The one in which the kids plan the menu and cook

Remember my complaint about the kids being lazy unproductive slothful bored this summer and getting on my last nerve?

I have been working on that.

The first plan of attack was to have the kids plan a menu and cook four nights a week. I placed them into two teams: Team A is the 18-year-old and the 13-year-old and Team B is the 15-year-old and 10-year-old.

I had them sit down with cookbooks and the ALDI sale paper and come up with a menu and shopping list. Here’s what they decided to cook:

• Lemon Pepper Tilapia, Green Salad with Walnuts and Homemade Bleu Cheese Dressing
• Tacos with all the fixin’s
• Spinach Lasagna, Green Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes and Homemade Vinaigrette (with gluten-free brownies for dessert)
• BBQ Ribs (the 15-year-old has been itching to fire up the grill for the first time. Fire + meat = manly. Grok say “Fire. Good!”) with Green Salad

Two things.

First – clearly, my kids love salad. I’ve said it before, and it’s true.

Second – didn’t they do a good job?!

Last night was Team B’s turn. They made Tacos and it was wonderful. There were taco shells, seasoned ground beef, refried beans, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, diced black olives, homemade guacamole, shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa.

The kids worked together beautifully and divvied up duties with me overseeing the process and offering advice on technique (and spice selection).

I wish I had snapped a pic of the nicely laid table, but I forgot. But I did get a pic of the very happy toddler stuffing his face with tacos.

 

Little Man needs to work on his aim.

I could definitely get used to this!

I almost forgot to mention the best part: the kids, after making a shopping list, went to the grocery store and bought everything and put it away.

(They used my money of course!)