A Homemade Life- Part 1

Something that I have really enjoyed doing since Brian and I got married is learning more about cooking and baking. Or more specifically, developing a love for all sorts of homemade goodness and learning how to make many things from scratch.It's become one of my favourite hobbies, and also something necessary to keep our family well-fed, healthy, and happy!

I did cook a little before we were married. But it wasn't quite the same. Looking back, the first time that I really had to cook for myself was during my high school summer job at a provincial park in Northern Ontario. We were at least an hour drive from any sort of grocery store, and I didn't have a car. So if I managed to catch a ride to town on my day off, that's when I got groceries. I usually stocked up on quite a few boxed and canned items as I wasn't sure when I would next be in town. Looking back, I'm not exactly sure what I ate those two summers... a lot of instant oatmeal and canned veges? Definitely a lot of peanut butter and jam for my lunches in the front gatehouse. Supplemented by things cooked over the campfire, and some moose. Probably not the most nutritious experience! 

My next cooking adventure was during my time at Western. First year was taken care of by residence dining hall, along with instant oatmeal for my early clinical mornings. The dining hall wasn't open before 7, so I would make instant oatmeal in a paper cup in the dark so as not to wake my roommate, and eat it at the bus stop waiting for my transportation to the hospital. These days, I find instant oatmeal tastes horrible.. but I'm spoiled now with the real stuff cooked on the stove every morning.Claus's love oatmeal! 

The rest of my university years were spent living with dear friends in the Pink Flamingo, our student house. There were a lot of baked potatoes with ketchup in the microwave, frozen veges, and bread with peanut butter and jam. And granola bars. Or pancakes, thanks to Aunt Jemima. I used to ask Lindi if she wanted me to make her pancakes... I liked making them, and pancakes were a great snack anytime. Supplemented by weekly student dinners at my church's young adults group, always with leftovers to take home- what a treat that was! 

here we are, way back then....

Then I moved to BC, and lived with my great-aunt and uncle- and they ate well. Really well. Fresh salads before every meal! Blueberries and delicious yogurt for dessert every night! Multigrain bread from a local bakery! It was a real treat. Living in BC was a contrast to how I had eaten in university. This was due in large part to my aunt who is an excellent cook, with many years of homemaking under her belt. Though, I do remember thinking that everyone in Victoria seemed to eat a lot better... as all the nurses took whole avocados out of their cooler bags at lunch break. Fresh, delicious food seemed to be everywhere.

And, I met a man who cooked amazing omelettes, whipped up cookies on a whim, and made cooking a hobby and a joy. We always laugh now at how I used to make him pancakes.... slapping them with the spatula to make them 'cook faster'. My patient future husband never said a thing but now I know he must have been cringing inside! Good thing that didn't scare him off ;)

to be continued...

the early days... this was 6 years ago now!