I have a job interview coming up soon. If I should be so lucky as to be offered the job my life is going to change immensely. I will be out of the house for most of my day for the first time in about 7 1/2 years.

Yikes.

It won't be a bad thing. I'm actually looking forward to it! I hope I get the job - it's a really cool job and a wonderful opportunity. But change is unsettling and I don't want me working to affect my family, especially my kids, too, too much.

Right now I cook dinner every night for my family. My husband is a crummy cook (sorry, dear), and so he cleans up instead. This is a good swap, in my opinion. I like to cook and I don't like to wash dishes. If and when I go back to work I'd like to keep cooking for my family. I believe in families eating together and I believe that healthy eating makes a difference in quality of life so I will try to cook supper every night and not succumb to take-out menus.

I think I'm going to have to make good friends with my crock-pot.

I found a crock-pot recipe for that old Russian/American staple, Beef Stroganoff. I'm not sure if my family would eat this - my husband dislikes sour cream - but if you don't have a picky husband or wife or kids this sounds like an easy and good recipe. You could serve it with some whole wheat noodles or brown rice and a green veg on the side. Easy.

Here is is, from cooks.com:

3 lb. beef round steak, 1/2 inch thick
1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
2 med. onions, thinly sliced and separated into rings
2 (4 oz. each) cans sliced mushrooms, drained or 1/2 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can condensed beef broth
1/4 c. dry white wine (optional)
1 1/2 c. sour cream
1/4 c. flour

Trim all excess fat from steak and cut meat into 3 inch strips about 1/2 inch wide. Combine 1/2 cup flour, the salt, pepper and dry mustard; toss with steak strips to coat thoroughly. Place coated steak strips in crock pot; stir in onion rings and mushrooms. Add beef broth and wine; stir well. Cover and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours. Before serving, combine sour cream with 1/4 cup flour; stir into crock pot. Serve stroganoff over rice or noodles.