New Challenge

Lately I've been looking at the insane amount of money Jim and I have been spending on dining out and saying, how could we change this and eat healthier at the same time? I've tried doing the Lean Cuisine and Nutrisystem thing and it works well for me, but not for our relationship. Meals are a time when we like to connect and when I'm eating some frozen entree and he's eating some fast food takeout, it doesn't really fit the bill. Right now Jim is still working on house projects, but he's been pretty busy with them, and hasn't had the time to spend on cooking that he used to. The other problem is Jim learned how to cook from his mom and his aunt, who were both used to cooking for a houseful of people. Neither of us really know how to cook "real food" for two people. Some of this would get easier when we get the gas grill back in rotation, but we actually have a grill on top of our stove, so there's no excuse for not grilling seafood or chicken or even other types of meat (that I'm not as keen on, but I eat once in awhile.)

So, I decided to order a cookbook on cooking for two online. It arrived yesterday, and I love that it has nutritional info on every dish and the dishes look easy to prepare and importantly, like things both of us would actually eat (as well as being lower calorie and low fat.) I want to try to cook something from the book on one day on the weekend and one weekday per week. So nothing crazy or anything, but for me, a dramatic departure as I have never done any cooking for the two of us. Ever.

If left to my own devices I would just eat sandwiches and pasta with parmesan cheese and takeout sushi all the time, but I want to learn more about cooking seafood, chicken and meat. Saturday will be the first day I try it. I'm going to make something with fresh fish, and will go to Whole Foods that day and pick out some fish that looks tasty. We'll still eat stuff like sushi out (probably still once a week like now) but I want to cut out the extra $100 dinners that are really nothing fabulous. Not showing off, just explaining just how out of control it's gotten. I've been lucky enough to be able to sustain this craziness without any financial pain, but I just feel like it needs to stop for both financial and health reasons.

Anyway, wish me luck with my new adventure!

On the knitting front, I need to find an inspiring project. I finished the knitting on the Swing Top and Tea Rose Halter and just need to do the finishing/blocking on each. I like how they both turned out. I've been more motivated to sew lately, and last night I actually got motivated to sew at night, which never happens. Usually I only have enough energy to sew in the morning/daytime, so I would wait til the weekend to do it. Now I am feeling a lot more confident about sewing and am feeling like I will be cranking out the projects very soon.

Did you see the new SKC nominations posted? I like Dayflower and the short-sleeved version of Labyrinth best. I am sure once that KAL starts up again I will get my summer knitting mojo going in full force.

Comments

[Jenny]

I have so much advice to give right now I don't even know where to start. First off, watch the Food Network. My favorite show is Everyday Italian, but there's something for everyone; they are very diverse these days. Secondly, the Better Homes & Gardens red & white cookbook literally taught me how to cook everything. It breaks down recipes step by step & makes everything really easy. Also, when grilling, it helps to get a digital food thermometer. Sometimes things on the grill LOOK done, but they're really not. Last thing; we have a 'rule' that we only go out on one date per week (usually Friday night) and if people invite us to go out. Other than that, we cook every night. Whew, sorry so long winded!

[chrispy]

Congrats on trying to learn to cook for 2 people. I too am really bad about cooking when it is just me. I rarely love a meal so much that I want to leftovers. I normally have to speak up and let churchable know if I want that box in the fridge.

When we got engaged, I started cooking for us. I use the Everyday Foods magazine. They are super simple, quick, and tasty. Rarely have I wanted to dump a meal in the trash. They also have a book with several of their favorite foods divided by season. Also both the book and the mag have nutrition information. It is really helpful for me when I am being told to watch my glucose levels.

I second the digital food thermometer. I use mine not just for grilling but making sure that all other meats that I cook are not underdone or overdone.

Good luck I look forward to hearing about your success.

[bettyc]

I also live in a 2-person home, but what I do is usually cook for 2 days of dinner at a time, and usually the night before. That way, I only cook every other day or so, and always have food ready when I get home. Lots of dishes sit very well for several nights and some even taste better after the flavors absorb. My favorite food magazine is Cooking Light.
I know of a few people who cook all their meals in a weekend and freeze them for the week.

[adrienne]

GOOD LUCK! I just sent the book link to my brothers wife and a couple of other people! I cna't wait to see how it goes fr you. SO proud of you! :-)

[Hilary]

I recommend checking out some of the cooking blogs that are out there, one of my favorites is http://everybodylikessandwiches.blogspot.com/
She has a ton of great recipes on there, even a bunch of veggie and vegan recipes. I think the great photography helps inspire, just like great photos on a knit blog can!

