Welcome to the Madhouse

Oh, how my life has changed over the last few years. Gone are the days of spending a day or two preparing for elaborate dinner parties and cooking at random times when I felt like it and just because I could, with ingredients I hunted down in back-street markets and delicatessens.

That was all prechildren—now things are very different. I’m a busy mom who has to juggle work, children and all the associated chaos. I live in a madhouse! I’m always pushed for time, but I want to continue cooking food for me, my family and my friends, so it has to be simple, quick to prepare and easy to shop for—and I know I’m not alone here. Just reading around numerous websites and magazines, and chatting to other parents, it’s obvious most people find cooking for their families a challenge and blinkin’ hard work.