"thumbs up"

remember my goal of finding 20 (i actually made it 30) healthy meals my family loved?

well, i was impressed by a concept that a friend, gina, shared with me.

she lets her family "rate" the dinners. each get a vote.

wow.

that rocked my world.

i am super attached about what i cook and take it personally when people don't love it when i've put all the time and effort into it.

so i decided to try a little experiment.

since all these recipes are new to me and our family i decided not to be offended and treat it as a family project.

thumbs up or thumbs down.

simple.

each family member gets a vote.

five thumbs up--we add it to the recipe book.

anything less and we try again.

the kids love it.

we wait in anticipation as each family member tries it.

it is with much jubilation when a recipe can be added to the number.

davis is keeping track of how many we have and how many more we need.

(and the dessert list is growing every day).

so far:

1: lentil tacos

2: sun-dried tomato quinoa

3: vegetarian chili (with ground turkey:)) (from robyn's 12 steps to whole foods book)

4: pecan-cranberry quinoa

5: whole wheat angel hair with sun-dried tomato basil sauce

6: orange-infused & walnut-crusted & coconut-smeared tilapia over brown rice

and every salad has got a thumbs up--especially my newest creation thanks to art city trolley restaurant (i'll work on a recipe for the blueberry, almond, cranberry, romaine, apple salad with maple syrup dressing from the 12 steps book). davis had THREE servings.

the spring rolls didn't make the family dinner cut--but got a thumbs up from the girlfriends:).