fast. I've been aware of that, so my husband and I are trying to eat more slowly, especially him - he's prone to rush because he's so focused on the work he has to do. We’re blessed that most of the time, we can sit down as a family and eat together, because my husband works from home most days and our kids are homeschooled, although my oldest will be starting work soon, so we'll see how that goes. Most of us sit down for the meal at lunchtime, and we try to eat as a family, but it's still quite rushed because there's lots to do before and after - lunch is in the middle of all our things. It's interesting to think about because I think that a much healthier approach to eating is the way the Europeans do it. I think it's important to take time out for our meals and to really enjoy them. It’s good to let ourselves eat a good variety of food, to be aware of what we are eating, and to have good conversation and fellowship with others while we are eating. Then we can have good digestion, and we can take the nutrients in and absorb them. It's not just the food; it's all about how we feel after the meal. We should be feeling satisfied, feeling energized, and feeling like we've had good conversation and connection with somebody. Those things are all linked, and they all contribute to our wellbeing. So, what do they do in places like France and Germany, et cetera?

Today we're going to be talking about salads. Salads are fascinating, and they're quite versatile. We all have our favorites. I'm going to tell you a little about the history of salads, and then we’ll talk about the main types of them, and then about some unusual ones. So, salads stretch back many, many years. They've changed a lot through various cultures and food trends. In ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and Rome, there were already early forms of salads, which were simple mixes of raw vegetables like lettuce, onions, and cucumbers. They would be dressed with vinegar, oil, or even fermented fish sauces. The word salad comes from the Latin “salata”, meaning salted, because Romans often ate raw greens dressed in brine or other salty dressings. I find this very interesting because doing that's supposed to help a lot with digestion. The French will often add a green salad, like plain greens in some olive oil with some salt, in between courses to help with digestion. They had it right back then.

Today we’re going to be talking about picnics and picnic food. It's such fun to eat outdoors if we're prepared and organized in advance. One of the great things about it is that it's easier to clean up. There's fewer dishes, and it somehow helps you to let go of things a bit. As busy moms, we've always got so much going through our brains, and so many little things that need doing at any given moment, and I really find that sitting in my camping chair outside and eating out there helps me to just let go. This is partly because all the preparation is in advance, and then you can just sit and enjoy it, but also the surroundings help. Being outside and being relaxed with each other and with your family is a great thing. So, we're going to talk about how to be prepared for picnics, and then about some ideas for what you can eat outdoors.

Hi friends! I'll just be doing one episode this week - I'll be back with the regular two per week from next week. Today we are going to talk a little bit about toddler food, up to maybe age six or seven, some ideas and principles that you can use when you are thinking about what to make for your little ones for lunch and even breakfast and dinner, and what'll help you in that pursuit. I love the years with little ones. Sadly, I don't have one under 10 anymore. Our five are all 10. Well, 11 and over, but those were such special years. I must say though, the teenage years are wonderful and special in a different way too. Very much so. But those little years are such fun. I remember often we would have outside lunch during homeschool, so they would have a little divided plate with a yogurt and a piece of cheese and some kind of bread, or a bread roll and a little bit of meat.

Hi friends! I'm going to be taking two weeks off from the PODCAST - for some that's a summer break, and for other's its winter. I'll be back as usual on Monday 7th July! I hope you have a wonderful summer, or are not too cold during your winter! Today we're going to talk about what we do for lunch, and hopefully give you a little bit of inspiration if you're struggling to figure out lunches. I'll talk about what I do for lunch for myself as well. Sometimes I'll eat the same as the family, and sometimes not. We are a homeschool family of seven - we have five children. Two of them are young adults and are working, though mostly from home, so they're still here for the meals. Our younger three are still in homeschool, two of them in high school. I do have more time available than I had when they were all young in homeschool, but I do have two businesses that I run, and a lot of things going on. We also do cooking for church on a regular basis as part of the Mercy Ministry, so there's a lot happening. I'll often do the online shopping or get something cooking every day in the mornings, so we need lunch that’s simple and easy. I want to tell you our general plan for lunch, and what we end up eating most of the time.

