What’s for Dinner?

To moms all around the world, the question, What’s for dinner? is akin to fingernails on a chalkboard.

For all you fancy Rachel Ray cooker-types this may not be for you.

For the rest of us, can I get an AMEN?!

Some people cook with love; I cook with disdain, or at the very least indifference. I feel the same about laundry.

I grew up with a mom who was a great cook, and she definitely cooked with love. My grandma cooked with blackened toast, things that sounded fancy but tasted terrible like Salmon Croquettes, and two spices, salt and pepper. I take after her.

Apparently, this whole showing-love-through-cooking thing skips generations, because my junior high daughter is already a better cook than I am.

And I’m totally fine with that!

I have other skills. I can actually cook, because my mom—the great cooker with love—was also a teacher. I just don’t like to.

So every night when somehow all these kids want food yet again, I have to come up with something 1) healthy, 2) edible, and 3) affordable. That is a big ask these days.

Don’t get me started on how much real food costs at the grocery store!

And I have kids who are teens and athletes, plus I’m married to an actual giant—do you know how much food we go through?

But this year I’m trying something new. This middle aged dog is trying a new trick—I’m both planning our meals and trying to not hate it.

Each week I’m posting our menu on the fridge white board. No longer bombarded by the question of What’s for dinner? I can actually relax as I’m cooking.

No more sighs or eye rolls, because the menu has been posted all week so they got that junk out of their system earlier.

And it helps me—the non-planning spontaneous one—get a handle on these details, so I have everything I need each day.

I know some of y’all figured this out years ago, but I’m a late bloomer in several other areas too. Let me have my victory here, ok?

I’m trying to look at cooking through a new lens—being grateful I have people to cook for, that I have food in my pantry and fridge to cook, and that we have time to gather at the table as many nights as possible.

I now get rave reviews on my lasagna because they’ve been looking forward to it for days. I am finding a rhythm to our nights that cooking adds to rather than takes away from. I’m also learning to look at food as an event, rather than just fuel.

I’m by no means an expert, and you won’t find me hosting my own cooking show anytime soon. Actually, that might be kinda funny. But I am turning a corner in my own growth as a human and that feels pretty good. And I’m trying to make memories by breaking (and sometimes even making) bread.

So…what’s for dinner? I could use some new ideas….💗

Much love,

Meredith