I'm venting about food.......

[powellrj]

I'm just tired of food. I can't think of anything new to fix for dinner that everyone will eat. I have a stack of cookbooks and magazines I have been reading looking for help, I have even been checking resturant websites looking at menus for ideas.

It wouldn't be so bad, if I didn't have a DH and 2 kids that want fed everyday! I want to go to the grocery store today afterwork and get food for the weekend, but if you want to know the truth, I don't want to fix anything!

I have tried a few new things this week, the kids loved them, DH hated them. I guess thats part of my problem, I can't please people!!

DS doesn't like "normal food" like green beans, corn, roast beef, meatloaf. DD likes normal food, doesn't like to try new things. I never know about DH, he can go both ways!

Sunday I fixed Black and Blue burgers, DS loved them, DH was so-so, I fixed DDs plain so she liked it.

Monday I fixed a steak roll filled with feta cheese and veggies. Kids loved it, DH didn't like it.

Tuesday I fixed grilled pork roast, kids loved it, DH didn't.

Wednesday I fixed BBQ chicken pizza, kids loved it, DH didn't.

Yesterday I fixed hot dogs and pasta salad. It was the only thing that all of them liked.

It sounds like DH doesn't like most things, but it was just a week of things he didn't like.

I don't even want to go to the store, let alone fix anything....

Thanks vent over!

 

[Christine]

Welcome to my nightmare.

I have the same issues. I'm really tired of being the cook. It is a very hard job.

You are doing great with your menus though. I used to cook like that but I was getting the same crap from the family. I finally got fed up and am now making Prego spaghetti sauce, kielbasa, steak on the grill. The only time we get something nice anymore is if I REALLY want to make it.

 

[auntpolly]

Repeat after me:

This is not a restaurant!

Say it until everyone shuts up.

You are trying really hard -- and making great, healthy interesting things. I think they can manage to *choke* it down.

Seriously, I would (and have) directed people to the PB&J ingredients when they've said anything about dinner!!!!

 

[tnkbl]

I feel the same yar. I am also tired of cooking. Lucky me, DH will be gone on business for the month of July, whooo I am not cooking! DD will be happy with bologna, greens and tomatoes!

 

[MAKmom]

After 7 days of eating In WDW DH say he likes my cooking the best. It is plain but very good. I did learn about Polentaat Le Celler & it is very good. They had it cooked in steak drippings. I made a Turkey Breast wed & cooked the Polenta in the drippings.

Maybe just change 1 thing in a old stand by meal.

 

[meshmar]

We plan our meals for a week ahead. Everyone gets to pick a meal ... and HAS to input. No "It's up to you"! Once they HAVE to get involved in meal planning, they will realize how hard it is to please everyone else - and usually ease up on their 'dislikes'. This also makes it easy to shop for the week ...

 

[WhoopyPie]

Sounds like you can cook for me anytime.

But I hear you loud and clear, I'm tired of cooking too. Last night I made chicken ceaser salad wraps. Everyone ate them wether they liked them or not.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I feel your pain. If it was up to me I would get cerael everynight. I cook because I have a family. I think everyone has been in your shoes every now and then. I have about two weeks worth of meals I always cook. Every once in a while I'll get creative and throw them a curve ball. But not often.

 

[Disney Doll]

My mother used to say that she didn't run a diner.

She made it, you ate it or you ate cereal.

We weren't very fussy eaters though, nor was my father.

On the occasions when I didn't like what she made, I didn't die from eating cereal.

 

[Evil Queen]

I cook one dinner meal and that's it. If DS10 doesn't like it, he can go rummage through fridge for something else, as long as it's not junk food.

One that's normally a hit in my house is a nacho type meal.

Bag or two of Tortilla chips, a can or two of Hormel chili on top, a package of shredded cheese on top. Add other fixings as liked.

I normally can't go wrong with that one when stuck for an idea.

 

[pumba]

I am also in a slump.......so I got some pkgs of moose steak....for those with no critter to eat....get a cheap cut of roast ...chuck or whatever.....then put it in my big crockpot....I got the slow cooker seasonings and put it in with about a quart or more of water......it only calls for one cup..but heck I dont like to much salty tastes........so then added carrots and whole potatoes with skins off.....and left it on high for 8 hours.....it was DELICIOUS and I could cut the moose with my mixing spoon........You can also add one pkg of lipton onion soup mix and one can of cream of mushroom soup and one can of water....and pour over the roast and either cook in a bag in oven or aluminum foil tent or in the crock pot.....this is excellent and in the crock pot it does not heat up the house

 

[meshmar]

Crockpot meals are a good choice as Pumba mentioned. We also like to use a "Hot Bag" (basically a big, heavy aluminum foil bag). Pick a meat - beef; chicken; pork; whatever - and a big selection of veggies that includes something to please all the people involved (potatoes, carrots, roma tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, ...). Marinade the whole mix for a couple of hours. Dump in the bag; seal it up; throw on the grill (you can also put it in the oven). Cook until done ...

