The Dinner Miracle

Sometimes the fact that there is dinner on the table when Eric gets home is nothing short of a miracle. And well, lately these miracles are few and far between. But last night one of those miracles occurred.

I was making my August recipe for the Cooking Club. I was determined that I actually make it as I already lost points from last month for the two recipes that Eric ended up making. I knew it would be a little bit until Eric was home, but I also knew it was almost time for Ryder to eat.

I opened up the Betty Crocker Ap on my iPad, honestly the reason I chose this month's recipe. I began to get out the ingredients. 2 1/4 cup Bisquick... hmmm shoot, I don't even have quite two cups. How could I not be prepared, this is the recipe I chose after all! I have to make this tonight, the month is running out and I still have two more recipes to make. Let's see a little Krusteaz pancake mix can finish it off.

2 T. Thousand Island dressing.. what the!?! How did I not buy this. I quickly hit the home button on my iPad and goggle substitute for Thousand Island dressing. Jackpot! An easy substitute, some mayo, some chili sauce and pickle relish, eyeball it as I only need two tablespoons, a quick taste, a little more chili sauce and bingo.

I pour the boiling water into the Bisquick/Krusteaz mix and reach into to stir the dough. I quickly recoil my hand. Mental note to self, water that was just boiling is really hot. I grab a spoon to stir the dough. Once it cools I get in with my hands and finish mixing it up and dividing it. Dough ready, next ingredient sauerkraut.

Grab the jar feeling proud of myself, I am going to pull this off, I am doing good. But... rrrr... ugggh... the lid to the sauerkraut... rrrhhhg.. it's stuck. Okay, I have to make this I cannot wait for Eric to get home. Ryder begins fussing. I try sticking his paci in, he spits it right back out, he is ready to eat. I try again and again, the lid is not budging. Quick back to my iPad, google "how to open a stuck jar lid" . eHow to the rescue! I try and stick Ryder's paci back in, still no luck.

I hurry and roll out the dough. How in the world are the ingredients going to fit in there? Ryder is quickly getting more impatient. I hurry and put together the fold-overs, the dough seems a little dry, darn lack of Bisquick. I finally manage to get them all made, they aren't pretty but they are done and in the oven.

I scoop up Ryder and come to his rescue. He quickly begins eating as I try and catch my breath. Eric calls saying he is coming home. As we are talk I realize the kids are never going to eat tonight's dinner, luckily I have a few Totino's pizzas, 'I'll just throw those in for the kids', I tell him. We end our call as Ryder continues to eat.

And then I hear it, the timer is ringing. Eric is still at least ten minutes out. Ryder is still nursing. Well, this is my third child. I head over and very skillfully and carefully get the dinner out over the oven while Ryder continues to enjoy his dinner. (do not try this at home)

I turn the oven to a higher temperature and go to the freezer in the garage to get the pizzas. Ryder is oblivious to all going on around him as his belly is getting full and putting him to sleep. I get out the pizzas and am trying to tear open the boxes when I hear Eric come in.

"Come here and help me please. Now."

Eric comes over and takes over getting the pizzas in the oven. I head over to the couch to sit and once again try and catch my breath while Ryder finishes his dinner.

I did it. I am tired. I am hungry. But hey dinner is ready. Life is good.

What do you do to survive getting dinner ready?