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Thursday, October 9, 2008

What's for dinner?



Honestly, it's not that I don't like to cook. Because...I love to cook. Just not night after night after night. This dinner thing is getting on my nerves. Coming up with a menu early in the day, coming home late from the office and cooking it and then serving it and then cleaning up after it amid everything else that has to get done in a short period of time is taking it's toll on me. I mean, I don't like to complain. But, sometimes I just can't help it.

People seem to think that having a Lapband makes the whole dinner thing (or any food event) harder. But, it doesn't. We Lapbanded folks can eat regular food. Sure, we have to be careful--as I've said many times before--about what we eat and how much we eat. But, for the most part...it's business and usual. That's the supreme beauty of a Lapband. We're not left to eating only diet food or just protein or just veggies or salads or tuna fish. At least for me, when I went on a diet in my pre-Lapbanded life, that's the way it was. Now, it's eat what you want, what you can and just be smart about it. Which, of course, doesn't make the whole dinner thing harder. The only thing that it's done to the way I eat is that I really want my food to taste good and I want it to be the food that I really like. Not that I wanted to eat lousy food before. But, when I was dieting in my pre-Lapband life, I expected to eat food that wasn't all that great. It was all part of the suffering and deprivation thing (you know...to lose weight, we must suffer...) So, I find myself thinking a lot harder about what I really want to eat....maybe that makes it harder, I'm not sure. I've developed this mentality that if I am going to eat something then it better damn well be good. Yes, I'm a foodie from way back. But, even as a foodie, before my Lapband, I would put up with sub par food...I mean, I had to eat so I ate. Whatever it was...I ate it. I guess that explains a little bit of how I ended up needing my Lapband.

People who know me have heard me say many times that every meal in my house has to be an event. I know I've said it a million times. Sometimes I say it with great disgust, other times I say it with pride. But, no matter--it's one of my standard lines. Because it's true. The "what's for dinner?" question is a standard line too. From my family. Somedays it haunts me all day long. Because, honestly, I have no f'in idea what's for dinner! I'm not organized enough to have something planned and my taste buds are not quick enough to know what I will want to eat. Like everyone else, we have our standard foods that appear on the dinner table (chicken, salmon, tacos, salads,hamburgers, pasta). But, since I'm not one of those kind of people who adheres to schedules or to keeping everything the same day-in-and-day out, I get tired of the same old, same old. Even so, that doesn't mean that I have a recipe box filled with great ideas for every night of the week. In fact, even though I have a shitload of cookbooks, recipe boxes, food magazines and stray recipes from friends, I don't follow recipes much anyway. I just use them for ideas mostly.

So, here I sit....it's Thursday....very early morning. I'm headed out to meet my dear friend Martha for our morning walk. And, I have no idea what the hell I am going to make for dinner. I have a feeling it's going to be one of those days when I think about dinner all day long. All day long. Now you know...my Lapband doesn't stop me from thinking about food from morning until night. It might stop me from eating tons of food. But, not from thinking about it.
So, I'm wondering.....what are YOU making for dinner tonight?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

you caught me on a bad day because dinner tonight is "you are on your own" night or "wing it night" as we so affectionately call it around here, LOL. I have a doctors appt after work so I wont have time to make anything. I am really a bad cook/wife/mother about dinner because I hate it. I am happy with a bowl of cereal so I can be on my way with all the stuff that has to be done around here.
But I will tell you what I made last night that is good, quick and EASY. It is called Chicken-ala-Can-Can (it was my mothers). here is the recipe:

Enought cooked, cubed chicken to feed whoever you are feeding (two cups fed my husband and I).
1 can cream celery soup
1 can cream chicken soup
1 soup can Minute Rice
1 soup can water
French Fried Onion Rings(the ones you use for the green bean casserole at the holidays)

Mix the cooked, cubed chicken with the soups,water and rice, bring to a boil in a large sauce pan, stirring frequently. Lower to simmer and simmer until thoroughly heated through stirring alot and rice is cooked (that is why you use minute rice). In the meantime, I toast the FF onion rings on a cookie sheet in the oven (about 300 degrees) for a couple of minutes to get crunchy.
Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle the FF onion rings on top.
Nicely served with rolls and a salad.

You can get this ready in about a half hour (take that Rachel Ray!!LOL) and it is filling and warming at this time of the year!!

So enjoy your Thursday and if you need any other quick recipes, let me know cuz I am the lasiest cook around!! LOL

Jill
email: jillybean@hvc.rr.com

Jody V said...

Hey Judi -

FRANK is making london broil for the kids and I am having Tilapia. Beef is tough for me. Notice the start of my comment...FRANK IS...he does dinner. And a lot more but I would be embarrassed to tell! Get that crock pot going!

Jody

Ashley said...

actually this is one thursday that i'm not cooking and probably just ordering pizza and salads. if you add salad to anything it makes it healthier(thats at least what i think, but you have to eat it first:))

Eileen, Founder, Organizer, Mayor and Chief Cook And Bottle Washer of the Anger Management Girls. said...

I "Dust" my stove. Need I say more?
Next time that baby will see any action is Thanksgiving.

Essential Oil Premier University said...

You know, I don't know what I'd do without my slow cooker. Throw in the meat in the AM, nuke a potato and green beans get home home and it's DONE!!

Love it.

Blessings,

Sher

Anonymous said...

so Judi, what did you end up making for dinner????? inquirying minds want to know, LOL!
Have a great weekend, the weather here is supposed to be perfect, hope it is for you too!!

Jill