How many nights a week do you cook?

[chefbec]

How many nights a week do you make a real, from scratch dinner?

[emilycat]

Typically every night -- the only reason I don't is if I'm going out to dinner, which I don't often do more than once a week.

[Jewel]

At least four nights a week, and I try for five or six. We used to eat out every Saturday and Sunday evening, and lately we've found that it's usually better if we eat at home! Not to mention it's cheaper! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif Now that Spring has sprung, we'll be doing a lot of BBQing out on our new deck, and that will be taking the place of quite a few restaurant dinners!

[McSix]

We tend to cook five nights a week, eat at my Mother's on Friday evenings for appetizers for dinner (a great tradition!) and go out to lunch together on Saturday or Sunday and skip dinner that night. We used to eat out once for dinner during the week but have decided to save the money instead. I have to admit, though, that I love cooking and I love eating out!

[kwormann]

Not as much as Id like to, money is a real issue right now (I think of "cooking" as with a cookbook). We are doing a lot of beans and tortillas or grilled vegies right now.

Kim

[SusanL]

I try to make two night's meals stretch to four (leftovers), and plan on 6 day's meals, with one night out. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't, but at least I feel prepared!
McSix we do that also, isn't it fun? We always would go out on a Friday night but now stay home and kick back from the busy week!!

[donleyk]

We don't go out like we used to. It isn't unusual for us to eat "in" the whole week. We might go out once every other week. When DH is on travel I may stop for carry out but lately, I go home a nuke home made soup that we froze for quick meals.

[Shirley Panek]

I usually cook at least 5 times a week, and have been cooking more like 6 times lately. I love taking a break from cooking at least once a week, but if I don't cook, my husband will - (frozen) pizza or Lipton noodles/macaroni and cheese or we'll go "out" (usually McDonalds, my DS's pick!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif.

If it's a choice between going out for fast food or me sucking it up to cook, I'll usually cook! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

Shirley

[lorilei]

I think I must cook between 5-6 times a week. I enjoy it, and for me it's the absolute best form of stress relief. I do most of the cooking, but my husband is really good about helping out.

We usually go out at least once during the week -- usually on the weekend. And Saturday is usually our day to cook a "big deal" meal together -- something we wouldn't normally have that takes more time than we have on weekdays.

[Vanessa]

Probably every night except not always on weekends when or DH takes over, eat out, or entertain (then of course I cook)

[mariakj]

I usually cook 4-5 nights a week. I try at least 2 or 3 new CL recipes every week. Since I cook for two people and most of the recipes in CL serve four or more, we ususally have lots of leftovers for the other nights.

[kima]

I cook 5 nighta a week- the other 2 nights are keftovers,"easy no cook meals or out. Once a week I plan five dinners, usually 2-3 new ideas , get in all (well I alwaays forget something!) the groceries and then cook according to the time I have that day. I try and plan time consuming menus, easy, cheap. ethnic etc.In other words a nice variety so I can pick and choose.
After over 20 years of cooking for a family I find I need easy days so that my love for cooking does not diminish. I bake 2-3 times a week as well.This is a great thread.
Do you know when I ask my friends what they are cooking for dinner I get the strangest looks- like I am trying to get an invite. It is so nice to be able to ask ans answer these kind of questions with my foodie friends on this BB.

[Terrytx]

I also cook dinner about 5 nights a week, the other 2 are leftover nights. A usually bake 2 to 3 times a week - cookies, bread, brownies, etc. The DH and I go out to lunch a couple of times a month and the family goes out to dinner a couple of times a month.

[Wendy w]

Usually 5-6 nights a week. Lately, not so much as I have lots of leftovers.

[RunnerKim]

We cook every night. We rarely go out (less than once a month). It's something both my husband and I do together so its rarely a chore. I plan leftovers for our lunches - althouch DH does eat out once or twice a week for lunch. We're constantly trying new recipes which keeps it fun and interesting.

Kim

[S]

RunnerKim you sound like us. We never eat out. I cook everynight and I really enjoy it. Even on the nights that my husband spends away due to his job, I cook. I love the planning and the cooking and, of course, the eating. Cooking each night leaves us with great leftovers for lunches!

[lindrusso]

How often I cook varies greatly. Totally from scratch at least 3 nights a week, one or two nights are either from the freezer or leftovers, and usually about 1 night we will eat out or order out. It really varies week to week as to what is going on, etc.

[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 04-05-2001).]

[SusanT]

5-6 times per week.

[funnybone]

Our weeks vary depending on whether my DH is travelling or not. But I would say I cook 3 or 4 out of 7. Also, now it is soccer season and practices take up two nights a week. Those nights are usually sandwich nights because the kids are never hungry (too excited to eat).

