singrdave

Join Date 07/2004

Do You Cook?

If you don't, who does?

My wife is a great cook, as my ever-increasing waistline will attest. Even with four children and a full-time employee for a husband, she can still put out four or five dinners a week and send me to work the next day with leftovers. And it's good, tasty, variety-filled food, too.

Her mother was an okay cook; she served up a new meal every night with leftovers once or twice a week.

Our family typically eats out more than once a week, as well. Usually fast food, mostly because of busy schedules and no time to make or sit down and eat a dinner-time meal. Sometimes just for fun -- don't get me wrong. We eat out recreationally, especially when we're out and about at dinner time.

I try to help out around the ktichen, but it's mostly helping my wife cut up veggies or clearing the dishes. I'm simply not that good around the kitchen, but I'm sure practice would make perfect.

My wife had a conversation with another friend of ours. She and her husband have one child at home; she is two and quite a handful. She said to my wife, "You make a different meal every night?! I can't find the time!" Her rationale was that she is so busy taking care of her child that she has no time to plan, shop for, organize, prepare, and cook the meals in their house. She and her husband sit down to a lot of pasta and pre-made dinners at suppertime.

Then I happened upon this article, from Reuters...
Almost a third of young Britons have passed off a ready-made meal as their own creation in order to impress someone, according to a survey by the Department of Health.

Women were the worst offenders, with 40 percent saying they had claimed food bought in a shop as their own, compared to 22 percent of men.

And seven percent of the 1,000 16-24-year-olds questioned said they regularly claimed credit for food they had bought.

The research, conducted as part of the department's 5 A DAY campaign to encourage people to eat more fruit and vegetables, also found that one in 10 had never cooked a proper meal for themselves because they "don't know how."

It also discovered that women were more impressed by a man's cooking ability than whether they owned a flashy car.

...and I realized that this is not an isolated issue, it's a universal problem.

Does someone in your family cook? Who is it? How often do you eat out? If you're not the one who cooks, why not?

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Let's see ... my wife cooks 'cause otherwise her and the kids would go hungry during the day ...

She's also a decent cook.

The majority of the cooking in our house is mine.

Why, you ask? Because I enjoy it. And I'm damn good, if I have to say it myself. The fact that there's usually NOT anything left to bring to work as leftovers (and I cook for 8 with a family of 6) says something, don't it?

And my kids clamor for me to cook over their mom's cooking.

I've been cooking for over 20 years. It started as a self-defense mechanism. With my mom working late evenings (teacher w/ extra tutoring duties) and my dad spending more time on-site than at home (Hawk Maintenance Technican in the Army), we had to cook, or starve.

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singrdave,
I'm the chief cook, and bottle washer in my home. My son reaps the benefits of my hotdishes, Minnesota grown type.
When he cooks it's frozen pizzas, hotdogs, baquet frozen meals......

I'm retired so I have the time to plan, shop, and cook meals. Love to do the planning for at least 2 weeks in advance. AND it helps
with the budget too. AND it's interchangeable.

If we don't feel like lasagna, we can have a hot dish made with cream soups, chow mein noodles, ect.
living on a fixed income, we eat out once a month and that's breakfast at McDonald's. I've learned though how to
fix food to taste like fast food.

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I am like you. My wife does most of the cooking. I do the grilling hohwever. When we were dating I did cook some meals. My Kids and my wife then kicked me out of the kitchen! And it has been her domain ever since!

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I do the grilling however.

Yes, I forgot to mention. I DO THE GRILLING. Oh yes, very manly and entertaining. It's a challenge that I am happy to take.

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I do most of the cooking. It's easier for me to have supper on the table when my husband gets home than to wait for him to cook. He's a pretty good cook, we just have vastly different tastes.

When I cook supper I make a meat, a veggie, and then one other carb (usually mac and cheese or mashed potatoes) something I know the kids will really like. And my husband always eats and then says "Oh, I ate too much!"

So I am not offended when he calls me during the day, sometimes three days a week and says, "Don't cook supper."

What that means is....Please don't make anything I like for supper because I want to eat my dish. (He has a dish he loves that no one else in the family can eat because its boring...but he likes it because he is a runner and it is full of carbs...and doesn't "weigh" him down.)

So I say, sure....then go ahead and fix exactly what I was going to make anyway, which he usually eats...hehe. Then when he says, "I told you not to cook!"

I say, "You're not the only mouth to feed."

He used to do all the grilling and still does on the weekends....but I am a year round griller and often want a piece of meat or veggies grilled during the week, so I had to take over his grill M-F.

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I see that women serve as the head chefs at most JU households. But I gotta say that my sweetheart does more cooking than I do. In fact, for him, it goes beyond just making a meal...I think it is actually a hobby for him. He especially loves trying out new meat recipes (He made some "taco" soup in the slow cooker last week...it was yummmmyyy.

As for myself, I do cook a few times a week (latest recipe I have tried is corn bread pie) , with Breakfast being my most favorite meal to make. Baking is actually my area of expertise...I love it! (Made chocolate chip/walnut cookies and brownies for everyone in my family for Christmas...and sugar cookies for my honey).

