A quick dinner "wasted" on a weekend! BUT, easy, good, easy to vary to suit different tastes - TMOTH even made a pizza quesadilla, which was surprisingly good.
My birthday was yesterday, so I'll have to update my profile. I'm now closer to 50 than to 40 ... somehow that bothered me more than just turning 40. Last night's dinner was ham and biscuits (chosen by the mid-kid) and O'Brien potatoes (with peas for the boys).
The tween weathered a disturbing incident today - she was online on Gaia and somebody kept trying to get her to give out her e-mail address. She kept her head and just left, but it upset her. I told her I was proud of her for doing the right thing, and the only thing I could suggest she do differently if it happened again was to leave immediately.
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Steak and mushrooms
Mainly because the tween loves steak and wanted it for dinner. Mushrooms were mostly for me, although the man of the house likes them OK. I remember when I was in graduate school I'd saute a pound of mushrooms and call it dinner. Frozen broccoli with cheese sauce, french bread, strawberries, and cantaloupe round out dinner.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Now, when did I cook last?
Tonight was the annual Halloween bash at the kids' daycare, so dinner (such as it was) was provided by them. I can't actually complain - their chicken nuggets are actually very good, much better than McDonald's (noted, not a high barrier) and there was salad and rice to go with it.
The Man of the House cooked a lovely dinner last night before the tween's soccer practice - lamb shanks with potatoes, carrots, and onions, with french bread to go with, and mac & cheese for the kidlings. I then spent most of the time at soccer practice in the car since it was so cold and windy, but I made up my shopping list for Thanksgiving, and checked off the stuff I already had. So far, that includes the turkey. If I waited until a "normal" time to try to buy a turkey, all that would be left would be 26-pound behemoth turkeys, so I went ahead and bought a 13-pounder, since basically only TMOTH and I eat turkey, anyway. Maybe the toddler will this year.
Monday night was the last time I "cooked" - we had frozen fish filets, tater tots, cornbread twists, peas (for the boys, anyway) and asparagus (which actually counts as cooking, I suppose). Nothing like asparagus, yum.
The Man of the House cooked a lovely dinner last night before the tween's soccer practice - lamb shanks with potatoes, carrots, and onions, with french bread to go with, and mac & cheese for the kidlings. I then spent most of the time at soccer practice in the car since it was so cold and windy, but I made up my shopping list for Thanksgiving, and checked off the stuff I already had. So far, that includes the turkey. If I waited until a "normal" time to try to buy a turkey, all that would be left would be 26-pound behemoth turkeys, so I went ahead and bought a 13-pounder, since basically only TMOTH and I eat turkey, anyway. Maybe the toddler will this year.
Monday night was the last time I "cooked" - we had frozen fish filets, tater tots, cornbread twists, peas (for the boys, anyway) and asparagus (which actually counts as cooking, I suppose). Nothing like asparagus, yum.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Breakfast for dinner
Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hashbrowns, toast, cereal, and strawberries. Not ALL of that for everybody - I unfortunately can't eat sausage and don't like hashbrowns, but it's all easy enough to cook and everybody gets what they want. The only thing EVERYBODY ate was the strawberries - they looked so good at the Safeway, but I was surprised by how good they actually were.
No dinner blog last night - the boys had Wednesday night dinner at daycare, and the tween, hubby, and I went to Macaroni Grill. The grown-ups think it's OK, but the tween really likes it - the only one she seems to like more is Bob Evans, and it's never really been clear to me why she likes B.E. so much. On the mid-kid front, the trip to the neurologist was reassuring. He's basically fine and will likely go to karate tomorrow.
No dinner blog last night - the boys had Wednesday night dinner at daycare, and the tween, hubby, and I went to Macaroni Grill. The grown-ups think it's OK, but the tween really likes it - the only one she seems to like more is Bob Evans, and it's never really been clear to me why she likes B.E. so much. On the mid-kid front, the trip to the neurologist was reassuring. He's basically fine and will likely go to karate tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Chili
Grown-ups had chili from the freezer - I added canned beans and cheese to mine, yum!
Big kids had spaghetti-Os AND tomato soup. Toddler had mandarin oranges and cheese - he pretty much has to eat the second he walks in the door or he's REALLY cranky.
