Can I ask....DO I have 3 heads?

[MrsReber]

Definitely, Grace, I love to create while I cook. It's the only artistic ability I have been blessed with. I can't paint or draw for anything! My husband tells all the guys at work that I cook and work full time and like to go fishing with him. They don't believe him so he brought in a picture of me cooking in my suit! They've also seen the picture of my blue marlin that we had mounted (not the actual fish,just a mold-the fish is still alive and well). I had just gotten home from work and wanted to get dinner started before I got changed. Ha, and they all told him "don't get married!!!" but now they are all jealous and they like to see what he brings in for lunch, too!

And I know what you mean about the grocery bill! Ouch!



[This message has been edited by MrsReber (edited 08-18-2000).]

[Beth]

My husband and I have both been cooking since we were kids, but my sister, my brother and their spouses do very little cooking. Most of my friends do little cooking, and look at grocery stores. They are gearing more and more towards take-out, heat up and ready-to-cook. Now, if you really want to get strange looks, bake birthday cakes for your kids' parties!

[lorilei]

I'm 25, and I cook meals almost 7 days a week -- from scratch. My garden doesn't produce enough to can anything, but if I had a yard, I would probably can (or at least freeze) veggies. We buy very little convenience food, and eat out probably twice a month.

But I know that I'm a minority.

We are certainly becoming a culture of convenience, and frankly, finding someone who cooks /actual/ meals more than 1-2 times a week IS rare.

I have to admit that I MYSELF am surprised when someone reveals to me that they cook homeade meals... especially someone my own age. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Holly S]

Lorilei I guess you prove to me that cooking is a state of mind. You have so many great ideas and comments and recipes!

[BeckyM]

Holly,

Wow -- I'm 31 too! It sounds like our workplaces are fairly different though. I work with a pretty diverse group, with age ranges from 22 up through almost retired and with fairly varied outside interests. Maybe that diversity makes the group more appreciative of folks different from themselves. I have never met your co-workers, but they sound like they are still into the "herd" mentality, where it's only cool to do what everyone else is doing, and CERTAINLY not something their parents would do. But who knows what makes people unappreciative of the talents of others? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/confused.gif

I also have to comment about lucky husbands. My husband also often takes in the leftovers I make. He works with quite a few women, and they're often very curious about the great-smelling dishes he is heating up, so he shares tastes with them. He'll often come home with recipe requests for me from his co-workers. For some reason, no one has ever suggested that I am "unliberated" or something because I enjoy cooking for my husband. Maybe that's because I'm an Engineer. Or maybe it's because most people know that my husband easily does his share of work around the house, and I just do the cooking because I LOVE it.

Anyway, I get a lot of appreciation from others for my ability and interest in cooking, so I think EVERYONE who takes the time to create good food should get that same appreciation. Cooking is certainly just as worthy an art form as painting or music! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Becky

[lorilei]

Thanks, Holly. But the credit should really go to my mother, who taught me to be creative and look at food with a keen eye.

Really.

Becky -- I like your view of cooking as an art form. Food can be beautiful -- sometimes the smells alone could launch a thousand ships ('specially that garlic!!)

Like your husband, mine helps out at home -- he does dishes voluntarily (cuz I cook) and never hesitates to join in when I need help. AND, we both bring leftovers to work too. I tend to go off by myself and eat, so no one sees my food http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif But, the people my husband works with are /obsessed/ with his food. I'm constantly writing out recipes for his coworkers. And some days he asks me for extra food, just so he has some left to give away as "samples".

[valeriek]

The people I work with definately think I'm a little strange for bringing in leftovers for lunch. I live by myself and love spending Sunday's making a big meal with lots of leftovers. I also enjoy coming home from a tough day at work and chopping all the veggies (talk about getting rid of frustrations!). I always bring leftovers in for lunch. I'm 27 and live and work in a close-in Washington, DC suburb where all the conviences of fast food are within walking distance but I don't want any of that stuff. I enjoy cooking, I enjoy eating what I cook, and I think I'm healthier for it. If only I could get the people I work with to stop looking at me and my little tupperware dishes like I'm a creature from another planet!!