DH is not a meat and potatoes type of guy, so a full course dinner is never a requirement.

[SandyM]

I guess I should have added a caveat. Do you consider pulling leftovers out of the freezer cooking??? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Ummmm .... re-read your post. Guess not. I'd revise mine to saying I cook 3-4 times a week.

[This message has been edited by SandyM (edited 04-05-2001).]

[BosunsWife]

Generally at least 6, 7 if we don't go out to dinner. If we aren't counting a defrosted meal, maybe 5. Now, if DH is out of town, I try to cook every other night so I have some variety (freezing leftovers).

[goldilocks]

i guess my question is, how does everyone do it? do you plan your meals, do the shopping and make the meals? i know a lot of BB's are not meal planners. or do you just keep a stocked pantry and can do anything at a moments notice. i am asking because i used to plan meals and then i wouldn't cook due to work, schedules, etc. and then the food would go bad! it was so frustrating to me and a waste of money. if i don't have food in the house that readily available to cook, then we go out and that gets expensive too. any advice? i would like to starting cooking on a regular basis after my busy season (i'm a cpa). any advice is appreciated!

[Vanessa]

Goldilocks:
I think its a good idea to keep certain items in your cupboard. Theres a good article in CL about this (April) which makes it easier to cook in a shorter time.
After tax time you could start building up your cupboard. If you have potatoes, onions, garlic salad items, a few cuts of meat (poultry, ground turkey/beef, pork (chops or loin) you will save time not running to the store. You can defrost for example the night before and start with lets say boneless cuts of meat that cook fast. Making lets say the chicken steam some veggies, a salad and if you want a rice. This would be fast and easy. You could also cook enough to have leftovers that will help you so you won't have to cook everyday. Now that warmer season is here you could BBQ marinating the meat early in the morning. Chinesse stir fry is another option. If you leave your meat marinating then cut up veggies and put in tupperware you could have dinner on the table in lest say 30 mins counting cooking white rice unless you have a rice cooker.
You could try making easy dishes during the week then try more difficult ones when you have more time. I believe CL has several books about 5 ingredient cooking and easy dinners under 30 minutes?

[Curleytop]

I cook every night, except on my birthday and Mothers' Day! Actually I LOVE TO COOK AND BAKE! I can't see going out to eat unless you are going to a show or something else. Just to go and eat and come home is not much fun.
My sons cook for my birthday and Mothers' Day. One of them does the grilling and the other bakes a dessert. There have been times when he has been on a business trip to the Orient, comes home, jetlag and all and still bakes me a birthday cake! My sons are
really great (proud mom). My DH does the grilling, other times, but only when it is light outside, so bbq in the winter!

[Curleytop]

Originally posted by Curleytop:
I cook every night, except on my birthday and Mothers' Day! Actually I LOVE TO COOK AND BAKE! I can't see going out to eat unless you are going to a show or something else. Just to go and eat and come home is not much fun.
My sons cook for my birthday and Mothers' Day. One of them does the grilling and the other bakes a dessert. There have been times when one of them has been on a business trip to the Orient, comes home, jetlag and all and still bakes me a birthday cake! My sons are really great (proud mom) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif. My DH does the grilling, other times, but only when it is light outside, no bbq in the winter!

[Emdg]

I cook 6-7 nights a week. We don't go out that often, and can't get delivery at out house. I also make lunch everyday, we both work at home.
To answer goldilocks. I usually make up a menu for the week, and do all my shopping at once. I have an extremely well stocked pantry, upright freezer, and a veggie garden. I may not always make every single dish planned. The ingredients sometimes morph into other recipes. Alot of it has to do with time and desire. It is always easy to whip up something simple, not always easy to make a "big deal" dinner. Also, for emergencies, there are casseroles in the freezer.

[chefbec]

Well, that was very interesting! I was curious because I felt like I wasn't cooking enough and wanted to see what everyone else was doing! I probably cook a "real meal" 4 nights a week and do leftovers (if there are any). I try to keep basics around the house (as I HATE going food shopping; I usually send my husband) and I throw meals together. My kids rarely eat what I cook (my husband and I love exotic foods), so I find meals very frustrating. I should have listened to my mother http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif and if they didn't like what I made, tough! Ah, well.

[valeriek]

I would say on average I cook three nights a week, have leftovers two nights, and go out two nights.

[SandyM]

I'd say we're good for 5 days a week. On the night he has school, I usually eat a little extra for lunch, and have fruit around dinnertime. Saturday is generally our night out.