I had great plans for last night - was browning strips of beef for stir-fry when J. called from baseball - mid-kid was seeing double. Apparently he'd tripped and hit his head over the weekend and didn't bother to tell us until he was at baseball. SO, we ate a bowl of cereal and met them at the ER. (Meanwhile, the beef burned. The hounds are happy.) CAT scan was negative, but the pediatrician he saw today wants him to see the neurologist tomorrow. Ick.
Big kids had spaghetti-Os AND tomato soup. Toddler had mandarin oranges and cheese - he pretty much has to eat the second he walks in the door or he's REALLY cranky.
I had great plans for last night - was browning strips of beef for stir-fry when J. called from baseball - mid-kid was seeing double. Apparently he'd tripped and hit his head over the weekend and didn't bother to tell us until he was at baseball. SO, we ate a bowl of cereal and met them at the ER. (Meanwhile, the beef burned. The hounds are happy.) CAT scan was negative, but the pediatrician he saw today wants him to see the neurologist tomorrow. Ick.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Tacos
The tween actually ate tacos! The more she eats with other people, the more she'll try. It's amazing. Hopefully the mid-kid will follow suit.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Fall dinner
We had our first official hard frost last night (although it got cold enough the night before to kill off the tomatoes and squash). Plus, I had time after kids' stuff to cook!
Pork loin: Seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and poultry seasoning, seared on the grill, then finished in the oven. Nice and juicy and even the tween ate it because it was like pork chops when sliced.
Fried green tomatoes: See frost above. Salted, dredged in seasoned flour, then fried. (This is how the spouse grew up with them - I alternate with cornmeal because I like them better that way. He sometimes puts powdered sugar on them, but I do draw the line somewhere.)
Sauteed apples: Peeled, sliced, with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, plus a tablespoon of butter and about half a tablespoon of sugar.
Baked potatoes plus raw sliced apples for the big kids round out our dinner. I also sliced up an Asian pear, but it was a little past ripe and nobody ate it (and I don't blame them). A nice Australian cabernet for the grownups as well.
Brownies for dessert!
It was kind of a long day- Up early (and the toddler-boy didn't sleep well last night, winding up in bed with us) to make pancakes for the horde of kids. Mid-kid had to be at the baseball field at 9:30 while the tween had to have her soccer picture made at 10. She had TWO soccer games back-to-back today; a bit much, I think, for this age group. They tied the first game, but lost the second. Would they have done any better if they were fresh? I don't know, but it seems to be an inherently bad system. Lunch at Cici's, then dropped off the sleepover friend and came home. Nice afternoon playing in the yard, and I even managed to do a little scraping and plastic placement for the last bit of house painting that needs to be done.
Pork loin: Seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and poultry seasoning, seared on the grill, then finished in the oven. Nice and juicy and even the tween ate it because it was like pork chops when sliced.
Fried green tomatoes: See frost above. Salted, dredged in seasoned flour, then fried. (This is how the spouse grew up with them - I alternate with cornmeal because I like them better that way. He sometimes puts powdered sugar on them, but I do draw the line somewhere.)
Sauteed apples: Peeled, sliced, with nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, plus a tablespoon of butter and about half a tablespoon of sugar.
Baked potatoes plus raw sliced apples for the big kids round out our dinner. I also sliced up an Asian pear, but it was a little past ripe and nobody ate it (and I don't blame them). A nice Australian cabernet for the grownups as well.
Brownies for dessert!
It was kind of a long day- Up early (and the toddler-boy didn't sleep well last night, winding up in bed with us) to make pancakes for the horde of kids. Mid-kid had to be at the baseball field at 9:30 while the tween had to have her soccer picture made at 10. She had TWO soccer games back-to-back today; a bit much, I think, for this age group. They tied the first game, but lost the second. Would they have done any better if they were fresh? I don't know, but it seems to be an inherently bad system. Lunch at Cici's, then dropped off the sleepover friend and came home. Nice afternoon playing in the yard, and I even managed to do a little scraping and plastic placement for the last bit of house painting that needs to be done.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Waffles
By request of the mid-kid. He actually wanted pancakes, but I just don't have time for that on a karate night. I promised him pancakes for breakfast. He and dad are off now for the class, and I'm waiting for the tween to get home with her sleepover friend. (My lovely husband cooked the bacon and sausage and made coffee. Hooray!) Toddler-boy LOVED the sausage, so much so that he stole the last piece off my husband's plate.