Today we're going to talk about one of my favorite foods in the world. Whenever people ask me what's the food that I could eat over and over, if I could just choose one food, that would be artichokes; fresh, whole, steamed artichokes with a feta dip. I love to take the whole green artichoke, cut off the top of the leaves where it's spiky, cut off a little bit of the stem, and then put them with the stem down in my steamer. They steam for about 45 minutes, and then they're beautifully soft. Then you pull off each leaf, scrape it on your teeth, and eat the inside of it. Then you start to slice off the little pieces of the heart to eat. The flavor is just incredible - there's nothing like it. Artichokes are a unique vegetable. They're beautiful, they're fresh, and they just taste so good. I've always loved artichokes, ever since we lived in California and I was introduced to them. Sometimes we dip them in garlic butter, but just the flavor of the artichoke leaf is amazing. If you've never tried an artichoke, I encourage you to try them. You can steam them in a pot with a bit of water and the lid on, and there are many pre-cooked and canned ones you can buy. You can buy jars of artichokes in oil or sometimes in brine, and then you just drain them. Inside, you'll usually find the heart, and you can just chop that up and add it to things like salads and pizza. So, we're going to talk about the benefits of artichokes, what you can use them in, and all of those things. The globe artichoke is actually a thistle. It comes from the Mediterranean region, and it's cultivated for its edible flower - the bud of the flower; it's harvested before the flowers bloom. What we eat is the fleshy base of the leaves and the tender heart.

Today we’re gonna be continuing our chat about plating techniques and how to make your dishes at home look a little elegant when you want them to. Episode 66 was about doing a chef's tasting menu for fun at home in a simple, delicious way that’s totally possible. You definitely don't want it to be overwhelming. Just to bring a bit of balance and reality, let me say that I'm always inspired by doing fancy meals at home, but most of the time I’ll cook something very simple and then sometimes make it look fancy.

Today we’re going to talk about plating techniques made easy for cooks at home, and I’ll give you some different ideas for dishes - you can serve your courses on unusual things. I’ll tell you how to make it look extra special without a huge amount of hassle, how to elevate your fancy meal or your tasting menu meal if you're having one. I think it's a lot of fun to try elegant plating. You don't have to do it every time, but it's certainly fun to do it some of the time. Starting with a plan is very important. Before placing any food on whatever dish you're using, think about what's the star; what's the main ingredient you want to highlight? Think about the balance of colors. Do you have some greens - some bright vegetables, or some sauces for contrasting color to lift it, so that it's not all brown? Also think about portion sizes. Usually less is more - less than we’re accustomed to doing. Leave some empty space on the plate. It adds to the elegance, and somehow it makes it more appetizing, and it doesn't feel overwhelming to the person eating it.

Today we’re going to talk about what we can learn from South Korea about cooking and eating. Their cuisine is fascinating and delicious. First, I’m going to mention what they generally eat in a day, and then I’ll talk about things that we can learn from the South Korean people to apply to our own cooking and eating at home. In traditional Korean cuisine they’ll eat a lot of seasonal produce. They eat with a lot of variety and balance. Here’s an example of what they may eat for breakfast - seaweed soup with rice and banchan, which are small side dishes served along with cooked rice. For example, maybe these could be soybean sprouts, spicy cucumber salad, pickled garlic, stir fried zucchini, sweet and salty soybeans, stir fried anchovies, noodles, et cetera. This is light, hydrating, and it's rich in iodine and minerals. They may also have kimchi for probiotics, as well grilled tofu, pan fried egg, steamed spinach with sesame oil, et cetera. Often they'll drink something like barley tea, which has no caffeine, and it's gentle on the stomach

Today we’re going to be talking about Chef’s Tasting Menus; how they work, how they’re structured, and how we can try it at home! We don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, but it is such fun to have a fancier meal at home. Picture a special meal with your husband and children, where they've helped to prepare different courses that are elegant and delicious, but simple, and able to be made in a relatively short amount of time. The ingredients of the meal are not too fancy, but the meal feels special and elevated. You have time to linger over the meal and enjoy the different flavors, which are tied together by some theme, whether it's a country inspired dish like Italian, or whether it's seafood, or whatever works together well. I'm going to give you some suggestions of things you can make to have a tasting menu meal at home - just for fun!

