At the age of your youngest daughter, I was in the kitchen every night helping my mother with a portion of the meal preparation, homework or not. So were my two older brothers. We also had to clear the table and clean it all up afterward. This was all part of our family responsibilities, and our mom was a SAHM, too.

I see no reason why your daughters, husband, too, for that matter, couldn't learn how to handle themselves in the kitchen and remove you of some of the responsibility. Have you ever discussed this with them, or are they aware of your present feelings?

You can still prepare a well balanced, home cooked meal in less than an hour without using a lot of processed foods or additives. My husband and/or I do it every night. (Our kids are all grown now, and cooking for themselves.) It would be good experience for the girls to learn how to take care of their own food preparation at this point anyway.....especially if they're picky eaters, because once they're out on their own they'll find it hard to be picky unless they do it themselves.

I think you need to sit down with everyone and explain to them how you feel, and see what you can all come up with as a solution that will benefit all.

I've found that for me, the most difficult part of dinner preparation is deciding what to cook! If this is part of your roadblock, what about having each person choose dinner for one night? We also had a lot of fun teaching our boys to cook. Each boy was responsible for helping cook dinner one night each week. Even though it didn't reduce the workload, it did eliminate one night's worth of complaints...

Whenever I felt like you do, I would try to do crock pot meals, started earlier in the day. No giant mess and crock pot meals generally work well for different schedules.

And what is wrong with pizza to go? LOL!

Cooking mojo? I can get some? Where? I am SO with you, can barely drag myself to the kitchen these days! I wander around in my well-stocked pantry for at least 45 minutes hoping inspiration will strike, leave and come back again! Help us oh great ones! Quick, easy, no ingredient recipes???

Pretty much anything gets to be a drag if you do it nearly every day of your life! I encourage you to teach the kids to plan a menu and cook. It's one of the most enduring gifts you can give them. Cooking one night a week, will not disrupt school work in any major way.

I'm with Golddust Crock pot meals are great because often by night time I'm not in the mood to cook, and it's just me and my husband.

Meals that I can just throw in the oven are good too like baked lemon pepper chicken with baked potatoes and fresh roasted broccoli with chopped garlic and olive oil all in the oven.

Mini homemade pizzas with fresh cheese/ veggies/ meat and some canned tomato sauce (look for one without added sugar) on corn tortillas baked in the oven. These are great because you can add what you want and they are simple ingredients-the tortillas make a very light crust which is nice.

If I really need a quick meal, I'll do frozen precooked free range chicken strips with organic frozen vegetables and frozen organic brown rice. Yes it's all frozen, but it's all very minimally processed with no preservatives, sugar or additives/chemicals from Whole Foods. I put it in a skillet with some olive oil and micro the rice and in less than 5 min I have a stir fry that's somewhat better than fast food.

Also making extra at dinner and freezing it for meals later when your tired can be helpful.

I agree with having your kids help, when I was in high school I helped my mom with some of the cooking and often times during the week my family was eating at different times due to different school events so we would have to make our own meals.

Beside the suggestion of a crockpot to give you more free time, I would also suggest getting a wok if you do not already have one. Meals take mere minutes in a wok, and it is a "one dish' meal.

Your kids are not babies or toddler any more, but rather young adults. They can start preparing dinners too. They have to learn sometime. They might even enjoy the creativity involved with planning and cooking, and feel more grow up being given the added responsibility. They may even choose to cook foods that you have never made, and introduce the family to new things to relieve the monotony that meals have become for you. Keep and open mind about things like tofu kabobs and California rolls. :)

Well, you tied my hands behind my back on this one.
You have been a stay at home mom for 2 decades and are finding yourself resenting the dinner planning and prep.
Fair enough. Someone else already commented that it's pretty normal to get tired of what you do every day. I've been cooking dinner every night for 3 decades, so I feel the pain. Sometimes I just don't want to, sometimes I resent family members wanting something specific when I can barely trudge to the kitchen, and sometimes, I just hit a wall on thinking of something to cook.

