I love,
love, love this time of year! It’s such
a relief when the scorching heat of summer subsides and the crisp cool of
autumn arrives. Wardrobe options now
include sweaters and slacks. Sleep is
more comfortable under a cozy blanket.
And, cooking and baking indoors are tolerable again. No more back and forth to the barbeque. No more getting up before the crack of dawn
to boil pasta for a salad. Once again,
we can have the roasted and slow-braised meats we love. At long last, we can enjoy our favourite
baked treats again.
Tonight's roast turkey...YUM! |
Roast meats
are one of my choicest time-, calorie-, and budget-savers. First of all, roasting is generally done with
less fat and larger cuts of meat. That
makes it kinder to both health and wallet.
Best of all, roasted meats can often be stretched to provide a few
meals. Cost per serving/meal becomes
very economical and, though initial
cooking times may be a little longer than preparing individually-portioned
meats, subsequent dinners made from those pre-cooked proteins come together
very quickly. Stir-fries, cream- or
tomato-based pastas, salads, soups, casseroles, pizzas – all are easily
prepared in the time it takes to chop a few vegetables and prep the carbs. Not just sit-down dinners, either. Leftover roast beef, ham, chicken, turkey,
and pork make flavour-packed sandwiches and wraps. Add a condiment which compliments those meats
– like horseradish sauce, honey-mustard glaze, stuffing, cranberry or apple
sauce – and you can elevate those sandwiches to epicurean heights of
deliciousness. There’s nothing new in
this idea. When I grew up, Sunday dinner
wasn’t just a good, hot, family meal; it furnished amazing and unique lunches
through the coming week.
The
benefits of home-baking are more modest.
There are budgetary advantages, certainly, but the savings margin is
narrower than other forms of culinary wizardry.
The real saving is dietary.
Baking allows you to create desserts with lower calorie profiles and few
(if any) artificial ingredients, preservatives, or stabilizers. By choosing whole foods (e.g. grains, nuts,
and spices) and complimenting them with healthier fats and sweeteners, these
treats can become truly wholesome snacks.
And, while your kitchen is issuing forth delectable fragrances of your
baking, the oven’s warmth helps reduce your heating bill.
If
you’re having difficulty “feeling the love” of this season, try creating some
of your own culinary comfort foods. The
smells seduce. The oven heats things up. And the food is oh so satisfying. Your finances will value the budget-friendly
large-cut proteins. Your schedule will
appreciate the time-savings. And, both
heart and waistline will take pleasure in healthier goodies. So turn on the oven and share my seasonal delight.