My cooking style is boring!

corolla

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:03 pm

My cooking style has gotten so boring. I work FT so it's pretty much whatever I can throw together in 30 mins. It usually consists of a starch (no simple carbs), a protein, and a salad.

When I was first married, I would experiment a bit more and actually enjoyed it, but now it just seems like too much effort, and the focus is more on having *something* to eat.

I need some ideas to liven things up. No kids yet, so it can be as adventurous as it gets. DH is not picky at all.

PinkFridge

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:19 pm

Try some Trader Joe's spices. There are some really fun ones.

Window

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:21 pm

Treat yourself to a new cookbook, that’s what I do when I get bored of my menu

corolla

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:22 pm

PinkFridge wrote:

Try some Trader Joe's spices. There are some really fun ones.

Which ones do you recommend?

sequoia

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:22 pm

So what if it’s boring? The important thing is delicious fresh ingredients and no ****. A roast chicken is literally just one ingredient.

corolla

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:22 pm

Window wrote:

Treat yourself to a new cookbook, that’s what I do when I get bored of my menu

I like that!

PinkFridge

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:24 pm

corolla wrote:

Which ones do you recommend?

Umami. On chicken.
Pizza. Dill Pickle. Green goddess. Everything But The Leftovers (on air-popped popcorn).

GoldenEgg

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:29 pm

One idea I made today,
Chicken cutlet dipped into ketchup/mayo dressing. I put it in a wrap and fold it nicely. On top of the wrap I smear a bit of duck sauce and bake for half an hour on 350.
It has the protein and the carb, on the side I serve a salad.

PinkFridge

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:29 pm

tichellady wrote:

I would make some new sauces or dressings

And soups.

Re sauces and soups: You can make them Sunday and they'll last the week. (Including dips you can put in the coldest spot of your fridge and save for Shabbos.)

Cookin4days

Mon, May 01 2023, 5:47 pm

GoldenEgg wrote:

Sounds delicious!

naomi2

Mon, May 01 2023, 6:13 pm

Try cooking from different cuisines.
You can try bean tacos
Pasta puttanesca, or pasta with roasted nightshade veg and feta cheese.
Chicken Tikka masala
Asian stir frys- try visiting an Asian grocery and see what interesting things they have such as mushrooms, greens, noodles, and thai basil.
Poke bowls
Middle eastern ground beef kebabs with chilis, herbs, spices, and pine nuts

corolla

Mon, May 01 2023, 6:28 pm

naomi2 wrote:

Yum!

MySpace

Mon, May 01 2023, 6:45 pm

You can do schwarma either in pita or with fries and salad.
Stir fries can be made differently- chinese etc
Salmon baked with crumbs, marinades etc
schnitzel/ grilled chicken / pastrami sandwiches with add-ins(fried onions...) and cole slaw

tweety1

Mon, May 01 2023, 7:24 pm

Kinda boring but my kids love when I bake a whole chicken. I buy a whole chicken uncut (cleaned of course). Make a paste of any spices you like. I use paprika, salt, onion powder, crushed garlic and oil. Smear the paste well all over the chicken. Inside out. Cover well and bake on 350 for a good 2-3 hours. My kids move choosing the parts they like best.

Happykind

Mon, May 01 2023, 8:03 pm

Dinner done is the only recipe book I have ever used. It’s awesome.
Scan ingredients before u grocery shop.

Buy a meat betty crocker. It’s cuts my cooking time on to 20 minutes or less. Best thing ever.