My family is a little strange, but quite frankly, with me as the Mommy I guess they would have to be. As the Coordinator for Research and Development, I have to taste test every possible new mix and every recipe before it can be published or even considered for publication. My family is forced to eat some weird combinations for dinner, depending on which recipes need to be tested. Some nights, my kids beg for something plain. “Please, Mommy, can we have hot dogs or pizza or something NORMAL and not Homemade Gourmet!” (I say yes, but in reality, the hot dogs get topped with Bonnie’s Blue Ribbon Chili and the pizza is topped with the Homestyle Spaghetti Sauce - ha, so there!)

While other women are reading romance novels, I read cookbooks. While some families are watching the Disney Channel, my kids are forced to watch the Food Network. Last night, we were watching “The Iron Chef.” My soon to be 9 year old has decided that this week, I should have to do a complete meal with a “secret” ingredient that she should get to choose. She decides that it will be “oranges” and that I will need to make a drink, an appetizer, an entree and a dessert all using the secret ingredient.

Now, as much as I cook, I didn’t think this should be a problem. I’m thinking I still have some Orange Vinaigrette Dressing for a salad (that constitutes an appetizer, right??), I have an Orange Pound Cake for dessert, I can make chicken with Kansas City rub and Orange marmalade and maybe I could add some sliced oranges in some Raspberry Tea. I figured that while she was at school, I could go ahead and makes the cake, marinate the meat and mix up the vinaigrette. OH NO! She has informed me that I have one hour to complete the meal, because those are THE RULES for the Iron Chefs. Not only that, I have to do it all while she is home, so she can be the announcer.

Part of me is quite joyful that I have a daughter with such a fun spirit, the other part of me is rolling my eyes at the “joys” of motherhood.

You know, when I was a trial attorney, she never asked me to conduct a trial here at the house! Of course, she has never watched Judge Judy, so maybe that is why, hee hee.

Have any fun kid’s cooking stories to share?

Cindy

This entry was posted on Monday, October 15th, 2007 at 9:40 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.