Time flies quickly. As every year passes, the months and days seem to be streaking by at warp speed. Imagine our Firstborn who can’t even complete a sentence at five-year-old is now a 17-yo honors high school student. His four other brothers are growing fast, too. And this unstoppable march of time turns our little ones into gentlemen with each day bringing discoveries, challenges, and growth.
Creating mealtime memories
Since we can’t stop time from ticking, might as well make every moment count. And one helpful way to make memories is a feast around the dining table – something my boys can look back in 10 to 20 years and think fondly of the meals and stories we’ve shared.
Our everyday breakfast or dinner is nothing special. Mostly served are usual family favorites and experiments this mom creates from only available resources. But what perhaps makes each mealtime genuinely memorable is the fact that we all gather our five boys around the table and share the simple meal we have. That even as we close our eyes now, there may be a hundred and more unscripted moments we can think back on fondly – The likes of laughter scenes and teases shared, a few serious conversations, and the mess under the table.
Yes, even the mess on the table and under it. We don’t worry about crumbs, stains, and whatnot. We let our two little ones eat by themselves in the manner they want to enjoy their food. We don’t think about the chores waiting once dinner’s done. We simply enjoy our food and everyone’s company.
Planning meals to meal preparation
Creating mealtime memories, though, starts long before gathering around the dining table. There are times we plan meals as a family. This happens especially when we dine out, and the boys would request a similar dish for breakfast or dinner. Often, too, we drag the children into doing grocery shopping. And from the many times they join us, we are always thankful that we got to spend time together as a family.
This mother is the designated cook at the small house. Sometimes, though, I ask the boys to help in the kitchen. The experience is fun, often crazy as the children and even the husband have unique ideas to tweak our recipes.
It helps, too, when I attend cooking workshop and from there learn new recipes I could make for the family. Just like this recent workshop I’ve attended – Potatoes USA Cooking Workshop – I learned a lot about the nutrients one gets from potatoes. Likewise, the hosts- Momma N’ Manila and Chef Rosebud Benitez – were both too generous to share new three easy recipes with U.S. potatoes as the main ingredient. These are U.S. Potato Crusted Salmon with Truffle Potato Sauce and Fruit Salsa, U.S. Potato Pudding and U.S. Potato Truffles. I’m planning to recreate these dishes at home. Ow, and not only did we learn about potatoes and new recipes, but we also received a bag full of recipe books!
Gathering around the table
Nothing beats, though, gathering around the table and eating as a family. Any electronic device is not welcome as we aim to enjoy the food with everyone’s company. And speaking of food, one easy recipe my boys love so much as breakfast or breakfast-for-dinner treat is the Pan Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes. Good friend Roselle Toledo shared this recipe.
Pan Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes
This savory chicken and potatoes recipe is prepared in one pan with just a few ingredients and ready to serve in an hour or two. Both chicken and potatoes are seasoned with butter, rosemary, thyme, pepper, and salt. The longer the seasoning stick on both the chicken and potatoes, the better.
Our Pan Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes dish is quickly becoming a staple in the small house because it is incredibly simple yet has tons of flavor to savor and enjoy. We just let the seasoning sit for about an hour or two then put everything inside the oven. And when the timer ticks, off from the oven are incredibly juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned chicken and potatoes.
For the potatoes, we only use Potatoes USA. Such kind of potatoes is grown in the United States of America which are a product of generations of sustainable farming expertise. From the day these potatoes are planted to the day they reach the dining tables of families around the world, Potatoes USA reflects the care of its growers. This is because they grow the potatoes for their families, too, thus putting much love and dedication.
Ow, by the way, you might remember me writing about U.S. potatoes last year (click here), where I shared my thoughts about the many benefits of potatoes during pregnancy. Potatoes are nutrient dense vegetables that contain Vitamin C, potassium, complex carbohydrates, fiber, Vitamin E, calcium, iron and magnesium. My growing boys love them, which makes cooking easier for me as I can include potatoes to any meals – breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner.
Memories around the dining table
Taking time out of our busy life with children to eat together undoubtedly helps create memories that last forever. Thus, we make it a point that weekend mealtimes are spent with the whole family. As much as possible, too, breakfast is spent together with the kids. More than the food on the table, it’s our presence- being mindful and listening to the boys’ stories that truly make the meal delicious and worth remembering. Our dishes may not pass as Instagram-worthy photos. The children’s appreciative smile in each bite, though, is enough to reassure this mother and her husband that we are all creating the kind of dinner memories that would bind the family for life.
Momi Berlin Directory
Potatoes USA Website | Facebook
Yum! That looks like a delicious meal. And yes, nothing brings people together like cooking and eating <3
Ang sasarap momshie. Parang ang sarap tumambay sa bahay nyo. sipag nyo po magluto.
In my family always dinner brought everyone around the table. It is important to keep this tradition alive to improve communication and relationships between the family members.
This is so important. Mealtime is big in my family and it brings us together. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
Family mealtime is a dying tradition. Our family still enjoys it most nights of the week! I am happy that your family does too!
Meals really do bring people together! This food looks so delicious!
I like the chicken and potatoes recipe a like. Anything with rosemary I am a fan.
Family mealtime is so important to cultivate while the kids are still young because when they get older and start working full-time there is little time left to gather as a family except for special occasions.
Food brings people together, sharing delicious meal like the one you made will create sweet memories for all of you.
I always make sure to eat and sit with my children during mealtime. This is a nice way to interact with them and it makes nice memories.
this. looks. really. delicious. i love seeing blogging moms who really make an effort in doing like this at home. I aspire to become one as well.. 🙂 thanks for the inspiration!
Cha at Little MisadvenCHA
We try to include the kids in all aspects of daily life so that we can create memories. My son does not have much interest in eating or cooking though. My 5 year old daughter loves to bake though.
There’s nothing like connecting with your family over mealtime. We do our best to have dinner together each night. It makes a difference.
They sure do grow up quickly. I don’t have kids yet but I definitely plan to do sit down dinners with them as often as possible.
I believe meal time is the best time to connect with family and share everything that is going on
Some of my favorite memories are of times spent in the kitchen cooking with my mom, or sitting around the dinner table with my family talking about our day.