Growing up, my grandmother used to say, “If you don’t like what I’ve served for dinner, help yourself to mustard.” If she were alive today, she would marvel that an AI could ease the daunting task of cooking dinner for her family every night. While I certainly don’t blame dear granny for my stick-thin figure growing up or my love for Dijon on dry toast, I definitely understand her desperate plea for the family to just eat what is on the table. Like her, I am a mother of three, but I put much more effort into keeping everyone satisfied. In fact, most nights I feel like a short order cook; I make to order.
My toddler would love if I served chicken nuggets for every meal, my 10-year-old son has a “I paused my game for this” attitude towards whatever is on his plate, and my 7-year-old daughter has a mature palate; she’s been eating sushi since the age of two. My husband thinks I’m a gourmet chef despite most dinners are defrosted frozen items from Trader Joe’s. And me, well, I’d be happy with a salad and a glass of wine.
