Macaroni and children

Here is a photo of N-son making macaroni and cheese -- not the stuff from the box, but the real thing.

Chopping Peppers

Running the food processor to grate the cheese

Adding the cheese to the pot, one handful at a time.

Cooking with the boys has re-started in earnest.  They each make a dinner one night a week -- or, at least, that's the plan.  Right now, it still takes more of my time to "help" them than it would to make the dinner on my own . . . ugh.  But I'm holding out hope for the future.

And (here comes the proud Mama part), rays of hope burst forth.  J-son has fallen in love with stroganoff (not coincidentally, one of my sister's favorite meals to make when she was a young cook).  It's not that hard to make, and he's getting close to be able to do it on his own.

Even more, when our church started a Meal Chain for a woman we know who's undergoing chemo, both of my boys decided to put their own names down to cook a meal each.  They're proud of what they can do on their own (with a little help from their mom).  And for that, their mom is awfully proud of them.

Actually, you want to know how proud I am?  I'm so proud I'm actually thinking of spending money on this.  I've been eyeballing ChopChop, a really cool cooking magazine for kids.  They keep this up, and I'm digging into the wallet.  And that's no yoke.