Well, i did my homework, found a few good looking vegitarian recipies on the web then picked two that went together (like flavors, simmilar ingredients etc..) and that i could easily make a seccond main dish with meat in it for the rest of the family. I was pretty stoked about it. It was actually a calandar planned event.

 

On Friday night i am going to cook vegitarian food! The kids talked about it, asked if they could help. Three of my children even suggested that vegitarianism was something they had considered as well and wondered outloud, repeatedly, if i wouldn't help them on that track. "Sure!" i said with as little patronizing sarcasm as i could muster. A quick snicker behind my hand cleverly disguised as a yawn and we were off to the grocery store.

 

The most difficult thing about the menu was the ingredients list. I am sure that seasoned vegitarians have all of this stuff in their pantry all the time. Even at home chefs probably don't have to scramble for sesame oil and naturally brewed soy sauce. I on the other hand had to go to three different stores to find the variety of things i needed for this particular cullinary adventure. I was a bit frustrated at the seccond store when i realized that they didn't have key items for my veggitarian masterpeice like Hoisin sauce and ground corriander (which i do usually have on hand for my curry, but had run out of due to a Moose emptying and then playing in the spice like it was sand at the playground. He smelled really good afterwards though!). Never the less i took the extra time and obtained all of the ingredients. I always say "that which costs nothing is worth nothing." this meal was worth about $30 from what i could gather *grins*

 

With all that had gone on in our lives over the past week it was no surprise to wake up on "The Day" and find my kitchen an utter disaster area, filled to the brim with dirty dishes and in need of a good scrubbing. Having the small ones all day and little energy because of certain a monthly visitor that likes to leave me drained and dehydrated if i am not careful, i dind't even make a dent by the time i needed to get started on dinner. It was my wonderful Husband to the rescue! He got up from His nap and headed straight for the trenches. It took an hour and a half, but he managed to wash almost All of the dishes AND take out the garbage for me. I was grateful and quite impressed actually.

 

From beginning to end the meal was a challenge. This or that went wrong, the kids who had asked to be able to help were no where to be found (except for one who was easy to find, he was on the computer nursing a nasty bout of strep throat while Super Daddy headed out to the grocery store to get thawed chicken and peroxide, a winning combination *giggles*). In the end though i was quite gratified by the ooo's and aaahh's of an appreciative brood as they tasted morsels and tested sauces.

 

Excitement hummed through the house as i served the plates. There was a family movie in the DVD player, the kids were all hungry and ready to partake of this epicurean adventure with me and Super Daddy was happy to know that He didn't have to eat a bite of it because i had made Him His own, non vegitable, main dish with a simple side dish of Lettuce and fresh orange. When all was plated, our youngest daughter said grace and the dance of the pallate began (i am a horrid speller, sorry). I waited, interested, curious...concerned. Nothing was said. The movie had started, the meal was being efficiently ingested and not a sound was heard except the occasional crunch form a large bit of lettuce. Finally i had to ask, "What do you think?" Everyone, even Super Daddy graciously complimented the meal in it's different parts. Plates were empties and secconds were even requested! Exceptionally pleased with my efforts i happily straightened up the kitchen, enjoying stacking the empty pots in the sink, knowing that there were no leftovers tonight!

 

Perhaps this will work out after all.

 

Be well,

winter