(43-328) Look Who's Cooking...

To say that my children are picky eaters, would probably be an understatement.  Of the three Nicky is the worst of the bunch; which I guess stands to reason since he's my first child.  Lyndzi will try more things than either Nicky or Kelsie and eats more of a variety of things.  Kelsie will try more than Nicky, but there is many a night that she'd prefer not to eat meat (of any kind) and / or others when she'll request cereal.  Kelsie is the snackiest of the three but most of what she snacks on are healthy things like fat free yogurt, fruit, or a granola bar.

Being that they're kinda choosy, lunch during the school year is a bit of challenge.  They don't care for school lunch, which is fine with me, but they're also not that fond of sandwiches.  This past school year I think that Kelsie took PB&J for all but maybe two weeks total.  Lyndzi would eat a turkey or ham sandwich (dry, with nothing on it) and Nicky would take either a salami sandwich or roast beef and Havarti w/ dill sandwich (dry, with nothing on it.)  I know, you must be wondering how this picky kid came to like Havarti with dill, but all I can say is that he uncharacteristically tried it once at Michelle M's and liked it; so since it's something that he enjoys, I'm more than happy to buy a couple of slices a week for him.

Now that summer's here, the kids would prefer not to eat a sandwich everyday, so I suggested that one day we could make macaroni and cheese and perhaps another, grilled cheese and the kids happily agreed.  The first day that I was going to make mac-n-cheese, Nicky offered to cook it if I instructed him, and I took him up on his proposal.  Nicky carefully followed my directions, and made one gosh darn good batch of mac-n-cheese.  He was SO proud of himself, that I couldn't wait to have him cook again; and I think that he's made it at least one more time since.

I didn't make it to Fry's to buy deli meat yesterday, so I asked the kids if they'd like to have grilled cheese and Lyndzi then asked if I would teach her to make it.  Lyndzi has helped me cook before, so I decided to let her have a go at it; and I have to say that she did a great job.  She followed my instructions, she was careful and only burned one piece of bread, which was probably my fault.  When the piece of toast burnt, she remained calm and went with the flow, which I think is an important requirement in cooking.  Lyndzi made sandwiches for Nicky and Kelsie before cooking her own; and she too was SO proud of herself. 

I think that having my kid's learn to cook is a super, summer activity.  It builds their confidence, it adds to their list of things that they know how to do, they can become more self-sufficient, they can help me AND it's something that we can do together.  Lyndzi felt so good about cooking lunch that she asked if she could help me with dinner, and although I only gave her small jobs, she was a big help. 

It's great to see kids feeling successful, and I think we should give them as many opportunities as possible to do so.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-149) Comfort Food

It's been a while since I've pulled a post topic from Mari's "Memories and Thoughts" jar; so I decided to let my kids pick my subject for today.  The only criteria that I gave the kids was, that I wanted the post to be something lighthearted.  I didn't want to write about something complex, or something sad, and I think they did a great job finding something that fit the bill, when they chose "What are some of your comfort foods?"

As soon as I heard the topic, "comfort food," I immediately conjured up the image of a bagel with lox, cream cheese, purple onion and tomato.  Oh my gosh; my mouth is watering.  Ironically enough, I discussed this very same meal with both (SMF) David and my cousin Jackie, JUST THIS WEEK; so something tells me, this sandwich is in my near future.

Sometimes comfort foods are those that bring us back to a certain place and time; and for me, many of my comfort foods are those that I remember my mom making.  Others are dishes that just make your mouth happy and put a smile on your face.  Kind of an A-HA moment, but with food.

I find it interesting that even though my mom was an amazing cook; it's not EVERY dish that she made that I would put on my comfort food list.  For example, I learned how to make baked ziti, Chicken Parmigiana, and Eggplant Parmigiana, from watching my mom; and even though I love all of those dishes; I wouldn't refer to them as my comfort foods. 

