Having your hot dish, and eating it too

Here’s the thing about eating well, it costs money. I normally come home at night and try like crazy to think of something creative, healthy, inexpensive and enjoyable to make for supper. Such efforts often result in less than impressive meals. I used to do meal plans for months in advance. There was something particularly wonderful about opening up my planner each day and knowing exactly what was on the menu. I slowly got out of the habit and as of late I have been resorting to my old ways - opening the refrigerator and pantry to see what was even possible.

Last night I spent the better part of 2 hours going through cookbooks, my recipe cards, grocery store fliers all in an effort to be struck by some creative ideas. Step 1 was to write down exactly what I knew I could cook and that we would eat. Step 2 was to look in the flier for good sales. Step 3 was to go through really boring picture-less cookbooks in hopes of finding some inspiration.

I am a lazy cook. I found myself skipping the recipes that had more than 5 ingredients. Some of them go so far as to list 1/4 teaspoon of randomspice. Seriously, can you even taste 1/4 teaspoon of randomspice? I doubt it. I am also a very picky cook. I won’t cook with onions (I was fortunate enough to marry the man who dislikes them as much as me). I won’t cook with peppers (green, red, yellow, etc.). No fish - I don’t mind eating it from time to time, but I won’t cook with it.

Some recipes upset me. I refuse to make recipes which tell me I have to buy the giant bottle of whatever for the one measly teaspoon required. Its too risky. Even if we like the dish and I plan on making it again it is a gamble because, really, two people take a LONG time to come back around to a casserole. If I make a casserole there is often enough left for SEVERAL meals following. But by the time it is gone you and hubby have had a few fights on who is going to eat the last piece of casserole for lunch this week. He thinks you should. You think he should. And not out of loving sacrifice. You can bet it will be months before that lands back on the menu.

So where did I find myself at the end of my list making? In the recliner, totally exhausted, completely frustrated, and with a list of 3 weeks worth of meal ideas. Consequentially, I found myself holding a very long list for the grocery store. It takes time and effort and I have often wondered how my mom did it. Every night there would be something brewing on the stove or in the oven. I don’t remember her doing things like standing in the kitchen, looking at my father, and shaking her head in bewilderment - ya know, the way I do with hubby. We didn’t go out to eat very often. She just kept finding things to cook.

I am a bit in awe of my mom, and my mother-in-law, who both seem to never run stuck. Maybe it’s the years of having children and a husband they need to feed. Maybe it’s the years of cooking - to the point they don’t use recipes anymore. Maybe its something they have that I am missing. But at any rate, I am impressed by all the people who can cook a good meal night after night...without going broke.