Believe it or not, I made dinner!
Thanks to all your encouragement and 5-minute meal ideas and a great new cookbook I just got, I planned out a very simple, simple menu for this week and actually made dinner last night.
I know for some of you, that probably doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment. But for this little sick mama who hasn't had enough energy and wherewithal to make anything more than toast, sandwiches, canned soup, cereal, or scrambled eggs the past six weeks, making lentil and brown rice casserole from scratch was a mammoth accomplishment. Yes, it took me about three different short sessions in the kitchen to accomplish it. Yes, it was a super easy recipe. And no, I didn't get the dishes done afterwards. But hey, I made dinner.
Sometimes, you just have to be thankful for the little things you are able to do and not let the other "big" things still left to do overwhelm you. As I know from previous experience, morning sickness "too shall pass." Maybe not as quickly as I'd like, but in God's time. And, I'm so thankful for the sickness, even if it is unpleasant, even if it means my house is in disarray, even if I move at a snail's pace. It is evidence of a new life within me - a life worth having morning sickness for.
By the way, for all you new mommies, mommies-to-be, and in-the-throes-of-morning-sickness-mommies, (I guess I would fit all three of those categories!), I just have to elaborate more on the great new cookbook I mentioned above - The One-Armed Cook: A Kitchen Survival Guide for New Parents. In my current state, I lapped this thing up; it was just what I needed.
Two moms who have "been there, done that" tell you how you can do it, too! Some of it was very basic stuff, like how to stock your kitchen and pantry, how to utilize your freezer, and so on, but I need basic stuff right now. My brain is functioning in low gear, especially when it comes to the kitchen, so having the detailed step-by-step help works for me.
The added bonus is that it has some great recipes in it, too. Not all of them are ones we would eat, but the majority of them look great. Our lentil and rice casserole last night was compliments of this cookbook and it was yummy. Plus, they don't require lots of work or effort to get onto the table. Many of them can be frozen or made ahead, with very few steps involved. The best part of all is that, surprisingly, the recipes are all fairly good-for-you, with little unhealthy prepared/packaged/boxed/canned stuff used (Believe it or not, there was not one canned cream soup called for in the entire book that I saw!). As we try to eat fairly healthfully and avoid a lot of processed foods, I was especially thrilled about this.
Though not written from a Christian perspective, this cookbook is one I would highly recommend to any mom looking for help getting dinner on the table while juggling babies or morning sickness or both. And, it would make a great baby shower gift for a mom-to-be.
I know for some of you, that probably doesn't seem like much of an accomplishment. But for this little sick mama who hasn't had enough energy and wherewithal to make anything more than toast, sandwiches, canned soup, cereal, or scrambled eggs the past six weeks, making lentil and brown rice casserole from scratch was a mammoth accomplishment. Yes, it took me about three different short sessions in the kitchen to accomplish it. Yes, it was a super easy recipe. And no, I didn't get the dishes done afterwards. But hey, I made dinner.
Sometimes, you just have to be thankful for the little things you are able to do and not let the other "big" things still left to do overwhelm you. As I know from previous experience, morning sickness "too shall pass." Maybe not as quickly as I'd like, but in God's time. And, I'm so thankful for the sickness, even if it is unpleasant, even if it means my house is in disarray, even if I move at a snail's pace. It is evidence of a new life within me - a life worth having morning sickness for.
By the way, for all you new mommies, mommies-to-be, and in-the-throes-of-morning-sickness-mommies, (I guess I would fit all three of those categories!), I just have to elaborate more on the great new cookbook I mentioned above - The One-Armed Cook: A Kitchen Survival Guide for New Parents. In my current state, I lapped this thing up; it was just what I needed.
Two moms who have "been there, done that" tell you how you can do it, too! Some of it was very basic stuff, like how to stock your kitchen and pantry, how to utilize your freezer, and so on, but I need basic stuff right now. My brain is functioning in low gear, especially when it comes to the kitchen, so having the detailed step-by-step help works for me.The added bonus is that it has some great recipes in it, too. Not all of them are ones we would eat, but the majority of them look great. Our lentil and rice casserole last night was compliments of this cookbook and it was yummy. Plus, they don't require lots of work or effort to get onto the table. Many of them can be frozen or made ahead, with very few steps involved. The best part of all is that, surprisingly, the recipes are all fairly good-for-you, with little unhealthy prepared/packaged/boxed/canned stuff used (Believe it or not, there was not one canned cream soup called for in the entire book that I saw!). As we try to eat fairly healthfully and avoid a lot of processed foods, I was especially thrilled about this.
Though not written from a Christian perspective, this cookbook is one I would highly recommend to any mom looking for help getting dinner on the table while juggling babies or morning sickness or both. And, it would make a great baby shower gift for a mom-to-be.
posted by Crystal Paine at 7:25 AM
8 Comments:
I hope that you get to feeling better soon...and expecting myself,
we all have to be thankful for each positive step! :)
Blessings!
Tracy
Yay! That's such an accomplishment. :) That book looks like an important resource... I'll keep it bookmarked until I have need of it. Keep us updated on how you're feeling. There are a whole lot of us praying for you. :)
Great Idea for a shower gift! I'm definately stealing it. Thanks.
Sounds like a good resource! Our first is "due" next Friday and I spent the better part of yesterday evening nesting in the kitchen, cleaning the cupboards and doing up a use-what's-here menu plan that won't require any trips to the store.
Wow! This sounds like a terrific book. I have been frustrated with making more complicated meals lately, while I have been feeling so nauseated during this pregnancy. Any cookbooks with fast and healthy meals sound great to me. I will continue to pray for your pregnancy.
Where did you order it through? A few people were selling it used on amazon.com for $50 (spiral-bound). It's not that expensive, right?!
AmieB - If you get it, get the recently published one from Meredith books - that's where I got mine from.
It's on Amazon for $13.97
http://tinyurl.com/yb63w3
but I'm not a huge propenent of Amazon and found it cheaper here:
http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=396605
Or, it's only $7.05 here:
http://tinyurl.com/yhlxwh
You might check your library or local bookstore, too.
Hi Crystal I checked that book out from the library. I liked that they had tips for new moms and stuff.
Great post. Thanks!
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