Fighting Words

At three o’clock I got a text from my child I had not seen all day asking me the eternal question, “What’s for dinner?”  Thank goodness her father and I had just settled that question as he was heading out the door to the store.  Lord knows there might had been a fight over that innocent issue if I was required to go back to a store today.

What I don’t know is if Carter is asking the question to judge whether she should eat something she likes better where she is now or if she should accept an invitation to go out to dinner or if she is just hungry.  Whatever the reason I know that the “What’s for dinner” question has probably caused more disagreements in more households throughout the world for all time.

I remember thirty years ago my friend Gussy saying to her then husband David in response to that same question, “What are you trying to do start a fight?”  Granted they eventually did part ways and I’m sure it was not over what was for dinner since Gussy is a great cook.

I am so tired of thinking about what is for dinner even though over 500 cookbooks, endless cooking websites and multiple TV channels dedicated to food surround me.  Why with all these resources and the availability of almost any ingredient within five miles of my house is the dilemma about making dinner so prevalent?

I know it is harder for me since I am trying to keep it healthy, but even that is no excuse.

I know people who hate to, or are just not good cooks who make the same meals on the same nights of the week; meatloaf Monday, tuna noodle casserole Tuesday, wicked ham Wednesday (yeah I could not think of a W food), turkey tetrazzini Thursday, fish fry Friday, you got the picture.  I cannot imagine making the same thing over and over again, even just one over.  I know my child would probably love anyone of those weekday meals so I hope she does not read this blog since they are all way to fattening for us.

Those people who have a limited repertoire have cut way back on the stress about the “What’s for dinner” question.  If you serve the same things every week people stop asking.  I wonder if they complain more about the repetitiveness or less because it is a fait accompli?

I really don’t mind making dinner and yesterday we established I don’t like to shop for ingredients, but sometimes I would just like a few suggestions that fit both my dietary restrictions and time available.  Yes, we all can agree that beef wellington is yummy, but don’t ask for it on a Tuesday.  Some days I would be really happy just having Special K for dinner, any takers?