My kids don't necessarily lunge for brussels sprouts and spinach. That hasn't stopped me from continually trying (sometimes bribing) my kids to try new food. I have been known to make 'Hulk Muffins' green because of spinach (and if you name it after a superhero chances are your son will eat 10), rename chia 'Strong Seeds', and do 80% of my baking with Whole Wheat.
My kids love artichokes, broccoli & carrots. Lila will eat raw bell peppers, Ethan will eat an entire avocado in one sitting & Emry will down a whole plate of steamed green beans.
We're off to a good start, but I always feel the need to amp up meals with more veggies (you know, to make up for the marshmallows).
That's why soup is my best friend. You can chock that baby full of veggies and my kids will eat it up, especially if there is ice cream in their future. Lila requested chili for dinner tonight. In my never ending quest to nourish their growing bodies I decided to deviate slightly from the recipe. About a cup of bell peppers and almost a whole head of shredded cauliflower later this is what my chili looks like.....
Not exactly what Lila had in mind, she asked why it wasn't brown (I also subbed ground turkey for the beef). I thought it would still look like chili but I guess I was wrong.
I dished them all up big bowls, grated some extra sharp cheddar on top and everyone ate and I even got one compliment on the delicious dinner. I am happy with one.
The real star of dinner though was THIS cornbread. Oh my gosh deliciousness. I will never make another recipe. The only change I made was pouring my batter into a hot cast iron skillet to bake and of course subbing in some whole wheat flour.
My next challenge is getting these same kids to clean the kitchen after dinner, volunteer to help their little brother with his homework, put dirty clothes in the hamper and not on the floor or stuffed into drawers, and have them express gratitude daily for their wonderful parents. I don't think it's too much to ask.
I think your chili looks delicious - and next time I make a chili I am putting cauliflower in it!
ReplyDeleteI loves me some corn bread - a restaurant in Chicago called Heaven on Seven makes the best jalapeno corn bread - I used to walk 10 blocks on my lunch hour to get it and shelled out $2.50 for the giant square (which was a lot of money for the single mom I was back then!).
p.s. I am not sure I've told you, but I love your writing style! :D
Mmm cornbread, that looks awesome with the buttermilk!! I like raw spinach but I have a hard time when it is cooked too, those tough stringy nubs gross me out. :) Yeah if only the kids would jump up after dinner and rush to clean up the dishes/kitchen! :)
ReplyDeleteI love soup and chili this time of year!
ReplyDeleteSo weird, sometimes we are one in the same! I made a meat sauce last night for pasta and I also used ground turkey and threw in mushrooms and a shredded carrot and zucchini, and it looked surprisingly similar to your dinner. Kylee actually said, "Mom, isn't that the same thing Aunt Marie was making?" Guess that happens when you were joined at the hip for so many years =)
ReplyDeleteMarie, glad the cornbread turned out so great. You mentioned it's getting a good picture of soup, I thought this picture of your "chili" turned out great. Love you, Shauna
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not too much to ask! Completely attainable :-)
ReplyDeleteMy mom made me eat lots of veggies, and while I complained the whole time, now I eat 'em every time!
Sorry Marie,I just noticed my comment is not readable. I meant to say I remember you saying it's hard to get a good picture of soup, but you did! Great job. Love you so much, Shauna
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are entertained by my blog. It's been fun doing this "project."
I love cornbread and chili. Perfect winter food (even if you do add extra veggies to it).
ReplyDeleteCornbread and chili are always a favorite at my house. I too sub ground meat for turkey and go heavy on beans and tomatos.
ReplyDeleteMmm, we love cornbread and chili here!
ReplyDeleteCornbread and chili is one of my favorite fall dinners. Yay for getting your kids to enjoy vegetables. I am sure that is one not so easy task!
ReplyDeleteI thought Maya was nuts for eating an entire avocado in one sitting with just a spoon but apparently it's more common than I thought?
ReplyDeleteLove soup...too bad my family isn't a huge fan. It's like they know I'm tricking them into eating veggies!
That's not too much to ask at all, considering you are Super Mom. Might I also suggest they rub your feet AFTER putting their clothes in the hamper???
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