Little m Long a

Zella is our very own Anton Ego.

“I don’t like that.”

Her typical critique offered at almost every meal.

Regardless.

There’s no go-to meal with the kid.  One day she might ask for seconds or even thirds of a serving of Mac and Cheese.  The next time you serve it — nothing.

“What part don’t you like, Zella?” Ive asked.

(And then making a gesture with her tiny little arm she starts at the top of the plate,) “From here … (and in a sweeping motion brings the arm across the plate to the bottom) … “to here!”

She has made an evening meal out of a pea and a spoonful of ketchup.

One pea!!

And while Zella may quite be the worst of my culinary snobs, she’s certainly not the only one.  In fact, all of my kids display varying degrees of Anton-ness.  It makes meal preparation as Casa de Ed such a treat.  Seriously.  I toss out enough picked over, half eaten and rejected food each week to make a Vegas buffet.

So when someone from Hillshire Farms contacted me last week and offered to send me some samples of their Beef Smoked Sausage and Polska Kielbasa I jumped at the opportunity.  Hell, if I’m going to toss out uneaten food it might as well be free food.

They were even kind enough to send a cookbook chock full of quick and easy to prepare recipes. Two of my favorite recipe ingredients, quick and easy.

A quick scan of the book and I picked what I thought would appeal universally to the kids, the Tortilla Chip Lasagna.  It’s got chips, sausage and cheese.  It’s the trinity of kid cuisine.

I left out the kidney beans because, well, I didn’t have any.  (I also do not like kidney beans — probably the reason I did not have any on hand.)  I was also out of black olives, so they were omitted as well.  (I like black olives, not sure my kids would so it’s just as well.)

From start to finish it took about 25 minutes to prepare the dish.

It took my kids about 10 minutes to devour it!

They attacked that Beef Smoked Sausage like a pack of wolves.  It didn’t stand a chance.  Literally it was a feeding frenzy.  Arms and elbows were flying at breakneck speeds to get as much food shoved into their faces as quickly as possible.

And as Zella, my little Anton,  finished her last bite she placed her fork down and simply stated, “That was the most best food ever!”

———————————————————-

So here’s the deal. The people at Hillshire farms sent me a package of Beef Smoked Sausage, a package of Polska Kielbasa, an apron and a cookbook.  (It’s called disclosure, people.)  They have also offered to provide one of your lucky readers with a year supply of Hillshire Farm product!!! (Direct quote from the e-mail they sent me.)

I’ll say it again, because it’s that big — one of you lucky saps is going to win a year’s supply of Hillshire Farm product!!! And here’s how:

1. Spread the word about the awesomeness of Ed.  You know how.
2. Create your very own Go Meat Video and post it to your site.  Don’t forget to mention Ed’s awesomeness.
3. Send Dan a buck or two — for the Joseph Salmon Trust.  It’s worth it.  Really.
4. Hug a stranger.

Or you could just leave a comment letting me know you’d like to be entered.

*But really, spread the word about Ed’s awesomeness.

**And send Dan the money, because it is worth it.

***And I’m sure there are quite a few strangers that would appreciate the hug.  Just choose carefully.

(Sorry but only those living in the US are eligible to win.)

I’ll pick a winner at random next Friday.