Scruffy Hubby and I used to have things pretty easy with just our first born baby boy Max. Being first time parents we of course had our heads right up our asses when it came to knowing what to do with this little bundle. We of course thought we were awesome but looking back I wish I could have a do over. I still joke that he was my practise baby. Max loved to eat! But me in all my stupidity believed that I needed to fee him "kid" food. The darling boy therefore ate A LOT of Kraft Dinner, chicken nuggets, pasta and processed meats. I was like a short order cook making food for Max and then meals for us. Once I started to realise how dumb this really was and unhealthy for my child I reformed our cooking and eating. Max was not impressed.
Eight years later and Max still is the pickiest of all three kids. My youngest Simon eats EVERYTHING! Black olives, spice, veggies and more! Our new family rule is that if Simon eats it then everyone has to. The one way to really get Max to like what he is going to eat is to let him cook.
Max had a really bad day today. My super keener child assured me that today was beach day and hot lunch. He even set out his costume last night. Max got up bright and early to put on his swim trunks and sun hat. He got to school and suddenly realised he was the only one dressed for the tropics. The poor boy was humiliated and had to suffer the day in beach wear because beach day is next week!
We decided to make a spaghetti dinner tonight. About 4 years ago Max declared that every Wednesday should be spaghetti night. The idea stuck and we try many kinds and varieties each hump day.
Max was very eager to cook with his Mamma! He really loves Canadian Chef Chuck Hughes and likes to feel grown up by using knives and stoves. We made Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca, Crunchy Salad, Garlic Bread and Silky Chocolate Ganache from page 54. It was 6:00pm and we were off. My darling boy was a chopping and cooking wonder. He was smiling and reading the cook book with ease. He loved using the food processor and his day of humiliation melted away. After 31 minutes we had a perfect weekday meal. The spaghetti was REALLY yummy and had a unique taste with the combination of tuna, capers, anchovies and cinnamon with the tomatoes. All three boys had two helpings. Max gave the whole meal a drum roll and announced it was all a 5. Simon loves to copy his big brother and also gave everything a 5 and wanted me to write down that he cooked too. Mary gave the chocolate a 5 and would not eat anything else...hmmmmm. I am gonna have to work on that girl. Scruffy Hubby gave the meal a 3 as he helped himself to seconds. Scruffy Hubby is the "normal food Nazi". He only likes difficult to make and/or exotic food. One of his favourite meals of mine are baked beans that take two days to make!
I hope that all three of my children learn the value and fun of home made food. I will make it my mission to ensure all three of them can cook and it is nights like this that set them well on their way. I love spending time in the kitchen with my little helpers.
The week night blog meals are fun but I may have to put them on hold. I have listened for the last hour to whines and cries of "where is Auntie" "why isn't anyone here" "this is no fun just us"! So I will once again get the whole family together this weekend!
See you next week!
Trish
Hi this is Max. I love the food my Mom makes.they all taste so good and looks exotic,rich with flavor.Every blog ,each dinner is a diffrent culture.
Chef Max ready for action! (yes that is his sun safe shirt he is wearing from the failed beach day)
Little brother Simon is trying to get in on the cooking action.
My very grown up man using the stove with ease.
Ready in only 31 minutes and a great week night meal!
MMMMM Chocolate gets a 5!
Simon the super eater!
One very happy little boy!
Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca, Crunchy Salad, Garlic Bread and Silky Chocolate Ganache from page 54. How could we not make this on a Wednesday? Spaghetti Wednesday is like having a really old family dog. It doesn’t jump all over you, licking your face, it doesn’t play fetch or do great tricks, but when you come home to visit, there he is sittin’ in the corner and he is good as ever, just where you left him last time you visited. He is a good dog and you look forward to seeing him, pat him on the head and then you go about your evening contently with a smile on your face knowing that next time your old family dog will be right where you left him. That’s spaghetti Wednesday…and it is good.
ReplyDeleteWell done me…for the most elaborate simile ever!