 

[powellrj]

I am also in a slump.......so I got some pkgs of moose steak....for those with no critter to eat....get a cheap cut of roast ...chuck or whatever.....then put it in my big crockpot....I got the slow cooker seasonings and put it in with about a quart or more of water......it only calls for one cup..but heck I dont like to much salty tastes........so then added carrots and whole potatoes with skins off.....and left it on high for 8 hours.....it was DELICIOUS and I could cut the moose with my mixing spoon........You can also add one pkg of lipton onion soup mix and one can of cream of mushroom soup and one can of water....and pour over the roast and either cook in a bag in oven or aluminum foil tent or in the crock pot.....this is excellent and in the crock pot it does not heat up the house

I do this one a lot! I have a roast cooking now, but they are tired of pot roast so I am using the meat to make burritos.

Like I said, I was just venting because I am just tired of coming up with different things to eat that everyone will eat!

I sat down last night with a note pad and asked for some new ideas, but nobody could come up with any other than DSs suggestion that we just eat out everynight!

They can have cereal and pb sandwiches, but I have to admit it ticks me off after I fix dinner to have people rummaging in the kitchen. I guess I need to get over that!!

Thanks for your ideas, I need the support to keep telling myself, I am not a short-order cook!!!

 

[Piglet843]

I too feel your pain. Its just me and DH - no kids. He's a Very picky eater.
I've actually given up cooking at all. He would literally come home to my home cooked meal... look at it... and say he wasn't in the mood for that.... and fixed himself something else to eat.

SOOOO... now I just buy frozen meals and stuff easily portioned to one - and I DON'T COOK ANYMORE. I fix me a sandwich, cereal or a frozen meal for supper - then when picky DH gets hungry - he fixes him something.

I'm wearing him down though - I think my plan may pay off eventually...

 

[gdulaney]

My mom also only made one meal.

My problem is that I'm just out of ideas. We leave for work at 6:30am and usually don't get home until 6:30-7:00pm (depending on traffic). If I ask my husband what he's in the mood to eat for dinner, he'll usually say "whatever you want to make is fine".... I also have a part-time job, which is only one-night a week (right now). I think that the last time I worked, he ended up eating popcorn for dinner.

Sometimes I just don't feel like doing anything, especially thinking!! These are some of the quick and super easy meals that I use.

Bag of lettuce (your choice) and some pre-cooked grilled chicken strips (I've used the ones by Louis Rich and Perdue). Heat the strips in the bag, in the microwave. Put the strips on top of the salad, add cheese or any other toppings, and you have a great grilled chicken salad. Add some breadsticks if you'd like, but usually the salad fills us up.

The bagged salad mix is also good when topped with Tyson buffalo chicken strips (the strips are bonesless). It's like having a chicken wing salad.

Mac and Cheese can be a meal...especially with add-ins. Chicken strips, or broccoli, or bacon bits...or to make it even easier.... think taco bar, but with macaroni and cheese. Make the mac and cheese, but have several different items that can be mixed in. One person make like broccoli and bacon bits and another may like diced chicken. This also works great with baked potatoes.

We really like the Zatarins mixes. They have a great variety - dirty rice, french market, jambalaya, etc. Quick, easy and usually you just add meat.

Sometimes I'll get a rotisserie chicken and make a quick chicken over rice and gravy. So, I'm not cooking the chicken, the rice is 10-min boil-in-the-bag, and the gravy is canned/jarred and heated in the microwave. Totally easy!

Ginny

 

[powellrj]

well, I am going to try again this week. I just got back from the grocery store, and I already have DD telling me she really doesn't like mushrooms, so my mushroom and swiss burgers AREN'T going to be her favorite meal of the week.

We are having Patty Melts, T-Bones on the 4th, mushroom and swiss burgers, NY strips, sloppy joes, and I got 2 packages of chicken boneless chicken breasts that I will grill or cook in the crock-pot. I am also trying a new mix of side dishes that maybe people will like more.

I made egg mcmuffins and they seemed to be a hit, and we just had hot dogs for lunch and they didn't complain about those. Maybe I should just go for simple?????

 

[meshmar]

Simple always works. When we do dogs or burgers, we just have a selection of toppers and let everyone do their own thing.

 

[Planogirl]

Sort off off topic but what is Black and Blue Burgers? Sounds interesting.

I don't think that there's any way to please all of them. I work outside of the home and decided to really simplify things and if they don't like it, they can cook! When I say simplify, I mean lots of simple things like burgers, stir fries and the like.

The plus thing is that now DH cooks a lot and he's having fun with it.

 

[disykat]

I feel your pain. My family will eat what I make, they just don't "love" it. I wish I could find more meals that everyone actually enjoyed, rather than meals that make one person happy and the rest put up with it.

The only two meals I make that make everyone happy are oven fried chicken and soft tacos - and frankly I could take those or leave them.

 

[hlbtimes2]

Your (OP) house sounds a lot like mine. My kids are good eaters. My 8 year old will eat anything. She loves new things. The 4 year old likes the basics- meat, starch, veggie. Dh loves to go out to eat. And would live on steak, burgers and pizza.

I get so sick of making the same things over and over again. If I try to throw something new in the mix only dd and I will eat it. Ds might pick at it, and wont go hungry. Dh will eat a little, then try to sneak out to get fast food later. :eyeroll

Being the one to think of the meal, purchase what's needed, cook it and clean up after gets really old. If I ask what they want ds ALWAYS says tacos. DH always says pizza. Dd never has an idea or opinion- or wants something the other two wont eat.