[Vanessa]

Hi. No you don't have 3 heads http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
nowdays a LOT of people buy fast food or they don't cook. My mom always taught me if you can read you can cook. So when I hear people saying they cannot cook I always remember mom's saying. Cooking is so enjoyable and I personally like to cook and my husband is very appreciative of this. I think its wonderful that you cook and take healthy lunches you should be VERY proud of yourself. A lot of men are into cooking now too and this is great! I must say that some women just don't like cooking and will try to stir away from the kitchen. I am glad in this board we all enjoy the art of cooking.

[Gail]

I want to play, too!

Although I've been out of the work force the past ten years, I well remember the mentality Holly describes. I worked as an x-ray tech in an office with several individuals who seemed to view everything in their lives as humdrum. The concept of actually creating a meal after a day's work was greeted with that same "are-you-out-of-your-mind" expression. It was really something, being made to look like there was something wrong with me for not taking the easy way out.

On the other hand, I've worked with lovely, warm international crews, both in banking and the travel industry-- people who seemed to enjoy life and maintained positive attitudes. And those people cooked! We had office parties with food to die for!

What I'm getting at here is that I don't know that it's necessarily a trend, or that it even has to do with age. I think what it has to do with is a state of mind-- how you view yourself, how you view life? Are you a watcher or a doer? Are you a complacent person or a mover and a shaker? Do you walk around with blinders on, or do you veer off to the side to smell the roses? (and do you use as many clichés at one time as I just did? Never mind. I think you get the idea.)

So, do you have three heads? No. But, maybe your co-workers do... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[BernK]

No you don't have 3 heads. Your co-workers are probably jealous when you bring in all your great leftovers.
Both my husband and I eat leftovers for lunch,in fact most people I work with do so.
Like a lot of other people here I have a very appreciative husband who eats everything I put in front of him, with very few complaints and when he does it is usually justified. One of the best thing about cooking for him is that I don't have to do dishes. i would hate to clean up after myself, I have to be one of the messiest cooks ever and heavan forbid I should use the same utensil twice. His nightly comment is "another miracle performed". Any way i digress here, I'm new to the board and I'm getting a little carried away.
Keep up the good work and just ignore all those that look at you funny.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by Beth:
Now, if you really want to get strange looks, bake birthday cakes for your kids' parties!

Beth - Ha! This one made me laugh! I'm the only one I know (well, maybe I know a couple of others) that makes and decorates my kids' cakes.

I don't work outside the home, so I don't get comments from co-workers, but I do get many comments on my cooking. Not so much BECAUSE I cook but for WHAT I cook. I get bored with the same old, same old and I like cooking that borders more on gourmet (in theory, but reality is often different - can't keep up that pace EVERY night!!). For instance I'm not keen on bringing chips and dip to a party - I like to bring something that is made from scratch and something that generally requires some effort (but will rely on the store-bought items in a pinch!).

This discussion reminds of a Cathy cartoon I saw once. One frame showed kitchen equipment in the 50's - a stove, a couple of pots, not much. The next frame showed kitchen stuff now - stove, microwave, food processor, multiple appliances, every gadget you can think of, very well-equipped. The next frame showed meals in the 50's - a very elaborate, homemade spread. The last frame showed meals now - a microwave pizza.

[pmmahan]

Hey, I am 23 and I cook nearly every night! Cooking Light (mostly), Bon Appetit, Gourmet, etc. Its true, I don't know many my age who do cook on a regular basis, but I do, and I love it. It is a stress reliever after work, and I love to see my fiance's reaction when I make something new! He went to heaven when he had the filet and mushroom wine sauce!

