Have you seen those advertisements saying, "We tried a meal kit and here's what happened?..."
Let me go back a minute.
When I went to college, I didn't know how to cook. I mean, like - I couldn't boil water, level of non-cooking - I didn't really think about it much I guess. Growing up in my hometown we didn't have many choices of grabbing a quick bite other than a Dairy Queen, so my parents handled every meal with two choices... 1. Take it or 2. Leave it.
Heading off to college meant dorm food from then on.
It wasn't until graduate school when I realized how vast my inadequacies in the culinary arts actually were. I think it was around the time my roommate, Amy and I looked at each other and kind of shrugged as we used a hand held can opener to crank open and eat only corn for dinner one night, when I knew it was bad. That, or the time I called home to ask how to make spaghetti and heard the phone drop.
That's when it hit me. Sitting over my thousandth bowl of cereal, I proclaimed, "One day, I'm going to learn how to cook. Really cook, not just spaghettios warmed in the microwave."
Amy and I agreed and over the next series of years, we honed in on our inner FoodTV goddesses.
Fast forward (ahem) several years and we both have families of our own. We love sharing stories and try to get together as often as we can. One of the fun things while we're apart though, is to connect through recipes of what works and what doesn't with our kids.
All that being said, it came as a pleasant surprise then, when for my birthday she gave the gift of one of those meal kits. The kind where all the fresh ingredients are sent with a yummy recipe inside and you cook/put it all together. The irony wasn't lost on me as I smiled in memory of our canned food dinner days - and I was excited to see what it was all about.
Ordering the meals and the dates when they'd be delivered, I eagerly awaited.
Sure enough, a big box plopped right at our front door and it was packaged amazingly with everything still cold inside.
While looking through the ingredients and the instructions, I stopped. Constantly, I tell Adam how I want the kids to know how to cook before they leave the house. Sure, most kids know how to make Ramen noodles once they're gone, but I want them to know how to truly cook, from recipe to ingredients to completion.
It was at that very moment, the cook off challenge began.
In a house with four kids, there's no better motivation than a little competition.
Pairing the kids in teams, two picked one recipe and two chose the other. All the ingredients were arranged and the challenge began.
Let me go back a minute.
When I went to college, I didn't know how to cook. I mean, like - I couldn't boil water, level of non-cooking - I didn't really think about it much I guess. Growing up in my hometown we didn't have many choices of grabbing a quick bite other than a Dairy Queen, so my parents handled every meal with two choices... 1. Take it or 2. Leave it.
Heading off to college meant dorm food from then on.
It wasn't until graduate school when I realized how vast my inadequacies in the culinary arts actually were. I think it was around the time my roommate, Amy and I looked at each other and kind of shrugged as we used a hand held can opener to crank open and eat only corn for dinner one night, when I knew it was bad. That, or the time I called home to ask how to make spaghetti and heard the phone drop.
That's when it hit me. Sitting over my thousandth bowl of cereal, I proclaimed, "One day, I'm going to learn how to cook. Really cook, not just spaghettios warmed in the microwave."
Amy and I agreed and over the next series of years, we honed in on our inner FoodTV goddesses.
Fast forward (ahem) several years and we both have families of our own. We love sharing stories and try to get together as often as we can. One of the fun things while we're apart though, is to connect through recipes of what works and what doesn't with our kids.
All that being said, it came as a pleasant surprise then, when for my birthday she gave the gift of one of those meal kits. The kind where all the fresh ingredients are sent with a yummy recipe inside and you cook/put it all together. The irony wasn't lost on me as I smiled in memory of our canned food dinner days - and I was excited to see what it was all about.
Ordering the meals and the dates when they'd be delivered, I eagerly awaited.
Sure enough, a big box plopped right at our front door and it was packaged amazingly with everything still cold inside.
While looking through the ingredients and the instructions, I stopped. Constantly, I tell Adam how I want the kids to know how to cook before they leave the house. Sure, most kids know how to make Ramen noodles once they're gone, but I want them to know how to truly cook, from recipe to ingredients to completion.
