bringing dinner back

“A poor man with nothing in his belly needs hope, illusion, more than bread.” — Georges Bernanos

I seriously thought this would be easy.

I read as I was considering this project that the average American family eats together 4.8 dinners together each week (for full disclosure, I can’t find that statistic right now; but I know I read it). And I thought these average American families were pretty lame. If you’d asked me two weeks ago how often our family eats together, I would’ve said pretty much every night.

Clearly I was either delusional or our schedule started mainlining amphetamines about the time I stared this blog.

I honestly have no idea how we’re going to pull off dinner tonight and wasn’t aware of this complication (long story short, 7th grade may have me mainlining amphetamines before it’s over) in time for us to have a family breakfast. Does family pie and hot chocolate before bed count as a meal? I’m reaching. I know.

Tonight aside, here’s this week’s meal plan.

• Monday: We had frozen gnocchi whipped up in five minutes with a cream pesto sauce; crispy kale (tossed wtih olive oil, salt and pepper and broiled for just a few minutes) on the side.

• Tuesday: I’m hoping something at Whole Foods will inspired me. We have okra so eating whatever goes goes with okra is the plan.

• Wednesday: Between 3 pm and 7 pm, we have chess club, tutorials at school, guitar, Noah’s interview with an architect for a school project, dinner for a family at church whose 8-year-old daughter has cancer, and our Mission & Social Justice meeting at church. Luckily, I’m cooking one of my favorites for the family at church — Italian soup with white beans, pasta and parsley. That, a yummy bread and salad outta do it. Oh, and brownies. Nobody should have to fight cancer without brownies.

• Thursday: I’m celebrating a friend’s birthday over dinner so we’ll have another family breakfast. I’m out of breakfast ideas so asked my Facebook friends. This week’s winner: Wheat waffles, frozen fruit and cream cheese (thanks Karla!). Boys will have tacos for dinner.

• Friday: I’m dying for a burger. Think it’s about time for a little late-night grilling after rock climbing practice.

• Saturday: Sawyer has a football playoff game, Noah has exams to study for and a sleepover that night. Skinny healthy friends are coming over for dinner, which always makes me stretch my recipe repertoire. I’m thinking grilled chicken (I just have to have meat when Noah’s not around) and whatever veggie I get from that morning’s co-op pickup and a salad. Come on kale!

• Sunday: Again, dictated by Saturday’s co-op pickup. My favorite new menu planning trick is to see what I get, type in two key ingredients, and see what recipe comes up. Cooking with the food you’ve got. What a concept. Makes me feel like an urban farmer … with wifi.