Every kid has their own funny way of saying things and my twins were no exception.
When they were 3’ish they kept asking for “Bill Jones” for dinner. My husband and I would look at each other, shrug, ask the girls some questions and then do what parents do … fix whatever was next on deck and hope for the best. Most of the time this worked okay in our house. The requests for “Bill Jones” never did go away. Finally, I was motivated to sit down and figure out exactly what on earth this magical “Bill Jones” was once and for all. I sat the girls down and started asking questions.
Have we had “Bill Jones” before? This was met with a torrent of giggles, “Mama, we have “Bill Jones” all the time!” GULP. Okay.
What is in “Bill Jones”? This was met with raised eyebrows, “What do you mean, Mama, it is different every time.” Ummmmm.
Can you describe “Bill Jones” to me so I could make it tonight? In unison, “YES!” Then, talking quickly over one another I heard: “it is pizza, burritos, salad, potatoes, sandwiches, chilli, tacos …” Oh boy. Once I got everyone settled down, I asked how on earth it could be all those things. Thing #1 answered, “because Mama, that’s what it is, it is “Bill’d J’owns” AHHHHHHH! Light bulb!
Our family has a long tradition of putting all the parts of the meal on the table and letting the user build their own meal. The twins had heard “build your own” and naturally shortened it kid’s style. Now, my husband and I mostly did this out of new parent stupor. We cooked all the parts but did not have the energy to put it all together. Unwittingly, we have created some pretty adventurous eaters along the way.
Our Top 5 “Bill Jones” Ideas:
1. Baked Potatoes: Basic Baked Potatoes
- Toppings: Broccoli, Cheese, Sour Cream, Shredded Carrots, Leftover Chili
2. Chili: Basic Crock Pot Chili
- Toppings: Cheese, Onions, Sour Cream, Scallions, Banana Peppers
3. Greek Salad: Romaine Hearts Chopped
- Toppings: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, Banana Peppers
- Dressing: Shake together in mason jar: 1/2tsp kosher salt, 1/4tsp coarse black pepper, 1tsp dried oregano, 1 clove garlic pressed (or minced out of that little jar in the produce section), ½ Cup FRESH lemon juice (no pulp/seeds) and ½ cup Olive Oil.
4. Burritos/Tacos: Lean Ground Meat (Chicken, Turkey, Beef or combo with black beans and seasonings added)
- Wraps: Tortillas, Taco Shells, or just Lettuce for Taco Salad
- Toppings: Cheese, Sour Cream, Tomatoes, Guacamole, Taco Sauce, Scallions
5. Pizzas: Pizza Dough (from scratch, refrigerated section of grocery store or pizza skin already rolled/baked)
- Toppings: Sky’s the Limit! We like pepperoni, sausage, broccoli, olives, pineapple, cheese, mushrooms, and most leftovers.