But then, just when I'm feeling the solidarity, you comment that no one is helping you with the cooking,
Hubby and kids are spoiled and picky about what they like to eat which adds to the frustration (I know, my fault). Plus they don't come home until late and just don't have time to cook for themselves. I'd rather my kids spend their time studying than cooking their own dinner

Now, that..........I don't get. When my kids came home from school, I tried to let them have some free time and some study time, but if I needed or wanted some help in the kitchen, whether it be preparing a salad, peeling potatoes, or anything else, I called one in to help me. Juggling dinner, laundry, housecleaning, studying, job, etc., is all part of life, and helping mom out in the kitchen sometimes is part of that. Plus, on the weekends, there's no excuse for a lack of help with meals. All 3 of my children are now excellent cooks. They took what I taught them and built on that. The one child still at home, comes home from work dead tired and deals with the same issues that you and I do.........she knows dinner needs to be made, she's home, and she's out of ideas. But she still manages to pull off something 2 or 3 nights a week when I'm the one coming home later. Tonight, she heated ready cooked grilled chicken tenders from Trader Joes, heated up some pita bread and filled the pockets with the chicken, some salad mix, sliced avocado, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and sugar peas. Topped with a little Asian dressing, and we had dinner.
The pickyness comes with not having the responsibility, much in the same way that a child will beg for gum or a toy in the checkout line when Mom is buying, but will suddenly decide that they don't really need it when Mom tells them they have to spend most of their own allowance to buy.

I've never asked my DH to come and learn to cook. So, he doesn't cook. If I ask for help with anything, whether paring potatoes, or getting out plates or stirring a pot or running to the store to get me something I forgot, he'll do it willingly, but he has no skill in this area. I like to cook, I'm a good cook, and I've just always done it for him. And since he might be in the garage, checking the oil on my car, taking out the garbage, wiring in a new ceiling fan, installing wood flooring, re-tiling the shower, unstopping the toilet, or hanging shelves I want, I feel that keeping him busy doing what he's good at is working for me. Perhaps you have similar tradeoffs with your DH. And even with the kids, if they are doing the dishes, helping with the laundry and other things, then, it's not a huge deal that they aren't helping that much with cooking. But it's still a shame and a waste of possible talent.

Get your girls involved a little at a time. Get your family to help out with dinner ideas, looking up recipes and helping with prep. It won't kill the Cooking Blues, but it will teach them a fine skill and maybe stir your creativity a little bit right now.

Red

I so feel your pain! I have never really enjoyed cooking anyway, but after 17 years of cooking for DH and child(ren), it is getting old. In theory, it's nice to get the kids involved, but the reality in my house is that, for example, my oldest son does not get home from school until after 5:00 (after leaving at 7 am) and he has homework, can't stay up til midnight doing homework because he has to get up so early, so I'm not going to try to get him to make a meal at night. DH doesn't get home until close to 7 pm, and my youngest is 8, and goes to bed by 8 pm, so we're not going to wait around for DH to come home and cook a meal.

One thing I do not do is cater to everyone's picky eating desires. I generally make something that at least 3 out of 5 of us will really enjoy, and if 1 or 2 of us doesn't like it, s/he can make a sandwich or bowl of cereal. I also try to make extra of at least 1-2 meals/week, so at least one night a week can be leftovers. And we either go out, or get takeout, most weekends. (I'm always meaning to reverse that -- get takeout on a couple of weeknights since I actually have more time to cook on weekends -- but somehow I'm finding it hard to change that habit.)

Finally, this may not work for everyone, but sometimes I will just put out a couple types of cheese, crackers, and fruit, and that is dinner. Everyone likes it. Or we have wraps -- I put out meat, cheese, lettuce, etc., and wraps, and everyone makes their own. My kids actually think this is great. So there are ways of feeding your family that don't involve slaving over the stove!