Today we’re going to be talking about what we can learn from Australia about food, cooking and dining! Hopefully it'll inspire something new in our kitchens. So, quite a few of their food traditions originally came from the indigenous or native Australians, often called the Aborigines. Later on there was a large British influence, as it was a British colony. Australia is now a constitutional monarchy with the King of England as its head of state, and it's a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, so you'll find that a lot of the things that are for sale in Australia are similar to what's available in the UK. I'll talk about things like vegemite and marmite - good old British things. If you haven't heard of those, I'm sure it'll be interesting. Traditional foods and techniques from the Aborigines are things like using fire pits and earth ovens, smoking food, and eating bush foods like wattle seed, finger lime, kangaroo, of course, and the kakadu plum. These are very powerful flavors, and very recognizable in Australian cuisine. Being a British colony, colonists brought with them ingredients and food traditions from the UK like flour, sugar, tea, potatoes, and dairy. There's obviously a lot of sheep in Australia - there's sheep farming, so beef and lamb are popular. They have classic British dishes like meat pies, roasts like roast beef and roast chicken, stews, puddings like Christmas pudding, and fish and chips. These are common in Australian households, and the British tradition of tea drinking also remains popular today.

Today we're going to talk about Haloumi Cheese. Some people have heard of this, and some haven’t. You either know it and use it often because it's delicious, or you haven't really heard about it and are hesitant to try it because it's an unusual cheese. It’s one of the only cheeses that's usually eaten cooked brown on the outside. So, let's talk about haloumi cheese. Haloumi has a rich history that goes back several centuries. It’s from the Eastern Mediterranean region - traditionally associated with Cyprus from the Mediterranean, but both Greek and Turkish people claim haloumi as a key part of their culinary heritage. There are early written references from the medieval period to a cheese that sounds similar to it. Some people say haloumi dates back to the 10th century in the Byzantine Empire. The name “haloumi” is said to be derived from the Coptic Egyptian word “halom”, meaning “cheese”, so it might even have older connections to Egypt. During the Ottoman Rule of Cyprus in the 1500s to the 1800s, haloumi became widespread throughout the Middle East, and then spread into North Africa. Traditionally, it's made from goats and sheep's milk combined, but sometimes more modern recipes use cow's milk. It's unique in that it's un-ripened and it's semi hard. It has a very high melting point, so it can be grilled or fried, and it doesn't lose its shape like other cheese does. It's also brined, giving it a salty flavor, and a longer shelf life, which is important in the Mediterranean, especially before refrigeration, as it's very hot there.

Today we're going to be talking about mozzarella as part of our series on amazing ingredients, ones with a rich history and amazing uses in the kitchen. Mozzarella is a unique cheese - it's very different from other cheeses. Of course, we all love pizza. What would pizza be without mozzarella? When I was growing up, we didn't have mozzarella in our country, and so the pizza was made with yellow cheeses like cheddar, and it wasn't nearly as good. Mozzarella has the amazing properties of being gooey, melty, and stretchy, like a slice of pizza where all the cheese stretches from the middle. So, mozzarella obviously originated in Italy - in the southern region of Campania, around Naples. It actually came into existence during the Middle Ages, around the 12th century. The legend of mozzarella says that it was an accidental discovery. During the Middle Ages, cheese makers could have dropped curd into hot water, either during the cheese making process or by accident, and then noticed that it began to stretch and form those elastic strands which are the unique characteristic of mozzarella.

Today we’re going to be talking about what we can learn from Türkiye about food, and cooking. We'll be inspired by the rich culinary heritage of Türkiye, and learn a bit about their cultural eating habits, things they do when cooking, etc. Firstly, Türkiye generally follows the Mediterranean diet principles. Their cuisine is heavily influenced by the Mediterranean diet, which people say is one of the healthiest dietary patterns. Olive oil is a staple food used both in cooking, and on salads and dishes. Their meals are rich in vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fresh herbs. They do eat dairy, fish, and poultry, but in moderation, and they don't use a lot of processed foods or refined sugars. Their plates typically include grains like bulgur rice and protein like beans, yogurt, or meat with vegetables. Let's get inspired!

