Questions for those that cook..

I always look at the weekly menu posts and you ladies sure know how to make yummy dishes.

For those that cook,
1) Do you have children?
2) If so, did you find that you cooked less when you're child was younger?
3) do you work?

I try to cook but don't have the energy to. I try to cook at least two times a week. I don't know maybe because it's because I work full-time and have a one year old. I just don't have the motivation right now...maybe when the kids get older and are more independent.

Anyone else feel this way?

Message edited 6/21/2011 3:33:07 PM.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I think if you come home, unprepared, and try to cook a meal, it can get overwhelming.

You can also do a lot of prep on the weekends or after dinner for the next night. You can make a double batch and freeze/morph it.

Maybe if you have a close friend/neighbor, do an exchange - you cook Mon/Wed, she cooks Tues/Thur and you make enough for both.

The crock pot helps... so easy to throw stuff in and turn the knob.

Good luck!

Re: Questions for those that cook..

1) yes, I have one son, aged 20 months
2) after the initial months in a sleep stricken stupor, I got back on the cooking horse. I have always enjoyed cooking, and even more so now that my son is eating table foods.
3) I work, full time out of the home.

planning has made it so easy. but I think moreso has experience. I am extremely comfortable in the kitchen and am able to do it with a decent amount of speed.

sometimes I'll throw on a meal before work or I'll make the bulk of it the night before, but that's what I do when I get home. dh takes care of the boy, and I get busy in the kitchen.

now he cooks with me as much as I will let him and it's FUN (if not a bit messy. )

Re: Questions for those that cook..

Posted by Ophelia

1) yes, I have one son, aged 20 months
2) after the initial months in a sleep stricken stupor, I got back on the cooking horse. I have always enjoyed cooking, and even more so now that my son is eating table foods.
3) I work, full time out of the home.

planning has made it so easy. but I think moreso has experience. I am extremely comfortable in the kitchen and am able to do it with a decent amount of speed.

sometimes I'll throw on a meal before work or I'll make the bulk of it the night before, but that's what I do when I get home. dh takes care of the boy, and I get busy in the kitchen.

now he cooks with me as much as I will let him and it's FUN (if not a bit messy. )

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I cook/bake a lot. I do not have children yet and I only work part time. I love cooking though, it relaxes me.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I love to cook but find it hard when I'm out of the house 10+ hours a day working, even not having children yet it's hard. I do think menu planning can help relieve the stress of trying to figure something out last minute.

When work is super busy I also try to cook ahead. I'll make two meals on a Saturday or Sunday and freeze extras. It's much easier to menu plan when I only have to make two or three meals and the rest I pull from the freezer. In the winter I do lots of casseroles and chili and in the summer i just make extra burgers or turkey burgers for the freezer. Also, we try not to do leftovers for lunch so we can have them as future dinners.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

1. I have 2 children - ages 10 & (almost) 8.
2. I enjoy cooking.. I cooked less in QUANTITY when they were younger.. but I still cooked just about every night for Rob and myself.
3. I am currently unemployed but only for the last 5 weeks or so. Prior to that I worked full time in an executive management position that required me to be there more than 10 hours a day.

I think the trick is prepping. Mise en place. I have half of what I need done already when I walk in the door - onions chopped, garlic minced, veggies diced, etc.. I also will sometimes measure out the spices and put the pots on the stove before I leave in the morning. The menu planning def. helps.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I'm a FTWM with a 1.5 year old (& #2 on the way) if I don't plan ahead I'm screwed!!! I just got back into the weekly menu thread b/c I needed to start planning again, I slacked for A LONG TIME!

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I am a PTWM (Tues/Weds/Thurs) with 19 month old twins. Honestly I cooked LESS before I had kids. Now that I'm home all the time, I have more time to cook. Plus I enjoy cooking a lot and especially making food for my kids.