Good Luck!

[lisa]

Good luck with the cooking thing. I really hated eating out all the freaking time and spending a whackload of money on the food.

Once you get an arsenal of recipes that work for you guys, put them in a recipe book (I put mine in plastic sleeves then into a binder. you can just wipe down stuff that gets on the plastic, but have to print another copy off if stuff gets on paper)

Flip through your book, buy the stuff you need for the week - and viola you are totally organized with dinner!

[Debby]

Good luck!! There are only two of us as well. We are on voice recognition with the local pizza place, esp. with Chris' late nights right now. I hope you find recipes you like -- please share if there's something you especially enjoy. Cooking is one of those things I'm allowing myself not to learn, funny enough. Too many things to do and not enough time, so I get through.

I hope you get your knitting mojo back. I'm looking forward to seeing what you choose for summer knitting. Dayflower looks nice -- I've never seen that pattern before.

[tiennie]

Good for you for doing this! Way to be proactive and less wasteful and healthier!

[Robyn]

I was good with the meal making for a while and then when I got really pregnant this time around, I started slacking. I keep promising my husband that I'll find my mojo, but it ain't coming back :( Maybe after the baby is born. We too right now have been eating a lot of take-out :(

Good luck!

[Stitchywitch]

It's really hard for us to remember to cook at home more too (with my schedule I'm rarely home before 7 or 8 pm, but we want to eat together!) Plus sushi...mmm! We had to say "OK, sushi no more than twice a month" or I would always want sushi! We went in with my Mom this summer on buying a share of an organic farm - every week we're going to get whatever is in season that week. I'm hoping that having vegetables around will inspire more cooking! I love to cook, but it's just so tiring. I'm a big fan of Everyday Italian like the reviewer above, and I also read a few food blogs that post nice recipes. Good luck!

[marjorie]

Once you get into the routine, you'll find it isn't that much trouble to cook decent, healthful meals with about 1/2 hour to 3/4 hour of preparation. You may also find that some meals lend themselves to freezing (vegetable lasagnas, for example), and so if you double the recipe, all you need do the next time is heat it up.

[LizKnits]

Good for you. We're in the same boat here. Work late, don't feel like cooking when we get home. I recently found a couple of inspirational cookbooks I'd recommend. Local Flavors by Deborah Madison; Jamie's Kitchen by Jamie Oliver, and Fresh from the Farmers Market by by Janet Fletcher, Alice Waters, and Victoria Pearson.

These are especially good for using to cook fresh ingredients from your local farmers market.

[Sourire11]

Cooking for two is definately tough. One of the best things for eating at home that we ever did was buy a freezer! It's perfect because when I feel like cooking I'll make a big pot of soup or chili or pasta sauce or whatever. Then when I don't feel like cooking I can just dethaw something and not worry about it. We still eat out quite a bit but much less than before.

[Heather]

Cooking is so much, I love it. I hope you enjoy it as well:)

[Lisa]

Knowing both of you, and Jim's unholy metabolism, I'd recommend the 1/3 to 2/3 split. And the Cooking Light magazine subscription which I adore to no end. You're a tiny little thing, anyway.

I have some really great recipes. Hmm, maybe I should post them on MY OWN DARN BLOG.

[Michelle]

I'm SOOO with you on the eating in thing, there's only 2 of us too and is so hard sometimes to cook! I'm trying to get us to eat in Mon.-Thurs. Works better some weeks than others (I didn't cook at all this week) depending on what's going on. I really like the food network, and Martha Stewart.com has a lot of recipes too. I also have a subscription to Everyday Food, and they have lots of great easy recipes in there! Good luck!!

[Veronique]

I actually find cooking very relaxing after coming home from work. A meal doesn’t have to be elaborate, but I find that using fresh ingredients (Farmer’s Market, if you have one) is very important. Good luck with your new adventure in cooking. And just think, all the money you save on restaurant meals, you can now use for yarn purchases. Have a nice weekend!

[Courtney]

If you're trying to get a handle on your spending and it helps you to visualize it, I have to recommend mint.com. It's a great website that provides you with cool piecharts of all your spending, and all you have to do is link it up with your bank accounts and credit card information. Totally safe, too. I love it!