It was at that very moment, the cook off challenge began.
In a house with four kids, there's no better motivation than a little competition.
Pairing the kids in teams, two picked one recipe and two chose the other. All the ingredients were arranged and the challenge began.
Ethan and Lauren Elizabeth worked on General Tso's Chicken while Christian and Preston had grilled steak fajitas. It quickly became a matter of controlled chaos as I realized how dangerously unfamiliar they were with the basics of everything from handling a knife, to where to stand at a grill.
The winner? As you can imagine, three votes went for one meal, while three votes were for the other. The true victory came in stepping back and letting them go. Through their bickering, figuring out how to work things out, measuring and stirring...miraculously...two ridiculously delicious meals magically appeared and with them, their new found sense of pride in learning how to work from start to finish and from recipe to table.
We'll keep working and trying to make it fun. Will they open a restaurant one day? Probably not, but if they'll be able to fix more than a frozen pizza, freshman year - I'll consider it a success.
Thank You, Amy for more than you'll ever know! It wasn't just a gift of food...it was time, togetherness and love...all that from a can of corn. :) Miss and Love You More Than Words! XO
Editor's note: Since the cook off challenge, our 14 year old wanted to figure out how to make his favorite meal (chicken fettucine alfredo) so he followed the following recipe. It was smack your mama good and for one split second - there was peace and quiet in our house as all six of us inhaled our dinner and almost licked the plates. Thank You Lord Jesus, there's hope.
Fettucine Chicken Alfredo
Pasta-
Cut into bite sized pieces or strips, then season with salt/pepper and garlic salt to taste. Cook/brown boneless, skinless chicken over medium heat in 2-3 Tablespoons of oil until cooked through.
Alfredo Sauce -
1/2 cup butter
salt
fresh ground pepper
3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for topping if desired
In a large pot, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds then reduce heat to medium-low.
Whisk flour into the butter continuously until it turns golden in color, then whisk in the heavy cream. Continue to cook just until the sauce slightly thickened, then add 1/2 cup Parmesan into sauce, stirring until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Remove the pot from heat and cover until ready to serve.
Combine chicken, sauce and pasta. Enjoy!
We'll keep working and trying to make it fun. Will they open a restaurant one day? Probably not, but if they'll be able to fix more than a frozen pizza, freshman year - I'll consider it a success.
Thank You, Amy for more than you'll ever know! It wasn't just a gift of food...it was time, togetherness and love...all that from a can of corn. :) Miss and Love You More Than Words! XO
Editor's note: Since the cook off challenge, our 14 year old wanted to figure out how to make his favorite meal (chicken fettucine alfredo) so he followed the following recipe. It was smack your mama good and for one split second - there was peace and quiet in our house as all six of us inhaled our dinner and almost licked the plates. Thank You Lord Jesus, there's hope.
Fettucine Chicken Alfredo
Pasta-
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs plus 2 egg yolks, beaten
- Pour flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add eggs and yolks, and mix with hands or wooden spoon until the dough comes together. If dough is dry, add 1 or 2 tablespoons cold water.
- Knead the dough until smooth. Roll with a rolling pin or pasta machine as thinly as possible then cut into desired shape.
Cut into bite sized pieces or strips, then season with salt/pepper and garlic salt to taste. Cook/brown boneless, skinless chicken over medium heat in 2-3 Tablespoons of oil until cooked through.
Alfredo Sauce -
1/2 cup butter
salt
fresh ground pepper
3 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for topping if desired
In a large pot, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds then reduce heat to medium-low.
Whisk flour into the butter continuously until it turns golden in color, then whisk in the heavy cream. Continue to cook just until the sauce slightly thickened, then add 1/2 cup Parmesan into sauce, stirring until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
Remove the pot from heat and cover until ready to serve.
Combine chicken, sauce and pasta. Enjoy!
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