My dear friend Amy got me a subscription to Food Network magazine, and the latest issue grabbed Poppy’s attention. She was fascinated by the “Mix & Match Baked Pasta” feature, which is in the “Fun Cooking” section of the magazine. Well played, Food Network magazine. Anyway, I told her she could help with the mixing and matching, and we’d make it for dinner one night this week. She chose:

The very idea of hard-boiled eggs in a baked pasta makes me gag a little, so I planned to leave that out. The rest of it sounded fine, though, so I put it on the menu. And I told her later that we’d be having it on Monday night. “Great!” she said. “I won’t eat it.”

Of course not.

We did reach an agreement, though. I’m going to make her a dish of just pasta and sauce, and I’m going to put some chicken on the side.

She’ll grow out of this someday. I was a picky kid, too — not as picky as some people, though — and I grew out of it. Eventually. When I was 20 or so.

Sigh.

Monday: Baked chicken & pasta

I’m making it with chicken, roasted red peppers and spinach.

Tuesday: Meatballs & polenta

Tuesday is usually kids’ choice night, but since Poppy chose something other than eggs or spaghetti this week I decided to have two kid nights. This is Pete’s choice. The meatballs are, anyway. I’ve never made polenta before. I’m counting on it to be awesome.

Wednesday: Dinner with friends

Thursday: Kung pao chicken

Thursday is supposed to be bean night, but this week it’s Rockford’s Choice night. And he picked kung pao chicken. I’ll be following the Cook’s Illustrated Kung pao shrimp recipe. The ingredient list is approximately two miles long, but it comes together easily and is delicious.

Friday: Pizza