Once we’ve cooked it, we serve it. Dinner is what it is, so to speak. But are we thinking of toddler tastes when we cook. A little. The vegetables and grains we serve for dinner are the ones we pick to eat ourselves. For lunch I tend to rely on leftover vegetables and grains from the previous night, and simple favorites. We may set aside a plain version of a meat or a vegetable, if something is heavily sauced. We put the sauce on the table, and always offer it. A small decorative creamer has been pressed into service for this (Thanks Mom!)
Sometimes we hear: “I want some sauce ”
"Oh, then why don’t you ask for some?" We say.
"May I have some sauce please", we hear.
Why we are delighted to share some sauce with you. Thank you for asking.
Such is the theatrical silliness at our table…
So when I am buying items to quickly heat for lunch, I am thinking of toddler tastes: carrots, cubed butternut squash, celery, broccoli, caulliflour, edamame. Things we have served in pieces of increasing size from the beginning. At the store when buying these favorites, A noticed the mushrooms.
"I like mushrooms." A ventured.
"Do you think these mushrooms could be a good lunch?" We discussed. I had already planned to buy them, because I had noticed a return (at 4 years old to) the taste for them we first noticed when A was 2 1/2. Since then, mushrooms have been left of the plate. Now they are picked out of the salad and eaten first. Still, I bought a few things that are not likely to go over well. Like parsely and celery, and water chestnuts. Who knows when that will come around again.
Given the sucess of our
fish tacos, and
A's recent interest in mushrooms we made "fajitas" for lunch revealing just how much a child of the 80's I am. These were mushroom fajitas, seared in an iron fajita pan on the stovetop with olive oil and onion. I started with a medium heat, but ended up reducing the heat for the onions to soften evenly and not just brown at the edges.
We added steamed carrots, and I steamed them longer than usual for a less crisp texture. Had I roasted them in the oven they would have been even better. Wrapped it all in a warm tortilla and served this with grapes for lunch.
;)
NorrisFelty |