Hi guys!  I’m Madalaine

Don’t you just love Chinese menus?  I do!  No, not the spiffy P.F. Chang kind, I’m talking about the old school ones that were laminated with all the pictures.  You’d point to the picture and ask the nice lady for #42.  After a long day, especially when I was a single mom, sometimes that’s about all I’d have the energy for when I got home from work.

After Jerry and I got married, I decided to become a full time stay at home mom.  That’s when I began cooking with a passion but coming up with creative ideas for dinner every night was still a challenge.  

That’s when I first thought about starting a blog.  I wanted a place outside my brain, like an external hard drive, to capture ideas, thoughts, and inspirations to help me come up with a daily answer to the eternal question: What’s for dinner?   

I’m so lucky Jerry, Carver, and my 2 beautiful step daughters (Alexandria and Brianna) are wonderful to cook for because we had a few nights when we were first married that I literally smoked the house down!

For the 5 years I was a single mom, I learned a lot about living well on practically nothing.  I started looking for economical ways to take ordinary minutes and transform them into extraordinary moments!

It was during this time, I discovered the delight in my son’s eyes when we’d so something as simple as light a candle at dinner.  I found out that just putting a big hat on made a backyard peanut butter & jelly picnic pretty darn special.  And I also learned that sometimes it’s fun to turn up a friend’s car stereo, lip sync, and dance in the front yard… just because it’s Tuesday.

Why I started Lakeside Table

Coming up with ideas for what to make for dinner is the hardest part of cooking.  That’s why every Thursday I publish a new post with a new recipe.  I love sharing easy dishes that will help you surprise and delight your loved ones around your table.  For instance, make popovers one night instead of dinner rolls, or spiral zucchini instead of spaghetti, or try your hand at homemade pasta!

Everything here is inspired by our family stories and the travel adventures we’ve taken over the years.  I hope they help you have fun in your kitchen too!

What’s New?

Lakeside Table Channel on YouTube

New YouTube Videos every week!!! I just launched my Lakeside Table YouTube channel last year and I’ve got over 40 super short videos with tips and tricks to make cooking Fun & Easy.  

Lakeside Table goes to Culinary School

August 15, 2018 I started a 13 month culinary program through Escoffier to get a Culinary Arts degree.  This program requires 10-15 hours each week of hands on cooking, studying, and class time.  At the end of the program, they require each student to work 150 hours in a professional restaurant kitchen in order to graduate.  This is an excellent program!

From the time I was 16 until I was almost 30, I always worked at least 2 jobs.  One of these jobs was either prepping food for a caterer, waiting tables, and/or serving for various caterers.  I’ve always loved being around food!  Now that Jerry and I are empty nesters, this is the perfect time for me to go back to school and learn as much as I can from the pros…  And pass as many tips and tricks as I can along to YOU to make cooking FUN!!!

Is Dessert healthy?

I believe in moderation, unless I’m left alone with a box of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies.

Believe me, I’ve done the gluten free diet, the Atkins diet, the South Beach Diet, the Mediterranean Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, the Popcorn Diet, the Low Carb High Fat Diet, the Eat for Your Blood Type Diet… and what I’ve learned is we’re all different and we need different diets for different stages of our life.  And for most of us moms… we’re putting at least 2 or 3 “diets” on the table every night.

That’s why I’ve posted as much nutritional information as I can for you to help you choose what’s right for your family.  If I know of an alternative option that’s nothing short of fabulous, I’ll share that too.  And if YOU know of a great tasty option, please share it here too. 🙂

I hope these photos, recipes, and stories inspire you to have fun in the kitchen and celebrate every day with good food and loved ones.  Here’s to good cooking and great times!

Madalaine