Today we're going to be talking about breakfast ideas, tons of ideas for breakfast on the go, packed breakfast for work, high protein breakfasts without eggs, breakfast for moms, healthy breakfasts, and all those things. I think that breakfasts are one of the most chaotic parts of the weekday morning if your mornings are anything like mine. The moment I get downstairs, it's chaos. There's just a ton of things to do, and I often forget to have breakfast myself while just saying “I'll quickly do this, I'll quickly do that,” looking after everybody else. So, what do you do? Hopefully you'll find some solutions in this epsiode! familyfoodformoms.com

Today we're going to be talking about breakfasts from around the world. I wanted to do a couple of episodes this week to help you to think of good ideas for breakfasts, and before we narrow it down to anything, I thought it's a good idea to expand our thinking in terms of breakfast. We’re going to talk about different things that they eat in different countries - to break out of the mold a little bit so that we can try some new things. I'm always looking for more ideas, and perhaps you are too. If you have something you love to eat in the morning, that’s great, but sometimes it's nice to try different things, and you may even find something new that you love - either for you, or for your kids and your family. Today we're going on a global breakfast tour. Then on Wednesday, we’re going to talk about ideas that are specifically for us, ones that you can add to your breakfast meal list. But for today, let's get inspired by what people eat for breakfast in different countries.

Today I want to talk about last-minute dinner ideas!. On those days when you suddenly realize you need dinner and you don't have anything planned, you’re desperate to make a quick and easy dinner, not have to get takeout or spend more money, and you have to make do with what you have in your kitchen. To have a list of ideas is very helpful because in that moment of panic, it's very hard to think of something to make. Yesterday afternoon at about 4pm, I suddenly thought “Oh my goodness, what's for dinner?” I’d planned lunch. I'd planned dinner for the following night with guests, but I’d forgotten to plan dinner for that evening, and nothing was defrosted. I’m gonna give you some ideas of what you can do at the last minute, and then help you to make your own list of last-minute dinner ideas. Also please go to familyfoodformoms.com/lastminute to download a free printable of Last-Minute Dinner Ideas complete with all the meals I mentioned in the episode plus PANTRY and FREEZER items lists with place to fill in your own ideas!

Today I want to talk about how to pack a lunch for a child who's a picky eater. Does this sound familiar? You spend some time packing what you think is a healthy, cute, or a delicious lunch, and it comes home barely touched, and that can be frustrating. Here are some tools and tips to take the pressure off, to get your kids involved, and maybe spark their curiosity with what's in their lunchbox. You still want to make the meal nourishing, but it has to be realistic, and stand a chance of being eaten by the pickiest kids, so I'm going to give you some tips and ideas.

I'll only be publishing one episode this week - next week I'll be back on track with episodes coming out on Mondays and Wednesdays. Thanks for joining me today. I want to talk about how to make an everyday dinner a little bit special, and how to add little touches that make a meal memorable! Turning a regular dinner time into something special doesn't have to be complicated or fancy, so here are some easy ways that you can elevate your everyday meals. I think it's the small, thoughtful touches that can make it feel memorable, even if the food is simple. Let's talk about some ideas that can add charm, warmth, and a little magic to your dinner. Check out our Elegant Easy Appetizers 5-ingredient Cookbook here You can Download a preview on this page.