Fortunately for me, DH is not picky. He's happy if he comes home to *something* to eat, but if it's a sandwich or a bowl of cereal, he doesn't complain!

Oh, and sometimes we have breakfast (eggs or even pancakes) for dinner. That's a big favorite in my house.

I think everybody needs to know how to cook too. When I was in my early teens, I took over cooking dinner each night to earn extra allowance money. That was a wonderful experience and how I learned how to cook. My mother was very helpful, of course, but I pretty much did everything.

I had startling moments when on beautiful summer evenings, the whole family would jump up from the table and head outside and I would be in the kitchen scrubbing greasy pots and pans. I did all the clean up too.

Dh knows how to cook but as he hates cooking, he doesn't ever. But he could survive quite well without resorting to restaurants and frozen dinners if he had to.

I see cooking as a life skill that is not taught anymore- at least I see that in many of the young women in my church.
So I would encourage your kids to help you - and prepare things they like to eat.

I didn't read all the responses but wanted to give my 2 cents quick. Have your kids help you in the kitchen! I'm 26 years old and honestly can say I don't really know how to really "cook cook". I helped Mom often with baking and can say I'm good at that, and like to do it on occasion, but dinner?... Not so much. We were made to help with other things and had our chores but cooking just wasn't something she had us participate in.

I'll admit I don't enjoy doing it. I can read cook books but again... don't enjoy cooking in general. Just the other week I went over to the house to learn how to make one of her dishes I love. Since she doesn't measure most things it was easier to go for a visit.

That said, maybe if Mom would've has us more involved perhaps I wouldn't feel the way I do about it? Like I said, we baked and I like to do that but ya can't have cake every night for dinner no matter how good it tastes! :)

I've become a fan of the crock pot and agree that sounds like a good way to mix it up.

Hmm.. what I just typed sounds pretty bad!

Without going into gobs of detail about why, I'd like to clarify and say I lived at home until I was 24. Mommy didn't cook for us every night when we got older because of all of our schedules of work, school, and life. I did cook for myself when I was older but it was and is today very simple, the same boring stuff. I've just recently taken more of an interest in learning. I don't feel confident in the kitchen and the idea of a bunch of people coming over for dinner scared me. lol

I'm with you on this one!! I think what some other posters might not realize is that "teenagehood" is very different now then when we grew up. My two teens wake up at 6:00am, go to school and then they participate in after school sports (happy for them to do that!) plus a number of other activities. They also carry a pretty heavy honors/AP schedule. They get home at 5 to 5:30 and shower and start homework. Some nights they MAY have extra time, most nights, not so much. I'm happy for them to be involved and doing positive activities, b/c it sure beats the alternative. In our home, all three of my kids are also my every two week cleaning service. So, I definitly feel your pain and your frustration on figuring out what they really can and can't do.

So, here are my suggestions:

1) Crockpot at least once a week. Pick the night and just do it.
2) Make a "light" meal once a week - soup, salad, bread? I like making a soup in the morning and letting is go all day. Chili falls into this category too! Salad? Open the bag..... On nights where you just can't get the soup together - open a box or can of soup.
3) If you think they can fit it into their schedule, assign each kid a night where they are resonsible for making dinner. All of dinner. This will require them to spend 15 minutes putting together a shopping list on Sat or Sunday, so you can buy the dinner makings. Then - it's up to them to get dinner. Try and find a consistent night where nothing is planned for that child. If they can't both handle it every week - let them alternate every other week. This will at first be a chore, but as time goes on, they may like whipping something up that everyone likes and allows them to be creative. I'd put some rules though, like has to be fresh and healthy. No frozen dinners.

So, with 7 dinners a week - 1 out (Sat), one crock pot, one soup and salad, and 1 Kid's cook - that leaves you with 3 dinners a week.

