The Age Old Question

What’s for dinner?

I never appreciated that question until I was the one in charge of dinner.

Every. Single. Night.

We make homemade dinners almost every night. It is a rare treat when we go out to dinner.  We also eat together – every night! I look forward to dinner as it is a time we reconnect after our day.  We talk about projects, people and anything else that comes up. I ask the kids about their classes and what they are covering. It is precious time that we’ll all look back on and be grateful for.

Lately one little man – soon to be a teenager - seems to be complaining a lot (almost nightly) about the meals that are prepared. I don’t like that or we have this all the time.  So I have been suggesting others come up with a meal or two. Let’s try something new. I also ask what items I should buy for dinner and I always hear, “I don’t know.”  Frustrating to say the least.

This past weekend, I pulled out a collection of recipes and placed a few to the side. I really need to start making some of these recipes before I collect anymore. It’s a fault of mine.  Every time I get the box out, I get mad at myself. Why do I clip and put them in a box and shove it out of sight?  I am looking forward to our Christmas break as I will be trying new recipes. I have recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The family will probably complain about new foods and ask for something familiar.  One can only hope!  I also need to organize my “Tested and Approved Recipe” collection.  I need to categorize the recipes in the binder for easy of finding what I am looking for. Although flipping through the recipes, I often come across a recipe I haven’t made in a while.  That recently happened and I made the apple cake recipe – not once but twice – because the family raved over it.  And that is what makes me happy. I love to cook and bake for my family so when I hear – that again or I don’t like chicken, it upsets me. Hits me in the heart. I am persistent and we all need to eat, so I keep returning to the kitchen to make our meals. Secretly I would like to stop making dinner for a night or two and see what reaction I get. I have responded that they should be thankful for even getting dinner as there are kids in their school that don’t get dinner every night or if they do, it might not be home cooked, just something out of a box or bag. One needs to count their blessings.  I am blessed that I can provide for and cook for my family. 

Here is a recipe I made for dinner on December 5. I gave two chicken recipes to Elliott and asked him which one he would like to try, since he doesn’t like chicken. He chose “Cracked Out” Chicken Bubble Up – in all seriousness, I think he choose it because of the name. Consensus was the recipe should go in the keeper file. It is not a recipe I will make often but it is good for a change and very easy to make.

“Cracked Out” Chicken Bubble Up 

2 cups cooked, chopped chicken

1 (10.75 oz.) can cream of chicken soup

8 oz. sour cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 ½ Tbsp. Ranch dressing mix

¼ cup cooked, chopped bacon

1 (12 oz.) can refrigerated Grands Jr. biscuits

Preheat oven to 350˚F.  Lightly spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.

Combine chicken, soup, sour cream, cheese, Ranch mix and bacon. Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces (I cut them into smaller pieces). Toss with chicken mixture.

Pour mixture into prepared pan.  Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly and biscuits are golden brown.

Quick. Simple. Tasty.

Little (can’t really say that as he is taller than me) man approved!

And then I have to deal with the older man….he seems to have jumped on the same wagon, as he complained about his lunch the other day.  So I spoke, “Well, find a recipe or two.  I’d be happy to make something new and tasty for you.”  That fell on deaf ears.