[ElinorC]

Everything runs in cycles and the same goes for cooking. When I was first married, wives were expected to cook three times a day (I've been married for 46 years!) and I learned to cook everything from scratch. It was unheard of for men to cook (or clean or anything around the house)and it was also unheard of for women to work outside of the home unless you were financially strapped. Then women's lib came into being and we all had more choices in the way we lived our lives. At that time, I finished my college education, got a job and found that cooking was a chore that I didn't particularly like since husbands still weren't helping at home and I had to do it all (including raising the kids). Now we're all smarter, husbands help at home (my husband is a sweetie), and cooking has gone through frozen dinners, shortcuts, microwaves, etc and now the recipes are back to meatloaf, mashed potatoes and 1950's favorites. So I'm back to cooking from scratch but now I have much more time and am enjoying it much more. I've even dusted off some of my 'oldie but goodie' recipes and have lightened them for use again. So I've joined the "like to cook" bunch and maybe the others will cook more when they have more time. Now if only my metabolism would cooperate and let me eat more!!

[SueK]

I never got into cooking until my daughter was born, and now I've become obsessed with it. My friends used to tease me that the only things in my fridge were yogurt and beer. Now they always tell me how impressed they are with the dishes that I make.
I'm also lucky in the fact that I work with people who love to cook, and we're always swapping recipes and trying each other's leftovers.
Beth-Your comment about making your child's bday cake reminded me of something. Last year for my daughter's school birthday party, I made little cookies that looked like hamburgers. They were so cute and a big hit with the kids! One of the teachers came up to me and said "Boy, you must have too much time on your hands if you had time to do this!" I was steamed, but held my tongue. Some people just don't understand how much fun it can be to create new things when you cook and bake!

[Ohioan]

ElinorC, thank goodness I'm not the only old fogey here! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I'm 58, and I do something even more three-headed than most of you: I'm unmarried, and I (gasp choke) cook from scratch for myself. You wouldn't believe how many times I hear, "You mean you go to all that trouble just for yourself??? Why do you bother?" -- as though the only reason to have good food is that someone else wants it. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/mad.gif Argh.

Phoebe

[RunnerKim]

If you haven't looked yet - the survey for this month (week?) on CL front page asks how often people eat out during a week. I must say I was pretty shocked with how often people eat out - considering these are people coming to this website! That must get so expensive.

Kim

[SandyDee]

You know it's true. Phoebe, I,too, am on my own and cook for myself and hear that all of the time. "I wouldn't cook, if I didn't have to" or "How do you do it, I can't even begin to think about cooking for just me". I don't get it. I love cooking and I love home cooked good meals. I will also say that about 4 years ago I lost 50 pounds. I did this by changing my lifestyle (and bad habits) and cooking for myself everynight. After I had had it off for awhile I lapsed into my old bad habits of quick fix food (frozen food and sandwiches and junk food, I just got lazy) and yes, I started gaining my weight back. Now I've gotten smart again and I am cooking everynight and I have already lost 7 pounds again. And you know, I look forward to my dinners again and I enjoy every bite and I am once again satisfied when I leave the table. So there is something to be said for all of this. So to those who don't think that they are worth the time and effort to cook for themselves I can only say "You don't know what you are missing"!!!!!!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[This message has been edited by SandyDee (edited 08-18-2000).]

[newsomz]

think you get weird looks.. as a 20 year old college student just about everyone i know thinks i am crazy for all the cooking i do. i made bread the other day and my room mates couldn't get over it!

carrie

[Holly S]

OK, I have to ask ladies (er excuse me) and gents,

Why is it that I feel 110 and that I have three heads at work, when i mention that my leftovers are from a meal I made (Yes, with my own two hands) last night? I know we have posted about this before, but I was wondering if anyone else feels like a Martian at work because they actually COOK?!?!?

[This message has been edited by Holly S (edited 08-18-2000).]

[MrsReber]

Well, Holly, I just told you about my experience in our lunch area. "oh, is that Boboli crust?" Of course not! I made that crust myself last night! I picked the peppers, basil and tomatoes right from my garden- even made the sundried tomatoes myself. And then I get "yeah, I have a sister like that, she makes her own preserves". Uh, so do I. Is that a weird thing? You should've seen the look on this woman's face. She was amazed. I bring leftovers in everyday. I refuse to spend lots of money on food when I really don't know what's in the food. Fast food is out of the question, except on rare occasions. They tell me I'm so good because I bring my lunch. Nope, just love to eat good food. This week I brought leftover peanutty noodles, tomato basil soup and my pizza today. And I cooked dinner every night, too! Boy is my husband spoiled.