Ok - for that I'd just make a list of your easy standbyes and rotate them through. Don't think about it too much, just make the stuff you always make. 3x a week. When you are ready, your mojo will return. Or not. Oh well, life is great, so dont' worry too much about what's for dinner - concentrate on who is around the table at dinner.

Good luck!

I was dead serious when I said that teaching your kids to cook is a gift. My mother was raised in a household where there were already enough good cooks, so she "only got into the kitchen to do dishes." As a result she didn't know how to cook. My father taught her basic survival cooking after they married. She eventually became a good cook, but she was never confident about it and just hated it.

She didn't want that for me, so she let me "help" when I was very little -- even if it meant a lot of time watching me overwork pie dough until it was actually gray! And bless my father, too, for eating my creations.

When mother returned to work when I was 9, she especially hated having to cook when she got home. There were few convenience foods back then and men were none to great about sharing the burden of housework with working wives. The teenager she hired to look after me after school was irresponsible, so I saw an opportunity. "Get rid of C, pay me what you pay her, and I'll have dinner ready on weeknights." Thus, I had my first job. Yes, they suffered through a few experiments with Spam, but I quick became a really good cook. I didn't know it at the time, of course, but planning and cooking meals taught me the basics of project management - organization, budgeting, delivering a quality product on time, and risk mitigation.

I gave dinner parties as a teenager, which was really odd, but my friends liked it!

Thanks to all for your thoughtful suggestions. A big part of the problem is that we are all tired of the stuff that I have been cooking for the past umpteen years. Which unfortunately includes many of the things that have been suggested.

During the school year, I truly can't expect my kids to cook. Three to four days a week they leave at 7:30 am and don't get home until 7 pm, then they have to study and do homework for a full load of honors and AP classes. I will definitely have them be more involved in cooking dinner during the summer.

So, I decided I'm going to have everyone peruse menu websites and choose a new menu item for me to cook each week. They won't be able to choose any of the family standbys. That will take care of planning for three meals, which will be a huge help.

I'll keep you posted on my experiment!

from geogirl1 - "...... life is great, so don't worry too much about what's for dinner - concentrate on who is around the table at dinner."

That truly is the most important thing - wise words.

I am SO thankful I don't have a DH who thinks a meal must consist of meat, vegetable, salad, starch night after night. He loves fritattas, sandwiches, soups, casserole or one pot type meals and there are many ways to make all of those easily and with great variety.

A sandwich doesn't have to mean bologna on white bread! Get some interesting artisanal breads and cheeses, use home roasted tomatoes or sun dried tomatoes to liven up mayo or mustard, add interesting greens, perhaps make it panini style if you like that.

Fritatta fillings are endless and since you don't fuss with a crust, they go together and cook quickly. Plus they are low carb if that's something you watch.

Never make soup, stew or chili for one meal - double it and freeze. Same with lasagna or stuffed manicotti dishes if you make that kind of thing - always make 2 trays and freexe one.

I love the idea of your kids picking a new menu item - as long as it doesn't make you a kitchen slave!

There are many nights when my family prefers a light meal they can assemble on their own. Either they're not that hungry or, in DH's case, too much eating out on business trips. I always keep cold cuts, sliced cheese, & sandwich rolls in stock. Also on hand: lots of frozen vegetables and canned beans, tomatoes & corn for bolstering canned soups (use the canned soup as a starter, throw in veggies, & maybe sliced kielbasa, Italian sausage, or browned ground beef). If I make corn bread, oatmeal muffins, or Marion Cunningham's Rescue Biscuits to go with the throw-together soup, everybody is extra happy.

We also like to make individual pizzas using dough from the store. The instructions say to let it come to room temp, but we never do. We top it with bottled spaghetti sauce, pre-sliced mozzarella & loads of the frozen veggies, like spinach, collards, or kale, & peppers & onions, sauteed in a skillet. Ovenproof skillets make great pizza pans.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marion Cunningham's Rescue Biscuits

I would also suggest getting a wok if you do not already have one. Meals take mere minutes in a wok, and it is a "one dish' meal.

