Imagine the photo on the left is of the cook. That's how frustrating I find cooking sometimes. I have all of 3 fool proof ideas for dinner and my family, although kind and patient always, is kind of sick of my ideas. Still, I love a nice dinner at home, not so much the food, (I love spicy and I don't know how to make it..) it's the company I love. In addition to the company, we now have a family dinner game, thanks to my new friend Barbara. Thank you Barbara! She gave me this beautiful jar and inside were all these really fun questions. The idea is to get a great conversation started that includes your children.
Our question of the night... "What other country would you choose to live in and why." I said that I would like to live in Sorrento, Italy. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. It seemed quieter there and so beautiful overlooking the ocean. Little c thought she'd like to live in Sweden because it's so beautiful and balmy there. When we explained about the climate, she was more attached to her decision because she loves snow too. C said he'd like to live in Santiago, Chile. Who knew. I may have never known that C liked Santiago so much and that little c wanted most of all to visit Sweden. Maybe we should visit those places together some day.
All the questions are really fun and we've had a ball with them night after night. We've been through them all and changed them a little. We've made up some of our own. Little c says as I put the plates on the table, "Will we play the question game tonight?"
Barbara gave me a paper written by Shirley R. Klein associate professor, School of Family life at Brigham Young University which reads in part, "Children who do not eat dinner with their families are 61 percent more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.... Teens who eat frequent family dinner are less likely than other teens to have sex at young ages, get into fights, or be suspended from school, and they are at lower risk for thoughts of suicide..."
My mother is homemaker extraordinaire. I ate every night on beautiful china plates. We always used napkins at the table and we always had a salad and usually two veggies. Don't get me wrong, we ate too many sweets and tons of ice-cream every year. We weren't perfect, but we had a beautiful meal every night together as a family. As an adult and a mother, I often think what an amazing gift that was. It's a gift that I'd like to give to my daughter as well. I'm not as fancy, but it's the being together and the veggies that really count.
So, what is your best 10 min. recipe for someone who doesn't love the kitchen part. I've already shared my healthy pizza recipe with you. Then, if you want to e-mail me at love.boxes@att.net and I will e-mail you back some of Babara's great questions. Then, cut them up and either fold them or roll them up and put them in a jar that can be set on the table at dinner time.
PS.. Ok. so, I didn't share my healthy pizza recipe, but here it is. French Bread halved. Pizza spread. Turkey pepperoni (it's truly delish folk and 80% less fat) low fat mozzerella cheese. 6 minutes at 400 degrees and 4-5 minutes under the broiler. Prep time is literally 4 minutes and served with salad.. it's a great dinner.
9 comments:
I LOVE TO COOK! I could feeze some of our meals and ship them to you in exchange for loveboxes?? Hee heeeee. Oh yes, I gather your mother is amazing!! Especially from those amazing dresses of your Michelle speaks of!!
So, I have to say, eating at home everynight was amazing. My mother put on a dinner ever single night of my life. I don't remember not eating at the dinner table with my whole family. It was sooo terribly wondeful! I loved it!!!!! My mom even made the most amazing "PINK" spaghetti in the world. It is tasty, oh so tasty!!!
I agree with the stats about dinner at home, totally!!! xxo
Amen Amen to dinner at home as a family. Children need to learn to sit at a table with their parents, to use manners, to converse, to know what a place setting looks like, to make eye contact with parents and siblings, to have the TV and other noise turned off. If every family would have dinner together each evening... the world would be a better place.... As you can see... I am passionate about this.
Okay, I am trying to think what my favorite quick dinner is, I want copies of those questions. I think that is a great idea! Wouldn't that even make a great neighbor gift? I want vanessa's pink spaghetti recipe!
Lorinda sent this recipe e-mail..
Anyways, here goes. Take a whole chicken, remove any parts from in the cavity of it comes with parts in the cavity. :) Spray inside of slow cooker/crock pot and place chicken breast side up. Season very liberally with whatever seasoning you enjoy in chicken. (could season the underside and inside) So far I have done salt, pepper and lemon pepper and haven't ventured out only because I have liked it so much it's a keeper. Place lid on and walk away for 8 hours. No liquids. Nothing else to it. Do it in the morning and come dinner time your protein is done. It is very tender, hard to take out of the pot without falling to pieces, and very yum.
Megan sent this recipe e-mail...
My favorite 10-15 min. recipe is stir fry. I buy the frozen bag of vegetables with the stir fry sauce packet already in it. It takes 7 min to make. Then I make ramen (3 min) or rice (15 min) to go with it. 10- 15 min. tops! You can add pre-cooked chicken to that too and some spices and it tastes great!
I love what Elder Oaks said last conference "...what your children really want for dinner is YOU." So, don't worry about what to cook! I will send you some recipes if you want.
Michelle sent in these great ideas...In a crock pot put 2-3 boneless chicken breasts. In a bowl combine either 1 small bottle or half a large one of italian dressing, 1 T chili powder, 1T cumin and 3 cloves of garlic chopped. Mix it together dump it on top of the chicken and cook in the crock pot for 4 hours on low. After that take the chicken out and shred it and then put it back in the pot with the juices for another hour. I like this on top of salad and corn chips for a taco salad. Wm likes to use it for taco meat and Matthew likes it on top of chips for nashos. Oh, and Brittany just likes to eat the chicken. So that is why I like it, it can be used for several things and if you use 3-4 breasts you can usually get at least 2-3 meals out of it!
Oh, there is a salad dressing that is good with it too. In the blender you put 2 tomitillos, 1/2 bunch of cilantro, cove of garlic, 1 lime squeezed, 1 jalepenio, 1 small package of ranch prepared as directed. Blend it together. But I don't always have those ingredients so I just use regular ranch.
awww Tiffany ... you probably just are so busy with a lot of stuff that you don't want to "waste' time cooking right now.
Check out my food blog for the Lemon chicken recipe for a start, but, I will try to round up some quickie recipes to send to you.
I don't need any questions to begin conversation at my table..it is only my hubby and me, but we seem to yak and laugh non stop most days.
Circe sent in this recipe today! Thanks so much it sounds delish!
Put a pack of bonesless pork ribs in the crock pot in the AM. Add a can of diced tomatoes and a little oil and vinegar. at dinner time, shred the pork with a fork, put it in tortillas, add a little sour cream and cheese. Roll up and put in a 9 by 13. Open a can of green chile enchilada sauce, mix with sour cream. Pour over. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake a little. Love ya! Circe
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