Food

I've been cooking a lot recently. We buy 1/4 cow's worth of meat every year and I'm trying to use it all up before it's time to order more. I'm down to cuts that I've never actually cooked before, so lots of new recipes to try. So far I haven't had any bad meals, at least half the family has loved each new thing. Nikoli has decided that he's an herbivore, so he just eats all the veggie sides that I make and of course salad.
Tonight was swiss steak in my brand new cast iron dutch oven. I think it's going to be getting a lot of use in the future.
Tasha had a lot of fun helping out. She loves to cook with me and is getting really good at reading recipes and following directions. She knows where most of the ingredients are and is a great little sous chef. I have a feeling that in the next year or two she'll be able to make simple meals on her own. We've started menu planning together, the kids all get to say something that they want to eat during the week, a meal or snack or desert. Then we pick one or two cuts of meat that we are trying to use up and find recipes that sound good. Then we see what is in our weekly farmer's market basket (10-12 different fruits and veggies each week, some common, some unusual). That's usually our sides and fruit snacks, but sometimes it goes in our main meal too. Then we make our week's menu and write out a shopping list.
One of our goals with the kids, in general, not just related to homeschooling, has been to raise self sufficient adults. All of my children will be able to cook/clean/take care of a house etc. by the time they leave home. I don't know how many kids I went to college with couldn't do the most basic life skills, like laundry. My kids actually like to help out around the house. I tell them it's time for cooking lessons and they'll pay attention all day. I've even used the kitchen as bribery - finish your other lessons and we'll cook!