For most of my life I was intimidated by cooking because it seemed so complicated to make a meal worth eating and tasted good. So many pots and pans and other kitchen gadgets to use and I didn’t know what I was doing. Which pot was the correct one? Which utensil was correct? How did you use this gadget or that? Plus, it seemed to take me FOREVER to cook a single dinner.
For years, I have had a couple of key meals that I knew how to make and they tasted great like my chicken paprikash. Pasta was a weekly, sometimes more than once a week, staple meal in my house because it was easy and you really can’t fail at it. Add that to my breakfast for dinner like pancakes or eggs with a side meat. That was 2 simple meals that were fast and edible. The rest of the time we would eat out… we have kept our local pizza and chinese places busy for many years now.
Since I barely ate through my pregnancy with Evie because of my hyperemesis gravidarum, I wanted to eat everything in sight after I gave birth. The thing was, I no longer wanted to eat the quick meals that I was used to cooking everday. I wanted foods with more flavor. I wanted the meals that they cook on my favorite cooking show… The Chew!
All of the cooking shows that Danyella and I watch make cooking look soooo easy! So, I decided it was time to get out of my comfort zone and start cooking real meals. I have come up with some really delicious chicken and pork meals like my Mushroom Pork Chops and Baked Lemon Chicken Printable Recipe .
My Instant Pot has made it so easy to make delicious meals without getting completely overwhelmed. I love to experiment with different veggies and flavors. I can’t wait until my herb garden grows so I can start adding fresh herbs rather than dried herbs to my dishes. Plus, once we have our veggies grow over the Summer, I can incorporate even more fresh veggies into our meals.
Not only have we been able to put the take out menus away (ok we eat out about once every 2 weeks because somedays its just easier to let someone else cook!) but we have saved money because it costs us less to eat in then out. I try to cook at least 5 times a week with one night for leftovers (I hate wasting the food) and one free night where I don’t cook (aka find a box of cereal and be happy!). I hope that I can continue to enjoy cooking and learn new skills to make delicious meals for my friends and family.
Drop a link to your favorite recipes for me to try in the comments below!
I love my instant pot! It’s a great help!
I wish I liked cooking but alas, I do not. I tend to go for easy crock pot meals. Or spaghetti and tacos.
I need to use my pressure cooker for more than beans. I too need to cook more.
I find cooking for one is really difficult and that is why I tend to stick with pasta a lot but I love cooking
I love cooking, it makes so happy.
I’m so glad you like cooking. I used to enjoy baking a lot when I was in my 20, but I got lazier. My husband is great at cooking, he can save anything I cook. I don’t know how he does it, he just taste it and put this and that and then it taste amazing.
I keep hoping that perhaps one day I will find a love for cooking, alas it is yet to happen yet, but I do keep on hoping.
I have had the same struggles! It’s so easy to eat out. I am sure the Insta-Pot is a lifesaver in the kitchen.
I enjoy cooking but it takes so much time that i could spend doing something else that i tend to avoid cooking.
I really enjoy cooking too! It’s also way less expensive than going out to eat all the time. I find myself getting into ruts where I cook the same thing. The thing I need to do is get out of that and try new stuff.
Cooking is my greatest passion. And, I use instant pots. They are quite helpful.
I eat so much better when I cook at home. I’m working on finding the joy in it, but you’re inspiring me to try more.
I enjoy cookin (sometimes haha) but need to be more adventurous and try new recipes! I tend to stick to my favourites meals that it each week.
It’s great that you have discovered a joy of cooking. When you do that it really can make life so much cheaper. There are so many things you can do. It’s also great you have been able to meal plan so well.
I love cooking and take recipes and make them my own adding my own twist. Im glad you enjoy it.
I absolutely adore cooking and I am glad you feel the same. Sometimes all it takes is finding that one thing to get you in the groove.
XOXO
Elizabeth Keene
http://www.akeenesenseofstyle.com
I had the same experiences when I was pregnant with my son, I barely ate anything but bread or potatoes because everything made me sick! As soon as I could stomach anything I ate everything in sight!