Instead of a wok, a large fryer does the same thing and I use it for everything.

A big part of the problem is that we are all tired of the stuff that I have been cooking for the past umpteen years. Which unfortunately includes many of the things that have been suggested.

Let's see-

Veggie/meat lasagna?
Baked chicken, with leftovers you do a pot pie. I have a great pot pie recipe if you want it.

I have a great Hungarian chicken recipe made with paprika - very easy to make and a nice change from the every day.

Something I like to cook is breaded pork chops. I bread the chops then throw them in my large fryer in cooking oil. Once they are done I throw some perogies in. Veggie is usually steamed Lima beans. Yes, it's a greasy meal but we enjoy it occasionally.

When boneless chicken breast is on sale I cut it up, make a package of chicken strips. We then use this in General Tsoa's chicken. I've also breaded & fried them to make chicken fingers which you can put on pita bread. I also buy Fajita packs; we'll use the chicken strips for that. The larger pieces go towards chicken parm.

For a change - we do sloppy Joes. Not my favorite meal but it hits the spot.

Spare ribs is another favorite. I don't make it often enough but should before hubby starts radiation.

Stuffed peppers; meat loaf, soft taco's.
Every now and then if I can find corned beef, I'll do that.

Omelettes are another good meal for You're On Your Own nights.

Everybody should learn to cook - DH went right from Mom's house to the Army to married, so when he left for college 2 months after we eloped (spent 6 months in different states), I got him The Absolute Beginner's Cookbook. He doesn't cook now (but will grill in summer), but if I am running late he can manage spaghetti.

DD and DS both help set the table, make salads, measure and stir things when I'm baking. Now that DS is almost 11, he will be helping more with actual cooking.

I get you on the crazy schedule but agree that you should find one night a week when each girl (or either girl) can make dinner. If not during the week, then a weekend - make Friday the dinner out night, cook on Saturday. Have them help you make dinners on the weekends to reheat during the week. Get them involved with the meal planning (and the shopping if possible).

When you know it's going to be a crazy night with you all eating at different times, just plan on salads, sandwiches, maybe even have a pot of homemade soup on simmer to dip out of as required (no noodles), or heat up a separate can of soup for each person or couple. My DS loves homemade chicken noodle soup, I cook the noodles separately anyway so that's something that can be done in a small pot and added to the bowl with broth out of the large pot as each person comes home. I roast a chicken one night (or weekend), make pot pies with frozen crusts or even Bisquick during the week, save the bones in large plastic bag and put pot on for soup whenever I'm going to be home all day (I don't like going out with burner on, even on Low). Crock pots are also great - I *do* go out leaving those on, but make sure it's on a large glass "countersaver" board since it does get very hot and I don't want to damage my laminate. Chili is even better the 2nd night - I usually make a full 6 qts so we can freeze it.

Breakfast for dinner is a big hit - scrambled eggs, pancakes or French toast. We make sure to get into our PJs first. We call it "backwards day" - though the kids don't want meatloaf for breakfast LOL! Sometimes I'll try to make it really "backwards" and have scrambled eggs and toast in the AM (eggs don't take long in microwave), and then just pancakes at night.

Another thing we do (just for fun) is to have "backwards dinner" when I'll make mini-meatloaves in cupcake/muffin tin, "frost" them with mashed potatoes, or make a pot pie with crust that looks like apple pie, have potatoes "a la mode" and we'll eat "dessert" first (though the kids always want real dessert on those nights, we don't usually eat dessert). Sometimes I'll even make a dessert that looks like "dinner" (a yellow cake with chocolate filling that looks like a "hamburger", could even try that with cupcakes, or a loaf cake or quick bread with red frosting that looks like meatloaf) though that's extra work.

