Does anyone feel that sometimes it's just a drag to make dinner?

[babylonsister]

AZDemDist6 made me 'fess up; I just plain don't feel like it sometimes, never mind trying to be creative. Maybe that's because the PITA would rather eat big lunches and not dinner most of the time. And I'm really not a bad cook! :cry:

[NMDemDist2]

1. almost every weekday

i'm so tired, even if I thought ahead and defrosted something I just go brain dead when it's time to cook and invariably it seems, if I planned a dish either me or Mr. Ketchup doesn't "feel" like that on that night....

I feel your pain sistah! :hug:

unlike H2S and some of our retired foodies who are at home and can putter at cooking all day, coming home from work and then being confronted with a rumbling tummy and a lack of energy can be disheartening some days.....

thank goodness my DH will come and sit in the kitchen with me while I cook and even if he's only doing the crossword puzzle and not talking, his company helps a lot and he ALWAYS helps with the dishes

it makes a big difference

[Stinky The Clown]

5. It ain't all peaches an' cream here, either .....

Some days I have loads of time ....... and some days not. Sparkly has her piano students until 7.30 or even later. So when its time to make supper its always a variation on the theme of 'so .... wuddayuh feel like?' Neither one of us is much on planning for meals a week in advance. Too restictive for people like us who love spontineity ..... or at least say we do cuz its a good excuse ... yanno? :)

So yeah ... some nights its a drag and we eat strange things. Tonight we hadda take SparklyJr to her father's house but that hadda wait till after she was through with work ..... at 7. So I ate popcorn for an early supper ... then we went to a TexMex place for a more proper supper .... at 9.00.

Our fall-backs are macaroni with a jarred gravy. Or omelettes. Or soup. Or sangwidges.

But when we give eating some serious thought and have the time to execute, we loooooove cooking. Problem is .... we can't tell from day to day how we'll feel.

Tomorrow night son #2, SO to son #2, Sparkly Jr, Sparkly, and me will break the communal bread. We're smokin' some shrimps, picatta-ing some veal, risottoing some arborio, an vegging sumpin'.

[mike_c]

6. SMOKING SHRIMPS! SMOKING SHRIMPS!

Dude, I had to give that up-- I just can't get anything done when I'm.... Oh. Never mind.

[NMDemDist2]

10. come on man

you know the tails always plug up the pipe

:evilgrin:

[NMDemDist2]

13. whadda ya mean?? it's not culinary nirvana everyday at the

H2S domicile???

I'm crushed and my world view has been rocked on it's axis.....


:rofl:

[mike_c]

2. I keep several really tasty "it's a drag to make dinner" meals handy....

One is Safeway Select frozen lasagne roll-ups, frozen meatballs from Costco, a locally bottled marinara sauce with artichokes, and balsamic vinegar. Pour about a quarter cup of sauce into a small covered cassarole, add one lasagne roll, half a dozen meatballs, another quarter cup of sauce or so, and a sprinkle of balsamic vinegar (serves one). Total prep time: one minute or so. Bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes. Drink a glass of wine to relax while dinner is cooking.

Another favorite that I've mentioned here is stuffed salmon from Costco, which I freeze individually. I'll often pull one out of the freezer and stick it in the refrigerator early in the week in anticipation that I'll not feel like doing any prep one night soon. I just bake it in a little butter for 25 minutes, again, zero prep time except maybe to rip up a head of romaine and dump on some bottled dressing and a squeeze of the same lemon I squeeze over the stuffed fish.

Tonight I'm just going to simmer some of those same meatballs in some chicken stock and balsamic vinegar-- the ultimate easy reduction-- with some sliced cabbage. The meatballs go into the stock and vinegar frozen, simmer for 15 minutes or so, then add the cabbage, salt and pepper, and simmer covered until the cabbage is tender, about 20-25 minutes. By that time the liquid is mostly reduced to a rich sauce. Boil it off at the end if it's still too liquid. Stir in a bit of butter, and add a squeeze of lemon. Again, virtually no prep time except keeping an eye on the pan near the end of the sauce reduction-- but I'll likely toast some bruschetta to go with it.

on edit-- you know, maybe it helps that I live alone-- I enjoy cooking for myself most of the time, but when I don't feel like it there's no one to feel guilty about. One night last week I ate cheese and crackers for dinner sitting in front of my computer. No worries-- and no clean-up, either.

[The empressof all]

19. Those lasagna roll ups are a great product

Their frozen ravioli are terrific too. I'm not a fan of Safeway but I admit to running in there on occasion and loading up on these products.

I like the fact that I can use my own sauce.

They are quick, easy and very good.

[politicat]

3. Hey, even when I'm working from home, it sucks.

And on days when I'm in the office.... There's a reason we owe our first born to the Asian place down the street.

