Meal Time

There were times when I was growing up that I didn't give my parents the respect they deserved.  I have a feeling I'm not alone in this.  Teenage-angst-years aside, the times I think of most often were meal times.  Hmm.  I wonder what prompts these memories.  If you're a mom or if you've been around children at all during meal time, I bet you can guess what it is that prompts my memories of meal time disrespect.

At our table, unless we are having pizza or waffles, one or more of the children will make their displeasure known (through whining, crying, complaining and refusal to eat).  Usually, I do a real good job not taking it personally.  They're kids, after all.  What do they know about good food?  Not much, really.  I didn't enjoy broccoli or asparagus while growing up and now I adore them.  So, I chalk up their complaints to immaturity.  Most of the time.

Sometimes, though, at the end of a long day, when I thought that there might be a chance that what I was preparing might please everyone, it doesn't.  And, it gets to me.  More even than having my feelings hurt, I am disappointed that even when we try to help our kids understand how blessed we are to have so much, they can (and will) still be petty and ungrateful.  So, we have the talk all over again and if they fuss, they must leave the room until they are ready to come back and try again.

Some evenings the older two end up taking turns leaving the room.  But, that doesn't happen in your house, right?

Back to my childhood.  I'm sure I gave my mom grief at dinner time and for that I am sorry.  {Sorry, Mom.}  And, my dear mother had five potential complainers.  I hope the memories of all our pettiness and ungratefulness have faded from her memory, but just in case they haven't, I want to let you know, Mom, that there were many meals that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I'm afraid I can't take back my dislike of the times you served liver or scrapple, but I certainly could have been nicer about it.  Of that, I am sure.

One of the dishes that I always loved and that made my mouth start watering when I smelled it baking was her Tuna Bake with Cheese Biscuits.  It is a very tasty and comforting dish indeed.  As a mom, I love that it includes all the major food groups, but my {personal} favorite part is still the biscuits with all the melty cheese inside.  I made it again recently and, in proper form, one out of the three kids disapproved, but hey.  Those odds aren't terrible and I was happy.

Tuna Bake with Cheese Biscuits (adapted from my Mom's recipe only in that I double it)
Serves 6-8.  Now, some of you will be put off my the store bought/processed elements of this recipe and others of you will rejoice in them.  Of those of you in the first category, there are many ways to  appease yourself- use grated cheese, make and use homemade bisquick mix and homemade creamed soup substitute.  If you're not a fan of tuna, you can use chicken.  If you're still not pleased with your choices, you may leave the room until you're ready to come back into the room and act decent.

3 tbsp. butter
1 large onion, chopped
3/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup Bisquick or homemade baking mix
2 cans cream of mushroom or chicken condensed soup mix or the equivalent of the homemade version
3 cups milk
2 cups cooked peas
1 or 2 cans tuna, drained, or 2 cups cooked, diced chicken
2 tbsp. lemon juice

4 cups Bisquick or homemade baking mix
3/4 cup water
8-10 slices American cheese or 2-3 cups shredded cheese of your choice

If your peas are not cooked yet, go ahead and set them to cook.  (If you're using chicken and it's not cooked yet either, go ahead and take care of that as well.)  In the meantime, melt the butter in a large skillet or large heavy-bottomed sauce pan.  Add chopped onions and peppers and saute them until the onions are tender.  Stir in 1/2 cup Bisquick and saute briefly, incorporating it well.  Add the condensed soup and gradually stir in the milk.  Heat to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Boil and stir for one minute- sauce should begin to thicken.  Turn back the heat to medium and add the cooked peas, drained tuna (or chicken) and lemon juice.  Cook a few more minutes until heated through and sauce is thick.  Take off the heat and set aside.

To make the biscuits, combine 4 cups of Bisquick in a large bowl with 3/4 cup water.  Blend with a spoon and then turn out onto your counter.  You won't need to flour your counter (at least I don't).  The dough may seem dry, but once you kneed it a little bit you will likely see that it's just right- soft and not too sticky.  If this isn't the case, add a smidge of water or Bisquick until you've got it.  It should look like this...

Next, roll it out into a rectangle or oval (or whichever happens first) about a 1/4-1/2 inch thick.  Lay the cheese slices over the dough like this...

Now, starting at the longer edge closest to your belly, tightly begin rolling the dough (and cheese) up, away from you.  Once it's rolled, use a sharp knife to cut the roll into slices, about 15.  It will look something like this...

Next, coat a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray and pour all of the sauce into it.  Lay the biscuit slices on the top of the sauce like this...

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits are lightly browned and the cheese is slightly darker, like this...

Let it sit for about 10 minutes before serving.