[This message has been edited by MrsReber (edited 08-18-2000).]

[BeckyM]

Holly,

I too am one of the odd ones at work who brings in great home-made leftovers, but my co-workers make me feel more like a Goddess than a Martian. People at my work are usually interested in the things I bring in, and they always ask me what new exciting leftovers I have that day. I know they're jealous when they're eating their peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, and they admit it! I occasionally bring in extra cookies & sweets (so my husband and I don't eat them ALL), and my co-workers thank me profusely and compliment me on being a great cook. It's too bad the people at your work don't admire your talents & interests just because they don't share them. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[Holly S]

Becky,
Thanks! I think maybe it has to do with the fact that I am 31 and most of the people I work with are abotu 24. Most of them are married, but cooking is apparently something someone else does (a chef in a restaurant)? You and Mrs Reber made me feel a whole lot better!

[Grace]

Just had to jump in here....I agree - I guess there aren't that many people that really cook regularly anymore! My husband is indeed spoiled (he gets THREE meals a day!! I get up at 5:45 a.m. and make him breakfast every day, pack his lunch, usually with leftovers from last night's dinner, and then he gets a fresh dinner almost every night). Anyway, he's spoiled but he's appreciative. He brags every day at work about how his wife made him this, and his wife makes him that. The women in particular always get mad and say I shouldn't do it for him... (don't quite understand that one, but?) He thinks it's funny and purposely likes aggravating them by making a point of showing them what he brought for lunch! But I'm with you MrsReber, I like knowing what I'm eating and maybe saving a little money too? (But that's another subject - our grocery bill is extraordinarily high!). But for sure I know it's healthier, and much more variety, and to me, it's just a lot of fun to cook and bake and create and then EAT!!! I think we'd all agree on that one!

Grace

[Ralph]

I'll be the first man to post a response!
I usually cook three nights a week; my wife cooks 2 or 3 times. I ALWAYS bring my leftovers, & everyone at the office is intrigued by the smell, variety, etc. Those who don't know me that well or are new automatically make the incorrect assumption that my wife has cooked for me; apparently they just think that men can't cook. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif
Oddly enough, when I was in school 20 years ago, girls took home ec, guys took shop, yet I think the majority of the better known chefs (celebrity & locally) are men!
I started cooking in grad school as a respite from studying. I was able to master preparation, cooking, eating, & cleanup within 60 minutes! Admittedly, meals involved a lot of frying, which explained the 30-40 pound weight gain! Needless to say, my cooking skills have changed (improved) dramatically as have the techniques. What exactly is frying? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[ElinorC]

Phoebe
I think it's great that you cook for yourself - I'm sure I would if the need were there. There isn't any thing available that's better than home cooking, no matter what it is. I'm glad you're an old fogie too. I find that age has advantages - we're relieved of the pressures to please everyone and are finally able to just please ourselves.

[PCChefDebbie]

This reminds me of a trip we took in July to Mexico. For convenience I took boxed pancake mix (I could barely choke it down). My husband was teasing me on how deprived our children were eating pancakes from a box. I usually make them from a recipe book dated 1939. It has the best recipes for waffles and baking powder biscuits.

[BarbaraL]

A few years ago, my office building was being demolished and replaced, and we all were moved to a temporary location. There was no cafeteria (there's a big cafeteria on-site), and people had lunch in this one room with microwaves, etc. One woman I know had evidently taken note of my left-over lunches and asked me "Do you cook EVERY night?!" I said I usually did, and she told me that I was Wonder Woman. I was shocked (yet somewhat pleased). Even in college, I made my boyfriend Hershey's cocoa (you know, where you actually mix it up and cook it) and a from-scratch birthday cake (not at the same time). He said it was the best cake he'd ever had and what mix was it? When I said it wasn't from a mix, he was flabbergasted, and asked how do you make a cake without a mix! I guess cooking is becoming a lost art! I enjoy eating healthy, delicious food and knowing my friends are happy to come to my house for dinner!

