Parenting is a funny thing. Somedays getting the laundry done is a victory. Other days it seems like a series of fails. Then there are those shining moments when you are able to turn a near-fail into a victory.
In this case, my mistake led to a new recipe and a happy family dinner(I’ll give you the recipe in just a minute) But that’s not how I thought the story would end.
In my head, I had it all planned out. I knew it was going to be a busy day so I planned ahead. Yay me, or so I thought. It was mid-week “car pool” soccer practice night and my husband was coming home from a work trip. We were all going to get back to the house about the same but later than usual. I threw together my Cuban black beans in the crockpot for the side so that when we got home it would be done.
The problem is my plan called for me putting a chicken in the oven before I left. I rushed out the door without giving it another thought until we got home and I wondered why I didn’t smell chicken? mmm… there was NOTHING in the oven!! I forgot! My beautiful plan was more of a disaster and my girls were starving and my husband was pulling in the garage!!
I ran to the fridge. I grabbed some ground bison meat and threw it on the stove top. Now what? I needed to do more than just throw it on top of the beans. I know! I’ll have my girls help me which will distract them so I could finish figuring out what dinner was going to be-Brilliant! I threw Riley a red pepper and asked her to cut it up. I decided a little music might help the situation. My girls love to dance while we make dinner. It makes the whole process go faster and it’s more fun!
Reagan took her post at the stove starting the meat while I frantically tried to put it all together in my head.
Breathe. Look, there’s goat cheese. I’m getting an idea. Breathe. I have an avocado. Breathe. This just might work! Please, let there be lettuce….Yes!
Now for the test.. what would my family think about this thrown together meal?
THEY LOVED IT!
Turns out mistakes in the kitchen aren’t so bad. When you work together, breathe through it, and say a little prayer in your head you can come up with something. It might not be great every time but at least you’ll have a good story to tell. The most fun part of this dinner.. was just trying it!
The whole incident made me laugh for days so I decided to share it with viewers on my latest TV appearance.
See for yourself how easy it comes together then check out the recipe card to get all the directions.


- 5 Romaine Leaves
- 1 Ib. Ground Bison Beef
- 1/2 onion
- Salt/Pepper to taste
- 2 Avocados
- 2 Red Peppers
- 2 Cups of Shredded Goat Cheese
- Cut Avocado into cubes to serve as a topping
- Chop Red Peppers
- Shredded Goat Cheese
- Cut Romaine Leaves in half to make “lettuce cups”
- Brown the beef together with chopped onion on stovetop
- Assemble Beef/Chopped Onions inside lettuce cup
- Add additional toppings
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