"i don't do fish"

I'm always looking for new things to cook, new ways to get healthy choices into my little ones (and husband's) tummy. Sometimes it's easy and they surprise me. Sometimes it's a total flub and it makes me recall the time my mom (I was probably 10) slaved over the stove for hours to make beef stroganoff from scratch. She was so proud and she put the serving bowl on the table and in unison, my dad, myself and my brother all turned our noses up and said, "we aren't eating THAT!" She was devastated and we were floored that she would serve us something so gross. Since that time I LOVE beef stroganoff, too bad it if not prepared properly it is terrible for you - but I will never forget the phone call I made to her about five years ago and said hey mom, "I'm making beef stroganoff, can I substitute this instead of that?" Fortunately my mom was never a grudge holder, so she helped me out- had it been me, I probably would have hung up on myself for having the audacity to call at all, even if it had been nearly 20 years. (I'm Italian after all)

Sometimes I am surprised and hit the ball out of the park - like with my girlfriend Jill's vegan minestrone soup recipe - it has squash, onions, leeks, all sorts of garden goodies. I wasn't sure if the kids would eat it, but my kids are big soup eaters so they downed it. I think I may have mentioned that they love my meatloaf, where I get pureed veggies and ground turkey together and make a healthier alternative to the 1950's version. Last night we had turkey sloppy joes with finely diced yellow peppers and onions and instead of ketchup we just used tomato paste, water and a bit of brown sugar and for a salty alternative we added some cumin - which gave it a mexican spin - which I am happy to say I prefer now as do my kids. It was yummy. My kids also like those little canned white potatoes - we just slice them, cook them in a little olive oil and then I sprinkle course sea salt and lots of pepper over the top ( my kids LOVE pepper - which is good, but weird - I wonder if they're deficient in something?). The kids eat them like they're never going to see them again- which is awesome, but I'd like some leftovers for dad's lunch!

So this week - we cracked into the wonderful Christmas present we got from one of our old neighbors. They sent steaks, fish, chicken, etc. through Omaha Steaks. We had the crab stuffed sole -which I am sure was terrible for me -but it was fantastic and I turned a blind eye to the fat and calorie content. I decided to make fish sticks for the kids and we had double baked potatoes. The potatoes went off without a hitch, but once I placed the platter of fish sticks on the table Drew's comment was, "um mom, I don't do fish." Now this is a blatant lie because he's eaten salmon and mahi mahi - but this is coming from the kid that calls most meat "chicken" regardless of whether it's beef, chicken or pork. I laughed and made him have one. We always have to have a "no thank you" portion. Ah well you can't win them all. We'll keep trying. I'd love to hear your family fav's - I'm always trying to add to my repertoire!

Jon eating an onion, this kid LOVES onions, grilled, raw, white, yellow or red, he loves them - it's gross (but don't tell him!)

Penny lives on dairy - she will never need to worry about strong bones.

Drew could not be reached for comment.

Thanks!