Have you ever thought about what it would take to provide your own food?  Like all of it?  It's staggering.  Just keeping away from boxed or pre-made dinners is hard enough, right.  I'm trying to imagine what it might be like...
I would have to quit my job.  I would have to garden in a community garden as well as my own backyard - and do more in my own backyard BTW.  I would have to get a cow that could provide us with milk and some chickens that could give us eggs (because I can't live without those).  I would start making my own cheese (not hard I've heard).  I would need to start canning... everything - a goal of mine anyway... not everything mind you.
It hit me this week that even though I'm doing a lot to get processed foods out of our diets completely it's still there... these insidious little things that you don't even think about.  My hot chocolate from Starbucks (only a couple of times a week but still).  Yogurt.  Salad dressing (I don't make my own... I know, don't say it).  Ketchup.  The list goes on.  I'm not going to get depressed because we've come a long way but it's kinda overwhelming.


That brings me to yesterday.  I had forgotten to bring my fruit for lunch.  I was going to eat at home later anyway so it was fine but I was still really hungry and I had 2 hours to go.  I had run to work in the morning and that always sees me famished by the lunch hour (try like 10:30 a.m.).  I was standing outside the school contemplating what to do.  I should just run and grab something, chew and swallow kind of food.  Then I thought 'If I do that every time I forget something or need something NOW then what kind of example am I to my kids?'  What if I can't even do what I'm asking them to do?  I tuened around went inside, still hungry, and waited until I got home.
So instead of Starbucks hot chocolate (too sweet anyway) and something processed and icky for me, I had one of these (after my lunch of course).  It was totally worth it.  Is there anything better than lemon?  I'm not sure.  Lemon curd?  Well I could eat that stuff straight from the jar... I usually do.


P.S.  I didn't make my own lemon curd... ugh.


Lemon Curd Muffins adapted from The Goddess's Kitchen
makes about 10 large muffins

2 cups self raising flour (I just make my own from all-purpose)
3/4 cup sugar
150 ml milk
75 ml canola or sunflower oil
1 egg
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup lemon curd
extra sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a muffin tin with silicon or paper liners
Combine the flour and sugar in a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl combine the milk, oil, egg, lemon juice and vanilla.  Mix well.  Add to the flour mixture and mix to combine.
Line the bottom of each muffin with enough batter to cover.  Place a tsp or so of lemon curd on top of each.  Finish filling each muffin cup until they are 1/2 to 2/3's full.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until just golden on the top and springy to the finger.
Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.
Place another tsp or so of lemon curd on top of each muffin.  As the lemon curd melts sprinkle a little sugar on top of each.
Cool completely.