Getting started.....

Hello!

I should probably start off by warning you that I am not a trained cook. I have never taken cooking classes. I don't know how to sauté. I have no clue what "al dente" should taste like. And dear God please don't ask or expect me to make anything from scratch. But that is all about to change!

Most of the meals I make for my family are made by machines in some factory far away, frozen and ready for me to pop in the oven. That is my idea of cooking. Lasagna? Sure! Stouffer's family size baked at 450 degrees for one hour.

This processed way of cooking is not done because I don't love my family. Nor is it done because I can't cook. I use those frozen entrée meals out of convenience. I am a single mom who works full time. Now, I am sure there are single moms out there who cook from scratch every night and yippee for you. Write a book. But for me it isn't an option. I need quick meals I can put on the table and shove in my face all in an hour or less. Or so I thought.

I recently had an epiphany of sorts. I decided to slow life down a bit. No God did not speak to me and tell me to took better meals or I would be invaded by locus. I did not have a near death experienced caused by a Marie Callender's Mac & Cheese. I did not give in to the media's attack on processed food and decide to go all natural. We get it, NBC/ABC/CBS/CNN and all the other three lettered nagging stations, processed food is bad. Give up the lecture! I simply decided I want to cook for myself and my family. Everything else in my life can wait a few hours while I cook dinner. I want to make dinnertime mean something good in my home. I want that quality time. I want to sit down at the table every night and not in front of the T.V. I want to start the meal with a thanksgiving to God for blessing me and those around me. I want to end the meal with a busting gut and smiling faces. What can I say, I am a sucker for family time.

And so starts my journey. I have decided to cook my way through family recipes, Pintrest recipes, and any other suggestions that comes my way. Feel free to follow me on Pintrest. Username anderl24. My board titled "upcoming recipes" is filled with meals that are on deck, waiting for oven lovin'. My board titled "stuff I've done" is filled with....well stuff I've already done and what I thought about it. Feel free to send me pins. Any and all suggestions, tips, comments, blah blah blah are welcomed.

I deeply hope and pray that this process will not only make me a better cook but will also give me quality time with my family that I will forever cherish.

~Leslie