cooking update

Just a quick note on my cooking adventures. It's going well. I think I made dinner something like 4 nights last week, like real dinners, nothing frozen to oven involved. I try to include the kids in the preparation and have set new rules for dinner that they seem to be following. They have to try a bite of the new food. If they don't like it they can make a sandwich, but if they choose to do that, then no dessert. My kids are motivated by dessert (wonder where they get that). It's funny though because dessert usually consists of 3-5 jelly beans. So far I made sloppy joes (vegetarian for me and the kids) chicken casserole, baked spaghetti and something else I can't remember. I even stir fried some vegetables to go with it when my usual MO is to open a can. Casey loved the sloppy joe and Dylan likes edamame. Who knew? I feel very good about my progress.

Cooking

I don't cook. I can't cook. Is there a difference? Maybe I don't cook because I can't, or can't because I don't. In any case, it's a vicious little cycle. I try to cook, every now and then because, well, because my family is hungry and isn't that in the job description of mom? I made a real effort 2 nights ago. I made shrimp with a sauce and rice and lima beans (from the can, heated in the microwave). I grilled the shrimp, watched the rice carefully so it wouldn't burn and then of course had to throw some chicken nuggets in the oven and a grilled cheese on the stove for my picky eaters. I spent an hour running from the grill to the kitchen trying to pull it all together. I spent another hour washing, let's see 1,2,3,4 pots and pans, loading dishes and putting away used ingredients. It was good, but I just don't get it. Back to fish sticks last night. Much better :)