to think my children don't like the taste of love

[ChavGuevara]

I love cooking but i can't find the energy to pore over cookery books any more - if you ask DS (13) what his favourite thing I cook is he'll say fajitas - that kit thing was the thin end of the wedge. Last year I made a Jamie Oliver bbq sauce with about thirty ingredients. It was delicious but now I buy Nando's sauce as he prefers them. I just got back from shopping with a M&S chocolate mousse 'starter' thing you have to add cream to. We have pizza once a week and no, I don't make it, I just get one out the freezer. Ditto chicken kievs - you would have had to waterboard me to get those on the table last year.

I used to make all the baby's food too, but I just gave him some little fish shaped things and he ate four.

AIBU to stop putting love in my food - I can't stand the rejection.

bigblue DS is nearly 14. He eats everything I give him really, it's just the way he gets excited about his dinner if it's served with a branded sauce instead of my homemade stuff that makes me not want to bother. It's only for me really, I'm not worried about his nutrition because he is getting fresh fish, meat and vegetables. I just think I'm trying too hard. We adopted him last year and I think food has always been a way to win him over but also a massive learning curve.

Thanks for the recipe Honeydragon will try that. I did the Nigella one when you leave the chicken in buttermilk in the fridge for 2 days too, was v. nice.

DS is 8 and a good eater......but you'd think a Pot Noodle was Ambrosia, and its Xmas day, if he gets his hands on one

ChavGuevara I LOVE your name

Thanks Honeydragon! Well, my confession is DS gets a couple or 3 pot noodles a week! I'm not sure how awful that is, I'm sure it's pretty shocking but it just solves the problem of him coming home from school all tired and opening and shutting my groaning cupboards for about 20 minutes complaining there's nothing to eat. I have bigger battles to fight quite frankly..

Ds will when he's that age too, I loved them after school in the winter when I was a teen, hot filling and teenage metabolism meant a full dinner was always eaten later