"The only real stumbling block is the fear of failure. In cooking, you have got to have a what-the-hell attitude." ~ Julia Child

Sludge morning

by Julie Tilsner on April 3, 2007

in Good Ideas Gone Bad, Stuff the Kids Won't Eat

Sludge
I hyped the heck out the oatmeal breakfast my kids would be eating this morning, since they can’t have their normal breakfast cereal due to Pesach. (No bread or grains for seven days, according to tradition.) Brown sugar! Butter! Blueberries! Apples! And they were game for it, indeed. My daughter was particularly excited about getting to consume parentally-sanctioned sugar for breakfast.

Then I woke up a little later than planned, because Julia and I stayed up late making almond and date truffles for our Pesach spread tonight (but more on them later) and drinking wine.

Then I found I didn’t have any brown sugar.

And no more apples.

Then I put too much water into the oatmeal…or something…because I am the bad home cook, remember, and I only just redeemed myself by cooking the hell out of it and hoping to boil off some of the excess water. My kids, hungry and irate already, cast me baleful looks, and I knew I would only be keeping them cooperative if I delivered the goods.

Luckily, I had good local honey from the Farmer’s Market. (added bonus: In a bear, which is always more fun than a regular jar), and frozen blueberries. And bananas! And in the end, the kids were happy again.

Tonight’s the seder. We’ve got lamb marinating in a hundred spices in the refrigerator as I write this. We have amazing almond and date truffles rolled in coconut that I can’t quite believe we actually made. It’s gonna be interesting. My only hope is that I get my traditional Passover Cosmo first, to ease me into my long night.

Stay tuned…

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

sadaf trimarchi April 3, 2007 at 7:24 pm

I almost hesitate to say this, but “parentally sanctioned sugar” is a way of life in this house each and every morning since my dear husband took on the task of feeding our two year old son breakfast.
Each morning’s breakfast consists of frozen mini pancakes, heated just enough to take the frost particles off, and drizzled with maple syrup.
By comparison, you’ll thus note, that you are clearly the more deserving of the parent of the year award, overcooked oatmeal or not.
Traditional Passover cosmos sound pretty darn good, btw.

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Kat April 4, 2007 at 8:10 am

How can you call yourself a “Bad Home Cook” when you COMPLETELY redeemed yourself with that oatmeal! I’m impressed!

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Mister J April 4, 2007 at 2:18 am

I want to see lots of pictures of the food prepared and properly plated and people enjoying the food!
For your “thingy” you are having. . . Is there a “kids table” like there is for Thanksgiving?

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Kiim April 4, 2007 at 4:20 am

Ah, the traditional Passover Cosmo. Now I know what was missing these last two nights!
How did it go?

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Willa April 4, 2007 at 8:54 pm

I had to laugh at the comment about the honey in the bear. My older son had been away from home for a couple of years when he called me to ask for some honey. He said “Get the kind in a bear- it’s the best tasting!”

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