Home » Partners & Parents » Single Fathers » Dad, what's for dinner?

Dad, what's for dinner?

© Mike Gowen

This topic affects all single parents that struggle to juggle both work and kids. You work, come home tired, and one of the first questions your kids ask is What's for dinner? Now I know the good folks at the golden arches would love for us to surrender every day to a happy meal, but that gets tiring after awhile for anyone. OK, maybe not my nine-year-old, but most everyone. I don't think I ever gained as much of an appreciation for my mom as I did when faced with putting a meal on the table daily. After all, we grew up in a rural area and it was a treat for us to make our way to the city once in a while for fast food. Most of the time, mom cooked.

I should have paid more attention when I was younger as to what she was doing in there. Me, I had other important things to do... like playing ball, riding my bike, watching TV. I helped with the dishes but as far as trying to learn to cook, nah, that's what the women do, right? Wrong! In this day and age, even if you're married you should learn your way around the kitchen if for no other reason than to give your spouse a break once in awhile. If you're a single mom or dad, its essential. And if you think fast food grows old on a daily basis, try microwave meals all the time. The result is about the same. Don't get me wrong, I love my microwave. I just can't handle using it for pre-cooked dinners all the time.

One of the best gifts my parents gave me when I became a single parent was a crockpot. Granted, in the beginning I didn't much know what to do with it. Over the course of time with a little trial and error the crockpot has become my good friend. I can prepare something in the morning or the night before and by the time I get home from work, dinner is ready! Stews, pot roasts, chicken, chili, etc.. The possibilities are almost endless. There is a great web site dedicated to this marvelous invention called What a Crock Many simple to prepare recipes for the crockpot can be found here.

Now when I first started experimenting in the kitchen, I didn't become the gourmet chef I am today overnight. OK, gourmet chef is stretching it a bit, but I don't burn everything now. Slowly, I am learning why mom uses spices and vegetables and sauces to add flavor to different things. And since I like to be somewhat of a techno-weenie, it helps to find help on the net. Southern Food Mining Company offers basic instruction in cooking in addition to recipes. Don't be thrown by the name, it's not just southern foods. This web site offers excellent information for someone learning to cook. There is also information on grill cooking, one of my favorite ways to cook. After all, what man out there doesn't love his grill?

The copyright of the article Dad, what's for dinner? in Single Fathers is owned by . Permission to republish Dad, what's for dinner? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.