Yesterday I was thinking that I haven’t shared a recipe on the blog in a long time.  My reasons for this are justified.  I’m guessing you already know how to make chicken nuggets.  And chili.  And frozen pizza.  And grilled cheese sandwiches.  Glamorous.  Just glamorous, I know.

Well, this week, I’ve turned a new leaf.  I’ve got a new routine for working out, cleaning, laundry, and such.  I’m even trying to cook more.  (When I told this to Hubby, he rolled his eyes and said, “I don’t even want to hear it.”)  (This means, give it a week or two and he’ll check in to see if I’m still keeping this new routine.  He may know me too well.)  (But I’m uber-positive and I think this new routine will work.)  Anyway.

Monday evening, I made chili (minus the cinnamon rolls).  (Please tell me your cafeteria ladies served cinnamon rolls with chili.  This was one of my very favorite school lunches.)  I was excited that I had all of the ingredients in the cupboard to make it.  What was suppose to be a nice dinner of homemade chili and sweet conversations…well.  It turned into a meltdown.  In my defense, I had no idea that Maxim was so adamant that beans were awful.

So, Tuesday, I made a menu for the rest of the week and I made sure that there were dinners that would be approved by everyone.

Tuesday was our “drive thru” night.  (See, fancy and glamorous.)  I picked the boys up from school and we drove over to Marion for Nate’s basketball practice.  And then, out to Prairie for Maxim’s wrestling practice at 6:30.  So, drive thru supper it was and all of us were thrilled.  (We usually grab Chick-fil-A.)

Wednesday’s menu was going to be the stunner.  Beef and broccoli stir-fry.

You see, the boys love beef and broccoli stir fry from Sushi House.  (This is the BEST place to order Chinese or Japanese.)  We love everything about that place.  But.  Their beef and broccoli.  It is so delicious.  This is what the boys always order.  Also, we order sushi, California Rolls, egg drop soup, egg rolls…the works.  And we just LOVE it all.

So, I thought I’d redeem myself from the dramatic episode at Monday night’s dinner table.  Everyone would be happy with this choice.  Not to mention that pre-kids, I used to make some great Chinese stir-fry, complete with egg drop soup.  I don’t want to brag, but it was good.

Well.  I got to cooking and here are some pics I snapped of the event:

Ingredients for Beef and Broccoli stir-fry

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I took the easy way out for the broccoli.  (*I didn’t cook it the full time, like the package said to do.  Only four minutes.  So it wouldn’t be mush, once I tossed it into the stir-fry.)

The broccoli. Easy.

Well.  The meal was a hit.  Sort of.

Nate was so kind.  Bless his heart.  “Mom…I don’t really care for the meat.”

I took a bite.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  NASTY.  That meat was not tasting great to me either.  I mean, it wasn’t old or rotten.  It just didn’t taste great.  Friends.  I am not a butcher.  Or a meat connoisseur.  If it’s not 93% hamburger or a filet mignon, then don’t ask me.  I can’t tell you the difference between sirloin or flank or chuck or WHATEVER.

But that was the problem.  The flank steak I used (which is what the Beef and Broccoli package recommended), was not a great tasting selection of meat.  According to Nate and I.  But Maxim.  He loved it.  So did Hubby.

So, dinner drama was at a 0% and everyone ate some sort of Chinese, until they were full.  Maxim loved the meat and rice (he never eats the broccoli in his Chinese food).  Nate ate the rice and broccoli.

Next time I make Chinese, I’ll buy better beef.  Any recommendations dear readers?

Because if I see flank meat again, I’ll be polite.  And say, “No flank you.”