more photos:

Inspiration strikes in mysterious ways - many things wouldn't extist without it. For me, when it comes to cooking, inspiration is doubly important because sometimes, frankly, I have no idea what to do. Many nights, inspiration is non-existent at 5when I get home from work and I'm tired and hungry. Picking Leith up at daycare, getting hats and mittens and boots on and getting him home is a trial in itself. At these times that bag of digestive cookies really looks quite a lot like dinner...maybe with an orange juice chaser for a vegetable/fruit course. But what kind of mom would that make me??

Some days before I leave work, I mentally tick off what is in the fridge or cupboards and wonder what to make for dinner. Sometimes I'll venture over to epicurious and type in one of the major ingredients that I think might be eager to be eaten, in an attempt to figure out something that is easy, quick and oh-so-tasty. Of course the food has to be Leith-friendly, S.-friendly and me-friendly and sometimes that leaves me with very little.

On the odd day inspiration strikes gold and I head home with a bounce in my step and a smile on my face, thinking - nay, knowing - that a delicious dinner is only a small amount of work and a very short time away (and doesn't involve frozen fish sticks or peanut butter). Those days S. and Leith both know to wait patiently for dinner and they will be rewarded with something great. On those days something comes over me and I usually end up with a great dinner as well as cookies or a quick pie or cake whipped up for dessert, because I'm just that on top of my game. It's a wonderful feeling.

Other days inspiration doesn't strike... in fact it's nowhere to be found. Inspiration some days walks out the door, down the hall and goes far, far away, probably to inspire someone in France or Italy. Maybe I need to move...maybe I'd be a better cook if inspiration could find me easier. Perhaps I should put a sign on my door: Inspiration, please strike here. That's something to think about.

This week, inspiration struck right here; so close it almost knocked me over in fact. A co-worker was wondering what to do with the tofu in her fridge that her kids kept turning their noses up at. We came up with a recipe that would satisfy her boys, herself and her husbands' demands, and as I thought more and more about it, I realized I wanted the very same thing for dinner myself. I went home from work, a bounce in my step and a smile on my face. That evening I made a really delicious Asian-inspired Noodle Salad (that received rave reviews from all).

Filed under:   Cravings   Family

Related Recipes   Asian Noodle Salad with Tofu

Comments:
Note: Adding comments is termporarily disabled as we rebuild the system...

Mar 14, 2009:	Vicki Ohhh, how could I forget? Xanthe Clay! Ten Minutes to Table dishes, so inspiring. And now she has Five Minute fabulous things to make. Watching her little videos just makes me want to get up and cook! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkvideo/
Mar 14, 2009:	what's the best kind of noodles to use for this recipe?
Mar 14, 2009:	Vicki http://www.flylady.net http://www.savingdinner.com Someplaces seem to be inspiraton itself, Napa for one, now, with miles of blooming mustard flowers in the vineyards. Busy work lives can be detrimental for inspiration, especially with a young family to look after as well. These two sites take the thinking component out of the equation. The first site is free, complete with daily/weekly/monthly housekeeping schedule as well as, much needed pamperings spinkled in. The latter, a weekly menu planner mailer, for a small monthly fee. Just recently, I remembered as a child hearing my mother and the other neighborhood ladies discussing over their daily short morning coffee break, what they were going to make for dinner. They would share new recipes and generally provide enthusiasm. In retrospect, I think it helped negate the mundane nightly routine. There were very few restaurants when I grew up. Families went out to eat on rare, special occasions. Now, Twitter seems to provide that little nudge to help inspire creativity since we no longer have time to coffee with our neighbors. Shame really, the commraderie was so cheerful.