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M - F:

I make cereal (ok, not cooking, but still) for the boys. Husband comes home from PT. I cook him a full traditional breakfast.

He comes home for lunch and I either warm up leftovers or cook him up a frozen dinner.

Late afternoon/Early evening, I spend an hour or more cooking a meal and cleaning up after myself. I try to mix it up and make new things, but there are some things my husband wants every week (ribs, these burgers I make, fried chicken).

Sat. & Sun.:

I make a big breakfast for the family, usually making bread or a casserole or pancakes.

If we're running around we eat lunch out, if not it's usually pasta or sandwiches or something easy.

I make a big regular meal for supper. Every so often my husband will grill some steaks and corn on the cob.

And I make cookies or brownies or cake or some other dessert-type thing at least once or twice a week.

Even if it isn't true "cooking", I feel like I am ALWAYS preparing food. I really enjoy caring for my family in that way, and my husband is very complimentary of my cooking which makes me feel good.

He can make pasta. He does that sometimes, maybe once or twice a month. That's the limit of his cooking ability unless I supervise him (haha).

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We both cook, though my wife does the majority. We eat out a time or two a month, max, so we cook just about every day.

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I cook, I clean, I play the piano in the treble clef. Whether it's meatloaf, french cuisine, or the manly art of grilling, I'm there.

I slice, I dice, I cube, I chop, I saute!!! I'm the ginsu knife of.....well, I don't know. I'm just a ginsu knife. Got a tin can handy?

This does bring up a beautiful future blog though. I've been thinking more and more about leaving the top off of my furnace and putting a grill across it.....Ribeye with extra zinc anyone?

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JillUser

Join Date 11/2003

+17

I am the head (and only) chef at chez Wardell. Brad and the boys have proclaimed that I am an awesome cook. I tend to think it is because I cater to their tastes rather than being superior in the greater scheme of things.

I usually feel like a short order cook. I spend a very large part of my life in the kitchen. I prepare breakfasts, lunches and dinners. On weekends I always make big breakfasts usually consisting of waffles, pancakes or french toast with sausage or scrambled eggs. I like to do roasts on weekends if possible. Sometimes we will have pizza on a Friday or Saturday depending on our schedule. We usually get pizza or chinese food about once a week or every other week.

I learned how to cook at a very early age. My mom and her mother are both very good cooks so I had great teachers and some crowd pleasing family recipes. I have compiled a few of my own recipes over the years also. Like I said, I cater to my family's taste.

I enjoy cooking. I don't enjoy cleaning up afterward though. It just seems like all too often a spend a couple of hours on a meal only to have it scarfed in a matter of minutes and then I am left with an hour of cleanup

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We both cook, though my wife does the majority. We eat out a time or two a month, max, so we cook just about every day.

Yep, same for me too. My hubby ends up doing most of the cooking because he works at nights. I cook on the weekends except for the Friday or Saturday evenings we order in or go out to get food and that's about twice a month.

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My son reaps the benefits of my hotdishes, Minnesota grown type.

Trudy wins the award for best use fo the word "hotdish" in a sentence. Thank you Minnesota.

I see that women serve as the head chefs at most JU households.

Brad and the boys have proclaimed that I am an awesome cook.

Whether it's meatloaf, french cuisine, or the manly art of grilling, I'm there.

I love food, I am just hopeless in the kitchen. But I'm sure that practice would make perfect, but my wife usually has me "help in the kitchen" by keeping the kids out from under foot while she prepares dinner.
Speaking of that, duty calls...

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I cook. My mom cooks very well, and as a result eating out == not very yummy. Since I've been out of the Army, I've been able to prepare all of my own meals for the most part. Maybe once every couple weeks I'll order a pizza because I forgot to go to the store. I have my recipies that I cook often, but I am always trying to expand my skills. I've recently started sauteeing mushrooms and steaming fish. I'm at the point now where there isn't any meal that intimidates me. If I want it, I can make it.

I'm not as good as mom yet though.

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Hmm! Seems I trained you well son! !

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she brings home the bacon , I cook it. heh

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I live alone and since I don't care for fast food at all (yuk!) or even most prepared foods, I do pretty much all of my own cooking. Once in a great while I'll buy something prepared if I'm short on time, but that just doesn't happen very often. Too many quick dishes one can make when needed.

I've been told more than once that I'm a good cook, but I don't know about that. I just throw some stuff together that I think would go well with each other and serve it up.

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We eat out about once a week, mostly because I only go to places where I get food that's better then I can make at home. If someone else cooks for me, namely my wife I am happy, regardless of what's made. My wife has the tuffest job doing maintenance cooking for our home... hotdog's, casseroles, toasted cheese sandwich's and basic recipes, and she does it with lots of love.

I am considered the gourmet cook that likes a creative challenge. I handle all the holiday / family gathering meals and our set down multi course dinner parties. My wife helps me by handling the clean up part allowing me to do what I am good at. The best part of cooking for me comes from walking through the grocery picking ingredients, coming up with ideas and creating a menu for a sit-down dinner party by the time I leave the store...

