Bell Jar wrote:
> I am sick of cooking. I used to love cooking but right now, I'm pretty
> tired of it.
> For the last couple of wks we have gone out for dinner but we can't keep
> that up .. it's not in the budget.
> How do I get myself re-motivated?
> btw, I have 2 little ones and a DH to cook for, if that matters at all. DH
> does cook from time to time, but he works a lot of hours so it's really up
> to me.
>
>


I know the feeling.

The secret for me is to cook things that will make more than
one different meal. Not having to start every meal from
scratch is a big motivational boost for me.

Example: I make a big batch of meatballs, freeze in bags of
12-20. I can use a package to make spaghetti sauce, leftovers
of which will go over pasta and later become the sauce for lasagna
or be served as meatball grinders (subs, Italian sandwiches).

Another package will make a sort of meatball stroganoff or
Swedish meatballs over egg noodles.

I poached 6 giant chicken breast halves a couple of days ago.
I made chicken salad with pineapple, grapes, celery, green onion,
and curried mayo, to be topped with toasted slivered almonds when
I serve it.

The other half was added to a batch of rice which cooked with the
poaching broth, onion, garlic, finely chopped green pepper, celery,
chopped tomatoes, cumin and curry powder.

I could also have used the chicken in fajitas or a chinese-style stirfry
or to make chicken pie.

If you cook ground beef ahead and freeze it in meal-sized portions,
you can make tacos or burritos or a tamale casserole.

Leftover grilled flank steak makes wonderful sandwiches or tops
a green salad. (We have flank often but usually there's none left over.)

Good luck!

gloria p