 |
| Do you have a craving for a Slice? Check out Two Writing Teachers |
I would not change the past year of having everyone in my family home. Last March our oldest daughter returned home and found remote work. The youngest daughter adjusted to remote college courses and a new full-time job. My husband has settled in to working from his basement office instead of flying around the country.
What would I change?
Figuring out dinner. Seven days a week.
When it was just youngest and me at home, some dinners could be egg sandwiches or pancakes. I'd cook some random chicken dish and we'd have that for two nights. When my husband was home on weekends, we'd eat out (before the pandemic).
I experimented with Pinterest recipes. I tried meal prep. I pulled out my copy of America's Test Kitchen Cooking School and attempted to learn how to cook.
We survived. We ate. It was fine, but this week I landed on a new miracle for dinner.
A local catering company offered a weekly meal kit. The food is prepared (ready to heat or eat) and packaged so nicely. I jumped on the opportunity to get one of these tasty meals every week.
Tonight was a Parisian picnic. Next week is Nashville buttermilk chicken.
As long as I have a meal to look forward to each week, I can deal with the other days.
I accept I may never be the diva of dinner preparation!
I love that you start with "I would not change anything about this year..." That focus on the positive - and your ensuing positivity about the change you did make, is inspiring. This is perhaps the kind of cooking I could do as well!
ReplyDeleteIt's true that it took me all year to be thankful for a full house. I've been trying to learn how to cook for so long LOL :) Maybe I figured it out! #takeout
DeleteI love this: "We Survived. We ate." So true - we really did have to change things up! At my house that meant this amazing thing called my children now make almost all of the dinners! So fun that you found a local catering company. Nice to have one night you don't have to think about!
ReplyDeleteHOORAY your kids helped you cook! My oldest is quite the chef but doesn't want to cook for everyone. I get it.
DeleteFirst of all, you made me smile with your pandemic celebration. I hadn't thought about the people who might appreciate having family back home. It has certainly settled us down a bit and as an introvert I am quite fine with that part of it all. I'm with you on meal preparation. Ugh! I have to admit, I've gotten quite creative. I really don't mind cooking, it's the deciding that I don't enjoy. My mom talked me into ordered Every Plate during this madness and I have no regrets. We order 3 meals every third to fourth week. It comes with all the ingredients and a recipe. Nice! That gives me a bit of a break from the deciding. I have to look for this kind of catering in our area. It would be even better!
ReplyDelete*ordering
DeleteCathy - I'm so glad you have trouble deciding, too. Maybe I'm too much of a people-pleaser. Every Plate sounds magical - maybe I need to spend my grocery money in different places!
DeleteOh, I got really good at meal planning with the pandemic as we had to plan around the food we were able to get from the online Jewel order and pick up! That all fell apart once school started ... and we are back in that rut of having the same old things ... because let’s be honest: I’m tired at the end of the day. But looking forward to a meal like this? I could do that too! Or in your words: I can deal with the other days! :)
ReplyDeleteM - Wow the online ordering must have been such a challenge - so much wasn't available and you had to be extra creative! Tell the hubby that the meals are a deal! He would totally buy in!
ReplyDeleteAhh, what's for dinner? My favorite question! I'm usually the one asking. I can cook, but it isn't my favorite activity. We had leftovers because my husband worked this evening. He enjoys cooking and I let him. He once bought me America's Test Kitchen Cookbook for Christmas. Maybe he was hoping I'd use it? My philosophy is if it takes more than one pan to cook the meal, I'm not making it. I haven't used that cookbook. Way too many dishes are required to use it.
ReplyDelete