When it comes to eating, Ben thinks big. We give him $40 on Monday and expect him to make it to Friday. This was originally supposed to cover some lunches out (though he can always pack something from home for free) and various activity fees like bowling, but Ben has figured out that we prioritize…
Author: Liz
Spectator Sport
This week, Ben has been under the weather. I will follow that with the obligatory, “But he tested negative,” because that is the phrase we all wait for these days. Still, I didn’t want him near food prep, so he was a spectator this time. Like any good fan, he had many opinions, but he…
Your Pizza, Your Choice!
This week Sophia’s college roommate, Sam, was visiting, so we had them over for a make-your-own-pizza dinner. What fun to have some guest chefs in the house for Ben’s Day Wednesday! Of course, it was mayhem, and we suffered a major delay when it was discovered that either the oven had never been turned on…
Waffle Bar: for the indecisive eater
Waffling about what to make for dinner? Why not set up a waffle bar to satisfy all palates! Grandma’s Overnight Yeast Waffles are the perfect base for going savory, sweet, or even (gasp) healthy. It first came to my attention, on our road trip to Kansas last week, that each family member approaches waffles in…
Freundschaft
Unlike many of my first cousins, I don’t speak Pennsylvania Dutch, but I know enough to know that we spent the weekend with freundschaft (relatives). Ben and I didn’t get a chance to cook together, but reconnecting with cousins I haven’t seen for ages gave me the opportunity to reflect on family and identity. One…
Torn
When Sophia was in kindergarten, she had a play date with a friend who couldn’t say his Cs. I had very little interaction with this young gent, but when Phil was serving him lunch (half day kindergarten) and asked him what vegetables he liked, he paused a good long while and finally came up with…
BENched
My children have always specialized in coming down with an illness around 5:00 on a Friday, when doctor’s offices have just closed for the weekend. Sure enough, I came home from my last day of school Friday to find Phil administering a Covid test to Ben. Thankfully, it was negative, but he was drippy enough…
Secret Pig
Pork has figured heavily in our recent Ben’s Day Wednesday meals, and this week was no exception. Though Phil and I were in Miami a few months ago, and we really wanted to try a Cuban sandwich while there, it somehow didn’t happen. This weekend, we tried a highly recommended place in Sunbury, but they…
The Peter Herdic House
The rain held off yesterday and we got to enjoy a beautiful meal on the patio of the Peter Herdic House. When Ben was just little, and barely talking yet, Phil began employing food bribery as a technique for cooperation, especially with doctor visits. Our physician’s assistant (who has a son with Down syndrome, too)…
Spaghetti Tacos
If you or your children were pre-teens circa 2009, you will know iCarly. If you really know iCarly, you know the iCook episode where the gang whips up some spaghetti tacos. Due to this episode, Ben has been pushing hard for spaghetti tacos for years, to no avail. Well, this was Ben’s lucky day. I…