Always One Step Ahead

It's that very special time of the year -- that time of the year when the preparations for Alexis' birthday party are in full swing. The invitations are printed and stuffed into envelopes. Most of them are even addressed. But, there's a problem -- not every parent opted to be included in the school list that includes addresses and such.

Four kids. That's all we need. We need the addresses for four kids. Alexis can't just take the invitations to school because that is SO not allowed, so we need the addresses.

Once I realized it really was a short list that we couldn't figure out, Alexis gave me the full names of the kids. I decided I would check online to see if I could find addresses. I pulled up the White Pages and asked for the first of the last names.

Smith.

Welp. That one wasn't going to work.

We moved on to the next name. It was a mostly uncommon name so I typed it in and threw in the name of our town. Like most of Greater Pittsburgh, our address is technically a town name that isn't Pittsburgh, and it's mostly a joke. Township lines and city borders and all of that jazz ... if you've lived anywhere else, you know how insane it all is.

Strike one.

I tried another neighboring township. DING! A match!

Just for kicks, I tried a third neighboring township. No go! That means I must have found the right address! Hooray!

Alexis and I moved on to the third name on her list. It was another mostly uncommon name, so I repeated the process. Only, this time there was a problem. There were two matches. They weren't in the same township, but they were both equally likely to be correct.

I turned to Alexis and told her that we couldn't be sure which one was right. She thought for a moment, then said, "Yes, we can!"

She ran across the room to get the list of everyone from school, scanned it for a name, and then declared, "She rides the same bus as this boy, so they must live in the same town."

I just stared at her. SHE IS SEVEN (for another week, anyway). How in the world does she possess that level of problem solving skills? She does that sort of thing all of the time. It's so consistent that we can't do that thing people do with kids where they say "No" and then provide a lie of a reason why that thing can't be done.

We can't lie. She sees through it or figures out a resolution that gets around our imaginary problem.

We are SO very screwed. Which, that's exactly why I need to start Alexis on solving the real problem -- how can we possibly stay ahead of her when she's already outsmarting us?

Sometimes You Have to Stop Trying

I have to admit, it's my own fault. I'm the one who has always absolutely insisted that Alexis try foods before deciding she doesn't like them. I am also the one who has always insisted that she keep re-trying the foods because taste buds change.

Normally, her willingness to cooperate with the rules serves her well. If she takes one bite, she's off the hook. She can say she doesn't like something and can compensate with another item off her plate. There's no pressure, no yelling, no fighting, just "did you try it yet?" followed by her trying it, then being able to be done with it.

Sometimes it REALLY works out for her because she discovers that she has changed her mind. I can't even begin to count the number of foods Alexis has initially said she doesn't like only to later discover that she does. Hard-boiled eggs, chocolate, risotto ... countless foods started out on her "do not like list" and moved to her "YES, PLEASE!" list.

So she's an eager tryer outer of foods, even foods she already knows she doesn't like.

Enter hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate has been on the Do Not Like List for a long time. Forever, actually, if we're talking Alexis years. She has never, ever liked it. She started out trying it annually. Annually was fine.

Now she has escalated. Now she's trying to like it weekly. Pretty much weekly she asks to try some hot chocolate. Just about weekly I give in and buy her or make her a hot chocolate. Just about weekly she takes one sip and is all I DO NOT LIKE THIS EWWWW.

Which, the hell? How can anyone not like hot chocolate?

Whatever.

I have wasted a ton of money on that whole willingness to try thing. So much money that I want to take back that rule, even though it's a good rule to try things.

But not hot chocolate.

So someone please remind me that hot chocolate is fired and Alexis is not allowed to try it ever again.

Cheesy Potatoes

Things happen when I accidentally buy too many potatoes. Things like Potato Soup and, well, THIS.

Cheesy Potatoes. They're like macaroni and cheese without all that pesky macaroni.

This takes a while to bake, but it reheats well and holds even better. That makes it perfect for group gatherings and that sort of thing. While this recipe is enough for a crowd (8-10 servings, easily), it does divide well. Just split everything in the recipe in half and you will be just fine. Promise. (Watch the cooking time. Just in case.)

How can you NOT be fine when you're chowing down on potatoes drenched in cheese, after all?

Cheesy Potatoes

6 medium Russets potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2" squares (if you cut them smaller, reduce the cooking time, if bigger, they'll take longer to cook)
2 small yellow onions, diced
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon corn starch
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Throw the potatoes and onions into a 9x13" baking dish and toss them in the oven while you prepare the cheese sauce. You might as well cut a minute or two off of the baking time while you're working, after all.

3. Make your cheese sauce. Start by heating the butter over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Once it is melted, whisk in the corn starch. Then slowly add the cream, whisking the whole time. (By the way, you can use milk instead of cream if you want to cut some calories, but it won't turn out as thick and creamy. I personally think it's worth the extra indulgence.) Let the cream simmer for 2-3 minutes, constantly whisking and scraping the bottom so that you don't end up burning anything. Then slowly add 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, still constantly whisking. When you find yourself looking at a thick, creamy cheese sauce, your mission is accomplished.

4. Pull the potatoes out of the oven. Pour the cheese sauce over everything. Stir so that the potatoes are completely coated in cheese sauce.

5. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes. You're ready when the potatoes are soft when you poke at them with a fork.

6. Remove the foil. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese over top. Return the potatoes to the oven (uncovered) and bake until the cheese starts to brown, about 10 minutes. If you like burnt cheese (which, WE DO!), feel free to bake a little longer.

7. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Then wait a few minutes before you try eating any of the potatoes. I am not responsible for you burning your face off if you don't wait. Hot potatoes are hot, yo.