Today I feel like complaining a little. I like that my kids are good eaters for the most part. It’s pretty easy to choose a restaurant, they usually eat their veggies, and they’ll try new things. Here are a few complaints that ALL came up today.
I find good healthy recipes that everyone likes, and then my family starts to complain that they are bored. What?!?!? If someone else made all of my meals for me, I think I’d be happy with sandwiches twice a day. So, now I not only have to find healthy yummy recipes, but now they can only be made a handful of times before I have to go search for new ones. I don’t yet have an answer for this one. I’d love some ideas.
Next, my kids have decided they don’t like pizza. We order pizza and watch a movie together on Fridays. It’s our family tradition, and it means I don’t have to cook that night. They both started protesting pizza last week. They want spring rolls and sushi instead. Pizza for the family is $20 or less. Take out sushi/spring rolls is twice that. What kid doesn’t like pizza?!?! But how can I tell them they HAVE to eat a less healthy food option? I should be glad they are making healthier choices than the one I have been making for them on Friday nights. Anyone have an idea for healthy AND cheap delivery/takeout?
My next and final complaint is restaurant manners. My kids have terrible ones. We don’t eat out much, but when we do, it makes me not want to do it again for a LONG time. My son yells and runs around, crawls under tables, neither act like they know how to use a napkin, and my 7 year old daughter still has to be reminded to use utensils, not fingers. sigh. Any ideas that don’t involve the use of electronics?
Now here is my very favorite soup recipe. The soup that everyone LOVED the first few times I made it and now groan over. Credit for this recipe goes to the Soup Peddler’s cookbook.
Bouktouf
1 c. olive oil
3 onions (I use 2)
2 potatoes, peeled and diced
3 large zucchini
1/4 c. tomato paste
juice of 4 lemons, or to taste (I don’t ever use more than 3. I like to add it slowly until it tastes right to me.)
2 bunches cilantro, coarsely chopped, include stems (I don’t usually use 2, more like 1 1/2, but add till it tastes right)
Salt
Heat oil in a soup pot on med-high heat. Add onions and saute for about 15 min.
Add potatoes, zucchini and tomato paste. Then just cover with water. Turn up heat to high until it gets to a strong simmer. Then reduce heat to med-low and cook for about 20 min.
Turn off the heat.
Add lemon juice and cilantro and salt. Puree with an immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender until smooth. Add more lemon, cilantro, or salt if needed, then puree again.
Can be eaten hot or cold. We always have it hot.
I hope you and everyone you cook for enjoy this recipe! Happy cooking and eating.
Author Info
No Comments