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On Your Table Blog

November 12, 2019

What's for supper?

What's for supper?

Image by DW Davis from Pixabay

by Dawn Smith-Pfeifer

Who knew that the hardest part of being an adult is figuring out what to cook for dinner every single night for the rest of your life until you die?

I saw that posted on a friend’s Facebook page about a month ago, and have been thinking about how true that statement really is.

The struggle is real. My kids are almost grown and not nearly as picky as they were when they were little, yet I still struggle with what to make for supper. Every. Single. Day.

Okay, not every day. My husband is the grill master, so typically on Friday and Saturday he’ll grill a steak or burgers or smoke a brisket. But during the week, I’m on my own, taking a trip to the grocery store on my lunch break every day to see if inspiration will strike.

This past Sunday, after hubs and I went to a movie, we followed it up with a grocery store visit. I was in my usual “exploratory” mode. He was incredulous when I kept asking, “Do you want this? What about this?” He was all like, “You can’t go to the grocery store and just look around until you think of something to make for supper.”

Apparently, in his world, you go to the store with a very specific list and get what you need for the meal you have already planned. Me? Not so much!

When I’m not shopping over my lunch break, I’m “googling” recipes so I can make something different, but not too different so nobody wants to even try it.

When it’s really cold, like it has been for the last few days, all I want is soup. Tomato soup and grilled cheese. I love them both.

Unfortunately, two out of four of us don’t like tomato soup. So, if I want tomato soup, I have to make another soup too. And one of us doesn’t think it’s a meal without meat, so there’s that to add to the mix! (Perhaps a little ham with that grilled cheese?)

It’s never easy and straightforward. Unless it’s frozen pizza.

If I’m going to be totally honest, however, I’m pretty sure I will miss the day when I don’t have to wander the store for supper ideas. When it comes right down to it, I’m best at showing my love for my crew by feeding them with food they enjoy. Somehow, just a “thanks for supper, that was delicious” is better than just about anything.

Oops. Gotta go! It’s time to run to the store for some inspiration!

Smith-Pfeifer is married with two kids and a dog she spoils rotten. She is the NDFB Director of Content and Communications.