ever been in a slump

[kima]

I love to cook and judging by the posts in this BB I am not alone. I have been cooking for a family for about 20 years. When I began I was quite a novice and learned through experience. Along the way I collected about 200 cookbooks! I was a stay at home mum for about 12 years and now substitute teach. My girls are 18 and 20 and although we had sit down meals every night for years it seems we are all on different schedules and like to eat different foods. (3 vegetarians and one meat eater.) I just don't feel motivated to cook every night any more. I must say finding theseBBs has put quite a spark back to my love of cooking. I thankyou all for that. I am in awe of some of you- you really cook up a storm. I'd appreciate any tips on how to stay motivted cooking healhy home cooked meals. Thankyou!

[sneezles]

kima,
Know what you mean! I have been married for over 21 years and with three guys on different schedules, a husband who is absentee most of the week (he still works in Houston and we moved to the country in August) and we now work weekends at the beer joint we own; it can be very difficult to cook never mind everyone eating at the same time! Sunday dinners have become our main family dinner night. My oldest is away at school so he rarely makes those meals! But since finding the BB I do try to try more of the recipes in CL that get the good reviews!

[Shirley Panek]

Kima -

I know how you feel, although I've not been cooking as long. I've got a young family (3 1/2 and almost 11 months), and sometimes I just have to say, "I'm not cooking tonight." That can mean one of two things - my husband cooks, in which case it's frozen pizza or Lipton noodles http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif, or we go out to eat. I've found lately that when we go out, I think, "Boy, I could have made this better ..." and that sometimes motivates me.

This BB is great. So many great ideas and suggestions. Plus the reviews are handy if I'm straddling on the fence over a particular item. Sometimes I feel that there are just too many things out there to try. Right now I'm mainly sticking with things out of CL or my How to Cook Without a Book cookbook - things that are quick (primarily), tasty, and healthy.

My suggestion would be to take a break when you need to. Do your husband or daughters like to cook? I know that my dad has taken much more of an interest in cooking now that he's gotten older.

Good luck, and let us know how you're doing!

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Shirley

[bijoux22]

kima, one of the ways I stay motivated is by reading new recipes. I also try to use ingredients, for example grains that I have never had before. I just bought some wheatberries and hope to make a pilaf with them soon.

This may not work for you as you already own 200 cookbooks. You are my hero. I only have about 40, your collection must be wonderful.

[BarbaraL]

I go through stages; sometimes I'm very motivated and try lots of new recipes; other times, I cook every night, but stick mainly to tried-and-true dishes (including just throwing meat on the grill, served with rice or baked potatoes and steamed veggies). Right now, I've been living on convenience food; had bronchitis most of November, so wasn't moving too fast, which put me behind for the Christmas rush. Also joined Costco this fall, so I've been playing with their food. The "convenience" food isn't junk, by the way (frozen seafood, meatballs, and some of Costco's ready-to-serve entrees); but I've been cooking much less "from scratch" lately. As the Christmas decorations disappear back into the attic, and the piles of papers and mail that accumulated during the holidays disappear, I imagine my urge to cook will reappear. Since I'm not a sports fan, unless we're invited to a party, I usually do a cooking marathon on super bowl Sunday -- make stews, soups or whatever, and eat them for the rest of the week. I think I'll make some of that African peanut soup from last year's CL; I never would have made it except for reading about it on this BB; it was fantastic!

[ElinorC]

Kima,
I've been married for 46 years and have cooked many,many meals in my time. I certainly know exactly how you feel and how you can get into a huge slump! The only solution I know of is to take a break frequently and go out to eat or get take-out food or have someone else cook. It really encourages you when someone gives you a great compliment about your food also. My husband has finally learned that unless he'd properly appreciative of my efforts, I don't cook as often! It also helps to cook different things as everyone on this BB has learned. You really get tired of the same old dishes all the time! Good luck.

Shirley,
I also love the Cook Without A Cookbook book especially the pan sauces. They're great and make any simple dish really superb!

[luv2cook]

Elinor, congrats on the 46 years! fabulous. I want to make it to 6 without killing DH this year!