I grew up on fish sticks and french fries, Hamburger Helper so try to avoid those now. I didn't learn to cook until I was on my own.

Somehow, this seems appropriate to post . . .

Here is a link that might be useful: It's hard not to stew . . .

Harriet, loved it! ;) Have to admit though, I'd be lost without my salad spinner. And agree about those fatty short ribs. You either like that taste or you don't.

Ajsmama, you reminded me that we do ham steaks every now and then; not often hubby doesn't care for them. Any leftovers go towards the pea soup. I always make a pea soup after ham dinner on Christmas. I have a great ham recipe that has scalloped potatoes baked in the same pan.

I also do soup with the chicken or turkey. I also don't add the noodles to the soup; and when I'm putting it away, I keep the veggies in their own container. I don't know why but I've always left the different soup parts in it's own container. If there's chicken leftover from soup, it gets frozen again or made into chicken salad or pot pie.

I haven't tried to make beef soup yet but probably will this year.

I also use leftover steak & roast beef for stew.

"I grew up on ... Hamburger Helper"

Sorry to be OT, but every time I hear Hamburger Helper, it reminds me of the time my husband took customers out to dinner, and I had to stay home with our kids, ages 3, 5 & 6. The 5-year-old had been asking to try Hamburger Helper, so that's what I fixed for dinner that night, while DH was out at the legendary Commander's Palace enjoying fabulous food and adult conversation. My 5-year-old piped up in a boy-aren't-we-lucky voice, "Too bad Dad had to go out tonight, he's missing this de-wicious meal!" Hearing that comment was worth every minute of staying home that night :)

We have been trying to eat more vegetarian meals. I've found that the prep is SO much faster.

Also, sometimes we do breakfast for dinner. It is really fun to eat breakfast foods in the evening.

We just celebrated our 20th this year, so I'm feeling ya! I think for me the problem is the decision-making part. Oh, and the shopping. And the mess. And feeding some kinda-picky-eaters too. Yeah, pretty much the whole thing...

Here are some things I have found helpful for myself:

This is going to sound too simple to work, but try it anyway. Forget cookbooks. Get a 3-ring binder and a passel of clear sheet protectors. Get some dividers and label: Dinner, Veggies/Sides, Casseroles, Deserts, and Other. Now, photocopy any recipe you use/like and file it away behind the appropriate tab. What I have found is that I ACTUALLY FORGET what I know how to make (food my kids/DH will eat willingly). If it's all scattered in random sources then there is no way I'm going to think to fix that. This binder will be for TRIED AND TRUE favorites only. No storing recipes that you *want* to try. (They belong in a separate file somewhere else in the kitchen.)

Now, ask your friends/family to email you their 4 favorite family recipes. I have gotten some FAB recipes from friends. We try to keep them in a Word document so they can be passed around easily. Far and away better than what I'd find randomly online or from a cookbook or mag. That said, if you do have a magazine recipe you use, just slip it into the sheet protector and you're all set. Make copies of these family/friends recipes and try them out with your family. Only the "keepers" get filed.

In a short time you'll have a great resource to pop open when you are feeling harried or desperate! I like some other poster's suggestion of having your kids pick some new recipes for you to make--they just may surprise you!

Also, with the binder concept, do a separate binder for only holiday food. Even if this means that you need to make a copy of one of your regular recipes. I've done this for about 10 years now with GREAT success. In fact, the holiday binder is how I got started with the binder thing in the first place. I've got my menus, time-lines, guest lists, etc. still in that binder. It's fun to look at and remember those past holidays!

My last suggestion is to get acquainted with allrecipes.com for ideas. I only try 4-5 star recipes, and I read those reviews before I start :)

Good luck in finding the Mojo!!

"Since I'm the SAHM, I figure the least I should do is make sure they have something good to eat when they come home. But, honestly, I resent being the menu planner, shopper and cook EVERY SINGLE NIGHT."