Hurray! Our new recipe book is here - the first one to come out: Elegant Easy Appetizers!. Each recipe has only five ingredients, they're very easy to make, they look elegant, and they lift your meal to the next level. I'll be taking a break from the podcast this week to celebrate Easter with family and friends. I'll be back on Monday 28th April! See you then. Picture your dining room table beautifully set with charger plates, which are also called under plates, some elegant dinner plates, side plates, beautiful glasses, and your best cutlery or silverware, with your lovely cloth napkins folded into an elegant shape on the side or on the dinner plate. Maybe it’s a celebration meal, or just a fun, fancy dinner with your family. In the center of the table, you could have some candles or little twinkle lights, maybe beautiful colored electronic candles, some flowers, or any of your favorite centerpieces. If you're celebrating something, perhaps Good Friday and Easter, you can make your meal more meaningful by having an appetizer, and by having multiple courses. You could do an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert, or just an appetizer and main course. It gives you more time at the table, and it helps you to connect as a family and have some really good conversation. Because you're having three courses, you have more time to talk to people, relax more fully, and start to really take part in the conversation. This is because you can focus on each other, rather than just having a quick meal and then leaping up to do the clearing and all going your separate ways. The appetizer course starts the meal in the right way. It helps everyone to see that it's not just going to be a rushed meal, so they have the right expectation coming to the table. They know there's going to be a few courses that they’ll get to enjoy, so even if one is not their favorite, perhaps another will be. They know they can take their time, relax, and enjoy good food. The goal of this meal is not just to eat, but to connect as a family, and to have good fellowship at the table. Go to familyfoodformoms.com/shop/ to buy our Elegant Easy Appetizers Book. It's on sale with $3 off making it only $15 plus shipping!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed or discouraged as a mom trying to feed your family healthy meals that are not going to take up too much time? I want to inspire you in the kitchen with ideas that are easy, and that can make mealtimes meaningful and special together. That's my goal here on the podcast. Today, I want to talk about tons of ideas for what you can cook using chicken breasts. There are skinless, boneless breasts that you can buy in a pack of usually four to six. Chicken is so versatile! I'm sure there are many more ways you can use it. I hope this sparks some ideas for you, and that you'll make a good chicken meal in the near future.

We're doing a series on amazing ingredients that we love to use in cooking, ones that are so healthy, so good, and have such a rich culinary history. Today we're gonna talk about balsamic vinegar and its roots in Italy, how it's made, why it's good for you, and then what you can use it for. Balsamic vinegar is fascinating. It dates back to the Middle Ages, and some records suggest it was produced in the 11th century, first only in the region of Modena in northern Italy. Many of the balsamic vinegars that I've seen say Modena on them, so they're authentic. The word “balsamic” comes from the Latin word “balsamum”, which means “balm” or “restorative”. That's to reflect its qualities as a medicinal and a culinary product. It's always been used in a medicinal way for healing, and also to enhance flavor and nutrition in food. Back then, balsamic vinegar was a luxury item that was used by the very wealthy, and sometimes used as a form of medicine. The use of vinegar in ancient civilizations is well known, but it wasn't until balsamic vinegar was developed that the sweet and tangy variety of vinegar was born. Most vinegar is very sour, but balsamic vinegar has that sweetness along with the sourness. In the early days, families in the area of Modena would make small batches of balsamic vinegar to use themselves, or to give as gifts, but then it gradually became known outside of Italy, and sold as a gourmet product.

Today, we’re going to talk more about packed lunches, whether they're for your kids at school, your hubby or yourself at work, or even for pre-made meals at home. Last time I talked about taking the lunchbox that you’re going to be using, drawing the shape with however many compartments it has, and then choosing categories for each compartment. I mentioned the main method of carrying the food, whether it’s a sandwich or a wrap or something, and then all the other categories we talked about, such as deli meats and cheeses for the protein. We talked about some raw vegetables or salad ingredients. We talked about fruit, and then dairy, whether it's cheese or yogurt, and a little dessert or treat, and whatever other categories you feel like or think of - maybe something like olives. This episode is simply going to be practical examples; anything that I've done, or things I’ve seen others do and I like the sound of...

