It's a process to UNprocess

Remember how I was SO sure I'd like beets? Well, I don't. They taste like cooked carrots, and I just have no use this. Now that I think of it, I do have to wonder if pureeing it with butter and salt would do the trick...or frying it... Nevertheless, if I don't eat it raw, roasted, or stir-fried it really isn't worth buying. (Other cooking options deplete veggies of most nutritional value.)

I have several points with respect to our 2012 eating challenge:

1. We did NOT eat all of our half share of food. We still have two carrots, some celery, the kale (today is the day, my friends,) two sweet potatoes, and some bananas. The bananas will likely be sliced and frozen or mixed into a banana bread. SOMETHING will happen with them TODAY. The rest will be consumed within the next day or two. I do think we'll be ready for another half share on Saturday.
   
2. There are some processed foods that it is hard for us (read: Ryan) to live without. These include yogurt drinks (although I have switched him to Oikos organic) and cereal. Since I don't want to kill him I will be picking up some cereal this afternoon. In the future I may try to make this, but making everything else we eat is enough of a challenge for now.
3. Eliminating processed foods is a HUGE undertaking for a modern family. Well, at least for me...because, frankly, I have been super lazy about cooking ever since Miss R was born. Now I am tasked with baking bread everyday and cooking a full three meals a day from scratch.
4. I have a serious coffee addiction. Although I have always enjoyed coffee, I have become quite the addict since Miss R was born. I am a better person with coffee. Period. VERY SADLY, I ran out of coffee on Saturday. Today I was able to use the last of my Starbucks gift card to purchase a double latte, but the past two days have been rough...and unproductive. On Friday, when I realized this emergency I purchased some bulk fair trade coffee slated to arrive sometime this week. It cost me AT LEAST double what I normally pay per pound, but I did get a much darker roast. (Translation: it might last longer.) I guess shopping with a conscience does come with a cost.
   
5. My two current challenges include finding a new farm from which to purchase dairy (currently on the back burner) and deciding what is "fair" to purchase from Azure foods. It is a mail order company from which you can purchase health foods in bulk. My intention was to purchase baking supplies and dried beans through this supplier, but I am wondering if it is beyond the spirit of my "local" challenge. I will say that making breads and baked goods with 100% whole wheat flour REALLY changes the taste and texture. Recall that this flour is the only "local" flour I have found. More to come on this big decision.