Doing the once a month thing helps a lot - it means I can just defrost something, make up a pile of rice or pasta or potatoes, and nuke a veggie. I keep a lot of things pre-made (spaghetti sauce, stroganoff sauce, hunter sauce, a curry or dopiaza or mulghai) and a lot of things prepped, like when I buy beef or chicken, I slice it thin because 90% of the time, I'm going to use it in a stir-fry or similar. Prep and freeze the veggies the same way.

And even with all of that done... there are nights when opening two cans of soup and slapping some sandwiches together is just a bit much.

[Tab]

4. I usually love to make dinner

It's my stress release.

But sometimes I'm just not into it, and I'm not ashamed to go out for a pizza or eat out or get something frozen and awful health-wise and heat it up, or cheap it out with nachos or something.

Growing up, my mother would occasionally have "grab it" night, where we could each get what we wanted and eat it. I didn't understand it at the time, but now I recognize those were the nights she just didn't feel like hassling with dinner.

[SW FL Dem]

8. We do that too. My kid calls it a " whatever you want" night.

We each grab something from the fridge or freezer. Hubby usually eats the leftovers, the kid makes himself a sandwich and I tend to opt for a Lean Cuisine or a pb and j.

[CornField]

9. At our house they are known as "F4YS" nights

That is: Fend 4 Yo Self

We also mark them on the menu planner, typically one every 2-3 weeks. Everyone needs a night off now and then.

[SW FL Dem]

7. I do I do!!

I am lucky, hubby will eat just about anything without complaint. The kid is a teenager so he's definitely not a picky eater. Once in a while, I get inspired to try a new recipe, but most evenings cooking dinner is more of a chore than a joy.

[Lugnut]

11. I like to cook

But I sometimes just don't want to have to think about it. I also get stuck in a carousel of the same old boring repertoire.

DH's schedule of 2:30PM to 10:30 PM means that we have our main meal around Noon. While I like that meal schedule it creates it's own challenges in the time frame department.

[grasswire]

12. what's depressing here....

...is that the thirteen-year-old girl in the house is an extremely picky eater and also sugar sensitive -- bad blood sugar swings and craves the stuff. Gawd almighty, this limits how the rest of us can eat. We don't want to make special food for her just because she's picky, but at the same time we can't live on what appeals to her, as there are only about four dinners she'll eat. Tacos, pizza with no sauce or cheese, plain white chicken, cucumber sushi rolls. That's about everything she'll eat. It's a daily exercise in tongue biting.

[Dora]

14. Pretty much every Monday through Friday.

There's something about getting in the door at 5:45 and knowing that I need to be eating by 6:30 or blood will be shed. It's compounded by the fact that kiddo's dinnertime is at 6:00, and he's not quite on board with table foods yet, so I'm feeding one at the same time that I'm trying to cook for two. It gets tiresome, yes it does.

[jeanarrett]

15. Yes, and what I find extremely annoying is the time they

feed kids lunch at school. I don't get home until 6:00 p.m. or a little later and my youngest has been fed lunch at school at 10:45! 10:45 in the morning! I'm hardly awake at my desk by then and so when they get home from school, they are starving and noshing all afternoon until I get home. We often don't eat dinner until 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. and then it's bed time a little after that. Yes, sometimes I just wish it would all go away, but when I was a SAHM, I loved to cook, because I HAD THE TIME!

[Warpy]

16. So? Fruit and cheese on weeknights, then

and there are endless variations thereof: think crepes, turnovers, rustic tarts, whatever. Think any mild cheese you love, or be adventurous. Get sick of fruit and cheese, there's always soup and salad.

I'm with him, given my druthers, I'd rather eat a big meal at midday and something very light in the evening. A big supper just lays there like a concrete block and I can't sleep afterward.

[The empressof all]

17. Yes, I'm a believer in helpful alternatives

Trader Joes has some great frozen products that make these nights easier. Tonight for example we're having Mandarin Orange Chicken. I heat the chicken in the oven and pour the sauce over it. Add some rice out of the rice cooker and some steamed brocolli and its a great quick meal with minimal fuss.

The crockpot also makes life easier. I love TJ's Indian sauces that I throw in the pot with some boneless breasts in the morning. My rice cooker has a delay feature so I come home to hot Chicken Masala and rice

I've also been known to open a bag of salad and add a can of tuna and a little shredded cheese. Quick and easy!

If you have a Trader Joes near you I can't say enough about how wonderful they are for quick, easy and healthy products.

[NMDemDist2]

18. ya know I have TJ's all over and I so rarely shop there

wonder what's up with that......

