My thoughts on a page.

We are what we eat. Ever heard someone say that? Do you really believe it?

I have heard it many times and I must admit while glaring at my non healthy eating teenager, I have actually said it to her. But really, are we what we eat?

If this is true God help my family and I.

A blogging buddy of mine who blogs at “Bumbles of Rice” has asked us to share a week of dinners.  What did we cook or serve to our family this week. We are members of the Irish Parenting Bloggers Group and online the other evening I confessed that I am not really a cook, and the dinners I serve are not something others would wish to emulate. However after a glass of wine I began to weaken. I am normal. I bet there are others just like me. So I have decided to share what it is to eat in my house.

Sunday.
Roast chicken, roast potatoes, potato gratin, carrots and broccoli.
The chicken was roasted, who’d have guessed. The potatoes were almost roasted. The carrots and broccoli were steamed.
The potato gratin came ready prepared, but it took skill and experience to carefully remove all packaging, and know exactly the right time to put it in the oven, and when to take it out.
The gravy is in powdered form although sometimes I add the fat juice from the meat. If I don’t my family never notice.

Every Sunday we have a roast. I excel on a Sunday stuffing the family with way too much food on every plate. There is of course a reason for such efforts. It is the one day we all eat together and I live in hope that the memory of our fabulous Sunday dinner will last the rest of the week!

Family verdict: “Lovely dinner”. “Roasties not crispy enough”. Comment of the day, “What meat was that?”.

Monday.
Exhausted by my efforts on a Sunday I usually have a less involved dinner on a Monday. So last week it was

Spaghetti Bolognaise.
This is a fancy name for cooked minced meat with a full jar of Dolmio smooth bolognaise sauce added. I read of others who make their own sauce and how they sneak in vegetables so their children do not notice. Well in my house I could be a Michelin star chef, but if it’s not Dolmio smooth sauce my gang will not eat it. Also my family are very like the princess and the pea. No matter the disguise they will find that pea, and not one bite of dinner will they eat afterwards.

Family verdict: “Yeuk I hate bolognaise”. “Are you sure this is smooth Dolmio?”. “How much pasta do you think I can eat?”.

Tuesday.
Rested after my day of no effort Monday I excelled myself last Tuesday. I went to the supermarket starving, and returned with all the ingredients for dinner. Three dinners to be exact.

Dinner 1, for myself and my husband.
Chicken and mushroom risotto.
Ten minutes into cooking this I remember why we don’t have it regularly. As I stood for hours (well thirty minutes) chained to the oven, constantly pouring in stock, and struggling to stay away from the wine used in the recipe, I cursed my stupidity for going to the supermarket hungry.
Verdict: “A gooey mess”. “Tasty”.

Dinner 2. For my eldest daughter.
Stir fry chicken with vegetables (baby corn and red peppers)
This is a difficult dish as you must be very careful when you pour in the chilli and soy sauce!
Verdict: “Thanks mum”.

Dinner 3. For my two younger girls.
Cooked pasta tossed in butter with lardons thrown on top. a sprinkling of lardons.
Verdict: “I think I’m gone off this dinner”. “It’s better than bolognaise”.

Wednesday.
I’d a busy Wednesday having to leave the house early and not returning until very late, so I made a dinner early in the day. I also did something I almost never do, I made enough for Thursday.

Wednesday Beef Curry.
What a treat for the whole family. This dish contained copious amounts of beef, no vegetables of any sort and was made using McDonnels curry powder.
Family verdict: “I love this dinner”.

Thursday.
Beef curry day two.
Family verdict “Did you add water to this to make more?” (might have!) “Where is the meat?”. (You ate it all last night!)

Friday
We went to a friends confirmation and ate all she offered us.

Saturday is home made day.
Pizza or chicken goujons with chips deep fried in oil I should have changed a while ago.
Both the pizzas and the goujons are bought but after removing them from the package I do make them myself in the oven and serve them hot with the chips.
Verdict: The goujons are a little too crispy (burned).  ( I went online and got distracted)

So that was the week of dinners in my house. Not exactly inspiring. I am often racked with guilt as I read of others who cook organic veg, make their own sauces and put time and effort into their families meals. However even though I despise cooking I do actually cook every day. As for you are what you eat. My family are rarely ever sick. So if you follow that logic we must be healthy, therefore we must be healthy eaters!

If you fancy sharing your week in dinners or you would like to see what delights others have posted just head over to Bumbles of Rice.

As the idea of me doing a post on cooking is so rare can I just take this moment to plug a fellow Irish Parenting Bloggers book. It’s called “Wholesome, feed you family well for less”. by Caitríona Redmond. Read it and be inspired to do better than me!

photo credit: wEnDaLicious via photopin cc
photo credit: Scorpions and Centaurs via photopin cc