It also discovered that women were more impressed by a man's cooking ability than whether they owned a flashy car.

That's only true if they have a strong interest in cooking and want to share it with someone, otherwise it's a recipe for disaster. Being a bachelor for a long time I learned first hand when a bachelor puts on an impressive table spread for a date most women grow intimated and don't want to demonstrate their cooking skills.

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MM:

she brings home the bacon , I cook it.

Not for long, eh MM? Are you taking that job?

Taliesin:

I've been able to prepare all of my own meals for the most part. Maybe once every couple weeks I'll order a pizza because I forgot to go to the store. I have my recipies that I cook often, but I am always trying to expand my skills. I've recently started sauteeing mushrooms and steaming fish. I'm at the point now where there isn't any meal that intimidates me. If I want it, I can make it.

This is the point at which I want to be. I see my cooking as a work in progress, but I am too self-conscious to step in and take over. Mostly because I know I have four finicky kids who will probably hate what I make and a wife who will stand over my shoulder giving me "support".

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Mostly because I know I have four finicky kids who will probably hate what I make

Chicken Nuggets, Hot Dogs, Mac and Cheese! You cant go wrong with that menu!

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I see my cooking as a work in progress, but I am too self-conscious to step in and take over.

You've gotta start somewhere. I lost ten pounds the summer I got married. We were surviving on burnt pork steaks and macaroni. Finally I dug out the Cooking For Dummies my sister gave us as a joke. Voila. I started there with....wait for it...........white rice!!!!!! Which I still always look up the recipe for. I can make French cuisine by heart, but I've gotta look up stinkin' rice. It progressed from there to mashed potatoes. Woah.......

Maybe just make a side dish or two at first, and expand your base from there. It's easier to start if you have a "specialty" dish that they like. Mashed potatoes from scratch is fairly easy, and if you want to spice it up, wrap a bulb of garlic in foil and set it in the oven at 350 for an hour, then mush it up into the potatoes just as you begin mashing. There's a lot of good starter books out there, but don't start out by hitting the Joy of Cooking or the Saucier's Apprentice.

You will join us, resistance is futile.

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KarmaGirl

Join Date 03/2001

+118

I do most of the cooking in our home. Both my hubby and I work full time, but I make 6-7 new meals per week. I shop every two weeks, and make a "menu" so that I know what to shop for and what to cook. It saves a lot of time and money. I also plan things that I can make on Sunday and the hubby can warm up on the first couple days of the week, then have dishes that are either super easy for him to finish throwing together, or things that I can put together the night before. This is this weeks menu as an example:

Saturday: portabella Wellington with greens and raspberries.
Sunday: Polenta with Mushroom sauce, mashed cauliflower, and salad
Monday: Mushroom Stroganoff, Bruschetta, and Green Beans
Tuesday: Mushroom Barley Soup and Spinach Quiche
Wednesday: Spinach, Rice and Cheese Casserole with Broccoli
Thursday: Asparagus and Mushroom Pasta with Salad
Friday: Panninis and Brussel Sprouts

As you can tell, my hubby really likes mushrooms, LOL. Most of the recipes that I make are quite involved, but cooking becomes really fast the more you do it. you can also save time by cooking a couple meals in advance at once since you typically use a lot of the same ingredients and don't make much of a bigger mess than just making one meal.

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This is this weeks menu as an example:

Saturday: portabella Wellington with greens and raspberries.
Sunday: Polenta with Mushroom sauce, mashed cauliflower, and salad
Monday: Mushroom Stroganoff, Bruschetta, and Green Beans
Tuesday: Mushroom Barley Soup and Spinach Quiche
Wednesday: Spinach, Rice and Cheese Casserole with Broccoli
Thursday: Asparagus and Mushroom Pasta with Salad
Friday: Panninis and Brussel Sprouts

I'm seeing vegetarian... correct me if I'm wrong.

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KarmaGirl

Join Date 03/2001

+118

I'm seeing vegetarian... correct me if I'm wrong.

Yep. Most of our meals now are vegan, or I have a vegan counterpart that I make for myself. Some meals my daughter won't eat, so I typically have stuff on hand that she wants to eat. My husband is perfectly content without meat, but my daughter still needs her chicken nugget fix now and then, so I keep a bag of organic nuggets in the freezer for her.

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In addition, until this back pain issue is resolved, I find it difficult to cook more labor intensive dishes that require me to be on my feet for more than a few minutes at a time, chopping, stirring, sauteeing, etc.

Yes, that would make it impossible to cook even when you are inspired.

my daughter still needs her chicken nugget fix now and then, so I keep a bag of organic nuggets in the freezer for her.

That's good that you respect your daughter's "chicken nugget fix".

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KarmaGirl

Join Date 03/2001

+118

That's good that you respect your daughter's "chicken nugget fix".

Yeah, she's a funny kid. She loves raw veggies, and she'll choose broccoli over french fries. The other night my husband and daughter were eating Pizza, and I sat down with a plate of veggies. She said:"Do you have zucchini in there?" I said:"yeah, why? You want some?" She ended up eating all my zucchini instead of the rest of her pizza. She's a strange one.

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