Home Cooked Dinner Challenge (+2 Hr Crockpot Recipe)

This past week I made a home cooked dinner every night for my family... for nine days in a row!  I've always been comfortable in the kitchen and growing up with a master chef for a mother, I've also always felt I had a hand up on most of my newly married wife friends when it came to cooking yummy dinners for my husband.  (Not counting you Ashley N.)

However, over the last few years as my family has grown I've definitely slacked off in the kitchen arena... blaming growing human beings or raising said human beings for making me entirely too tired to have a homemade meal on the table for dinner when my husband got home from work. Now, I cook almost everyday, but there have been a handful of times it was boxed Mac N Cheese, quesadilla's, frozen chicken nuggets, or "breakfast" for dinner when I just didn't have the energy to spend HOURS in the kitchen.  That handful of times turned into weekly happenings. (Lately, I blame moving and pregnancy)
I learned several things this week as I challenged myself to have dinner made each night and I'm going to share my top 5 experiences with you.
Number 1. I did NOT save MONEY meal planning. Now, Maybe I just did it all wrong.. or used expensive ingredients, but I really thought I would save $20/$30 maybe even $50 of my grocery budget by planning ahead.  No. I spent EXACTLY what I spend every two weeks I grocery shop.  This was OK for me because it assured me I am not wasting food or money on meals. However, the hopes of saving money and not was a little tragic. Maybe I'll try couponing or price matching next week?
Number 2. I felt way less STRESS every day knowing I had a PLAN for dinner.  I challenged myself, this last grocery shopping trip, to make a week long meal plan and buy specifically for those meals. This helped me have everything bought for each dinner and a meal schedule posted on the fridge ready each day. Knowing ahead of time what I was cooking helped me to not only feel less stress, but also to manage my time better. I could know I would be spending 30 minutes in the kitchen or 2 hours in the kitchen and this is a huge deal for a mom with little kids. It was either, play in the backyard for a bit or lets turn on a movie.  When I'm less stressed, the kids are better behaved. Isn't that weird how that works out? Oh, I'm pretty sure meals taste better when their made stress free to! 
Number 3. Involving the KIDS in cooking is FUN (and educational)

I really want to teach my children to be comfortable in the kitchen and I know I learned that skill from a very young age.  I've read tons of articles about including children in the kitchen and I made a goal all week to have Hunter and Hayden help with at least one part of the meal.  Generally, Hunter is my little helper almost always, so to have him in the kitchen was familiar. We worked on counting ingredients, setting the timer and measurements. (I think 4 is still a little young to completely get the concept of measurements. When I pulled out the 1/4 cup he said "that's the one I get chocolate chips in to snack on") Hayden also did great. She wanted to help so badly when she saw her big brother and was awesome at mixing ingredients and adding toppings.  They were both great test tasters and table setters also. Kids in the kitchen = messes. So What?! Honestly... most of the time I make messes and spend an hour after dinner cleaning up anyways.  When the kids ripped open the jello pack or sprinkled cheese all over the floor we all just laughed. I could tell a huge difference in Hunter and Hayden's willingness to participate each day as they realized mommy was happy to have them helping and wasn't worried about keeping the kitchen spotless.  Plus, teaching kids in the kitchen to cook also means teaching them to help clean!  It's all part of the package! 

Number 4. HUSBAND was HAPPY. I may sound a little old fashioned here, however I've always been a big believer of ROLES in a marriage. As a wife, one of my MANY roles is to feed my husband who sacrifices his whole day in an office working his bootay off to provide our family with everything we need and want.  I like this role of mine and it's definitely been noticed this week that Kev was happier when he came home to dinner, he automatically did dishes every night and had more time to play with the children.  I may have gotten a few extra kisses this week for being so awesome!  It was totally worth it. 
Number 5. It's OK not to cook dinner EVERY NIGHT. As rewarding as it was to hear tender words of sweet affirmation from my husband each night he came home to a hot homemade dinner, it was even sweeter to hear that I didn't have to keep it up forever. Now, maybe some of you don't need to be told that but again, dinner is my role and sometimes that pressure to have dinner made every night is real. That being said, Taco Tuesday, Drive Thru-Thursday and Saturday Take Out are just as great also!  We are all hard workers. Husbands and wives equally, and some days $1 Taco's just might be the answer.  I know my children definitely don't complain when we have Mac 'N Cheese twice in a week or when Kev has to make dinner and we have eggs and french toast.  I know I NEVER complain when we go out to dinner for date nights either. 
My motto lately is "You Gotta Do You" so whatever works for you and your family is what is best! 
One of my favorite meals during this week's challenge was Sundays 2 Hour Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches.  Sometimes Crockpot dinners can take HOURS and some Sunday mornings I just want to sleep in and not get dinner going at 9am!  My mom has this AWESOME easy and quick recipe for the most delicious French Dip Sandwiches I've ever tasted.  And here it is for you all to try.  _________________________
Super Shelley's 2 Hour Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches

1 lb Sliced Italian Roast Beef (from the DELI) 1 can Beef Broth 1 can Campbell's French Onion Soup 1 onion 1 red bell pepper  6 slices of Havarti Cheese (or cheese of choice) 1 6 count pack of French Hoagie Rolls
Put roast beef, beef broth and french onion soup in the crockpot on low for 2 hours.  Right before serving sauté onions and bell peppers on stovetop and toast hoagie rolls.  Serve roast beef on rolls and top with cheese and veggies. Use extra juice in crockpot for dipping.

Enjoy!  _________________________
Hope this weeks challenge inspires you to have some fun in your kitchen. Involve your kids, your husband and make dinnertime a time of the day that everyone looks forward to. 
Happy Eating Readers.