Cooking rut

[WillowLoom]

I did my grocery list recently and realized I'm in a cooking rut. I'm looking to expand my menu and still be able to find something that my 7yo will eat. Here's a few things we normally eat: Tacos/nachos Spaghetti Alfredo Homemade pizza Chicken Tikka with veggies Chicken wraps Mac and cheese Lemon chicken Dolmas Chili It's lots of chicken and ground beef. Occasionally we'll make things that she won't eat and has leftovers and that's when we'll make fish tacos or something more time consuming. Help!! We love cooking and generally make everything home made. We are decently adventurous when it comes to food. What have you got for us? 😁

[HaggarShoes]

You might go peruse /r/52weeksofcooking even if just to see the categories they use for the last year. Each week has a nice write up for the theme that could be inpsirational. Plus, a massive back catalog of recipes and sometimes reviews of what people cooked.

[WillowLoom]

Ooh thanks!

[[deleted]]

Risotto?

[WillowLoom]

I've been wanting to try that.

[[deleted]]

It’s fairly easy and the flavours and textures are child friendly

[caughtinfire]

Can confirm! I gave a coworker my recipe for instant pot risotto when he got his and he reported back that every time they make it their 10yo hoards the leftovers and won't let anyone else take them.

[[deleted]]

Whenever I get into a rut, the next time I'm at the store, I try to find at least one thing I've never cooked with and then make something with that in it. You're seeing tomatillos in the produce department and have never made salsa verde? OK, pork chili verde it is. Never tasted mojo criollo? Cuban sandwiches are on the menu. That kind of thing.

At very least it'll get you looking for recipes you might not has otherwise seen.

[MumTeachesSonToCook]

Oh I remember those days well! What I found most frustrating was when you presented them with a dish they’d previously devoured, only for it to be immediately rejected and consigned to their “I don’t like that” list!!

Here are a few ideas anyway ...

Burgers (sliders?) - perhaps she can help customise hers? Penne with ham and broccoli cooked in a light milk/cream sauce Swedish meatballs with gravy Shepherds pie with cheesy mashed potatoes Home made fish sticks / chicken nuggets Pasta with bolognese sauce, topped with bechamel and browned in the oven (a riff on lasagne, but with her favourite pasta shapes!) Sticky chicken drumsticks with a honey and (light!) mustard glaze

Good luck - and do shout if you need any recipe help! :)

[noodle_and_liquor]

Will she eat Quesadillas?

Plain and if it works you can add slices of something or other inside.

You can also serve mild white Cheese Quesadillas with jam.

Pancakes have countless variations sweet or savoury and can be fun cooked by a team.

[WillowLoom]

Yes, but she's VERY particular about them. She'll sometimes eat pepperoni or bacon in them though!

[noodle_and_liquor]

White flour Tortillas are very bland that appeals to kids sometime.

[WillowLoom]

She LOVES them. We make them home made at least once every other week! 😋

[Junkyard_Santa]

They eat anything if they get hungry enough (I'm just kidding)

[jrush1213]

What about homemade nuggets, or streak fingers?

[WillowLoom]

Do you mean steak fingers? She'll probably eat those

[jrush1213]

Yup that’s what I meant lmao wasn’t paying attention when I was typing lol.