No Cooking Skills & 5 yr old Taste Buds

There are some things about me that I wouldn't dare admit over the cyber-world of a blog.  But some things I just throw out there and decide I don't care because that's the humor of my random life.

Here's today's nugget:

I cooked fresh green beans for the first time.

Amazing, right?!  More like... pathetic.

I've always loved my mom's homemade dish of fresh green beans sauteed with onions, almond slices, and bacon.  Mmmm... so delicious!  I've done as much as prepared the beans ahead of time and snapped of the little pointy ends after rinsing them.  But I never seem to do the cooking part.  I don't know if I've ever even successfully boiled broccoli before.

So I called my mom today after buying a fresh stash of green beans.  "Mom.... what's the best way to cook fresh green beans?"  Bless her heart for dealing with my simple mind. :)  She gave me her tips and I just wanted to make sure I did it her way before destroying the beans with my guessing game.

I came home eager to be "healthy" and cook vegetables like a normal human.  (By the way, Cassity has become a pro at cookings fresh vegetables, meats, etc and the apartment always smells so flavorful when I come home at night).  The only time I influence the smell of the apartment is...  come on!  What did you think I was going to say?!  It's when I make cookies or brownies of course. :)

I took out half of my little stash of green beans, snapped off the pointy ends, snapped them in half, and placed them in a little pile on the counter.  Finally I threw them all in the pot of already boiling water, and turned the heat down while they steamed.  Then I proceeded to make my usual Spaghetti with Ragu sauce (I know, I know), but I was quite proud of my little beans.  It was a delicious dinner and I do love fresh green beans.

Here's the thing.  I just don't cook.  Like, hardly ever.  And when I do cook, it is spaghetti, macaroni, breakfast foods (eggs, french toast, pancakes, etc.) or grilled cheese.  More often than those simple meals, I'll devour a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a bowl of cereal.  Seriously, my eating habits are insane.  I could probably live off peanut butter and jelly (which I pretty much do)... but I know I need to advance my lifestyle a little bit.

Confession:  Heather (my dear sister) is on the East Coast right now, going to various doctor appointments with Johns Hopkins in Maryland.  They're trying to figure out this perplexing health situation and we're hoping they will have some helpful answers.  Before she left, I told her that when she comes back, I will commit to eat according to this book:

Strangely enough, eHarmony David sent me this book for my Birthday.  I had mentioned to him my diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis and-- although most of the time I'm perfectly fine-- there are times when my bowels go crazy.  (Usually when I'm under a lot of stress or feel anxiety about running, races, etc.) But David did some research and said this is supposed to be the best book out there.  I didn't look at it much, especially once that little situation ended, but one day I picked it up again and noticed it was geared towards all kinds of irritable bowel situations, including Celiac Disease.  Heather has looked into Celiac and some doctors have made assumptions that it could be that... but still nothing is set. This triggered my interest, though, and I wanted to read and learn more about it so I can help her-- and in turn, help me.

I feel fine right now and this book is to help people who are in a really sickly state. (Lots of endless diarhea, etc.)  Take me back to the summer of 2002 and I would've been in that boat.  Luckily I'm not anymore, but it won't hurt to read about these guidelines, eating restrictions, etc.  SO.  This is what I have committed myself to once Heather returns.  

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF INTO.

It cuts out A LOT of things that I eat daily.  Things that I love.  But I am fully prepared to just suck it up because I know Heather has had to do the same thing and will probably have to continue to cut out more and more.  So today I embraced more vegetables and fruits in my shopping trip.  My problem is I buy produce and then forget I have it (as I eat cereal and sandwiches) but I won't let that happen this time.  I figure, in the mean time, before Heather gets home, I can at least be easing myself into it so it doesn't seem so intimidating.  

Hence the fresh green beans.  And they were tasty.  

So here's to Heather getting healthier... me getting focused... and my taste buds maturing a little. :)