Lunch-rut

We’ve had so much red meat in the past month I think I want to become a vegetarian again.  Ok, maybe not so drastic- a semi-vegetarian…. only I’d eat hamburgers because who doesn’t LOVE hamburgers?             Besides Vegetarians?  

So I started buying chicken- because chicken is not steak, and I’m sick of tri-tip and steak.  So I bought 2 smaller sized (like 6 pieces in each) packages of chicken- drumsticks and thighs.  We’ve had chicken for 2 days, and guess what?  I’m already tired of it.  Maybe I really should look into why I only like to eat meat once a week, and anything more than that makes me start feeling nasty. 

But, I can’t let the chicken go to waste…. I have it marinating in my special concoction.  “Special” in the sense I use the same ingredients almost every time just because it’s always in the cupboard.  Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce (Ok, who can say Worcestershire?), some garlic, maybe ginger, pepper, maybe paprika, maybe some sherry.  It’s rather good once you’ve cooked the chicken up, so yummy!  Too bad I feel burnt out on meat right now.  The flavors of the marinade, and a bit of rice- so good.  And tofu does well when you add the marinade to the pan and cook it up. 

Anyhow, I need some more ideas for lunch/dinners.  I’m a creature of habit, we have the SAME meals each week/month (different days).   We always have a few nights of pasta-stir-fry, and rice-stir-fry, and fried rice, and meat&veggies, soup&bread, tuna casserole…       I always buy the same ol’ veggies: carrots, red onion, green onions, broccoli, sometimes zuchinni or red/green/yellow bell peppers.  Every single month… for the past 3 years.  I venture out and make lasagna, chili, fajitas/tacos, pulled-pork, and potstickers (ok, I made Gyoza once, and it took so long to make it that I vowed to always buy the frozen or take-out variety from that day forward).  I need ideas people!  I’m going crazy.

Now if you’re reading this far, you might need to know a few things about my family…

my husband LOVES meat, dislikes vegetables- but will eat a few because he knows that Ichi and Nibon are watching- dislikes all fruits (unless it’s cranberry juice), loves cheese, does not like dessert UNLESS it’s chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips (not sugar cookies mind you, he swears there’s a difference in the taste), chocolate mousse, or he’s starving- in which case he’ll eat ice cream. 

Ichi- will whine and grumble about anything new on the plate, until we threaten and give the “look” and then he’ll make a big deal about tasting it- then realizes that it’s not half bad and will eat it.

Nibon- will love something today, and gag on it tomorrow…  will not eat anything unless he sees each one of us take a bite and enjoy it… then he might dip his fork into it and lick the smallest speck of it - just to taste it and laugh, then ask “May be scoozed peas?”

All of us- love Italian and Asian foods.

Argh @ picky eaters! 

I’ll eat anything… I love all kinds of tastes and mix things up all the time (as far as spices, sauces, etc).  Hey, I don’t care if my food touches, in fact it’s fun to experiment with that as well-but I can only do it on my own plate since nobody else will eat. 

Did I mention “ARGH!! @ picky eaters” ???   haha!

Ok- I need help.  Someone out there knows a few tricks, I know it. 

What are your “normal” meals at home?  Perhaps it will give me some inspiration.  =-)