Today I wanna talk about packed lunches - how to plan them, how to make them healthy using whole foods, and I’ll mention a few different ideas for them. This could be for your kids' lunches at school. It could be for your husband's packed lunch if you do that for him when he goes off to work. It could be for your own packed lunch if you go out to work or to anywhere else during the day, maybe for when you’re sitting in the car waiting for your kids from ballet or whatever it might be. It can even be for at home - sometimes it helps to have meals prepared in advance, although those would more likely be something you're going to heat up at home, and that you've prepared beforehand. A packed lunch, however, would be something that can be eaten cold, and would generally be very hearty, nutritious, and delicious. We recently got a heatable lunch box for my husband and son who go to the office once a week. It’s very useful, because it gives you so many more options for things to do, and it's just like a steamer. You add your food to little stainless steel dishes, and then you put a little water in the bottom of the box, and you let it steam for half an hour to an hour to heat up the food. That way, there's no need to use a microwave or whatever else might be there. You can just warm it at your desk. This is useful because then you can pack any cooked ingredient that just needs heating. For today, though, I want to talk about items that you can put in a lunchbox that will be eaten cold.

Today I’m going to be doing the second half of the year of fun food days to celebrate. I'm working from a website called timeanddate.com. I’m going to mention some ideas for ways to celebrate days involving food from July to December. I hope you have fun with some of these days! Choose which ones you want to celebrate.

I'm going to be starting a new series, although it won't be consecutive. I'll just do an episode now and then on an ingredient that I think is very significant and is worth learning more about. Today we're going to talk about Parmigiano Reggiano, which is a wonderful cheese, and so valuable to our health. I want to talk more about its history, what it is, exactly how it's made, and what you can use it for, as using it in your food makes it truly delicious. So, let's get started. I love this cheese because it's a raw milk cheese - it’s made from raw milk. It's well aged, so it's got all the good stuff in it, and it's very delicious. I used to buy finely grated Parmesan cheese instead. It was just easier to have a jar of that in the fridge, and grab it whenever I needed to for pasta or other cooking. But then I realized that all you need is a tiny little grater and a block of Parmigiano Reggiano, and then you can get that good stuff very easily. You just use one of those small, fine graters to grate it over whatever you’re working with...

Today, I thought it would be fun to talk about some kitchen hacks. These are all just quick, simple hacks that you may know about and some you may not, but it's always good to be reminded! I'll do another few hacks in a different episode, but I hope there are some things that you can apply. Send me your ideas if you have some. You can do that at [email protected]. I hope you have a great cooking week!

Just to let you know I'll not be on next week, but I'll be back the following week! Today we're going to talk about all kinds of different meals that you can make from ground beef, (or beef mince as some people call it). Bolognese on pizza is one of my favorite - with pineapple and feta (shocking, I know!) I'm sure many of these are familiar to you, but others you may not have heard of or tried before. I'm going to get creative myself, and try one of these that I haven't tried before, because ground beef is a good cheap meat to be able to buy. Let's get into it!

I've always been fascinated by dining cars on trains. When I was a little girl, we used to travel on a train quite often overnight. And the best part was getting to go to the dining car. And it was always so beautiful with this wood paneling and like velvet and the tables would be set with a big white tablecloth and a flower in a vase. And then you could order just like you in a restaurant. And I always found this so amazing. Like you look out the window and there's a beautiful view going by while you eat your dinner. So I think it's the best place to have a meal, in my opinion, is on a train, in the dining car, especially when it's fancy. So today for fun, I thought it would be great to look at what kinds of food you can get on a train. It's not particularly for us to learn from, although. There's definitely principles that we can draw from it, but it's more just for fun to get some ideas of what chefs cook on trains.

Today we're going to have a bit of fun with an episode on the fun days that involve food each month. I'm working from a website called timeanddate.com, f you want to look it up there, but I'm going to give you some of my ideas for each of the days. So let's start with January. I'm going to do January to June today, and then I'll do July to December another time.

Today we're going to be talking about how to get your kids to eat more vegetables, and to enjoy them. Vegetables can be delicious, and I think that as adults we know when they aren't. We know when they're dry, chewy, or bitter - they're not good. The goal is to make vegetables that we enjoy, and to help our kids to enjoy them too. We don't have to hide them away. Sometimes that works, but it's also good to know that they taste good and that we can enjoy them. It’s also different for different ages - you may need a different strategy for your young kids than for your teenagers. It's a good thing to start as early as possible with making vegetables a normal part of life, a food that your kids like just as much as any other food.

