Do you still.... - Page 2

ryans_mom10 · 11-27-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by liamsmom

good morning all

ok, I've had a cup of coffe and ds is eating breakfast, I have a chance to share my italian meatloaf recipe. I got the idea for this from a crock pot recipe book and then made it simpler and tastier. All of my nieces and nephews love it and for a long time it was the only form of meat I could get ds to eat!

mix together:
about 1 lb. ground turkey or beef (I use one package ground turkey, 1.25 lb.)-when making this for family I've used more, about 1.5 lb.
one tube of sausage (like Jimmy Dean mild or hot country sausage, I like hot)
1 egg
either 2 pieces of bread, shredded OR a couple of handfuls of oatmeal (I prefer oatmeal)
1/4-1/2 cup pasta sauce (depending on how much meat you used)

form a loaf (obviously

) and place in crock pot
pour more pasta sauce on top, depends on how saucy you want it to be

cook on high 2.5 hours, it spreads out a little bit-that's why there's so much bread/oatmeal

If you pour a lot of sauce on top, it's nice to be served with pasta.
DH prefers ot to be served with mashed potatoes (the yummy instant garlic ones)
I also serve a side veg

When I worked, I would put it on right when I got home (about 4) or make it on the weekend.

I have no problem with simple food for families. We have soup and sandwiches some nights too, even I need a break sometimes. I just feel it's important to have some family meal time, no matter what you're eating. It makes me sad to see a family that doesn't have at least one sit down meal at home on the weekend, even if it's pizza and salad.

Once kids are school age and I go back to work....this will be more of a challenge, I'll have to find some quick tricks!

Sounds good.Thanks for sharing it.

swishina · 11-27-2007, 12:24 PM

I like to cook in theory. Sometimes I just don't have the energy, and I really don't like deciding what to make for dinner. So then it is a chore. But once I start going, I love chopping, stirring, smelling everything come together, timing all the different dishes and once in a while even getting an actual verbal compliment from my hubby.

skimommy · 11-27-2007, 12:27 PM

I love to cook. It is hard with my girls arguing in the other room or my 2 year old hanging on my shirt. I still do it. It is nice when my hubby is home to control the crowd while I cook.

eyrehead · 11-27-2007, 12:38 PM

I love to cook as well, however I have my days when I don't feel like going near the kitchen!! We usually have 1 or 2 nights a week that are what I call quickie suppers...a pizza night (either frozen or order in), and usually soup and sandwiches, something quick, yet filling.

Roberta1 · 11-27-2007, 12:48 PM

I absolutely love cooking and wish I could be a sahm so I could cook more meals for my family. I try to cook a nice meal at least 5 nights a week. Some nights I just don't have time for anything more than hot dogs or chicken nuggets or soup. I always try different recipes and I love Fridays, when I plan my menu for the next week. I get excited about the new things I'm going to cook.

georgia mom · 11-27-2007, 01:11 PM

For the most part I enjoy cooking, but sometimes it feels like such a chore! I get tired of trying to do all the menu planning sometimes, it's not always easy since we are on a much tighter budget now that I am a sahm.

KathrynHannah · 11-27-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swishina

I.... and once in a while even getting an actual verbal compliment from my hubby.

I really think this is the key in a lot of ways. My love language is verbal affirmation and appreciation and my dh could care less about food. He is a skinny little guy who just doesn't seem to enjoy eating all that much. He loves desserts which I don't make because ds and I struggle with our weight but in terms of cooking he once said to me, "I wish they could create a pill I could take where I would feel full and have all the nutrition I need without having to bother with eating."

I wonder if I would like cooking more if my family appreciated it more?

Cookie2 · 11-27-2007, 01:40 PM

The worst part of cooking is having to be the one person who decides what everyone is going to eat. I will ask hubby what he wants to have and he'll reply, "Whatever." or "Food." Ugh! He says he doesn't want to put me out by forcing me to cook something specific but really, I'm SOOOOOO tired of having to PLAN a meal.

Plus DD and hubby have very distinct likes and dislikes. I would LOVE to cook adventurous, gourmet meals but that doesn't go over at all. There is nothing worse than slaving away in the kitchen and getting all excited about making something delicious only to be greeted with 'ewwww!' when it gets to the table. At that point, opening a can of Spaghetti-O's sounds pretty good.

I get so bored cooking the same thing over and over again!

However, my DD is fascinated with the process of cooking so I do try in the kitchen. And I still will sneak in a new recipe every now and then. The other day I treated the family to crepes. That didn't work out - oh well.

araefinn · 11-27-2007, 02:16 PM

I love to cook! Sad I know. But one way I look at it is that it is kinda my hobby. So cooking is how I express myself. I love to try new recipes and I love to make the standards. My family for the most part is willing to try everything that I make. My dh always cleans his plate, but it is when he goes back for seconds that I know I have a winner. I have always cooked all our meals. So whether I was working 55 hours per week or sahm, my family always knows that they are getting a home cooked meal. My meals can be from as simple as grilled cheese and tomato soup or fancy like chicken marsala. They are all yummy and made from the heart.