I know. Simple right? Not for someone like me. I simply don't get it. So every night, in an attempt to meet the hunger needs of my family (no matter how many times I feed them, they ALWAYS seem to get hungry AGAIN!) I attempt a meal. And my family is here to tell you more times than not it ISN'T pretty (AND doesn't taste good1) Lately no more boxes. I used to be frozen meal, or order out, queen. But my body is showing the ill effects of it, so in an attempt to gather back my health (and my body 20 pounds ago) I am trying to actually cook - from scratch....many times resulting in EPIC failure. I won't post those here....there are many!
Last week I had chicken and I went to the weight watchers website and saw fried rice....thought IMMEDIATELY of my Cambodian friend and asked her how to make it. Simple - brown little diced chicken, cook brown rice....scramble a few eggs....dice up carrots, broccoli and any other veggie I could find, add frozen peas and her Asian soy sauce and voila! A meal....took half an hour (oh, the rice did take 45 minutes but I cooked it at lunch time.)
The family LOVED it....they REALLY loved it. And now I FINALLY understand why people who love to cook love it....it is such a joy to see your family really enjoy something you made....I mean, I get that every time I bake - my family LOVES everything I bake, but I don't do it all the time simply because it isn't healthy to eat baked goods all the time. But to see them LOVE a healthy meal....I can't describe it. It was simply awesome.
So, my solution? Every Monday we will have fried rice. Now all I have to do is find 5 more meals for the week and that allows for one night of pizza or who cares what and we will be good to go. My family is good that way. I know some families would rather die than eat the same meal every Monday or Tuesday, etc....but thankfully not mine. They are easy and will look forward to that meal on its prescribed day. Isn't that the way life is anyway? Monday, guitar lessons. Tuesday math club and Volleyball. Wednesday youth group. Thursdays whatever....it is the way we live. Same thing when we grow up. Monday is work....monday night gym. Tuesday work - tuesday nigh family game night. Wednesday more of the same. So I believe that if I don't give them options, they have no choice but to look forward to the next day....I am sure I would feel differently if I could "whip up" dinner delights every night without much thought, but I am 46 years old and STILL struggling to find 6 meals I can make that taste good and don't overwhelm me! What can I say? Welcome to my nightmare.
So, today is fried rice. Still looking for those other 5 meals, and I am thinking tortellini or spaghetti is another one - after that, I'm back to the drawing board.
Until next time....