Currently we eat a "home cooked" meal (either fresh or leftovers) about 5 nights a week. Takeout one night and then we try to go out one night. I tend to cook and prep a lot on Sundays/Mondays so I'm ready for the week. Planning a weekly menu has been a HUGE help. Without advance planning I'd never be able to stay organized.

ETA: I also make double batches of things and freeze, so I can take something out in the morning and then heat at night.

Message edited 6/22/2011 9:26:03 AM.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I do not have children yet . I do work FT and overtime throughout the year and its not always easy. I plan out what I am making before the week begins and always have back-up items in the freezer. I usually make 1 or 2 more involved meals each week and others that come together real quickly and easily. The slow cooker is a huge help (more so in the winter months). I love to cook and eating homemade meals that are healthier, yummier and less $ is important to me, we really try not o do take out, etc.
half of our meals are also made to have leftovers to help also!

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I cook most nights of the week. I am due October 3rd. I plan on cooking when I have my baby. The first few weeks I am sure I will not be cooking, my mom lives nearby and loves to cook so I think she will probably help us out those first few weeks.

I grew up with my mom always cooking for us so to me it is the norm. Also I do not always cook fancy smancy hard things. I have many go to meals that are practically as easy as ordering in

I just don't love take out. To me most things are not worth the $$ and extra calories. Save for a pizza or sushi here or there.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I cook A LOT, but I also don't have any children right now. I do work full time and I also have a side business part time. I find that I like to cook easier meals during the week and more involved meals over the weekend. I absolutely love cooking for my DH. We try not to eat out too much to save money. I'm sure once we have a child the cooking will probably slow down a bit and I will have to plan more. For right now though, I enjoy looking through my recipes when I get home - it's very therapeutic for me!

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I do not have children, but plan to cook when I do. I also hope to be working less hours when we have children or be a stay at home. But in reality Im just hoping to be able to work less hours.

I work 46 hours a week and commute to and from long beach. So on my late nights I have my husband prepare dinner in the slow cooker. I just leave very specific instructions for him and prep as much as possible the night before. haha.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I cook most of the nights.. before it was every night, but I am pregnant and my mom sends us food every week, so I don't need to cook every day. and I hope when my LO arrives, I can continue with it...in my house, my mom used to cook almost every night, so for me, its something I want to do, can do and like the other mom's said, plan ahead for.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I dont have kids and really didnt know how to boil an egg 3 yrs ago lol but now I enjoy cooking (as long as it doesnt take more than 45 min ) the best thing is be prepare. When I get home from the supermarket i separate the meat in ziplock, season and cut some (for example chicken and beef I cut in cubes and/or slice). The night before when I am cleaning the kitchen I bring down whatever meat I want for the next day. I also love to cook something that its good for 2 days and my main motivation is the money I save!..One month around this time last years I save all the recipe off all the money we where spending out in food, multiply that by 12 and I almost had a heart attack so now I put myself to cook at home at all cost lol For example yesterday DH was coming home but he was just going to pick me up to go and run some errand. We could easily eat out and I could find 100 excuse to do so but I had 45 min for him to get home. I made some pasta ($1) in one pot/ cook ground beef ($4) and add pasta sauce and onions ($2.5). After it was ready I mix both and add half bag of shreeded cheese ($1.25) on top and cover and put in the oven in a disposable thingy. Also threw in the oven half of a italian bread with garlic ($1). When we got back I turn on the oven for 15 min and dinner was ready. Enough food for 2 days for $10!
Today the only thing I need to do is turn on the oven and maybe open a salad express bag lol

Message edited 6/22/2011 11:15:31 AM.

Re: Questions for those that cook..

I work full time, have a 2 year old and have cooked meals at least 5 times a week. I learned very early on that what works for me is to do all my cooking for the week on Sunday and make batches of stuff to freeze later. This is what works for me. This past Sunday b/c of Father's day I was unable to cook, but I had some frozen foods I will be able to use this week.