Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Same Seven

I am a member of a rare, dying breed. I still cook dinner five or six nights a week. In today's fast paced, premade society, that is truly rare. Actually, the cooking part is not so bad. I enjoy making the food and I enjoy, even more, watching people eat what I have prepared. It makes me feel happy.
The not great part is planning the menu and the shopping for it. I am stumped for new ideas - well, ones the family will want to eat, that is. I cook the "same seven" things over and over! Are you a victim of "Same Seven Disease" like me?? Tacos, pasta, burgers, etc., again and again and again. Years ago, when my kids were in grade school, I realized I had fallen victim to this affliction so I decided to do something about it. I had a "Same Seven Party". I invited a dozen girlfriends over and they had to bring one of their "same seven" dishes. The rules were, it could not be gourmet or fancy, it had to really be one of their tried and true, constant family dinners. The dining room table was filled with the tasty casseroles and dinners. We all ate and exchanged recipes with one another. I even added a few new recipes into my "same seven" rotation. Everyone declared it a wonderful idea and a success.
Now, 30 years later, I am cooking things to please everyone including my grandchildren. I mean, kids should not eat dinosaur nuggets all the time, right? I have adjusted the recipes to avoid any nuts (Abbey's allergic), I have replaced ground turkey for beef (healthier) and I have started calling the little slider hamburgers I make, "crabby patties". If you are hip like me, you know that crabby patties are what Sponge Bob serves at the diner on the cartoon! Somehow, naming them this guarantees that the kids will all eat 2 or 3!
Once again, it's Saturday morning and I find myself sitting at the dining room table trying to prepare this week's market list. What shall I cook? Got any ideas?

No comments:

Post a Comment