Surprise steak and some reci-peas!

Apparently our birthday adventure is not the only surprise I ruined this summer. The whole "surprise John and grill a steak" idea has been somewhat of a sore subject since our family trip to the grocery store in July. We were at Whole Foods and I asked John to pick out steak so I could grill it. (Exit element of surprise, enter budget conversation in the middle of the market). I had forgotten my gift card and after not-so-fun "organic grass-fed beef is expensive" pow-wow, we decided to hold off on the pricey rib-eye. I left the store pouting like a baby, which is always extra special when you are simultaneously holding the least pouty baby on the planet. (Although I like to pretend that he got his perpetual chipper disposition from his mama, we all know the real truth...)

Fast forward to August when we actually had our neighbors over for dinner! My plan was to stick with making the stuffed pork chops until we got a text the night before saying that he was bringing steak. Surprise steak!!! And for the record, I ate about half of mine which was really impressive for me. Our neighbor did announce a confession that although he had blamed it on his girlfriend wanting steak in the text, the truth of the matter was that he brought the steak because he actually does not like pork. I then made the confession that I thought they were married. : ) Anyway, we had a great time and John got his surprise steak after-all. I didn't do the grilling, so I can only halfway check that one off of my list.

I did ok with the steak, but how have the boys done with their peas?

It has been an uphill climb with both of them...

but I am proud to say that we have had major success in the pea department these days.

I have had several people approach me since I started my mission for my man to like veggies asking how you get someone to like them. Here are some tips for how to enjoy peas:

1) Try adding them to your favorite pasta---they work really well in risotto!
2) Saute some snap peas with a small amount of butter and some garlic salt, pepper, and a little lemon juice!
3) Get creative and try new things!! Here is my newest try: Pea Pesto Crostinis
Thanks, Giada!

4) Get your whole family in on the peas! I do believe that there is something important about everyone in the family eating the same foods at the same meal. Especially when it provides some extra unity and motivation for the less hap-pea veggie consumers of the family.

Owen's peas

5) If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!!! This applies to any veggie.
For example: Even though the year of the carrot was back in '08, you never are in the clear when you are dealing with John Trapp. Unlike the pea, the Trapps actually consume a lot of carrots each week. I promise I am not making this up.... last week I found a baby carrot in the washer.

A couple loads of laundry later, I found another carrot that had also gone through the dryer. I was too repulsed by the way that one looked to even take a picture of it.

Why, oh why, did I find carrots in the laundry????

I did not say anything to John about it until 2 days later when we were eating lunch and he had two carrots (out of 5) left on his plate that he was whining about because he said they tasted funny. He opted to not eat them. Then I confronted him about the mysterious carrots I had folded earlier in the week.

He says he did not put carrots in his pocket. Or in the hamper. Or in the washer.

I believe him. Yet I remain perplexed. And I do feel like we have kind of taken two baby steps backwards in the carrot world, but not for forever. I think we may need to take a little trip to the place called Hidden Valley...