Fed up with Cooking!

[Daisy]

I seem to have got less and less enthusiastic about cooking an evening meal just lately. I either cobble together something out of the fridge or go for something quick and easy and certainly don't plan ahead. So I've decided to try and muster some enthusiasm by planning at least one meal a week in advance, shop for it and then cook it.

I hate recipes with 35 ingredients - you can guarantee I've only got 28 of them, and some items will get used once and then sit in the back of the cupboard until I clean it out.

So I've treated myself to Jamie Oliver's latest book - Mediterranean recipes using 5 ingredients. I chose Greek Chicken Pasta for this week's New Dish and it was very nice. OH loved it, but I thought I under-seasoned it a bit. There's enough left to freeze for another day - bonus.

I'll choose next week's New Dish when I do my Sainsbury's order. I don't know how long my good intentions will last, but at least I'm making a bit of an effort and am all ready to polish up my halo!

[Gemini]

I hate cooking I really do!

We have a ready meal once a week, and occasional takeaways and we share the cooking so it's not as though I cook every day. I still wish I never had to however.

The book, and your new intentions sound wonderful Daisy

Let us know what you cook and how it goes.

[Nanto2girls]

I hate cooking,always have. I'd much rather clean something than cook.
We do eat out regularly,so i suppose i shouldn't complain.
The reason we have dinner at what you ladies call lunch,is because if we had it later, i swear we wouldn't get any dinner.
I must admit having the airfryer makes cooking a little easier.
You know now why i like to keep a few homemade meals in the freezer.

[Plantaholic]

I didn’t mind cooking for two so much but can’t get excited about cooking for one. I do use convenience food a bit, I like stir fries which last two days. I am not a keen salad person but the local cafe sell take out food so a slice of lasagne will last me two days. I have put on a lot of weight since I had to give up swimming and I find gardening is difficult so I am thinking it is time for a diet. My home is shining by the way, very pleased with my lovely cleaner.

[Gemini]

Plant, you didn't look to me as though you had put a lot of weight on!
Cafe take out food is brilliant idea, especially for one person.

[Oma]

I don’t cook , not that I can’t but B enjoys cooking and is much more creative than me so my philosophy is why have a dog and then bark yourself 😁

But saying that even he gets fed up at times and we will have a take away , like fish & Chips or a Chinese.

if he’s really stuck for ideas a good old plate of chips egg and beans goes down a treat,

Plant
Our farm shop sells lovely things by the slice like Lasagna or a real nice steak pie, it’s huge can easily do two or half for the freezer ,
Quiche in various flavours , Cheese bake etc ,
I often think this is ideal if you live on your own , a few veg with it even those steam bags are good ,

What annoys me is in Supermarkets even likes of Tea cakes come in packs of 4 , that’s no good for someone living alone is it .

Daisy
B was just saying last night that book would be good for GS , he into cooking and made himself and Connor a pasta bake for dinner last night , I think he would enjoy making things from scratch though so we might get him the book.

[Plantaholic]

Dull here today but quite warm, busy but enjoyable day. I did win one game of Rummycub today.

Oma, so pleased that you can relax and know GS is settling in and enjoying cooking for friends. Well done to your GD. That cookery book sounds a good idea for GS. Must have a look myself.

Daisy, that cookbook does sound interesting, I must look it up.

Nanto you surprise me that you don’t like cooking, you always sound very enthusiastic about your meals.

[Daisy]

It seems I'm not alone in getting so fed up with cooking, then! The book is:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/5-ingredients-mediterranean/jamie-oliver//9780241431160?awaid=3787&utm_source=redbrain&utm_m edium=shopping&utm_campaign=css&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI mcjS8ZmogQMVV_ntCh3oBAiMEAQYAyABEgKM3vD_BwE

I like getting books from Waterstones when I can -they deliver quickly and Amazon need competition! Lots of places seem to have this book on offer at the moment - £14 instead of £28.

I haven't looked very carefully at all the recipes yet, but there did seem to be several using squid, which isn't something I've ever thought of buying.

Not sure why there's a colourful spider when you click on the link - unless it's just my computer.

[Grauntie Mag]

I hate cooking these days too. More often than not I find myself dishing up the same old same old. I’d cheerfully do gardening or sewing all day and just eat something with salad when necessary.
Looking forward to hearing about what else you choose to cook Daisy! 😋

[Daisy]

Thank you Grauntie.

I've just done the Sainsbury's order and one day next week we will be "enjoying" Homestyle Kafteji (page 120). I had never heard of Kafteji and have no idea how to pronounce it, but it seems to be baked or fried vegetables - potatoes, peppers, tomatoes in this version, and served with fried eggs. I think it's a Tunisian street food dish.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Daisy]

Life got in the way of me keeping this up to date, so this is a catch-up!

The Kafteji was delicious, and I'll definitely cook it again, so was the Garlic Chicken with chickpeas, spinach and sumac. The following week we were away for a couple of days so I didn't have chance to try another recipe, and last week we had visitors all week. I didn't try anything new on them, but I did make a red lentil daahl one night. I intended to do my super-easy chicken curry another night, then realised it contained yoghurt and my SIL is lactose-free (and gluten-free) so I tried a different recipe. It was ok but I prefer my super-easy one!

This coming week I shall be trying Creamy Mustard Pork with golden mixed mushrooms, creme fraiche and peppery rocket. I'll do brown basmati rice with it. It's supposed to be ready in 10 minutes, but I always find I take longer!

So far, so good. I find I am taking a bit more interest in meals I make on other days, and sooner or later I shall make some of the ones I've tried again.

[Oma]

Daisy
The first time I had Sumac was in Turkey many many years ago,
it was sprinkled on a salad , absolutely lifted it to another level .
Its lovely rubbed on chicken .

[Daisy]

Oma, I agree. It's amazing. I haven't tried it rubbed on chicken yet, but I love the flavour of it.

[Gemini]

The pork dish sounds my type of thing Daisy

OH made something very similar last week and it was delicious!

[Plantaholic]

Bored with cooking for one at the moment, I will try Sumac.