My Very Own Sous Chef

I get asked a lot of questions about The Schell Cafe.  As you can imagine, most of the questions are cooking related.  But time and time again people wonder how I find time to cook with four children.  Truth be told, it never occurred to me that I had an option.  Making dinner is just one of my daily joys and I’m so passionate about everything food related that I naturally assumed the rest of the world shared my obsession.

As with everything in life, some days are more challenging than others.  But with the help of my sous chef, dinner is generally pulled off without a hitch.

Broccoli, Ham & Cheese Quiche

Having four children can elicit some interesting comments.  Sometimes I get asked legitimate questions. For example, at the grocery store the other day I had all four children hovering at my side in the check out line.  A young woman with two small children politely smiled and asked, ‘how do you fit four car seats in your car?’.  Valid question.  I don’t drive a car.  Obviously she doesn’t drive a SUV or minivan.

But it blows my mind how often complete strangers are well, rude.  There must be a script floating out there prompting people on what to say to mothers with four or more children.  It’s bizarre because no matter where I am the comments are always the same. It never fails.  And it goes something like this:

Stranger: Wow! You sure do have your hands full.

Me: (silent smile and head nod)

Stranger: Did you mean to have so many kids or was that little one there a surprise? OR this variation is very popular too.  You do know how that happens, right?

Me: (head tilt with an affected laugh)

Stranger: Are you finished or are you going to have more?

Me: (shoulder shrug with affected smile)

I have so many thoughts on this ridiculous conversation I’m actually going to save it for its very own special post.  For the point of this post however, and I swear there is one, let’s just pretend one day I fly off the handle and respond like this:

Me: Well, you know the reason I have all these kids don’t you?

Stranger: Why on earth do you? Please tell me.

Me: So they can clean the house and cook for me, of course.

So now you know why I really created Kids Cook Night!  And since it’s Wednesday, it’s time to put those little urchins to work, dontcha think?  Tonight the children prepared a very tasty quiche.  For Husband and me, naturally.

Indentured Servant Quiche (or Broccoli, Ham & Cheese Quiche)

1 1/2 cups chopped broccoli

1 cup grated cheese (we had Babybel and parmesan on hand tonight)

1/2 cup chopped ham

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

4 large eggs

2/3 cup milk

1/4 tsp salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Layer ingredients into pie crust starting with cheese, then broccoli, then ham.  In a bowl, lightly whisk eggs and milk until combined.  Add salt.  Pour over broccoli, ham and cheese.  Bake for 40 minutes or until solid.  Cool for 15 minutes until set.

The littles hard at work…..