My mom had surgery to have her shoulder replaced yesterday - this is after having her hip replaced last year. My brother left a message saying, "This is Mom's number at the hospital. Don't call tonight - she's stoned." She was still pretty happy from the drugs this morning, but seemed to be feeling OK. It's no fun living 1,000 miles away.
My mom had surgery to have her shoulder replaced yesterday - this is after having her hip replaced last year. My brother left a message saying, "This is Mom's number at the hospital. Don't call tonight - she's stoned." She was still pretty happy from the drugs this morning, but seemed to be feeling OK. It's no fun living 1,000 miles away.
Bean soup yesterday
One of those dinners that got chosen for me - I knocked a container of bean soup out of the freezer the other day getting out the ice cream and cracked the el-cheapo generic Glad-ware container. (I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate the brick floors in my kitchen.) We had some leftover ham and caramelized onions to gussy it up with, and I made cornbread using leftover buttermilk (STILL some buttermilk left - time to find another recipe). Any dinner with cornbread is a good dinner for me!
Work ended early enough that I could do some grocery shopping with the tween and get home in time to not rush dinner. Thursday is one day that NOTHING is on the family schedule.
Work ended early enough that I could do some grocery shopping with the tween and get home in time to not rush dinner. Thursday is one day that NOTHING is on the family schedule.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Dinner out
Sometimes I think the kids' favorite question is "Can we eat at a restaurant?"
Tonight it was pizza. At least it was good pizza.
Tonight it was pizza. At least it was good pizza.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Columbus Day and the day after
Columbus Day - pretty much a perfect Indian summer day. The big kids had school, but the daycare was closed so we were home with toddler-boy all day.
The spouse hurt his back, so I was the designated parent (and snack parent) for the mid-kid's baseball game. Kid-pitch baseball with a bunch of 7-, 8-, and 9-year-olds is your basic comedy of errors. BUT - MY kid scored a run! He got on base with a walk, got advanced by hitters to second and third, then made it home on another walk. Huge progress for the kid who swung at EVERYTING his first game.
Dad and tween made dinner - ham and biscuits. At least the kids had fruit at lunch!
Today was eggs/omelets. The tween loves scrambled eggs, but wasn't keen on the idea of an omelet for some reason. So we scrambled hers. Mid-kid tried (and liked!) his cheese omelet; grown-ups also had bacon and mushrooms (and sausage for dad). Tween and I bolted our dinner; she had soccer practice.
The spouse hurt his back, so I was the designated parent (and snack parent) for the mid-kid's baseball game. Kid-pitch baseball with a bunch of 7-, 8-, and 9-year-olds is your basic comedy of errors. BUT - MY kid scored a run! He got on base with a walk, got advanced by hitters to second and third, then made it home on another walk. Huge progress for the kid who swung at EVERYTING his first game.
Dad and tween made dinner - ham and biscuits. At least the kids had fruit at lunch!
Today was eggs/omelets. The tween loves scrambled eggs, but wasn't keen on the idea of an omelet for some reason. So we scrambled hers. Mid-kid tried (and liked!) his cheese omelet; grown-ups also had bacon and mushrooms (and sausage for dad). Tween and I bolted our dinner; she had soccer practice.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
All-American steak dinner
A nice porterhouse, shared by me, the tween, and my husband.
Baked potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and a nice [cheap] cabernet for the grown-ups. (Plus, there were leftover mushrooms and onions for omelets later in the week. Yay!)
Ciabatta rolls which went over really well.
Broccoli for the grown-ups and the toddler.
I was going to have little green peas for the boys, but wound up spilling nearly all of the bowl on the floor, so the hound got most of them.
Baked potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and a nice [cheap] cabernet for the grown-ups. (Plus, there were leftover mushrooms and onions for omelets later in the week. Yay!)
Ciabatta rolls which went over really well.
Broccoli for the grown-ups and the toddler.
I was going to have little green peas for the boys, but wound up spilling nearly all of the bowl on the floor, so the hound got most of them.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Chicken masala
Chicken and carrot chunks in a masala simmer sauce from Trader Joe's, with rice and pita bread. Salad on the side from the farmers' market.
