Cook for Good Community Forum > Fresh-Start Challenge Discussion
Q: Just pudding for dessert? And bell pepper strips for lunch? No wonder you can eat for just $5 a day!!!
A: That's just week one! The first week, you start by cooking some of your food from scratch, but you just take 20 minutes a day to do it. Add other food to make whole meals. You'll already be cooking ahead for week two. Even if you just cook 20 minute a day, by the third week you'll be cooking about 60% of your food from scratch. Week 2, you'll be cooking all of your food from scratch. I'll have those menus up in a day or two. That's why I only average the costs for the second week. Those menus will be up soon.
Q: Are all the recipes on the website or do you need the book to participate?
A: To fully participate, you need the book, Wildly Affordable Organic. It's got a book's worth of information! It will pay for itself in just a few meals. Plus, folks who buy the book or become supporting members of the site make it possible for me to offer free recipes and more on this site every week. And I'll be so grateful!
Linda Watson
Hey, sorry to start off with what is likely a silly question, but I subscribed to the Fresh-Start Challenge 2012 mailings--should I be getting update emails every day? If so, that hasn't started yet. Instead should I just visit the website daily?
Thanks!
platofunfactory
Hi Platofunfactory -- (love your name!) -- yes, my intention is to send an email every day of the Challenge. The subject line for the email that went out Sunday morning around 1 a.m. EST was:
Fresh-Start Challenge Day 2: pasta, sauce, & soaking. Enjoy pudding & vinaigrette from yesterday
I've checked your account and it looks like you are set up correctly but didn't open that email.
Here are some things to try:
* whitelist Cook for Good (always a good idea!)
* check your spam filter
* look emails with subjects that start with "Fresh-Start Challenge Day ..."
Hope this helps! Thanks for asking. BTW, I use timers for these emails. It's not that I was up at 1 a.m.!
Linda Watson
Thanks, Linda!
I am getting the emails and am now working the challenge, one day behind. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the pasta tonight.
By the way, I'm fairly privacy conscious and so don't load remote content in messages automatically. That may prevent your list manager from recognizing that I (or other readers who have such settings) have opened your emails. Didn't want you to think I was ignoring you! :-)
platofunfactory
Glad to hear you're getting the emails & enjoyed the pasta! Thanks so much for letting me know about that and about the list-manager points. Good for you for taking it seriously ... it's so important! I am glad to be able to picture you and others reading the emails and cooking along with the challenge. It's great to feel like I'm not just talking to myself!
Linda Watson
I finally got around to making the Good Whisk Bread tonight. It was delicious! You weren't kidding, though, when you said in the video that mixing the dough was a good upper body workout!
I was so pleased with the results that I took a picture. Unfortunately, I can't seem for the life of me to make a link work, so if you'd like to see it I'm afraid you'll have to copy and paste the URL into your address bar. Sorry!
http://www.lumosstudio.com/blog/fresh-start-challenge-good-whisk-bread
Also, I loved the Spicy Peanut Noodles with Seasonal Vegetables! My wife and I found that thinly-sliced cucumbers were a nice addition.
Thanks so much for this fantastic resource!
platofunfactory
O wow o wow! Platofunfactory, thanks for sharing your gorgeous photograph of the Good Whisk Bread! I'm so glad you and your wife are enjoying the Fresh-Start Challenge.
Smart idea about the cucumbers. That's what I love about the Spicy Peanut Sauce: just add whatever veg is most beautiful and bountiful at the time.
Sorry about the links in the posts! I've just tried it myself and couldn't do it. It used to work!!! I'll report the bug and let you know when it's fixed. Everyone, please cut & paste his URL and look at the photo and the other marvelous photos on the Lumos Studio site:
http://www.lumosstudio.com/blog/fresh-start-challenge-good-whisk-bread
Linda Watson
Are you taking the Fresh-Start Challenge? Which flavor, classic or plant-strong? Share your experiences below. Questions, suggestions, and funny stories all welcomed!