“This is the BEST DINNER EVER Naunta”

I knew the day would come when unfortunately, those words became, “umm, you know I don’t like cheese anymore.  It makes me gag.  Or bananas.  I don’t like them either.  And by the way, I’m really tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”

It used to be that almost every time I made dinner or packed her lunch for school, Madison couldn’t get enough of whatever I had made.  It could have been roasted chicken, peas, couscous, beef stew, macaroni and cheese, broccoli or yogurt pie.  To be fair, she still has her favorites, but really, the fact that I now have to navigate “that-makes-me-gag-territory” makes me wish she was seven again.

I still have it pretty easy so I’m not going to whine too much.  The fact that I only have one kid to cook for who still has a really adventurous palate is great.  And, she’ll at least try everything once.  But still, I long for the days when I could plop bowl of fried rice in front of her and listen to her gush about how great it all was.

Anyway, this new “ick” phase (as I am now calling it) has caused me to re-think my weekly menu planning.  Instead of making the mushroom leek tart (which has cheese in it) I’ll try a pot roast.  And instead of tacos (seriously, what kid doesn’t like tacos?  Or PIZZA for crying out loud?) I’ll make crack and peel shrimp, rice and asparagus.

Maybe I should look on the bright side and see this as an opportunity to stretch my menu-planning skills and culinary adventurousness.  Maybe we’re all just bored.  (I know I am.)  Maybe now is the time to try out the new cookware and gadgets I seem to have been acquiring lately at an alarming rate!  Yes, that’s it!  I will try one new recipe a week a la Julie & Julia!  (Okay, maybe I’m being a bit too ambitious.  I’m not sure that Madison is ready for Coq Au Vain but I’ve got a new Ina Garten I’m dying to flip through.)  New recipes, here I come!

But in the meantime, it will be nice to know that I can still rely on the dishes (so far) Madison hasn’t turned her nose up at yet:

Oatmeal – this is not your usual “stick to the ribs” variety, but instead it has peanut butter and maple syrup mixed in.

Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs and Bacon – uhh, no explanation necessary, I hope.

Egg Salad Sandwiches – I make mine with as few ingredients as possible: (6) hard-boiled eggs, 1/3 cup finely diced green onions, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and salt and pepper.

Tuna the Way Her Dad Makes it – 1 can albacore tuna, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 tbsp pickle relish, salt and pepper

Meatloaf

Chicken Enchiladas