We've talked before about unusual budget ideas for spending less in the kitchen. I want to revisit that with a few more ideas that I may have mentioned before, but it's always good to be reminded, right? When we talked about saving money in the kitchen, we said that cooking in bulk is definitely a good thing, although I do find it a little bit overwhelming to always cook in bulk. I'll choose certain things that I know freeze well, and that I'll use again to cook in bulk. Getting the meat and the vegetables in bulk often saves money. Plus, somehow, if you divide your meal into two, you get by with a little bit less for each meal, instead of having a little extra and it going to waste. Doubling up on a meal is a good thing to do, whether it's a soup, a stew, a casserole, or a lasagna - all of those freeze well for another meal.

Today, we're going to talk about some ideas for gluten free meals, meals for if someone doesn't eat dairy - maybe a breastfeeding mom - and meals for any kind of dietary restrictions. We’ll look at ideas that you can make either for the whole family, or for that particular person, and how you can make some meals in advance and freeze them. This is just to give you some ideas that you can use if this is the case in your family.

Today, we're going to talk some more about what we can learn from World War Two about food and nutrition. One of the biggest takeaways for me is realizing how resourceful people became when they had to be. They grew the victory gardens. They substituted certain foods for other foods. When things were rationed or not available, they made their meals simpler. They cooked more from scratch. If ingredients weren’t available, they learned how to adapt and edit recipes. For example, they made cakes without eggs if eggs weren't available. They were really rising to the challenge, and I admire that. Often today, we have many challenges with our shopping and our cooking, and having time to do those things in our families. It's amazing if we can figure out how to be adaptable; how to edit recipes when needed, how to be able to cook on a cheaper budget, and how to be able to use certain ingredients when others aren't available. We can learn not to have to pop to the grocery store for the smallest thing, but learn how to do without it, and to change and be adaptable in our cooking. It’s also good to learn how to eat more simply, in ways that cost us money and time, like having a meal of simple meat with a side vegetable, and not always needing the fancy. We should balance the fancy with the simple and wholesome food. I'm going to talk a bit about rationing, and about what people did if a food was rationed, or it was not available. Then I'm going to talk about the kind of things that the soldiers and the people ate during that time.

Our Grandmothers, Grandfathers, and Great Grandparents can teach us so much about food! The way our grandparents ate is a fascinating subject. It’s inspiring to learn from our grandmothers in the way they cooked food to bring good health to their families. Today I want to do the second part of What We Can Learn from our Grandmothers about Food and Cooking. Our grandparents’ diets were shaped by where and when they lived; the era, the region, and the availability of ingredients, but in general, they ate simple, wholesome food. It was home cooked food with seasonal ingredients, and it often tied to family traditions and recipes that were passed down the generations. They cooked with love from scratch, and they enjoyed their food in good company. Here's part II of What We Can Learn from Our Grandmothers about Food and Cooking. Part 1 was Episode 15.

Today we're going to talk about what we can learn from Enland about food and dining. England is quite fascinating. I always think of the famous five books by Enid Blyton and picture the children riding on their bicycles through the fields, having a picnic in the sunshine, enjoying the outdoors. Their picnic would have been packed by their cook at home and have things like meat pie, fruit cake, ginger, pop, or they would eat at an old farmhouse where they were staying. And the kitchen table would be piled with goodness from the farm, raw milk from the cows, clotted cream, a ham, again, meat pie made by the farmer's wife and many more wonderful fruit tarts and things that they so enjoyed. When thinking about British cuisine, it's inspiring to think of hearty food from scratch that nourishes your family, and to try things that are going to help you to sit down together, enjoy a long, slow meal, and be well nourished.

It's fascinating to think about nutrition and what food was available both during the World Wars and in the time after them, and about what our grandparents and great grandparents did to be able to feed their families nutritious food during those difficult times. Today we're going to talk about food and nutrition in World War II.

