How does your cooking for dinner routine look like? Are you cooking something quickly at home? Do you stop by the drive-thru? Are you being creative and playing with the food or are you stuck in a rut (like me, lately)? Are you cooking by yourself or maybe with your kids? Or are you one of those romantic couples who cook romantically together in the kitchen taking your time? Tell me, tell me, tell me.
A few weeks ago, my friend came over with her sweet little girls for a play date. We were chatting, the kids were playing, then it was time to start making dinner. Sounds good so far.
Then I started cooking, the baby started crying… she had another plan for dinner. She just wouldn’t stop sobbing or let me move an inch without signaling for me to pick her up and hold her. This happens often, but with my friend watching this from the side it made me feel like an episode from… well, real life.
You know what I mean? Like the one where The Husband comes home from work, the minute he enters the house he see the kids screaming, crying or whining, or fighting with each other, the mom looking all tired and worn out, a bit desperate maybe, a baby with runny nose and tears in her eyes…
It was so funny that my friend asked me: “would you like me to take a picture of you?” The offer was too good to say no to.
I might look calm and well composed in the photo, but it makes me really nervous holding the tongs in one hand and a baby in the other, trying to keep her as far as possible from the stovetop with a hot oil in the skillet. (A few months ago, when she was younger, it might have involved poop followed by a bath. Forget about dinner…)
So, tell me, what is your cooking-for-dinner routine?
*** don’t forget the “real food” book giveaway, it ends this weekend. Leave a comment on this post for a double chance to win the book ***
And here’s the recipe I was making in that photo. One of my all time favorites. The ultimate home food for me. My knight in shining armor when I have no idea what to cook, or don’t feel like cooking. Best served with mashed potatoes or pasta salad.
Schnitzel, breaded and fried chicken cutlets
Makes 4 servings
4 chicken cutlets
1 cup fresh bread crumbs, preferably flavored with herbs, seasoned with salt and pepper
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1-2 eggs, lightly beaten and seasoned with salt and pepper
Canola oil and/or olive oil for frying
Lemon, mayo, for serving
Pound each chicken cutlet to the desired thickness (some like it thin, I like it thick and juicy), or you might want to cut them into smaller nuggets. Season with salt and pepper.
Preheat oil in a large skillet (about a third of the height of the cutlets) over medium heat.
Meanwhile, dip each cutlet in the eggs, shaking excess off. Then dredge in the bread crumbs mixture, pressing firmly so it will “stick”, then gently shake excess off.
Place the cutlets carefully in the hot oil and fry about 4-5 minutes per side. Adjust the heat as needed. If the cutlets brown too quickly and are not cooked through (check one to see), lower the heat, and vise versa. The oil should sizzle just right, not too much, not too little.
Serve with lemon and mayo.
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Categories : Chicken, Fall and Winter, Main dishes/entrées, Recipes, Spring and Summer
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Lori @ RecipeGirl
May 14th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I’m forever in a dinner rut. When it’s just me (and husband is away traveling), it’s no big deal… I whip up a salad w/ roasted chicken & I’m a happy camper. If hubs is around, I feel pressure to make something really great. Can’t ever think of what to make… and I usually go overboard and make something too involved. Luckily, my little one isn’t connected to my hip anymore!!
Jennifer Nicole
May 14th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Dinners are hard for me and my boyfriend. By the time we get home from work we’re both exhausted and hungry, and oftentimes that means looking for anything that takes less than twenty minutes to cook. He can also be a picky eater, which makes things extra difficult – there are nights when I want to make something with more unique flavors, and he ends up subsisting on spoonfulls of all-natural peanut butter!
That’s part of the reason I read this blog – to learn better ways to cook.
Vicki
May 14th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I cook no more then twice a week,make a large batch of whatever it is,and freez in ziplock bags. when I get home from work,I just add a salad while its warming up.I usealy have some cooked rice in the fridge(lasts for a week),but the kids dont touch it.this way we eat within 30min,and I have time to take my daily hr walk.
Krystal
May 14th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
lol, your routine looks a lot like mine, only sometimes I have the baby on the leg
Krystal’s last blog post..Apple Pork Chops
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
May 14th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
The chicken cutlets look great! I go through stages in my cooking but my favorite time in a kitchen is creating a new recipe with my daughter helping me. That’s the best!
Natasha – 5 Star Foodie’s last blog post..Spiced Mango Fried Ravioli with Lavender Syrup
Nurit - 1 family. friendly. food.
May 14th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Oh, what can I tell you? It makes me feel better to know that I’m not alone in my stuck in the rut stage, and that you are not eating gourmet meals every night either
Sophie
May 15th, 2009 at 2:03 am
MMMMM….looks so lovely, that dinner,….MMMMMM…
Maya
May 15th, 2009 at 4:14 am
I plan my meals for at least 4 days in the week when I go grocery shopping so that dinner is a no brainer when I get home from work . I also store some of the leftovers in the freezer ( especially stews, curries and cooked legumes). I don’t do the drive through thing – have resorted to sushi takeouts in a pinch.
Maya’s last blog post..Mango & Passion Fruit Mess
donna
May 16th, 2009 at 4:33 am
First of all your dinner looks terrific. Absolutely delicious! Second, I believe we can all do things one handed with our hip balancing a toddler. The photois so cute and genuine.
I find myself sometimes standing and rocking that wayin the grocery line, even though I dont have a child with me.. it must be habit:)
unconfidentialcook
May 16th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I love cooking with my daughter, who is 11. When she was little? That’s what TV is for!
unconfidentialcook’s last blog post..Chocolate Chip and Mascarpone Cupcakes (RR*, The Unconfidential Cooks’ Dinner)
Raizy
May 16th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Chicken schnitzel is a favorite in my house, too. Here’s a tip that I learned from my ex-mother-in-law: Sprinkle some diced garlic over the chicken breasts, cover with wax paper, and pound with a meat mallet before egging and breading. The chicken will be tender and garlicky, with just the right zing.
Raizy’s last blog post..Please Say Tehillim
Kate
May 17th, 2009 at 6:17 am
For so long I would plan our family’s meals by the week (7 nights of dinners etc…) I would spend about an hour each Sunday scanning for new recipes etc… to try and then throw in at least one or two old favorites or “safe” meals. I would shop, prep and all usually went well come dinner time. Yet in the last 6 months or so, my husband has had to do extensive travelling. I pretty much gave up my really good habits/routine and now cook with whatever I can usually find in the kitchen a half hour before dinner. I worked so hard for so many years to get myself organized with a good dinner route and all that hard work has now gone to pot! No wonder my kids are so picky, I am still feeding them their own meals and making boxed dinners or a quick salad for myself! Hopefully my husband’s travels will be over soon and we can get back to cooking and eating as a family and I can get back to my once organized and healthy routine!
greg
May 17th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Your daughter is an angel and the recipe looks beautiful. GREG
Diana
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:14 am
Great question! I love cooking with my husband. He usually does all the chopping (knives are fun for men) and helps me measure things out. Or I can have him fix one dish while I fix another. He’s really fun to cook with because he’s very good at following directions or a recipe, just sometimes nervous about trying on his own. Once we have kids I plan to have them help me with kid safe parts. As a babysitter I always involved the kids in making their own food and they’d end up eating things their parents couldn’t get them to eat.
zoe
May 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Love schnitzel! I add grated parmesan cheese in the bread crumb mixture too.
zoe’s last blog post..Thrift find of the week: Monogrammed glasses
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