Recipes and Resources

I'm working toward stepping up the posting schedule since I've heard from several of you that it's too slow. I really appreciate all of the feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming!

I'll do a couple of posts answering some of the more common questions we've gotten.

For starters, recipes.

I'm the new kid on the block with this topic, so I rely on many other bloggers and what they've learned in the kitchen as starting points.

I hope to eventually have my own recipes on the blog, but for now, these links are my go-to's when I'm looking for inspiration.

As a bonus, not only do these links give you lots of recipes, but the blogs they're linked to are pretty great resources for techniques, research and practical tips. Consider it my gift to you.

http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/recipe-index

http://www.keeperofthehome.org/recipes

http://www.cheeseslave.com/recipes/

http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/recipe-index

http://nourishedkitchen.com/recipe-index

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/category/recipes/

http://www.organicspark.com/recipes/

http://thepurposedheart.com/in-the-kitchen/

http://girlinanapron.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html

Next up, resources.

Where do we get our food and how do we decide what to buy?

There are a few great websites that we did lots of research on when we first got started.

For milk and dairy:
http://www.realmilk.com/where1.html

For meat, eggs and dairy:
http://www.eatwild.com/products/index.html

For produce and other farm-related products:
http://www.localharvest.org/

There's also a little resource called the Weston A. Price Shopping Guide (description below from the Weston A. Price website):

Provides "best" and "good" recommendations for purchasing healthy foods (including brand and stores names) as well as foods to "avoid." Tucks easily into pocket or purse. Includes choices for those consumers whose only choice is supermarket food.

It's only $1 and can give lots of ideas on where to go for good food. (Just click on the "Order Materials" link on the right.)

Now if you live in the same city as we do and are interested in exactly where we buy what, here's how it breaks down (for specific farmer info, contact me and I'll hook you up):

Milk: We get whole, raw milk from a farm.

Chicken: We get whole pastured chickens from a couple different farms.

Beef: We made a big grassfed beef order from a farm that sells cuts as well as ground beef.

Eggs: They're from pastured chickens from the same farm where we get our milk.

Produce: It usually comes from the farmer's market, United, or Natural Grocers.

Coconut oil, herbs, spices, nuts and seeds, pantry items, etc.: We shop between HEB, Natural Grocers, Vitamins Plus (in Drug Emporium) or Mountain Rose Herbs.

That's a brief overview of the major food categories we shop from on a regular basis and where we usually end up making our purchases.

We're always learning and looking for new and better ways to shop, cook and incorporate more natural options without breaking the bank.

So, if y'all have any questions or suggestions on where to go for recipes and food sources, please share!