The kids are off to school, the dog is walked, laundry is begun and I have to face the dreaded fact that I need to hit Trader Joes today. I used to love meal planning. When I had a buttload of time to spare. Five course meals and thick cookbooks were my best friends. Now I feel with every evening full of soccer and homework, that it's all about what is quick and mostly healthy that I can throw at my kids. My worry about their health and well-rounded meals is wasted. They were overjoyed a few months ago when I let them eat cereal for dinner for the first time. They are 8 and 12 and apparently felt like this was a long time coming. I used to have a repertoire of recipes that kept everyone happy. But they have seem to gone to the wayside and every week I am at a loss on what to make. I think food boredom does that to me. My husband loves leftovers and would love a casserole in the fridge to last the week but I haven't found a casserole to love. The occasional crockpot roast is ok but doesn't thrill me. I love my Dutch Oven for sure and am always on the lookout for recipes to better utilize it.
You know what does get my creative cooking juices flowing? The change of seasons. I am already salivating with fall approaching. Apple crisps made with fresh picked local apples. Beef stew made with apple cider. Salmon glazed with maple syrup and sprinkled with pecans. Butternut squash soup. Getting hungry yet? I believe fall is the dreamiest season. I love the earthy smells, the coolness of early morning runs amongst the falling leaves, how gold seems to strike even the most homely trees and plants, enlivening them for a short time before winter puts them to bed. Such a sexy time of year; it looks good on everyone. But for now, I need to relish the few weeks left of summer and enjoy the sun on my back and the fresh tomatoes out of the garden. Then I will be ever so more ready to enjoy the fall scenes such as this.
