First post!

I decided a few months ago that I wanted to spend the summer cooking with my kids more.  I have six of them.  Normally Eoin is my main kitchen guest.  And I do mean guest.  I am NOT one of those moms who enjoys cooking with children, who relishes in the memories of flour covered counters, ingredients , and egg shell filled cookie dough.  My own mother was the same and I grew up hearing her say things like "if you're under 21 get out of the kitchen!"  I didn't learn to cook until I was already a grown up lady and married.  One day a package arrived in the mail and inside was a copy of Betty Crocker's and a card that said "Dear Jill, my mom gave me this book when I first got married and now I am giving you a copy too.  Inside you will find everything you need to know in order to cook.  Love, Mom."

It turns out that I actually like to cook and I'm pretty good at it!  I want my kids to grow up thinking that about me too so even though it feels totally un-instinctual I am trying to make a point of teaching them some basic kitchen skills.

This is NOT going to be one of those fancy foodie blogs.  I don't have the time, patience, or energy to stage elaborate photo sessions.  My kitchen is always in some level of disarray and sometimes it's just plain a mess.  I rarely use recipes anymore (despite my love of collecting cookbooks) so I tend to make up the recipe as I go along.

But it will be entertaining.  And hopefully everyone will have fun.  And maybe learn something.

(And not burn or cut themselves.  Or me.)

Oh... and there will be monsters.  Rowr!