A couple of changes and few announcements...

Due to some changes in some of my goals recently, I'll be making a few adjustments to the blog. I have decided that while I want to cook through my cookbooks trying all of the recipes, I also really need to start eating more nutritiously. Unfortunately, the current cookbook that I'm working through definitely has some recipes that while I'm sure are delicious, are not so waistline-friendly. What I've decided to do is actually start working from another cookbook simultaneously. This second one is a light cooking cookbook that Eric and I bought a few years ago and is all in all much more conducive to a healthier lifestyle. I'll also continue to work through the current book, but I'll be much more selective of which recipes I choose right now. Because I still want to try them all though, I'm likely going to limit the less healthy recipes to the weekends.

I would also like to announce that I'm planning to start two blogs that stem from this one. If you are interested in this one, you may also be interested in the others, as they all are working around some of the same ideas, but the focus of each is unique. I thought doing this might give some variety and also some other topics of interest - different strokes for different folks.

This one, Bringing Something to the Table!, is for you if you enjoy recipe reviews, photos, and comments. This will continue to be a recipe review forum as I cook my way through my cookbooks (and try to complete recipes that have ingredients in common so as not to purchase a million different grocery items every week).

The second blog will be what I'm calling, Conquering the Triangle. What this is is my attempt to create  shopping lists for a week's worth of meals that meet all three corners of the working person's cooking triangle - healthy, easy, and budget-friendly. I think we can all agree that you usually have to pick two. I'm going for gold in an effort to Conquer the Triangle. If you would find this to be helpful, head over to this one!

The third blog will be for those whose main focus is healthy eating (and I know there's some of you out there! It's just that time of year.) I have researched many a diet as I'm sure many of you have. I'm not interested in fads or impermanent, unhealthy solutions to weight loss. I'm looking to drop unhealthy pounds and get more fit over all. I'm also not wanting to just count calories, for example. I think we all know that you can keep your calories low, but that doesn't necessarily mean your eating nutritiously. I want to give my body what it needs to function optimally. The decision I've come to is to try to work toward the Mayo Clinic's healthy weight plan. I know we've all heard of the food pyramid. The real Mayo Clinic plan (yes, there is a fake one out there that basically tells you to eat practically nothing but grapefruit and claims to be Mayo Clinic-endorsed) is based on having the the right numbers of servings and portions of the  different types of foods your body needs, as well as physical activity, and thus creates their food pyramid.  This blog, To the Top of the Pyramid, will be my log of trying to make this more of a lifestyle, while hopefully being helpful to others who may be wanting to do the same thing.

These all work together if you would like to follow them all:
In Conquering the Triangle, I will create the shopping lists of healthy, easy, budget friendly meals mostly from my cookbooks. In Bringing Something to the Table, I'll review the recipes and log where I am in terms of cooking my way through my cookbooks. Finally, in To the Top of the Pyramid, I'll track my progress and the effectiveness of the Mayo Clinic plan for me. It ties back to the first because all of the shopping lists will need to fit into the MC food pyramid.

Whew! There you have it! A couple of changes and a few announcements!

PS - The new blogs will be up and running shortly. I'll post when they're up!