So I've had this ongoing argument with myself. It has to do with meal preparation vs drive through, pick up or any other way I don't have to create it myself. Obviously in everybody's view including my own, cooking at home is healthier. Everybody, except maybe me, thinks cooking at home is cheaper too! This I'm not sure about. If I drive through and pick up super meals for everybody in my family, it comes somewhere between $30 and $40. I can go cheaper than that at some places and go greater than that upscaling just a bit and...voilà...my variety! The serendipity is that's all there is, like it or not you're done, no second helpings! If you've bought yourself a lot, hurray, that's lunch tomorrow. Works well!
My friends think I'm looney tunes, nod like yes we keep hearing this from you, it may sound all good, but you're wrong!
They must be right of course.
So then I go to the grocery with my ingredient list in hand. I really am totally capable of shopping for what I need and getting out of the store without buying more. Not that I always do that, but mostly I do. Check out and guess what? $40 or $50 or more, sometimes less! Read my coupon queen blog to learn I'm not hellbent on that! But I am focusing on off brand or sale items. Now I go home and spend the rest of my day cooking. So why wouldn't I drive through or order ahead and pick up?
And that's been our life up until recently! I'm not a bad cook, just a reluctant one. Holidays are my fun time for cooking. Cooking for a crowd is great. Make a huge variety of foods and who cares if somebody doesn't like something, somebody else will. So I wear myself out and then rest for the rest of the year! Until recently, when I consciously decided to offer some recipe ideas on the www.momtimetv.com website.
That got me started shopping and chopping, baking and roasting. Getting out of my comfort zone in the kitchen. Having to put up a new recipe everyday didn't seem so difficult at the outset, but whew, did it turn into a challenge. But the challenge turned out to be a fun thing for me. And now I'm actually enjoying my time in the kitchen and making new recipes I never would have given a second thought to. And the chore of chopping an onion is no big deal anymore. I'm trying to cook healthier, but still throw in those "treats" for the kids.
And it was funny too. At first my family begged for those days that I would succumb to the drive through. But now they can't wait to find out what's coming up next. That hasn't stopped them from that restaurant mentality of thinking though. They want choice and they don't want leftovers! On normal days when I'm cooking, there is no choice and I'm trying not to over do it so there are less leftovers. I can't eat everything after all. It's funny finding the things they like! I can never go wrong with a dessert! Salads are always touch and go! And they don't like fruit on their lettuce. And they don't like all kinds of lettuce or all kinds of dressings. They will argue vehemently, but I think it's good to try new things...to stretch your taste buds a little. Oh and if you wonder where my husband stands with all this...he's 100 percent with the kids. They like what they like.
The good news as well as they bad nows is we are on the cycle of new every night, so if they love it or hate it, they probably won't see it again for a long long time.
I missed the movie "Julie & Julia" but I read the book. And while I wasn't all that enthralled with it, I find myself feeling similar to how she must have felt and challenged in some similar ways. Even though my recipes are leagues easier, I find myself less reluctant to stretch a little more. All in all I'm loving this adventure!
Life is phases. What works at what time. This too is a phase. And I like it. Check out what's for dinner at http://www.momtimetv.com and join me!
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