13 days down....

It’s been 13 days since I started this resolution to only have food from scratch for January and February. In that time I have reaffirmed what I already knew:

1. It takes just about the same amount of effort to cook from scratch as to use processed foods.
2. You do need some staples, and some extra equipment to make it easier.

Equipment:

1. Since I grind my own flour - a grain mill is essential. This will let you keep all the nutrients in the wheat berry, and the flour is very fresh.
2. A good stand mixer - may I recommend the Ankarsrum Stand Mixer. This can handle anything I throw at it.
3. A food processor OR blender.
4. On the want to have list - a Dehydrator, and Vacuum sealer.

Staples:

1. I have a variety of bulk grain - Hard Red Wheat, Soft White Wheat, Spelt, Kamut, Buckwheat, Barley etc. Since i also process my own flour - I can use this grain in a variety of ways - as flour, as a whole grain, etc.
2. Raw Honey.
3. Olive Oil.
4. Sea Salt
5. Dehydrated Cane Sugar
6. Add extras as needed for the food you like.

One good thing about me is that I don’t mind eating the same meal every day for lunch. This means that on Saturday (or Sunday) I can make up a large batch of Stew, put it in containers for the week and I am done. I also make up about 2 loafs of bread for the week.

The dehydrator has been useful to make dehydrated apple slices - a really nice sweet and tasty snack. I have also been using it to dry out pumpkin puree and sweet potato puree for future use in bread.