Dinner Dilemma

Dinner....the dreaded word.  Unlike my siblings, I did not inherit the cooking or baking gene - - if I were single, I think I would sustain myself on Lean Cuisine and salads, but unfortunately those choices aren't too popular with Alexa.  As a result, I struggle each night with the decision of what to make for dinner.  I no longer solicit Alexa's input; if it were her decision, she would eat macaroni and cheese nightly.  :)  I have tried planning the meals for the week and making the major items on the weekend, but usually when the day arrives, I have no appetite whatsoever for the prepared meals.  Oy.

I've made a resolution to start eating healthier, making more things from scratch and trying new recipes instead of the usual standbys.  In the past few weeks, we've had Rice Krispies-coated chicken,  pork and apples, cornflake-pecan chicken, homemade pizza....  Tonight I was tapping my brain to come up with an easy dinner idea that Alexa would like, and I decided to recreate the fish bowl from Wahoo's that she enjoyed in Denver.  It's a very easy dish (rice, black beans and grilled fish), so I figured it was a good choice for the night.  Alexa was excited when I told her what we were having, and she played the role of my sous chef as I prepared each of the components.  She ate the meal, and even told me I could pack some in her lunch for tomorrow.  Yeah!  I was patting myself on the back for a job well done, but Alexa quickly brought me back down to reality.  After I packed the leftovers in her lunch container, Alexa looked at me and said, "Mommy, your fish bowl was good but the one from Denver was a lot better than yours.  Can you get that one next time?"  lol.....I tried!

Alexa enjoyed Jell-O pudding with her cousin Maren
(and got a little silly with a pudding goatee).
That's one thing I can make very well.....