No Cooking!

I'm another one who likes cooking from scratch and I don't find it a chore - rather, trying out new recipes is part of my weekly creative endeavours...

There are so many quick recipe ideas these days, it doesn't have to be a chore. Last night we had Jamie Oliver's upsidedown veg tart - roast veg in the oven (whatever is in the fridge); when cooked cover with puff pastry, back it goes in the oven, once that is done, put a board on top and tip it upside-down, remove baking tin, break chunks of mozzarella on top with fresh basil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Quick, impressive, absolutely delicious.

Pythagoras that sounds lovely! I will research that recipe

I'm bored with cooking as well but not keen on sandwiches too often. If I am only cooking for me I cook a piece of chicken or fish (in the air fryer) and one saucepan with new potatoes and veg most days. Sometimes I do a stir fry. It's all quick and easy with little fuel used and little washing up.

Dh departed on Monday morning for a whole month.
I am seriously tempted to live largely on ready meals, with the odd sandwich thrown in. I hardly ever have breakfast as such, but the odd egg on toast might not be too much of an effort. ?

My H and I were married for over 60 years before he died and I cooked all our meals as he was a man of his generation, a woman’s place is in the kitchen.
Now I have my Adult GD living with me and I cook about 4 times a week , she works long hours, but on my own I might cook a simple meal 2/3 times a week.
The freezer is a necessity as I can’t get out to shop.
Tea, or a glass of something red , and a healthy sandwich or salad would be my choice every time.

Beans in toast with cheese tonight here.

Hated cooking for 50 years….. if other half goes first…I’ll put the pans in with him!!!
I can live on bananas , and beans on toast, and gallons of milk and /or wine!

I could happily live on coffee, toast and bananas - I like cheese toasties though, and scrambled eggs and french toast, does that count as cooking? Otherwise Nutella , Marmite or jam on toast!

Happygirl79

No no no. I adore cooking even though I live alone. Its a great excuse to invite friends and family around. I show my love by creating beautiful food for myself and the people I love most by cooking nutritional food to nurture the soul.

We are polar opposites! I live alone, I absolutely hate visitors, and would never dream of expecting them to eat anything more than a biscuit!

I do virtually always cook from scratch, and quite enjoy it, but it makes a welcome change not to have to cook a proper meal every night.

One virtually no-cook but tasty ‘proper’ dinner I made recently, when dh was out for the evening, was a piece of smoked haddock, just poached, with frozen spinach.
I’ll be having that again soon.

I am firmly in the can't stand cooking club! When I'm on my own it's a sandwich, coffee, tea or cake or yoghurt. Occasionally I'll have one of the chilled ready made soups from the supermarket. I resent the time involved with food - planning and shopping for it, putting it away, preparing and cooking it, then clearing it away. I seem to spend half of my life dealing with other peoples' stomach's wants when I could be doing something much more fulfilling!

I completely understand the not wanting to cook thing and although I do still cook, if I can find something else I will. Salads, which don't involve cooking can be healthy and nutritious as can fruit, nuts and raw veggies.
I have friends who don't cook: they go out if they want a cooked meal. They are slim fit and healthy btw.

I am one of those who could not imagine life without cooking.

That said I don't eat breakfast and have never eaten muesli after the first time. Tasted like cardboard, and just as hard to chew, and corn-flakes? I dropped them when I was sixteen and moved away from home. If I do feel the need for food in the morning I cook porridge.

I don't actually 'dislike' cooking. Just don't see the point when I can have something like the delicious egg and tomato brioche I've just consumed. Bliss on a plate.

Pythagoras

I'm another one who likes cooking from scratch and I don't find it a chore - rather, trying out new recipes is part of my weekly creative endeavours...

There are so many quick recipe ideas these days, it doesn't have to be a chore. Last night we had Jamie Oliver's upsidedown veg tart - roast veg in the oven (whatever is in the fridge); when cooked cover with puff pastry, back it goes in the oven, once that is done, put a board on top and tip it upside-down, remove baking tin, break chunks of mozzarella on top with fresh basil and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Quick, impressive, absolutely delicious.

That sounds like a chore to me!

In summer, I eat mainly salad. I throw whatever I have in a big bowl, mix it up, keep in the fridge for the next day and add some vinaigrette dressing before I eat. To accompany the salad, I eat grilled salmon, tinned mackerel, ham, an omelette, grilled meat or poultry. I can't remember the last time I used the oven. I don't eat bread, pastry, biscuits, cake, potatoes, rice or pasta. Dessert (if I have one) is Greek yoghurt with fruit and chopped nuts.

I live alone so rarely cook for myself. I will make the effort if family come round and I do lots of baking for them. I live mostly on cold or microwaved food. My very favourite is plain Greek yoghurt which is very versatile! As I get older, food interests me less and less to be honest, so it is lovely not to have to give too much consideration to what I’m eating. As long as I like to eat it, it’s reasonably healthy (which it mostly is) and is quick to prepare, that’s good enough! I do love the odd roast dinner though and my daughter is very kind and includes me when she has one!

Very sadly DH passed away 3 weeks ago and I'm finding it a real problem to actually want to cook or eat anything. The most I've used the cooker for lately has been to warm up some soup and even then I left the pan on the switched on hob and burned it.

I’m so very sorry knspol. Of course you don’t feel like cooking. Look after yourself as best you can, eat what you feel up to when you feel like it and keep in touch. Brighter days ahead. ?

I try to have a smoothie each day with fruit vegetables green tea yoghurt and prebiotic so I know I’m getting my 5 a day. I also put some HUEL protein powder in sometimes. I’ll then have something like egg on toast. Having said that I makes more mess than most people do when cooking a three course meal.

On my own I really can’t be bothered,favourite meal when I get home from work at 8:30 pm is a hard boiled egg quite a bit of very strong cheddar cheese, sliced up red onion and some cherry tomatoes with salad cream and sugar and Two slices of granary bread…(just half a teaspoon)… I also will make a fruit smoothie or a vegetable juice about twice a week…

I’m the same, just don’t have the energy for it. I’ve had no breakfast and a tiny one serving baguette with taramasalata and black olives, finished with a handful of cherries for lunch. And a cup of tea.
Haven’t decided about dinner yet but probably the same accompanied by coleslaw and shredded lettuce. Strawberries to follow.

I am on my own this evening and am having one of the Cook range of frozen meals.
They cook straight from the freezer, some are more to my liking than others.
This is chicken with marscapone and basil.
I cooked Jersey royals last night so did enough to warm through with butter tonight.
A very easy meal.

I'd be happy not to have to cook at all.
I've no interest in experimenting with menus, or cooking from scratch.
A cheese and red onion sandwich does me.

Re earlier post about the Jamie Oliver upside down tart, I've realised he calls it a "Reverse Puff Pastry Pizza" (not tart). Here's the link to it for those keen to try it:

www.jamieoliver.com/videos/reverse-puff-pastry-pizza/

(I've had to change my username from Pythagoras as someone else had an almost identical one ...)

I too am sick of shopping for food, cooking and the mess it causes. Muesli, yogurt and fruit first thing, a sandwich lunch then if it wasn't for DH I wouldn't bother cooking. An omelette or boiled egg suits me. Luckily tonight DH has just volunteered to cook. Once in a blue moon but a welcome break.