UP! DOWN! CENTRE! ENTER!

Thank you dad... what a great way to say cheers with a nice cold beer! So classy...

Always very down to earth my dad liked homey restaurants with bright lighting and healthy portions on his plate. His favourite place was the Old Country Buffet in the USA. It wasn't because he could eat as much as he liked, it was simply because he felt that he was paying exactly the right amount for the food he ate, not a penny more, not a penny less.

With this, I can already see the type of image you have in mind for my dad. I would have it as well. Cheap, obnoxious and very embarrassing to be around! But he wasn't. He knew more World History that I could ever hope to learn in my lifetime. He was business savvy, intelligent, creative educated and a force to be reckoned with.

When I was young, I liked the buffet because it meant I could eat as much ice cream as I liked. I would have a salad and immediately after I would start sneaking to the dessert corner to snap up the deliciously fresh knickerbocker cookies. My mom encouraged me to eat more proper food, but the thought of over cooked vegetables, dry meats and dodgy looking fish was just not my ideal meal. Dessert on the other hand, was no luxury macaroon, or delectable île flottant... but it was perfect.

My dad was a smart man. He knew that food did not have to be expensive to be satisfying. He worked hard his whole life to give us everything we wanted.

This is my new inspiration for this year.

I have neglected this blog, and I probably will continue to do so (I have two other blogs for work that take up all my time). But every day I will explore the boundaries of eating well, varied and exciting dishes with the least amount of money possible.

I just got married. I leave on a honeymoon in a week. I started my business last year.

When we were reading our vows the minister said "for richer or for poorer" both, my fiancé and I giggled when he said for poorer. We hope this is the bottom we muttered!

So.. with no money and a year full of dreams, I am setting out to spend only pennies on feeding my husband and I.

How creative can I get?

YIKES!