What I am, Is What I am...

"I'm not aware of too many things I know what I know, if you know what I mean... "

And what I mean is that this mama has to get back into the kitchen and cook some decent meals, stat.

Seriously.

"Dinner's here" is what we have said more nights in the last few weeks than "it's dinner time!"

How did this happen to two foodie adults with a passion for fine dining?

Oh, yeah. We became parents.

Seriously Daddy and I are both pretty darn good cooks and enjoy food (and that's why my booty is on the treadmill every night.) Back in the day when we were cool, Seriously Daddy and I would spend weekend mornings at the local speciality food shop, farmers markets and our favorite wine and beer shop. Head home with a trunk full of good stuff and cook the night away. We made our share of masterpieces as well as disasters but it was a fun experiment none the less.

But our grandest experiment of all, the L's. The L's no likey our dinners. They no likey my cooking, they no likey Daddy's cooking. They no likey at all. We have gone through the "I only eat hot dogs and mac and cheese stage", the "I only eat pizza stage", the "I only eat fruit stage", the "I don't eat at all but still find time to shit in my pants in huge quantities stage" and the "Mom, I only like Grandma's cooking" stage. Now the last of their stages wouldn't be a problem if my parents didn't live halfway across the country and getting to their house by dinner time would require this family leaving our house 11 hours prior. Not so easy with a one and three year old and two big dogs.

As much as I am ashamed to admit it, I gave up. I gave up the specialty food shop, the fancy wine and beer pairings, the ceramic dinnerware, the traditional Sunday experiments. I gave them all up in favor of sanity and chicken nuggets. So sue me. I know that I created these little monsters and I know I am the one who purchased these foods and I know I am the one who was just trying to stay sane for cripes sake! You can't tell me you serve gourmet meals 3 times a day, now do you? Uh huh, that's what I thought.

It's time for a revolution. A SeriouslyMama food revolution! Can I get an Amen? Who's with me people?

The L's are in for a big surprise. No more prepackaged, processed, camouflaged, mom is a sucker foods in this house. Now that they are both old enough to go to bed hungry if they decide not to eat, we are heading back to basics. Fresh, organic if possible and certainly not shaped liked the latest toy. No more electric blue yogurt, no more tractor shaped nuggets, no more fruit pressed into the shape of notebook paper. No more crap!

So tonight as I am listening to some Edie Brickell, sipping on some Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc and making Chicken Piccata, the L's will be eating their chicken dipped in ranch dressing. Guaranteed.

I have to start somewhere, right?

Tell me about dinner time at your house. Inquiring minds want to know. Have you been able to get your kids to eat like normal human beings or are you just keepin' on to keep sane?