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Recently, a new magazine subscription (althought I'm not sure how!) started making it's monthly appearance into our mailbox. It's called 'Cookie'. I had never heard of it before, but at first glane you can sense it's aimed towards busy families. Some topics from our first issue are "East Family Getaways in the U.S.", "Great Birthday Parties Made Easy" and the one that caught my eye - "30 Family Meals in Under 30 Minutes".

I am continuously on the lookout for new recipes. I love to try out new food on my family and am always on the prowl for that gem to share at potlucks or family gatherings. I take some pride in knowing that we aren't eating frozen Chicken Nuggets and Macaroni and Cheese often for dinner (besides on game or church nights). Some favorites from my recipe collection are ones with names such as Fuss Free Ravioli and Cheese Bake, Taco in a Pan, Spicy Naco Bake, and our favorite of all favorites Bacon Cheeseburger Skillet. I fingered my way through the publication to page 132. I did not find simple named recipes. Instead, to my surprise I read about a Prosciutto, Cheddar and Apple Sandwich, Salmon with Lentils and Carmelized Onions, Lamb Burgers with Chutney Potatoes, Veal scallopine with Garlicky Spinach and Sweet Potato Lasagna.

Now besides Heather, who I can quote as saying she made "two chicken and bell pepper italian sausages with whole wheat penne in a chardonnay citrus and pesto sauce with a port wine reduction" for dinner one night, do normal families with small children eat like this?? (Besides you JASON) Is this what I'm supposed to be cooking during the week? I go back a couple of pages and see that the compilation of recipes was made by a mother of two who set out to "expand her kids' palates".

Hmmmm... my kids' palates are not expanded. Unfortunately they are very one sided and mostly unsophisticated. I do not eat beef, pork, or anything that comes out of the ocean... I should just say that as far as "meat" goes, it's turkey and chicken ONLY for me. So as you can assume, that's all I tend to cook. Anything that calls for ground beef is subsituted for lean ground turkey. Otherwise it's boneless, skinless chicken breasts or something vegetarian. My poor husband. No steaks, burgers or lamb chops - unless we're out, or he's cooking. Andrew begs for Red Lobster every time we pass by, but at the times I've offered it to him, he's refused even a taste of it.

In spite of all this, my children are not picky eaters. They love broccoli, bell peppers, salad, all kinds of beans and on and on. But am I being neglectful, damaging or inattentive to their developing tastes and preferences? Am I pushing my personal flavor onto them?

So I'd like to hear from you what you're cooking. And have you found that dinnertimes during your childhood had an effect on your partiality to particiular foods today?