I am tired of doing dishes. It’s becoming regular to run the dishwasher twice daily. And the cups?! I am considering giving each family member one cup and putting the rest in storage. I can’t say it is unexpected that we are doing more dishes but I certainly did not expect it to be this much of a suck on our time. I had to figure out how to stop dirty dishes from ruining meals. For some, a hatred of…
After we try to coax our begrudging five year old into clearing plates, my wife washes dishes while I put away leftovers and clean up the crumbs of a family dinner (what is with all the CRUMBS?!). Time for bath. I bend down to pick up the kids and hope this is not the night I throw my back out. Usually, they require we climb the stairs as airplanes or sacks of potatoes. After bath, the kids play, usually doctor’s…
Last week, frustration mounted as I tried to sort out work, home chores and plans with my wife to keep the girls learning on track. Six weeks of homeschooling and I am still piecing together how to teach my kids. It is challenging to press young kids into new routines when they struggle to grasp the broader context. Now there is an overload of learning apps, virtual learning sessions and video chats. It is so tempting to just stream kid…
Monday was National Make Lunch Count Day. Miss it? This holiday encourages you to reject the Fear of Lunching Out (FOLO) and get out with your colleagues for some stimulating conversation. While difficult to observe this year, I probably could do better than stumbling to the kitchen, slapping together a cold chicken sandwich and going back to work. Prior to the pandemic, I did not suffer from FOLO but chose to eat at my desk while working so I could…
I wanted to make bread. Making bread is a great way to get the kids involved in cooking. It takes careful measurements, temperature control and patience. Plus, as the smell of baking bread infuses your kitchen, the anticipation mounts. Then you gently butter that first warm piece of homemade bread. When shared with family it is a spiritual event of home and happiness. Well, I ran out of yeast and planned to pick some up at the grocery store. Where’s…
Here we are. All of us stuck at home for the foreseeable future. Our devices can be life lines to socialize and free ourselves from isolated meals. “I need a Date Night” rings out from the millions of parents going on weeks of cabin fever and screaming kids. Stay calm and let’s embrace what technology can do for our meals. Behold, the rise of the virtual meal. Explore cutting edge restaurants application of virtual reality and augmented reality to change…
When you have three kids under five, social distancing is normal. Usually, our reason for staying at home is saving strangers from screaming kids. The reason changed but my family routine is pretty much what it was before Coronavirus. From the socially starved existence my wife and I live, I have some tips to share. This is a meal guide for when you can’t go out. For three years, I had home office role in Minnesota where we had to…
How many times a week do you ask “what should we eat for dinner?” I ask this question, or a variation of it, every day. On the weekend, when constraints of the routine are gone, we seem to ask this question for every meal. At times, it seems like the essence of my relationships is an endless cycle of solving for this question. Me: “What should we eat for dinner?” Wife: “I don’t know, what sounds good?” Me: “Italian” Wife:…
Broccoli: flavor pairings, pop culture history, health benefits and growing tips
Pairing in-season ingredients with the right flavor combinations are a simple path to better meal experiences. Meal Flavors is a monthly celebration of peak season food items. Discover insights on the cultivation of the food item, how to select the best, uses in cooking and some tips on flavor combinations. The cold snowy days of January are the perfect conditions to add Oranges (Mandarin) and Lemons to your meal flavors. Afterall, January is peak season. Brighten things up with a…