it doesn't matter if i like it or not, if dh asked for it i would cook it, i
hate to cook and if he is asking me to then i will... but i do hope he never
asks for live lobsters, Lee
"merryb" > wrote in message
...
On Jan 24, 7:57 pm, "Polly Esther" > wrote:
> "Julie Bove" <> Which do you think is easier?
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> > My Family Living teacher said it was hard to make a really good salad
> > for
> > one. And by really good I mean assorted greens with all sorts of
> > toppings, like you might be able to make on a salad bar. And in those
> > days (late 1970's) I think that was true. Because to get all those
> > things
> > you wanted, you'd have tons of leftovers you would have to either deal
> > with or throw away.
>
> > But these days? You can get bagged salads. You can get more kinds of
> > tomatoes than just one big beefsteak or a whole container of cherry.
> > Many
> > stores (at least here) will sell you one rib of celery, three baby
> > carrots, two crowns of broccoli, etc. That makes it a lot easier.
>
> > When I was single I was usually perfectly happy to eat the same thing
> > all
> > week. I could make a big pot of soup or chili and eat that all week.
> > Sure I did eat out sometimes. So it wasn't the same thing all seven
> > days.
> > But if I had to come up with a brand new meal each night just for one, I
> > think it could be a problem. I know I could do it. It would just take
> > careful buying and planning. I also did not eat meat or fish (not
> > usually
> > anyway) in those days. I do know some people who as single people would
> > just stop at Pike Place Market on their way home from work and buy a
> > piece
> > of meat or fish, some produce and maybe something prepared. And these
> > days (at least here), most of the grocery stores now have a butcher
> > counter where you can buy smaller amounts of seafood or meat. But back
> > when I was single (at least where I lived) this was not an option. So if
> > I did buy meat, I had to come up with a plan for it and it often meant
> > making more than I needed and either inviting friends over, freezing
> > leftovers or coming up with other ideas for the rest of the week.
>
> > Now I usually either cook for 2 or 3. The thing that is gone is being
> > able to cook just to please myself. What I like to eat is not
> > necessarily
> > what they like to eat. So I have to come up with things that we either
> > all like or at least do not dislike. And it can sometimes be tricky to
> > scale a recipe for 2 or 3 because of the way things are packaged. Which
> > is why I don't necessarily follow the recipe to the tee. My finished
> > dish
> > might have a little more sauce (like tonight), a little more meat, a few
> > more veggies. No big deal. But I always wonder about those families of 5
> > (and I do know some) who make Hamburger Helper. That serves 4. What do
> > they do? Give each person a little less and round out the meal with
> > other
> > things? Make two packages and hope someone eats the leftovers?
>
> > But I think the easiest of all was the times I used to cook for my
> > husband's extended family. I might be cooking for 12 or 20 people. I
> > could take advantage of bulk packs of things I wouldn't normally buy.
> > And
> > I really did think I was saving money per person. Plus it wasn't *that*
> > much more prep time and work overall. Granted it would depend on what I
> > was fixing. I never did try to do a turkey dinner with lots of sides.
> > When cooking for that many I usually did one dish things. Like lasagna,
> > ravioli, roast beef with potatoes and carrots. And maybe a big tossed
> > salad (FIL had an excellent garden) and a few other sides, mainly to use
> > up some things my MIL had that were getting a bit old and needed to be
> > used up.
>
> > Also I never had to worry about leftovers when I cooked for that many
> > people. I just always assumed there would be some. And it was not a
> > problem because with that many people stopping by, somebody was sure to
> > eat it.
>
> > So what amount of people do you think it is easier to cook for?
>
> I enjoyed your post, Julie. See lots of things to think about. Sure,
> cooking for a dozen or twenty is really not much more effort than for
> two -
> and you get to enjoy their company and pleasure in the meal. On the other
> hand, leftovers is a good thing. I either quickly chill and refrigerate or
> freeze ours. Wonderful to have something that just needs a side and good
> bread.
> I see something you said that I can give you hope about. You wrote:
> " What I like to eat is not necessarily what they like to eat. So I
> have to come up with things that we either all like or at least do not
> dislike. "
> You can change that a little and it may take some time. My sweetheart
> 'thinks' he hates chicken. He doesn't really. He just hates the way his
> moma cooked it. He 'thinks' he hates cheeses that stink but loves my quite
> mad pizza creations. Loves!
> On the other hand, I hate liver. Ain't gonna eat it if you have a gun
> pointed at my head. No way to enhance or persuade me
> You just pick your battles. Polly

Polly, you should be a diplomat Does Mr. Ester like liver? If so,
do you cook it for him, or is that one of the things he orders when
you go out? I'm curious as I don't cook things I don't like- tuna
casserole comes to mind first- ICK!!!
Picking your battles is what Jules needs to do!