January Plated Dinner

This year, I am not focusing on necessarily all new recipes. I would like to just practice plating. I am also hoping I can get my children involved and have them take turns planning, shopping and cooking a meal for the whole family. I don't want them leaving my house only knowing how to make frozen pizza, Kraft macaroni and cheese and Ramen noodles. Somewhere along the way, they need to be able to cook something.

Thinking back, I started cooking at the age of 15. My mom's food was very bland so I started making spaghetti, chili, and some other foods just to add seasoning. I never did meat and potato meals. I learned that much later.

The January meal was a simple boneless pork chop with a red wine sauce, pureed peas, and garlic mashed potatoes. Pureed peas are a bit off-putting because they are such a bright green. However, they tasted delicious.

Review:

Glen loved the pork chop and the sauce and, of course, the garlic mashed potatoes. He ate the puree but didn't love it.

I loved everything. The pork chop was tender. The garlic mashed potatoes were amazing. I love lumpy mashed potatoes with skin still on the potatoes. There is actually texture to the dish. I loved the pureed peas. Peas, cream, garlic and parmesan cheese. All good.

Dakota passed on the peas. He ate the regular whipped potatoes. He loved the pork chop. He is a meat lover!

Alexsei ate the pork chop. She liked the sauce. The potatoes were her favorite and she did like the peas.

Savana is trying to go vegetarian. She passed on the pork chop. She loved the potatoes and the peas.

Alaric ate the pork chop without sauce. He likes pork so he actually liked the chop. He ate the whipped potatoes and passed on the peas. I don't think he eats anything green.