What would you like for dinner, dear?

If I was at work and DH at home he would certainly cook in the evenings - provided he knew exactly what was planned and what to do with it! He wouldn't plan something himself although he has one 'signature dish' that I can leave him to organise himself.
But, just because he doesn't do much cooking, doesn't mean that we don't share the chores.

maggiemaybe I thought the attack on Mamie unwarranted too, although the sharing in our house takes a different form - MrA doesn't cook because he doesn't like it, and I don't fix the cars or mow the grass or do any decorating because I don't like those tasks.

jenwren you asked when does the 'lady of the house' gets an evening off.
This one does, whenever we go out for a meal or whenever friends or family have invited us to their house.
What's your problem?

janea it sounds similar to our unspoken arrangements - although he did get me sanding down paintwork recently and he did do some 'hovering' yesterday as we are trying to get the house ready for visitors.

I'm green with envy TBH Sorry

We divide the jobs between what we are capable of not traditional male/female roles. As I only work 3 days a week usually I tend to do most of the cooking and gardening. I never touch DIY and I can't brush the dogs or walk them on my own so those are his main jobs.

Phoenixits a Canadian staple yellow split pea soup. Probably French immigrant peasant type. It's very filling and good in winter.
www.pri.org/stories/2013-10-10/canadian-chef-traces-habitant-pea-soup-400-years-back-french-explorer-samuel-de

We have always shared the household jobs. We both had careers that involved quite a lot of time away from home, so whoever was at home did what needed to be done to look after the family. We both do those jobs now we are retired, but obviously it doesn't really matter who does what as long as the work is shared. However, I do think the ability to cook, clean and manage a house should be basic lifeskills for everyone, regardless of gender.
Some of the descriptions upthread of people cooking meals that were met by constant criticism made me .

As a second career DH and I were busy in the hospitality business which meant a great deal of cooking. We worked out our own specialities and became a really good team until I became ill and we had to get off that particular merry go round. Since then DH has been the main cook and I am afraid it has been me who is the one who is less than helpful when decisions have to be made as part of my condition is that I cannot make decisions very easily.
Recently while in Wilko's I found a pad of week at a view 'Meal Plan' sheets at the side of which is a tear off shopping list. This has revolutionised our eating issues as there is no time pressure on me to make a decision and if I think of something that would be enjoyed by both of us I write it on one of the days and also write on the shopping list anything we need to make it. It is not set in stone and days can be switched around and DH has taken it like a duck to water and is much happier now that he has a stock of ideas to work from to which he adds his own ideas.
He is a very good cook and makes some enjoyable meals so I am truly blessed!

I've already appologised Mamie and admitted I am jealous. |t was just the way you said surely all partnerships are like that: working together.

That's OK wot.
I probably could have phrased it better, but "should be like that" sounds even worse....

I'm sorry, mamie.

Honestly, it's fine.

Anyone who wants a week menu planner can print if free from here:

theprojectgirl.com/downloads/theprojectgirl.com-mealplanner.pdf

Think it is a great idea

roses. I tried and it doesn't work. Think I might need to resurrect the sandwich toaster. I've used it so seldom it really needs an airing. tizliz yes, Lakeland are on the expensive side and I haven't actually bought much there. Looks as tho I won't need to now !

I tried those sandwich bags for the toaster - still have some somewhere. They are not very satisfactory for anything with cheese in; as it melts it tends to trickle down to the bottom of the bag!

We have had roast chicken mash carrots and cabbage for tea made plenty bubble and squeak tomorrow yum yum ?

I've just had a lovely seafood risotto, courtesy of DH. Twice as good as anything I would have come up with - I'm too impatient to stand stirring or to follow a recipe properly.

I love risotto,trouble no one else does, can I come over to yours?

I love risotto as well, but DH doesn't, is there enough for me?
Please

Aw, sorry, both of you. All long gone, I'm afraid. I'll make sure he cooks extra next time

DH eats most things without a word of complaint but I do hit a wall sometimes when I couldn't be bothered thinking about what to eat.

Easter week will be the usual test of my patience and culinary ingenuity? All the family to stay including one vegetarian, one who doesn't eat red meat, one child who eats practically nothing and whose tastes will very from one meal to the next, one child who eats not a great deal and who is rather fussy about a range of things most children like (I mean, how many children don't like baked beans and pasta in tomato sauce?). The only thing they all eat without complaint is pizza....and I'm not a fan myself.

I usually end up making 3 or 4 separate meals each time ?

There are toastie bags and... Lakeland toastie bags, have not had cheese trickle out so far ( but if it did, it wouldn't be wasted, I should scoop it out and yum it down on the spot.)

Reading through this I am reminded of the TV series years ago called Butterflies with Wendy Craig, and her kitchen 'adventures'.

DH always cooks on Saturday evening, unless we are out, but it takes the other seven days for him to think of what to have, check the ingredients cupboard, and make a final decision, if it took me that long we would never eat.

We had a thread where we said what we were having for dinner. I really enjoyed that for giving me new things to try/adapt/think about.

kittylester I started that thread in the hope for some inspiration! But I found that either people cook the same as me or are far too adventurous. I do try and have a limit of 45 mins in the kitchen unless I am batch cooking for the freezer.