Sunday, April 8, 2007

dinner bell

I want to cook like Good Mommy. Let me tell you something, though.

I don't have time for that crap.

At least, not now. I'm not a bad cook. I don't think I'm necessarily known for good cooking, but I always get major compliments when I cook. That is, when I take the time to cook. Which doesn't happen often nowadays because, well, I'm busy doing other stuff.

I had a New Year's Resolution this year to try a different recipe each week. Apparently, when I made that goal, I didn't take into account that I had a newborn. (Or that I'd be having surgery the following month, but I couldn't have known that one.) It's been a struggle for me to let go of that goal, but in doing so I've come to a realization about our seasons. You know, a time for this, a season for that. I've decided that now is not my season to be trying new recipes. As much as Good Mommy should be whipping things up from scratch and infusing with tofu and topping with fresh berries, I am just not seeing how to do that AND make bottles at the same time. Maybe whole wheat and Similac can't exist in harmony at my house. Who knows. But I'm fine with this.

Here's what my current season includes: Kraft Dinner, Ramen, cereal (usually in the big bag), toast, "chicken" nuggets, frozen corn, jarred peaches, cheese slices, pretzels, bread (yes, plain), apples, pears. That's the main menu. My husband usually cooks breakfast (pancakes, or german pancakes), and also dinner (pancakes, or german pancakes). I have a new-found love for the frozen family-sized dinner. These are all foods I (or my husband) prepare for my family. Myself, I mainly eat pita chips and hummus (which, by the way, if you get both at Costco, I've found that the chip-bag-to-hummus-tub ratio is very, very good).

Maybe later my season for new recipes on a regular basis will come along. I'm still a good mommy.

In what cooking season do you currently find yourself?

7 comments:

Bek said...

I find that I have LESS time to cook, but planning the menu and cooking is like reading to me... I enjoy it and it is my "reward" so I try harder to find time to do it...

that being said, we eat an awful lot of mac and cheese in our house too. Cereal and waffles are great for dinner. Also, I live for my croc pot. It is the best of both worlds, I get a "cooked" meal, but do it in the morning... I can make all kinds of stuff with it....

The family sized stuff is great, we also buy the ready meals (and the curry) from Costco....

Carina said...

I'm in the Someone Else Cooked It or Fend For Yourself mode. Guille asks for PB&J for every meal--this makes me popular mommy because THAT I can do.

La Yen said...

I made that same resolution. It is April and I have made 2 new meals.

It is difficult to find the energy when just cooking for me and Jooj. She is fine eating Smarties. (What? They have ascorbic acid--that's VITAMIN C!)

So I read cooking magazines and think about what I WOULD cook.

QueenScarlett said...

This is something I struggle with. So I ease my guilt for not cooking or planning as much as I would like to by buying as much organic as possible.

For me - health is the biggest thing... if we don't have our health it is harder to enjoy life. So food... which I LOVE is an area I don't skimp on.

I compromise with making dinners 3-4 times a week... working with leftovers and occasionally take-out from a fav indian/chinese and round table. Sometimes I'll pick up some frozen dinners from the Super Suppers joint and mix that in... sometimes it is Annie's Mac-n-Cheese... sometimes those dinosaur nuggets from Costco... and sometimes Marie's Lasagna...

I love the way you phrase... "season". We're all in a diff't season of life...and one day... we'll get to the point where we can take the time.

I love to read cookbooks ... dreaming of when I'll have the time.

cabesh said...

I'm in the "if they'll eat it, I'll make it" season. What? You don't like lasagne, but you'll eat plain noodles with cheese on them? Fine. Go for it!

sue-donym said...

cooking? Never heard of it.

Brooke said...

at least you guys try! sometimes, when my husband is out of town, we have to get wendy's for dinner b/c we already had mcdonalds for lunch. i know. i'm horrible.