I am a chef... well close

I have been back at work for the last month and managed to get kids up, to daycare (with breakfast in hand-- I am not that good), been to school on time, prepared to teach, teach all day (could not be the best year of teaching for me-- tough one), come home get kids, and COOK dinner! The latter half is the big one! COOK! For those of you that know me I am no cook, never have been, never claimed to be, and the FEW attempts that I did previously were D I S A S T E R S!!! I actually made cheese enchilidas without cheese. So I was not a cook. And quite honestly I never thought I would be.

Until this past summer... I took the summer to "learn." I needed to! My hubby works late and my kids are hungry early. I had no choice... and so I ventured into the grocery store with a menu in hand and a list categorized by locations in the grocery store. Don't get me wrong, I didn't do this on my own, I did it with help--- Thanks Annie! I had a menu, a list, and a credit card. What have I got to lose?

The grocery store was VERY overwhelming! VERY! I came out with a headache and I was exhausted. No I did not take my kids with me. I had bags full of stuff, half of which I didn't know existed until my little trip. I mean what is Nam Pla? Fish sauce in case you didn't know and need to know. I was proud. I was one step closer to my domesticated godess that I longed for. I pushed a cart full of groceries for meals, not snacks, like in the past. Most importantly I had a week's worth of groceries for $70.00! Impressed? You should be! :)

My first week of cooking was a success. Ted, Hollin and Johnny (of course, Johnny- my little eating champ) loved my meals. I was happy, and again, one step closer to a domesticated godess.

I attempted it again, another week, another menu, and another grocery store trip under $70.00. It was another success. Week after week I had mainly success. Don't get me wrong I had a few meals that were utter disasters! Even Johnny didn't eat those few meals but overall I have done well.

I made it through the summer cooking. I was headed back to work and I was... let's be honest... worried. How can I work all day and cook? I know other woman do it but I am an "newbie" and not quite a domestic Godess.

I am proud to say.. I have done it! For FOUR WEEKS! I am cooking and my kids are eating, we are well fed. I am now a chef... domestic Godess, not quite (I am writing this with my laundry room full of clothes-- a prerequisite for the Godess title). Who knew? I am proud, and happy! It is great. I feel like I am true mom!

I have to admit that people at school are still having a hard time grasping the fact that I am cooking and I can talk about cooking "stuff." It is fun to see their faces and hear them tell me how proud they are of me.

One other side note, I got my hot little hands on a Pampered Chef catalog and I picked many things I want... again, who knew? (A few years ago I went to a Pampered Chef party and had NO idea what ANY thing was, let alone used for).