[Connie]

Holly,
What a good post! I've enjoyed everyone's responses. I also get some questions about my leftover lunches from co-workers. But I also work with another woman who subscribes to CL and cooks a lot for herself, so they are getting accustomed to our "different" and home-cooked foods. Maybe we are teaching those people something; I can only hope! I find that the benefits already mentioned (cost, taste, joy of cooking) far outweigh the work. I can't believe the people that eat fast food every day! Anyway, I would cook every night if I had enough time. I really enjoy it. Wouldn't it be cool if we could all meet in some huge kitchen and cook together??

[Ohioan]

Originally posted by Connie:
Wouldn't it be cool if we could all meet in some huge kitchen and cook together??

Wow, that would have to be one emperor-sized kitchen to hold all of us! -- especially since we'd all undoubtedly insist on bringing along our own favorite pots and pans. (Don't even try separating me from my well-seasoned wok or my Le Creuset Dutch oven or my Paderno rice pot or...) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Cheers, Phoebe

[Kristilyn1]

I have to admit, I've enjoyed all the responses myself. I too make my kids birthday cakes and decorate them. I cannot figure out how people can actually enjoy a grocery store cake. I choke a piece down at work for birthdays but boy, it's hard! (This does not apply to bakery cakes--some of those are TO DIE FOR)

About 1/3 of my coworkers bring leftovers, 1/3 bring in frozen dinners and 1/3 eat take out. People are ALWAYS asking how I have time with two small children to cook every night. Because I like to eat?! I have to say that I love to talk about food preparation at work but I wish more people would get turned on to cooking light! Don't you find it hard not to comment? There's this girl at work who is fairly heavy, her husband is huge and she comes in talking about how they need to lose weight and she is making deep fried this and cheese stuffed that and seems honestly surprised that they are not losing weight. They always seem so skeptical about CL food not only tasting good--but a few weeks of it and most full fat versions don't taste as good! I enjoy full fat versions of food--don't get me wrong, but CL stuff is just as good. I make CL dinners 5 night a week--one might be takeout pizza and the other night might be just something on the grill with veggies or some other dish we like that happens not to be light. I feel like the CL Ambassador at work!

Kristi

[food girl]

I just went on a sunday school retreat. I can't believe the number of women my age (32) that have no idea how to do anything in the kitchen, I had to tell someone how to cut a tomato!!! One woman would NOT reach into the sink and get the little food glob that was clogging the drain. I had to come and do it for her!

I know many women in thier 20's and 30's feel that it is somehow demeaning to cook. I know friends who PRIDE themselves in having only diet coke in their frige. They are also very overweight...go figure.

I do get annoyed when people tell me they just don't have time to cook, and yet they can tell you (in great detail) about each and every episode of survivior, big brother, Ally McBeal.....

BUT! Let's all remember that we can be an INSPIRATION to those who think that cooking is too hard or not worth the effort! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif By encouraging even pathetic efforts you may turn someone into a real "foodie"

[bethw]

My co-workers love it when I show up with a new cookbook or search the web for recipes because they all know that they are going to be my guinea pigs!

PS That is usually a good thing :-)

[MaryB]

I have hesitated to weigh in on this topic because my experience at work has been great. I work part time at home now, but for many years I worked in an office where almost everyone cooked from scratch or at least was very envious of the folks who did! These were all busy people but we all liked food!

Having said that, I know many moms who feed their kids a lot of processed foods who give me strange looks when my kid comes to school with a fresh sandwich, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables and homemade cookies! I put a lot of time and effort into the food I serve my family because it is important to me and I enjoy cooking. I also feel that it is much healthier for my child and he has certainly been a very healthy kid (knock on wood).

My point is that for a lot of people cooking and good food is just not a priority for them. I'm glad that I have found a bunch of folks here who do enjoy good food and good cooking!

[SueK]

I posted above, but also just thought of another reason why I like to cook my own meals. I recently read "Kitchen Confidential" by Anthony Bourdain. He tells tales of his chef adventures through the years, and when I read about things that go on in some restaurant kitchens, I think it's a good thing I love to cook! The book is quite funny, and a good eye opener to the realities of making a living in the culinary field.