For someone who loves food, I don't think my comfort food list is very long.  At the very top of it, of course is that bagel that I wrote about earlier.  And then in no particular order, I'd have to include: Stuffed cabbage, brisket, potato latkes, kasha Varnishkes (roasted  buckwheat groats  w/ farfalle pasta and sauteed onions,) whitefish salad, rugallah, cappuccino (or any coffee really;) and cannoli.  And now that the list is in print, I can clearly see that ALL of these foods are dishes that are Jewish style foods (with the exception of cappuccino / coffee and cannoli; but most Jews that I know, LOVE Italian food;) so I suppose that my original theory is correct.  The foods that comfort us, bring us back to a certain place and time.
There is one food and one food only that I can think of to add to my comfort food list.  It's a food that had nothing at all to do with my mom.  It's not a food that I ever ate with her; nor anybody else that would give me a happy memory.  It's just a food that is such yummy goodness, that whenever I am feeling out of sorts, thinking about eating it always picks me up; and that's celery.  NO, of course not.  I'm totally kidding.  It's a food that I've mentioned before in "Swee treats,"  (drum roll please...)  Cracker Barrel's, Macaroni and Cheese.  YUM! 

Truth be told, I rarely eat any of the foods that I've mentioned; for a number of reasons.  First of all, most of them aren't readily available to me and secondly, I really try NOT to turn to food for comfort.  Since I love to talk about, write about, watch shows about; and of course EAT, food; it hasn't been difficult to imagine what I would like to eat if I was looking for something soothing; and yet I've found that even just the IDEA of these foods or thinking about these foods, has been very comforting to me.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING

Act 2

Alert: Make Sure to read "A Scene in the Life" entered earlier today, FIRST.

Let me set the stage: It's about 1225pm and I'm at the stove making macaroni and cheese for me and Kelsie. I'm talking to Rachel on the phone, because she's just read "A Scene in the Life", and I was explaining that bread hadn't been a problem on top of the microwave before and I've only had the toaster oven for 2 weeks. We agree that I need to add that little tidbit into my last blog, because when she read it, that wasn't stated and now it makes slightly a little more sense (as if there really can be any sense to it;) anyway; I get a work related call beeping in. I hang up with Rachel, take my work call, leave the room to email this work caller a statement; then return to the kitchen to call Rachel back and continue making lunch.

Scene 1: Paige is stirring the macaroni and speaking to Rachel.

Scene 2: Paige turns to dump macaroni into the collander and there stands 4 year old Kelsie, looking like the cat who ate the canary and appearing to hide something behind her back.

Paige: "Bye Rachel."
Kelsie: "Hi Mama."
Paige: "What's going on Kels, what have you got behind your back?
Kelsie: "Nothing."

This exchange repeats about 3 times

Finally, Kelsie chuckles

Paige: "OK, Kelsie, I think I know you pretty well..."
Kelsie: (smiles and interjects) "My hair.'
Paige: "Why, what did you do?
Kelsie: (crying) "I'm sorry Mama."

Pan to the floor with a HUGE chunk of hair that Kelsie has just cut off her head.

Paige: "Why, Why did you do this?"
Kelsie: (crying) "I don't know"

OK - How's that for a day for you. Anyone know any Reality producers?? Either I'd better start staying out of the kitchen, or God really is trying to pay me back for that dream. Personally I thought he was too busy worrying about the douchies to care about my dream - but I guess not.
I don't know why I'm so surprised that Kelsie cut about 5 inches of her hair off; I mean this is the same child of mine who shaved off part of her right eyebrow a few months ago. I know; right about now I'm sounding like mother of the year. You must think that I never watch this child, but let me just say in my defense; that #1 - she's fast, I mean really fast, I mean we don't call her "Stitch" for nothing; and so she can just do these things in the blink of an eye (or eyebrow - hahaha) and #2, I'm raising 2 other complacent children who don't shave or cut their hair or anybody elses for that matter; so I must be doing something right...
Ya' know how they say bad things happen in threes? I'm just hoping that I'm not going for a record and you don't see a third blog from me today.

Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING