Call me a fool...

After work yesterday, I took Jake with me to do a little grocery shopping for dinner. His choice, standing in front of the meat in Woolworths was roast chicken. No problem-o. I bought a now fairly expensive chicken, bought some fresh veggies and headed home to first clean my house and then cook up a storm.

I like cooking. I never used to, but I've learnt how to prepare simple meals that generally taste good. I find cooking relaxing and while I definitely don't profess to be the world's best chef, I do my best and I think I'm OK. That said, cooking for a family/group of friends is very different to cooking for myself and Jake. If I had my way, we'd have toasties every night. With a kid in the house though, I need to be a bit more creative and one really needs to work hard at keeping it exciting and colourful. Jake's all time favourite is spaghetti bolognaise, which I can do with my eyes closed. The thing is that he's suddenly become a fussy eater. He used to eat anything - olives, anchovies, mushrooms, broccoli, feta cheese, blue cheese without the preserves; the only thing he's never really liked are peas and potatoes. Easy peasy. Not. Since he's started pre-primary, he's got a list as long as my arm of things he won't eat any more. I've basically ignored him and carried on preparing meals as per usual. If he doesn't like the mushrooms in my spaghetti, he can pick them out himself. Still, there's nothing worse than preparing a meal and having your child literally gag over the plate...

Anyway, I spent most of yesterday afternoon preparing food. Jake had helped pick out the veggies in Woolies and promised that he'd eat a bit of everything, so I was looking forward to sharing a good meal with him. The full menu included the chicken with gravy, chipolata sausages, potatoes with garlic and herbs, carrots, cauliflower and broccoli with cheese sauce and gem squash filled with sweet corn and topped with cheese. There was enough food for 6. I carved the chicken, served the meal and we sat down together to eat at 6pm (early, I know, but bedtime's at 7). After just after just 2 chipolatas, 3 teeny weeny carrots and a squash, Jake was "stuffed" and headed off to brush his teeth. Seriously? Tomorrow night he's getting a toastie...