Life is hard. And then you have to cook. Sounds as if it might entail drudgery, doesn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be a chore to be hated; it could even be fun!
What if you sat with those you cook for and invited them to participate in the making of a menu and a shopping list? They might be more likely to eat what’s put before them if they are invested in planning it.
PLANNING
Even before you create that shopping list, edit what’s in the fridge. Make sure there are no science projects lurking about the shelves and no penicillin growing. Take account of what’s there so you don’t run out of ketchup by Wednesday but you do have three extra gallons of milk. That isn’t going to be a problem you’ll want to face.
While you are inventorying the refrigerator it’s good to keep the next meal in mind. It is not a good situation to drop a hundred dollars at the checkout counter, only to get home and realize you have nothing to make for the next meal! So do plan ahead.
SHOPPING
When taking children shopping it’s good to have a firm plan, too. You might announce in your most matter-of-fact voice “Today is a no candy day. Each child may choose a fruit for snacks but there will be no candy.” And stick to it!
Another task kids usually enjoy is to be the Honored List Checker. As the items are found and placed into the shopping cart, the List Checker draws a line through that item. The List Checker is responsible to keep people from adding items that were not placed on the list. This saves huge amounts of money that might have gone for “impulse” purchases!
Remember to be responsible for taking your fabric shopping bags when you shop for food. Some stores offer a discount for each bag; even if they do not, it’s the politically correct thing to do.
When you bring your supply of groceries into the house, put it away carefully enough so you can see what’s on your pantry shelves. Wash the veggies and fruits and put them into containers or bags so they will stay fresh as long as possible. Make sure the food that goes into the freezer gets put there because nobody wants to deal with melted ice cream products!
COOKING
Cooking does not equate with brain surgery. There is no right or wrong way to cook; some methods are just better than others. Cooking is more like an art form in that it is subjective.
You will be wise to have a good basic cookbook. I’ve always maintained that if you can read, you can cook. There are so many good instructional cookbooks available today and most are quite affordable. You might like to narrow your choice by way of your favorite celebrity chef or home cook. Refer to the charts and tips any good cookbook offers to learn the best ways to do things.
You do not need a perfectly tricked out kitchen. It is quite possible to make nourishing meals without stainless steel appliances and high end counter top materials! You need some basic items to create meals. Cast iron skillets with lids, stainless steel or enameled saucepans with covers, all in varying sizes are good to have.
A comfortable chef’s knife and bread knife make for ease in cooking but they do not need to be pricey. A peeler, a grater, and a decent cutting board-all these won’t put you into bankruptcy but they will make putting a meal on the table as easy as phoning for take-out! As time goes by you can add baking sheets, small appliances and gadgets. A blender and mixer are very useful in any cook’s kitchen, regardless of their skill level.
COOKING CLASSES
If cooking classes are available in your area, it might be fun to participate as a married couple or as a family. Check with the community college in your part of the woods or ask your favorite grocer about cooking classes. If no classes are available to you, there is probably a neighbor or someone in your sphere of influence who would jump at the opportunity to show you how to cook “properly” according to their taste. Ask around; it may create a delightful and lasting friendship. If there are people from other cultures in your area you might like to learn a cuisine that’s entirely new to you.
AND FINALLY,
With a bit of practice you’ll quickly see that cooking for your crowd makes you their star crowd pleaser!
Connie Baum
Connie Baum retired from a successful career as a massage therapist and fell in love with the internet. Her passion for people, food, health and healing is revealed on her websites: http://foodstampscookingclub.com/blog and http://thehealthyandwealthyyou.com/blog. She dearly hopes her visitors will leave comments on the blogs when they visit.
HTML Ready Article. Click on the "Copy" button to copy into your clipboard
