Ready, set, go!

Here we go! I have started a blog! I have no idea what I am doing, but I will have to fumble my way through this. This will be my way of sharing with all of you out there who face the agonizing question :"What's for dinner?" A while back I commented to my husband that I had cooked well over 300 dinners in the passing year. We are a family of 6 who rarely eat out, so almost every dinner is planned for and cooked by me. Throughout all these years as a stay-at-home mom, cooking has become a great passion of mine. It is a great outlet for my creative side. Over the years dinner time has become sacred in our family. We have always avoided activities scheduled in the evening between 5:30 and 6:30 (which possibly have stifled our children's competitive development). But this is our time. I treasure it like the fresh Norwegian ocean air (see explained under profile). Now that we have teenagers in the house, this is usually the only time of day that the whole family is together, and the only time I have a chance to catch up with them on what is going on in their lives, academically and socially. This is the time we revisit fond memories of fun times, plan ahead for future events and share big and small happenings or concerns. The kids usually leave the table for more important tasks (like chatting on Facebook), but my husband and I linger, sharing a piece of chocolate, or other treat just for us (we usually end up sharing with the kids too!). This is our time to unwind and share the events of the day and look ahead for the next one. I believe this precious dinner hour (it is more like 45minutes) has been great for our marriage too. It gives us a chance to really connect. Then we wake up and it's clean up time, homework, baths, rides etc., etc. So, keeping the philosophical element of family dinner time in mind. Let me get to the more practical aspects of figuring out what to make for dinner each day.

My sister tells me how she starts thinking about what to make for dinner in the car on the way home from work, and always needs to stop at the grocery store before picking her daughter up from day care. I don't think she is the only one in this situation. Putting a somewhat nice, home cooked meal on the table takes a little planning! Over the years I have made menus on and off. For a while I would set up a menu for a whole month at a time. It was really just a blue print that I didn't necessarily follow to a T, but it was a great motivator. I fell off that wagon! More recently I have planned only week by week and sometimes even just a few days at a time. But I always take some time to think trough which meals I would like to make, look trough recipes for ideas etc. I also recently commented to my husband that I can probably count on one hand the few times in our marriage that I have not had a plan, or a concrete answer to his daily question of "what's for dinner tonight?" Although I do most of the cooking, more or less from scratch, we do occasionally order pizza, or pick up burritos from Chipotle, but this is always planned. It's not a last minute act of desperation. And like I said, we always eat at home, plates on the table.

I am hoping that with this blog I can give all of you some ideas and inspiration. Dinner can be anything you want it to be. Sandwiches, pasta, steaks, soup, omelet or pancakes. The important thing is that there is a planned meal at a set time in the evening where the family gathers and enjoys each others company. I think my motto is "It isn't what you eat as much as how you eat it!"

I have subscribed to Cooking Light for years and many of my recipes come from the magazine. Some of our family's favorites are passed on from family and friends. In addition, some of my newer recipes come from a variety of chefs, teaching at Cooks of Crocus Hill, where I work part time.

I figure, since I do all this cooking, why not share it with all of you? It seems to me that very often it is hard to come up with something new. We go trough our staples, spaghetti w/meatballs, tacos, chili, pizza (for winter), burgers and brats (for the summer) and we get stuck. I know I do. And I am certain that this blog will help me develop my culinary horizon as well. I will have to challenge myself to try things I am not good at. I don't cook a lot of seafood, but I will have to explore this more. As well as making more homemade pizzas and breads. Did I mention I am a sweet tooth? I love desserts, so there will be some of those too.
Wish me luck on this new endeavour!
Lynn


My first recipe is from a cooking class Vilde and I took together a few years ago at Cooks. It is sweet and tangy and has become a family favorite.

Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein
10oz (225g) spaghetti, broken in half
1t Dark sesame oil
1T Vegetable oil
3 cups Chopped broccoli, or other stir fry veggies
1 Large onion thinly sliced
1T fresh ginger, peeled and minced
4 Garlic cloves, minced
12 oz. (1/2 kg) sirloin steak or flank steak, thinly sliced
3 T Low sodium Beef broth
3T Low sodium soy sauce
2T Brown sugar
1T Oyster sauce (I used fish sauce)

Prepare spaghetti according to package directions - be sure not to overcook it. Drain and return to pot and toss with the sesame oil.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add the broccoli and onions and cook, stirring frequently. Add the ginger and garlic and continue stirring while mixture cooks for another 30 seconds. Add the meat and cook, still stirring for about 5 minutes until just cooked. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the broth, soy sauce, brown sugar and oyster sauce and mix well. Add this mixture to the pasta and then add all to the vegetables, cooking to heat through - about 2 min.

Makes 4-6 servings ( I use a little more meat to have enough for my crew.)

(Original recipe by chef Van Kezler from his Rents and Runts cooking class)