[Mandy]

I get that three headed look too, and my hubby gets the smart remarks from all the ladies at work. The funny part about that is, I don't even do much for him. I usually take the leftovers, and he usually gets a turkey sandwich! I can't believe some people think that making a sandwich is "cooking".

On the same note...I was in a doctor's office last week with my mom, and next to us where two elderly women talking about how young people today never cook, and they never do anything in the kitchen. My mom leaned over and said, "Oh yes they do! My daughter here cooks and bakes everyday for her family!" They didn't know what to say about that.

So keep up all that wonderful cooking ladies! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Missi]

I am 25 and live with my fiancee who is 31. We cook almost every night, taking turns. We lived about a year and a half without a microwave and felt pretty good about it! The only reason we have one now is because it came with the apartment. It is mostly used for defrosting.
I work with mostly women who eat out constantly. If they don't eat out, they eat microwave dinners. I get a lot of amazement when I bring my leftovers. I get double the amazement when I say my future husband made the meal. (Apparently, men in their 30s aren't supposed to be able to cook!)
Cooking together is a wonderful way of staying close. We read CL together, and plan special meals to cook instead of eating at expensive restaurants for special occasions.
Cooking is almost a religious experience! Either you get it or you don't!

[Beth Y]

I have to chime in. I too have often been amazed when people are amazed that I cook "real food". I have run into numerous women, many who stay at home, who marvel at how I find time to cook. I have a friend that eats out everynight, or her hubby brings home take out. I can't imagine how much that costs! I know others who eat lots of frozen and convenience foods. What is in that stuff anyway? I have a two year old and am amazed by what convenience food other mothers give their kids. These prepared kiddie foods are packed with sugar and preservatives. For instance, the "kiddie flavored" applesauce has, as the second ingredient, high frutose corn syrup and also list articicial flavors....when regular applesauce is so good, or why not just cut up some melon or grapes? I am sorry, I digress...
To me, cooking is fun and therapeutic. I think it has to do with the immediate fulfillment you get from fixing something that tastes good and others enjoy. When I worked (I was a lawyer) my job often didn't make my clients happy (I was a good lawyer, I swear, I was just in a field where my clients usually had no good way out) or it would take forever to get there. So, little daily fulfillment. But I could come home, get immersed in chopping, dicing fresh ingredients and suddenly the house was filled with wonderful smells and, as my two year old says with glee now "I did that". Cooking is therapeutic and rewarding. Where else can you do something so simple and fun and make people happy? Why don't more people cook?

Beth I agree with you about the birthday cakes, I made my daughters and you should have heard to shocked voices from the other mommies. I agree with others, how can they choke down that greasy frosting, bland cake creation from the grocery store. I could not give that to my kid (and could not afford the really good bakery cake, mmmmmmm!)


Finally, (and I know I am going on) cooking ties us to our past. I love getting recipes from my family and continuing traditions. And getting recipes from other cultures and learning about them through their food. For instance, for my daughter's birthday, I made my Great Aunt Caralee's famous Caramel Cake. The week before, she was visiting other relatives nearby and I got her to write in down for me. The day of the party, I am frantically cooking the icing the way she said, and it didn't thicken. I call my other great aunt, panicked and she says "Oh, honey, you have to cook it more... it needs to get to a soft ball stage" It appears that my Aunt Caralee had made it her way for so long, that was geared to her kitchen and her microwave (much more powerful, apparently, than ours) that she had long forgotten the original way to make it. I got it to work, got raves (and three head looks) from the other Moms, sent a part of the cake back to my Aunts to have it pronounced "almost as good as Caralee's" and got to share something with my two great aunts, and now pass it down to my daughter. How great is that?

[kendra]

Speaking of people too lazy or disinterested to cook, I have a comment on one of the worst convenience food items I have seen yet. It's spaghetti and marinara sauce that you buy in the spaghetti sauce aisle. They are separate - you just heat up and eat. Now how hard is it to boil water for spaghetti and heat up Ragu to pour over it? Our society's reliance on convience and other fast foods is ridulous! Not to mention the huge amount of natural resources that are wasted on all that extra packaging. They have tupperware-like things from zip-loc you can throw away for those too lazy to do a few dishes! (I only use glass storage now since plastice may give off harmful volatiles in the microwave.) My husband and I read an article where they are developing macaroni and cheese on a stick so you can eat and go. Now doesn't that sound appealing?