In theory, I should be able to make this during the week. Sounds easy, right? In practice, the chicken has to be thawed, then browned, then simmered; I just can't bring myself to dump un-browned chicken into the sauce.
We had some pie mid-afternoon as planned. Since I had to go to the store for diapers, I bought a not-quite-gallon of vanilla ice cream. Heaven!
In theory, I should be able to make this during the week. Sounds easy, right? In practice, the chicken has to be thawed, then browned, then simmered; I just can't bring myself to dump un-browned chicken into the sauce.
We had some pie mid-afternoon as planned. Since I had to go to the store for diapers, I bought a not-quite-gallon of vanilla ice cream. Heaven!
mmmmmmmm...pie...
Apple pie in the oven for afternoon/snack dessert. We went apple picking last weekend, and really, why go apple picking if you don't make pie?
I remain mystified by people who think that making piecrust is hard. When I was little, I stayed with my Grandma Dunaway during the day while my mom was at work. Grandma made pies for restaurants in our little town, and any kid who was around got to "help." I just had help from toddler-boy making this pie, and I don't know how she did it! I've never mastered making it without measuring like she did, but my old Betty Crocker recipe has never failed me. (According to Betty, pie is "A Symbol of Good Eating in a Good Land.")
Hopefully we have either whipped cream in the fridge or vanilla ice cream in the freezer...
I remain mystified by people who think that making piecrust is hard. When I was little, I stayed with my Grandma Dunaway during the day while my mom was at work. Grandma made pies for restaurants in our little town, and any kid who was around got to "help." I just had help from toddler-boy making this pie, and I don't know how she did it! I've never mastered making it without measuring like she did, but my old Betty Crocker recipe has never failed me. (According to Betty, pie is "A Symbol of Good Eating in a Good Land.")
Hopefully we have either whipped cream in the fridge or vanilla ice cream in the freezer...
Friday, October 06, 2006
Pizza night
Gotta thank the spouse for this one - although I take credit for the suggestion. He started with a refrigerated cheese pizza from Safeway, left half plain for the kidlets, and on our half added pepperoni, mushrooms, red bell pepper, and artichoke hearts. Red wine for the grown-ups, Kool-aid for the kidlets.
Pizza sure doesn't deserve its bad rap - there are worse meals to be had.
Pizza sure doesn't deserve its bad rap - there are worse meals to be had.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Introduction
My husband asked why I was starting a blog, so I might as well explain to the rest of the world as well.
It's a direct reslt of the frustration of trying to decide what to have for dinner every single night, and the internet, for some reason, is little help. There seems to be two extremes of meal "help" out there - one of the beenie weenie school, one of the poached salmon in cream sauce on a bed of arugula - under the aegis of 30-minute meals.
I just was a reasonable well-balanced, somewhat tasty, not boring meal that doesn't take forever and that my kids might actually eat. Some days that's possible, other days it isn't. Hopefully by posting the dinner of the day, I can share some of what works for me and you can share with me.
Also, I can brag about my family, and isn't that why everyone blogs anyway?
Dinner post #1:
Soup #1 - Plain old Campbell's tomato soup with leftover pasta.
Soup #2 - Campbell's chicken noodle plus Progresso chicken noodle.
Ritz crackers.
(OK, not an auspicious start.)
Looking forward to tomorrow:
If I'm lucky I'll get home by six, but mid-kid has to be at karate by 7. Might just need to be pizza.
It's a direct reslt of the frustration of trying to decide what to have for dinner every single night, and the internet, for some reason, is little help. There seems to be two extremes of meal "help" out there - one of the beenie weenie school, one of the poached salmon in cream sauce on a bed of arugula - under the aegis of 30-minute meals.
I just was a reasonable well-balanced, somewhat tasty, not boring meal that doesn't take forever and that my kids might actually eat. Some days that's possible, other days it isn't. Hopefully by posting the dinner of the day, I can share some of what works for me and you can share with me.
Also, I can brag about my family, and isn't that why everyone blogs anyway?
Dinner post #1:
Soup #1 - Plain old Campbell's tomato soup with leftover pasta.
Soup #2 - Campbell's chicken noodle plus Progresso chicken noodle.
Ritz crackers.
(OK, not an auspicious start.)
Looking forward to tomorrow:
If I'm lucky I'll get home by six, but mid-kid has to be at karate by 7. Might just need to be pizza.
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