Have you ever wished you could dine out at a fancy restaurant with your hubby or with one of your children, but you can't leave home, maybe because it's just one of you at home, or you have a baby or kids that you can't leave, and no babysitter? Today we're going to talk about how to bring the fancy restaurant to you. This works great for a date night with your hubby, or for if you want to have a date night with one of your kids. We've done this often where it's mom and dad and one of the children. It’s a special night for them, and they get to choose the menu. Today I'm going to talk about some ideas of food you can make that's fancy; how to bring the fancy restaurant to you when you can't go to it, and a couple of other ideas to make the whole evening fancy. Sometimes we just need a break, a refreshing time, a reprieve, and we just need some good food, and some relaxed conversation without having to jump up every five minutes, or make a complicated meal. A restaurant's so great for this. It's a change in atmosphere, a new place with delicious food that you don't have to cook. So, how can we bring some of those elements home without it being a huge effort with a huge amount of cooking and preparation before? I'm going to talk about some ideas for how to do that easily and in a way so that you can also relax and enjoy the evening.

Today we're going to talk about what we can learn from Russia about food and cooking, traditions, they have.. I don't know a lot about Russia, but it's been fascinating researching this because they are such rich culinary and cultural traditions and I think there's so much we can learn from the way they do things. It's not an easy country to live in because of the extreme cold and other factors. So they've had to learn to make the best of what they have, to adapt. And then, they have a long history of aristocratic and imperial traditions. So their cuisine is fascinating. Also, it reflects the diversity of its regions because it's such a vast country. The Northern Coast is well known for its fish dishes. And then Siberia for the meat heavy meals. The food varies greatly depending on where you go in Russia. Lets talk about some Russian food and traditions!

As busy moms, there's always something that needs cooking, there's always a meal that needs preparing, and so I'm sure you have found that bulk cooking helps with that - cooking more than one meal at a time, storing half of it, putting it in the freezer, and then the following time you only have to reheat it. I thought it would be fun to look at how cruise ships and restaurants do their bulk and their batch cooking, and just get some ideas and inspiration from them. So, let's think about bulk cooking from the perspective of a cruise ship and what we can learn from that. In order to do bulk cooking effectively, a lot of planning, consistency, and efficiency must go into it. I think the more you plan, the more effective it's going to be, no matter whether you're thinking about doing some batch cooking on a day to have meals for your freezer, or just bulk cooking if you're having a large event, large family over, or if you want to double up on a meal you're doing. There's a few principles that I think we can apply.

Today we're going to talk about how to arrange a special dinner for your family on short notice. Lately I've been feeling like I'm missing all those wonderful Christmas meals that we had in December. We had some graduation meals for our kids. There were the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals. There were other celebrations. There was a birthday, and another birthday in January. There was so much slowing down during that time, and making things special - having a special meal where we enjoyed each other's company. We relaxed, we played games, we did stuff that we hadn't done before, and we ate good food and made memories together. Suddenly things were very busy in January. Homeschool was going on, and work, and lots of cooking for various things, plus some extra challenges on top of that. Then it felt like we hadn't spent as much time with our kids, and we hadn't spent enough family time together enjoying each other, so on the spur of the moment, I decided to have a special meal that evening. I had the day to plan it, though I did have other stuff going on during the day, so I kind of did it in between. I didn’t have a lot of preparation time, so I wanted to talk to you about how that worked and how I was able to put that together in a short time. So, we're going to go through some steps to help you get there if you want to do this. Hopefully this will make it easy and practical. We'll talk about the food, but also the activities and ambience, and all those things.

Today we're going to be talking about what we can learn from the Amish about food and eating and dining. The Amish are a very healthy community because they eat very simply from food that they cultivate on their land and they have a huge amount of physical exercise having to look after their farms, grow their food and do a lot of manual labor that we would use machines for they're good at working as a community and helping each other buying from each other. But today we're going to talk about what they eat and the healthy lifestyle that they live.

Today I'm going to talk about some ways you can balance your blood sugar throughout the day. It's something I try to be aware of, and it's not easy for me to remember to do things the right way, but it makes a big difference to how I feel, and how much energy I have. Making sure your blood sugar is balanced in the morning is the best way to have it balanced throughout the day.