Thanksgiving has left the building

Back at work already after a week off for Thanksgiving.

When did kids start getting the entire week off? I remember being at school until Wednesday ... I am telling you they get more days off than one could hope for!

We spent most of the week dealing with the norovirus ... or a more common term, the stomach flu. I had it at the beginning of the week, Big J had it for Thanksgiving, and E got it this past weekend.

So, most of my vacation was spent doing laundry along with cooking.

But, all in all, it was a nice holiday. Good food at least! ;)

Now ... onto preparing for Christmas!!!!

Our trip around the world

I used to belong to a Supper Club. I loved this activity. Every six weeks some girlfriends and I would rotate houses and host a dinner, cooked by us, from various regions or cuisines. It was always great company, and it got my cooking "bug" out of my system. (Cooking for 3 boys, each of whom, including the big one, can have various degrees of pickiness every night at dinner). About a year ago, due to many reasons, our Supper Club ended.
After a while I started to miss being adventurous in the kitchen. When I tried, I always had looks at the table as if to say, "really Mom, you want us to eat this?"
We also deal with dine a ditch syndrome at our house. I spend one hour cooking and preparing, the boys spend 10 minutes picking at food, shoving the forced stuff in their faces and then quickly leaving the table. It was really getting annoying.
So, I came up with a plan.
I made a bunch of slips of paper with names of countries, states, regions, etc on them. I placed these all in a pretty vase and every Sunday I have the two boys select a card each.
That week we cook from the cards, and Big J has to learn three things about the place, which we discuss at that dinner.
This has been a blast so far. We have all loved certain things ... and hated certain things. But, we have been learning and trying ... and I have been cooking!!!!
Give it a try in your home ... it is bound to start some conversations and challenge everyone to expand their culinary horizons!!!

Here are some of the evenings and menus we have had thus far:

New York: Turkey pastrami sandwiches and Manhattan Clam Chowder
New England: Corn Chowder and crab cakes and Fluffernutters for dessert
California: California Chicken burgers with guacamole and chips
Texas: Brisket, Texas Roadhouse green beans and french fries
Hawaii: Kalua Pulled Pork, Hawaiian coleslaw and pineapple pie
Soul Food: Baked "fried" chicken, greens, sweet potato fries
Thailand: Shrimp Curry, lemongrass soup
Japan: Chicken Stir Fry, California sushi rolls
Poland: European Chicken Noodle Soup, Cheese pierogis
American Indian: Cherokee Pepper Pot; Navajo Bread
Brazil: Fejoda
Chile: Picadillo and beef empandadas
Mexico: Chicken enchiladas
Jamaica: Jerk Chicken sandwiches with black beans

Checking in

I am not dead ... just busy.

Very. Very. Busy.