produce prep 101

I know I was supposed to do this on Saturday (I always forget and then post over Anna's day...sorry!) so go watch Anna's post.

I just wanted to talk for a minute about produce. For about the last month, I've been involved in a produce/food co-op called Bountiful Baskets. It is awesome. I pay $16.50 on Monday, then pick up my random grab-bag of produce Saturday morning. Truth be told, we have had the most amount of quality produce in our home in the last month that we ever have in our entire married lives. Sad, but true. My goal is always to go through all our produce we get on Saturday within a week. We usually go through most of it, but some things, like Coconut, Acorn Squash, Swiss Chard and Turnips have posed an interesting creative challenge. I try to experiment with a new recipe, and if all else fails I just mash it into baby food :)

Here's a look at our fridge right now... thanks to IKEA having an awesome set of 17 piece tupperwares for $3.99, I bought two last week and yesterday morning during Baby D's nap (or while he was standing in his crib, crying with snot dripping down his nose for 30 minutes because he couldn't figure how to lay down and sleep... whatever) I took out all the fruits and veggies that required prepwork and started prepping: I cut up the cantaloupe, mangoes, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, etc. 

Everything is washed and ready to be eaten raw, baked, steamed, boiled, or whatever we decide to do with it this week. And it only took 30 minutes! Since I work full time during the week and feel like I never have time to do this sort of thing on a weekday, I highly recommend it. EVERYONE can add more fruits or veggies to their diet (I'm looking at you, Daniel!).... So go spend a few extra bucks, buy some quality tupperware (and produce to put it in) and get prepping!

 And for your Baby D fix till Wednesday.... here's an oldie but a goodie from PhotoBooth!