I hate cooking...help!

[Anonymous]

Really, I can't stand it. I've never enjoyed it, and believe me I've tried. My H and I have been together for 20 years, and he not only enjoys cooking but is quite good at it. And I like cleaning, so it's always worked out for us that he cooked and I cleaned for meals.

Now we have a two year old. I cook simple things some nights (pasta, grilled cheese), and others my H would come home and finish cooking. However he's starting a new job that's going to be more demanding while he tries for a promotion, and may also require more travel.

So I'm looking for suggestions on how to easily feed a two year old and mom who can barely make it around the kitchen. Has anyone tried Plated? Are there other options like that?

Also, our son is vegetarian. It's a choice based on my husband's cultural background, so no comments about that please, just a factor.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Why not have your husband cook in advance? He could cook meals that can last a few days on the weekend, or cook the night before for the next evening, such that you just have to heat things up. I've been doing this for years for my husband, or is just like you -- cleans, but doesn't cook.

[Anonymous]

"*who* is just like you" is what I meant to write....

[Anonymous]

crock pot veggie chili or soups - prep in advance

quesadillas/burritos/enchiladas - easy to make on weekends and reheat

breakfast for dinner! always a hit in my house

i also like the fresh pasta like ravioli or tortellini that cooks in 2-3 minutes, mix it up by using a store bough rose sauce or pesto

in the fall/winter, i roast big pans of veggies and have them as sides all week. makes life a little easier.

[Anonymous]

OP, check out the NY Times Dining section online - they should still have all their articles from this past Wednesday. Their theme this week was cooking at home more. The article that I thought was particularly useful was one that said "invest either time or work, but not both" -- here it is:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/24/dining/when-cooking-invest-time-or-work-not-both.html?ref=dining&_r=0

A few things that you may find helpful: 1) Make 1 or 2 big one-pot dishes on the weekend that will cover you for a couple of days. Soups or stews are great. Pasta or rice casseroles too (chili mac, tuna noodle, jambalaya, shepherd's pie, etc.). The crock pot is great for this. 2) Once a week, before you do your big grocery shopping, plan out your menus for the week. Write down on a big board what dinner is going to be so everyone in the family knows what to expect. 3) Another PP suggested this and I echo it: Breakfast for Dinner. Meaning toast, eggs, bacon, or pancakes and fruit. Quick and easy. This is what my family has every Friday. 4) Always have supplies for "fail safe" dinners in the pantry and fridge. E.g. tacos or quesadillas are what we do in our family for last-minute dinners, because we always have canned beans, tortillas, salsa, cheese, etc. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I hate cooking too, OP. It doesn't help I was vegetarian for a large majority of my life and even though I eat meat now I'm constantly scared of undercooking it and getting sick. I really dread the day I'll have to prepare food for kids. Anyway, you aren't alone!

[Anonymous]

I hate cooking AND I'm not good at it. I did Plated for a little while (got a great introduction rate) and really liked it because they supply all the food and fairly simple instructions with pictures (and I think they have some online video demos). It definitely helped build my cooking confidence a bit

[Anonymous]

Souper Girl if you want a service and vegetarian.

[Anonymous]

Vegetarian mama here who doesn't like to cook either. Does your child like flavored tofu? This is something we have weekly and its quick to make. Just spray the pan, throw in the tofu, sauté for 10-15 minutes on low heat. While that's cooking I usually have a box of Parmesan riosotto or some other flavored rice. Cut up some fruit or use can fruit and your done. Another meal is fake hot dogs and sweet potato fries. The hot dogs only take about 10 minutes to cook.

[Anonymous]

I'd do simple beans in the slow cooker. Set the beans up in a bowl of water to soak overnight. In the morning, drain them and put them in the slow cooker with fresh water and salt. Don't skimp on the salt. If you're feeling ambitious, add a dried chipotle chile to the pot. Cook on low all day. Before dinner, make a pot of rice. Use a rice cooker if you have one. Then put on table with cheese, sour cream, salsa, etc. My kids seriously love this meal and it is really easy.

Find a salad that you like. For my family, its caesar. (but that can have anchovies) Romaine keeps for a longer time than other lettuces. So I can always slice up a small head of romaine and toss with some prepared dressing. Maybe your thing is baby spinach with vinaigrette. Whatever, but having a salad plan ready is key to putting a green veg on the table.

I know this isn't the always the healthiest way to go, but how about just getting frozen prepared foods like pizza, burritos, and things like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian mama here who doesn't like to cook either. Does your child like flavored tofu? This is something we have weekly and its quick to make. Just spray the pan, throw in the tofu, sauté for 10-15 minutes on low heat. While that's cooking I usually have a box of Parmesan riosotto or some other flavored rice. Cut up some fruit or use can fruit and your done. Another meal is fake hot dogs and sweet potato fries. The hot dogs only take about 10 minutes to cook.

Yikes! It sounds like you're eating so much salt.

[Anonymous]

Lentils are a fantastic source of protein, iron and fiber. I add them to EVERYTHING -- soups, pastas, veggie dishes, eggs etc -- and also make lentil salads with other raw chopped veggies, raw garlic and apple cider vinegar. Yum!

They're really easy to boil, but I'll admit I buy the pre-cooked packages from Trader Joes. No excuse, really. I just like them.

Speaking of Trader Joes, it's a non-cook's dream!! Veggie burgers, burritos, frozen pastas, frozen rice mixes, all sorts of delicious veggie appetizers. You could go crazy there -- all they require is a quick re-heat. No measuring/chopping/mixing of ingredients!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian mama here who doesn't like to cook either. Does your child like flavored tofu? This is something we have weekly and its quick to make. Just spray the pan, throw in the tofu, sauté for 10-15 minutes on low heat. While that's cooking I usually have a box of Parmesan riosotto or some other flavored rice. Cut up some fruit or use can fruit and your done. Another meal is fake hot dogs and sweet potato fries. The hot dogs only take about 10 minutes to cook.

Yikes! It sounds like you're eating so much salt.

this is two nights a week. Get a grip and worry about your own salt consumption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian mama here who doesn't like to cook either. Does your child like flavored tofu? This is something we have weekly and its quick to make. Just spray the pan, throw in the tofu, sauté for 10-15 minutes on low heat. While that's cooking I usually have a box of Parmesan riosotto or some other flavored rice. Cut up some fruit or use can fruit and your done. Another meal is fake hot dogs and sweet potato fries. The hot dogs only take about 10 minutes to cook.

Yikes! It sounds like you're eating so much salt.

this is two nights a week. Get a grip and worry about your own salt consumption.

So what are you doing the other nights?

[Anonymous]

We use the fresh veggies we get from our CSA and make soups, casseroles, etc. I set aside a couple of hours on the weekend for meal prep. So I can have two easy nights during the week. FYI we use a no-sodium seasoning made by braggs with all natural spices.