[MrsReber]

Kendra, I whole heartedly agree with you- it's not that hard to put together a decent meal. I've seen the ads for macaroni and cheese on a stick. It looks really disgusting and I don't think I'd want any child of mine (I don't have any yet) eating it when I can make my own macaroni and cheese. We cooking women must band together! My mother worked full time to support the three of us after my parents divorced and she always cooked for us. We would get a pizza one night a week so she got a break, but who could afford to eat out with three kids? She would get a bag of lentils for under $1 and make lentil soup in the crockpot or chicken soup. She'd make sauces and we'd eat pasta. As I got older, I began to make dinners to help her out and ever since then, I have loved to cook. It's such a shame that it's almost unheard of for woment to cook decent meals for their families anymore. I can't even imagine what we'd eat if I didn't cook because I would get bored with the choices of take out and frozen fare. There are so many easy simple, inexpensive meals you can put together that are so much healthier than frozen and processed foods.

[SueK]

Macaroni and cheese on a STICK? I can't believe it! That doesn't even sound appealing! Kendra-I'm with you--I just about fell over when I saw those pasta and sauce packages in the store. That is the epitome of laziness, not to mention it probably costs 4 times as much than if you would just make it from scratch yourself!
My daughter starts preschool this fall, and I will be packing her lunch everyday. They have a microwave, so I'll be looking forward to making her all kinds of goodies. I know a lot of the kids in her school take a lunch consisting of those high fat crackers and cheese/lunchmeat packages. How hard is it to make (if nothing else) a fresh sandwich for your child, you know?

[wendyw]

I have only been posting here for a week and it is great to find kindred spirits! I have been posting so much, (excuse me for my "long winded" verbose responses)I should make member in no time!
I receive mixed reactions all the time. When I bring in leftovers (at least 3-4 times a week) many people are impressed and wish they make the time to cook. I explain to them that in addition to trying to eat in a healthy manner, cooking is how I relax. My boss (also single) loves to cook but does not make the time because she does not have any one around. She was surprised to find that I cook almost every night. I feel that I'm worth it and my boyfriend absolutely loves to cook also so we have a great time on the weekends.

My personal favorites are the what's a kitchen? types who boast about not knowing how to cook. Some of them feel that it must be nice because I don't have children. I tell them that it is. By the way, I am not criticizing anyone with children. My boyfriend's brother is married to someone who stays at home and doesn't cook. On a couple of occasions, he and his son wolfed down meals that I had prepared. They eat out most of the time and once in a while she will pack his lunch of prepared food. My point being: none of us has 3 heads and we should remain true to ourselves!!

[Jen]

I cook just about every night, except for the occasional night out. I guess I'm lucky because my coworkers usually fuss over what I made. They're mostly "proud to NOT know how to cook" types, but they're always interested in what I have and one coworker in particular has said several times "I always wish I had Jennifer's lunch!". I'm on WW now and so I've started getting really religious about bringing lunches (we have a good cafeteria in our building, but not too many healthy choices). For the first time, I actually cook myself a lunch even when I don't have leftovers - I especially find the couscous salads from June are perfect for lunch.

BTW, about the birthday cakes...I don't have any kids, but does a cake for my husband count? He loves cars, so for his last birthday I made a cake like a figure-8 car track, with an on-ramp and little cars on it. It turned out great, and I was really proud...but I got some weird looks when I took the photos in to work! No one could believe I'd gone to so much trouble...and for a 27 yr old, not even a kid! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[CLustik]

As I read this thread I know that I am not the only lucky one around. I do get comments at work like, "You do know everyone doesn't do this, don't you." But I also love to cook and make cakes and pies for my friends. Everyone always knows that dinner at my house includes a homemade dessert.

And my husband my be lucky, but I am just as lucky, so it is a joy to cook for him. He loves it and does just as much for me as I do for him.

Those that don't cook and bake are just jealous.
Chris