Juju: No need to apologize.

Maureen:

Diane: Consider bulk cooking as one way to get several meals for a given amount of mess! The extra meals can be frozen for future meals without the cooking and mess.

A recipe challenge is also a good idea, to try something new and different.

juju:
You sounded fine! I heard of some women, who don't work, don't cook, and don't clean! I think I am wondering how they can do that!? I'm jealous! LOL

I don't cook for myself anymore unless there isn't anything in the house! LOL I love cooking for company but for myself, I pick up something or double cook so I have meals.
The packages always say feed 4 and that gives me one meal the day I bake it, and 3 other meals.

Last night DS2 was over and we had clam chowder and grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner (ash Wed. no meat) and they were great! Tried doing a swiss cheese also instead of just American cheese.

Of tje gals can do it I say fine, but wonder what all they do to fill up the time they would be cooking? Computer/texting?
Call me an old foggy~

I do cook soup in bulk and lasagna as well (when I last made it). It was easier when I was alone though. Sometimes my SO sits down to eat and is "still hungry" ;-) when finished and goes and grabs more. In my head, it was my lunch LOL. But our dinners are usually simple, chicken, pork or steak.

Minimal shopping as trying to use up extras.

Milk-2.19
1 jar each of sundried tomato pesto and basil pesto-1.99 each
3lbs onions-.59
head lettuce-.89

still working on the freezer organization as well. Top 2 shelves have the shoe boxes in place holding bulk packages of things like soups, cheeses, chili, and other preportioned items. Before the shoe boxes went in the freezer, I also made hand written labels in large dark print so that SO can't say he doesn't know what is in each box!!!

Working through some stuff, thought I had short ribs and boiled them with a rub(I was half asleep when i pulled them out). Turned out they were regular ribs and then I did a slow bake on a 275 oven. Was almost out of bbq so mixed the last of the bbq with a teriaki glaze, a garlic marinade and a couple of other sauces in the fridge to make enough sauce and basted it every 20 minutes. can we say OMG!!! had 3 meals out of it then sent a big batch to SO's parents where they each had an additional 2 dinners and a lunch.

The original plan was to shred and make pork for sandwiches and salads....but the error ended up being tastier!

[quote=dianaro2]wonder what all they do to fill up the time they would be cooking? Computer/texting?
[quote]

My mother, who didn't enjoy cooking and hired someone to cook for her before she came to this country, preferred to spend her time sewing or gardening. My cousin, who doesn't cook and whose husband does all the cooking, would rather spend her time cleaning her house or shopping. My friend R prefers to read. I think, if I didn't enjoy cooking as much as I do, I'd rather do crafts or read.

Diane: Perhaps add more sides to the meal to help SO fill up? Or, keep your lunch portion aside, in reserve, before dishing up the rest of the meal?

BL: Those ribs sound very yummy!

I think they're probably spending the same amount of time being out at a restaurant or going to pick up take out. The thing I don't get is how they can afford it! It's expensive to eat out unless you're just eating junk fast food. And then if they are, think of the expense on their health.

Kimberly, you hit the bullseye when you said "junk fast food". Unfortunately, we have become a fast food society which explains our national health woes.

I am not fond of cooking, & DH is an extremely picky eater. He also has a poor appetite, so I struggle with fixing things that will tempt him to eat. I cook more now that I am retired, but we still eat out a fair amount of the time. Sometimes, we don't eat the healiest of foods either.

BL: I love it! You used what you had (or thought you had) and you made it work! Maybe you should patent that new sauce you made. Sound like it made a ton of food and you used up your bits of sauce.

Got a very nice thank you from DIL about the food and gift and that she really enjoyed it. Very glad she did because I had tried all new recipes.

This weekend I am going to make some lasanga for when my DF comes next weekend. I think I will double the batch while I am making the mess. I can get three meals out of a 13 x 9 pan for just me and DH. So that would probably get me four meals to put in the freezer after feeding all of us when DF is here.

A quick note on the quest for a new frig - I don't know if this is regional but I shop at Aldi's and Krogers. I have a Krogers card that pays me back quarterly and received $70.00 in the mail yesterday.

I had to laugh out loud because that will be used for the March budget - so $70.00 that I won't have to take out of the budget. I knew I would have to spend more in March because I am getting really down on items so that was perfect timing and I can stretch that $70.00 before I even get into the budget and I only spent $60.00 in February so far.

I love how things have a way of being provided. Come on new frig!

Juju: That's nice that DIL sent a nice thank you. Perhaps, one of these days, she'll take you up on your offer to teach her how to cook!

I'm glad I didn't have to cook tonight. I came home from work at 8:00 p.m. and fell asleep for 2 hrs. on the sofa! DD ate leftover pasta for her dinner while I slept. I had a pastrami sandwich when I woke up. Now enjoying a plum for dessert.

I spent the day yesterday running errands. Also had a nice lunch with a friend I hadn't seen for ages. We had sushi at the mall & he insisted on treating since he got an unexpected bonus check and had to cancel the last couple meetings.

Then SO took me to dinner at the club (cheap burger nite) as payback for running those errands all day for him.

Juju.....it did use up some of the sauces. I just thought I had a spare bottle in the bottom of the pantry, but found out that SO and his son used it up and forgot to tell me. Not a problem as I am resourceful and also managed to clear more remnants out of the fridge!

juju, how do you get Kroger to send you a check.....when I use my card, it just takes money off the bill when I shop.

Diane, I agree with Bless...definitely set aside your lunch portion right away. Maybe start off with a salad, add some starch(I always keep some texas toast in the freezer), or a veggie(SO likes broccoli so I keep a bag in the freezer as well).