I think cuz my budget is SO tight they feel like an extravagance :shrug:

i watch for sales at the big grocery stores and get most of my produce and bin goods (flour, sugar etc) at the farmer's market

but TJ's is great for sure....

[The empressof all]

20. I think it's all relative

The Mandarian Orange Chicken is less than $5 a bag and serves the three of us. With rice and brocolli it comes to less than $6.00 which is a hell of a lot cheaper than take out.

I think their prices are pretty competative actually. I buy their frozen marinated white salmon when ever I can find it. It's much less expensive than my local market and the marinade is great.

I'm also a fan of Uncle Sam's cereal and TJ's has the best price around.

I think it's a matter of just checking the prices. I'm a big flyer watcher too but use TJ's to supplement.

Besides, I'm a wino and need my Two Buck Chuck Cabernet.

[NMDemDist2]

21. yeah I did love their wine section LOL

maybe that's why I avoid them now..... brings up old memories :rofl:

[Midlodemocrat]

22. During the week, I use the crockpot a lot.

Or have some sort of 'stew' type thing simmering on the stove. I have been swamped at work for two months, and even though I work from my home, coming up with something the three kids, husband and FIL will eat is tough.

Right now the tried and trues are:
Homemade spaghetti sauce
Coq au vin
Beef stroganoff
Beef stew
A chicken dish I invented with basil, crushed tomatoes and feta.
Pot roast
Roast chicken/turkey
Filet of beef.

I just don't have the energy right now to come up with something creative.

[wildeyed]

23. All the time.

I have a few back up meals that can be assembled quickly from the freezer and the cupboard. One of my favorites is Costco frozen salmon burgers on an English muffin and microwaved frozen broccoli with a little butter and lemon juice. Second best is garlic/spinach noodles with chick peas. Both meals are fast and reasonably nutritious. I also do stuff in the crock pot if I remember early enough in the day to get it started. Dumping commercial barbecue sauce over still frozen drumsticks is a quick and easy dinner, along with some steamed rice and a salad. The variations on that are endless.

[NMDemDist2]

24. i do that with pork chops or chicken breasts

take em out of the freezer, throw em in the crock pot with some BBQ sauce or cream of ?anything? soup

[wildeyed]

27. Works with salsa, too. n/t

[The empressof all]

26. The Joy of Yoshida's gourmet sauce

I'm not a big teriyaki fan but I do use this stuff alot. It's fab-o with chicken, pork and our fav those little beef rib-ettes. Dump it in the crock pot in the morning and serve with rice and brocolli.

My SO and the kid would eat this 3 or 4 times a week without complaints.
It probably has a high sodium content--but luckily I don't need to worry about that.

[wildeyed]

28. Where do you get it?

I am always happy to add another sauce to my arsenal.

[The empressof all]

29. I get it at the grocery store

It's by the barbeque sauces or sometimes in the asian aisle. It's a variation of teryaki sauce but much better than others.

Once you are hooked on it you can also get it in Costco in the huge jugs.

[merci_me]

25. Yep and about once every few months, we have a

CEREAL BUFFET!!

It works out well, since I keep all the cereals in big glass jars and only have six of them. The grandkids always request cereals for the prizes or the shapes and seem to get tired of them at about two bowls from the bottom. So we get out fresh and dried fruits, and the jars of dwindling cereals and finish them off. Any left over dried cereals from those "buffets" get tossed on the patio and the birds and squirrels get a little forbidden treat.

[supernova]

30. Yep, I don't cook a lot for myself

I cook on the weekends, mainly to fix my lunch for the coming week.

But come home every night and cook? for one person? Hardly ever. It's take out most nights.

[japple]

31. Yeah, it is a drag sometimes. I cook large meals on my days off

so there will be plenty of leftovers during the week. Every time I make corn muffins or biscuits, I'll freeze the leftovers and use them as needed. We eat a lot of cabbage/carrot slaw in the winter, so that's usually available for a salad, or I'll used a bagged mix and add some cherry or grape tomatoes and olives.

If it's just me, I'll make a bowl of pasta with olive oil, garlic and parmesan. My husband used to make breakfast for supper whenever inspiration was low. I usually have something in the freezer that I can nuke, but some nights, I just wish someone else would see about dinner. And sometimes, a bowl of cereal is the best you can do.

I used to work with a woman who, when her cantankerous husband would call her at work to berate her for something, would say to us (after she'd hung up the phone), "Wellllll, it looks like we're going to have cereal for dinner tonight."

[SoCalDem]

32. Lots of times.. But I am lucky.. I have a knack for fast suppers..

I can go to the kitchen at 6 with NOTHING in mind, and have dinner on the table at 6:30:)

My husband's always amazed.. I don;t know HOW I do it, but I rarely strike out.. but when I do occasionally..well that's why God invented restaurants :)