The Big Chop

New Year... same resolution.. be healthier... Last year I was going to give up caffeine... I realized no caffeine was not doable with schedule. Maybe that is my addiction talking but how about less caffeine . (just a little less).  

One thing I have tried to incorporate this year was to eat more REAL food.  On the last post I talked about throwing so much food away.  I started thinking why wasn't I using all the vegetables that I bought, and I realized part of it was just being tired at the end of the day.  I think I have mentioned I commute 37 miles each way on one of the busiest highways in Dallas, and through construction, by the time I get home I just sometimes don't want to wash and chop and prepare food. So I had the great idea to wash and chop all the vegetables ahead of time  to see if it would help me prepare real food, instead of doing the drive through or eating peanut butter sammiches at the end of a long drive.  So began THE BIG CHOP, after a trip to the grocery store...

                                

Let's start with the spinach.. I love, love love fresh spinach, but I usually buy baby spinach, my store was out of baby spinach, so I bought the bunch...

and had to deal with the stems.. I pulled all the stems off and washed the spinach thoroughly..

                                        

and spun it in my favorite salad spinner... weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..

 I store it in paper towel to make sure it is VERY dry.

In a plastic container with a lid

                                                                                

                                        

 These are leftover from spinach, but have no fear of waste I have an idea for them :)

 

 next celery... some chopped and some cut in sticks to stay in water to stay crisp for snacks, alone, or with peanut butter

 Chopped yellow onions.. notice a few left over.. Qman is going to have some pan fried tators and onions later...

 Chopped and seeded roma tomatoes

Cilantro.. I love me some cilantro 

Destemed, washed and SPUN!!!

 Wrapped in papertowel...

 lightly secured with a rubber band

Chopped green peppers

Beautiful carrots..

Stacks of veggies all ready to be put in the fridge awaiting some fabulous meals or being great snacks.. now to see what I can come up with to make with all these clean, prepared vegetables...

and this is a bag full of all the leftover pieces including the spinach, celery, green onions.. I think it is calling for a vegetable stock to be simmering on the stove. (stay tuned)