Cooking a lost art?

[pomtzu]

For years and years and years, when I was still married and the kids were growing up, I cooked a big meal from scratch EVERYDAY, with the exception of Saturday when I took a break. This was after coming home from working a full time job Monday-Friday. Takeout was never an option, nor were boxed or frozen meals. I was brought up in a home where my mother did the same, altho she didn't work, and I never questioned doing it any differently.

Now I've earned a rest - one big meal cooked on Sunday, and of course holidays too. Residing in a home with son, DIL and grandson, no one ever agrees on what they would like, or even when they will be home to eat it, so I usually fix myself a decent lunch and forgo much of anything to eat at night, other than a light snack.

And right now the house is filled with the smell of a pineapple casserole that I just took out of the oven - made from scratch of course!

[sirrahbed]

Good for you doing all that home cooking Nicole!! While I don't cook every day like I used to, there are still fewer pleasures as satisfying as filling the house with the smell of a good meal and watching people eat what I cook No packaged noodle will ever replace rolled out dumplings and no can of soup can replace a pot of simmered soup on the stove!! I do have many convenience foods that I use though - my newest favorite being packaged frozen potatoes (Ore Ida I think...) that I nuke in the microwave for mashed potatoes.

[Cataholic]

I love to cook.

It depends if I do it 'from scratch' or not. Many things are just as tasty, and such significant time savers that, really, it just isn't worth the trade off. I like the idea of embellishing an item. For instance, I never make my own pizza crust- too much work. And, I know of several that are quite tasty either fresh or frozen. But, I then embellish it with my fave toppings, my own sauce, etc.

Canned soups make such a great base/starter, as long as it isn't overly sodium ladened. I HAVE made stock many times, frankly, the boxed veggie stock is WAY better than anything I make, and it is easier.


I leave the house around 815 am, and get home usually around 6 p. No way am I devoting the next hour plus to making something from scratch. I like to eat...but, I like to live, too. I do like to make a big mess of pesto, hummus, sauce, pepperanata, etc.,.

[Freedom]

I LOVE SPAM! Make it about once a week!

[pomtzu]

I LOVE SPAM! Make it about once a week!

And everyone thinks I'm crazy when I say I like it............

I don't eat it that often, but every so often it strikes my fancy.

[Medusa]

I didn't even know Spam was still around. Yowza!

[Lilith Cherry]

I cook all the time - like Nicole I use it as a stress reliever LOL - plus I have a fussy Yorkshireman for a husband who hates fast food and packaged stuff. As I live in China (even though I am English/Canadian, Wombat - I hate Spam but then i hate Lamingtons too) I am limited to cooking on two gas rings and a toaster oven; this is the weeks menu so far:


Chocolate sour cream cake ( for my birthday)

Chicken in herbed cream sauce
Chocolate chip and walnut cookies

Spaghetti bolognese
Carrot and raisin muffins


Tourtiere (Canadian minced pork pie)

Pork rib and veggie casserole
Blueberry jam tarts

Roast loin of pork with roast potatoes and nutmegged carrots
Raspberry jam sponge and custard


Cornish pasties ( with minced beef - no lamb in South China)

Tomorrow I am thinking of Cheese and bacon quiche.

By the way, all three of my daughters-in-law are great cooks too!

[wombat2u2004]

Wombat - I hate Spam but then i hate Lamingtons too)

No !!!! That's not possible. You can't possibly dislike lamingtons.
You've spent too long in China. Too much rice, that's what it is.
Lamingtons are the food of the Gods !!!!!!

[wombat2u2004]

And everyone thinks I'm crazy when I say I like it............

I don't eat it that often, but every so often it strikes my fancy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE