My boys tell me all their friends are surprised they like to cook. And I wonder– how else can a family get dinner on the table? At five o’clock or so, I pull a pile of food out of the fridge, reach for the chopping boards and call, “Who wants to chop vegetables?” It’s overwhelming to slice them all myself, but easy when everyone takes an assignment.
Xander loves to chop and brown the onions; most of our recipes start with onions: lots of soups, pasta primavera, three bean chili…
Sad but true, Gabriel won’t eat any fruit but apples. But he’s OK with anything in the vegetable family (please don’t tell him tomatoes are fruit in disguise).
Hans a-peeling.
Isn’t Stefan grate?
Cutting the baby carrots in half is Mary’s usual job, but on this night she’s on dishes.
Favorite Vegetable Soup
1 onion
4 T butter (you’ll use the other half cube later)
brown onion in butter
add:
5 celery stalks chopped
1 bag baby carrots cut in half
1 chopped red pepper
12 baby red potatoes peeled and chopped (I usually put two boys on this job)
add:
6 cups chicken or vegetable broth (I think broth is too expensive, so I use broth granules and water)
thyme, basil, any spice you like
add:
6 cups chopped broccoli
While the vegetables and broth simmer, melt 4 T butter in a saucepan, whisk in 1/3 cup flour, slowly add 3-4 cups milk. Add the white sauce to the soup, stir and enjoy! Not the very healthiest soup, but pretty good and at least three servings of vegetables per bowl.
ellen
Can I come over for dinner?
Tracy
Yum. Love your kitchen crew.
michelle
I want to try this recipe.
Have you ever tried substituting evaporated milk for the white sauce? I always feel less guilty when I do that. It’s thinner, but still provides that creamy taste.
I love the phrase about the rhythm of family life.
Lisa
Delish…We are going to have it this weekend since it is going to snow!
Lizzy
I love how dinner is a family affair! That is how it should be.
Rachelle
Boys that cook? Yep, you’re doing your job as a mother. I’m copying and pasting your recipe…
Lizzy
A Lehnardt chicos les gusta preparar la comida. Wanna put in a good word for me with my Spanish teacher? This is seriously the first thing i thought of when reading this post. I learned a lot about my spanish class recently when we studied ‘gustar’ (to like). Turns out that not that many teenagers like to cook. 🙁 I’m glad that you guys do.