Deee, instead of suggestions about food or menus, I have a question for you. Is it possible that part of your feelings are coming from somewhere else? You've been in a SAHM role/lifestyle for a long time; that role is very much centered around taking care of your family. But your family is changing as your children become adolescents. You may, even subconsciously, be feeling some identity issues as your daughters become more independent teens and you see your role as you've known it coming to an end, or at least evolving. At 13 and 16 although it may seem you're still deep in caregiving mode within 5 years your life as a SAHM is going to be completely different.

So, my thought is that perhaps your emotional issue isn't really with what to put on the table but with who and what you are and are going to be once the time comes, and it's close, that they aren't going to need or expect you to be there every night with dinner. Perhaps you would find it rewarding to start seeking out some opportunities to enrich your life--even as your husband and daughters seem to be enriching theirs with numerous activities, outings and involvement. Waiting at home with a hot plate of food is sort of sitting on the sidelines, in a way.

And if I'm waaaaay off base and you are also involved in tons of activities please feel free to disregard everything I've said :). But I know a lot of friends who find that these years are when the SAHM role starts to dwindle. And those women seem to frequently find themselves somewhat restless and discontent and wondering 'ok, what now for me?'. Perhaps your subconscious is trying to tell you something more than that you need to find some new recipes.

Good luck,
Ann

So, I decided I'm going to have everyone peruse menu websites and choose a new menu item for me to cook each week. They won't be able to choose any of the family standbys. That will take care of planning for three meals, which will be a huge help.

Prepare twice as much and have it again the next night. The you have 6 nights a week covered. Pizza on the 7th night and you are all set!

Dear Ann - You are a very insightful person. We've actually had a some big changes in our lives recently. Nothing bad, just different from the status quo. Unfortunately, while we are adjusting to our new lives we still have to eat dinner! New menus are the easy part and we will work out the rest eventually. Thank you for your gentle nudge.

Dee

It sounds silly, but figuring out dinner every night is so incredibly stressful for me. I have it easy compared to most, as I just have one child and DH, but my problem is time.
I work a 4 ten hour day schedule, with a 45 minute commute each way. By the time I get home, it's 7:30, and I need to get my 4 year old fed, bathed, and in bed asap.
I rely on takeout and pizza so much, and I know it's terrible. On the weekends, I try to plan and cook a few meals that will last through the week. However, it seems I end up with a lot of scary leftover containers in the fridge that don't do much good. My DH doesn't want to eat till 8:30 or 9, and that just doesn't work. You would not believe how often I have a bowl of cereal for dinner....
It is so frustrating to me to be responsible for thinking of a menu, planning, shopping, cooking, and cleaning up on top of everything else I need to do. And like others mentioned, I never really learned to cook except for baking at home. The thought of cooking for others is SO stressful.
Wow, please excuse my venting. Just wanted to say I feel your pain!
Jen

Awm- I just have to say, that is the sweetest story!! It is a great reminder how the smallest things made life wonderful. It is such a shame that as adults, we don't let a plate of mac-and-cheese or a bowl of icecream make the day all better.

After cooking dinner for 20 years, I can relate to how you are feeling. And I also think I was a bit duped- when we were dating, DH cooked me wonderful dinners. After we said "I do," cooking for him became something "I don't."

Recently I discovered the blog Pioneer Woman cooks. I find a lot of her stuff fairly simple to make, and the beautiful pictures on her blog actually make me want to try the recipe. Her commentary can be fun too. Last week we had the artichoke tomato and cream sauce over spagetti- easy, and delicious.

As a recent empty nester, I can relate to trying to figure out a new role. I am taking a class and don't get home until later and have found that turkey and tomato sandwiches on a good chewy bread is a good dinner when it is paired with a nice salad (and DH does make the salads).

I second omelets as a great, cheap, and nutritous meal and you can throw all sorts of leftovers into them. Again paired with a chewy bread and a good salad.

Jen, I used to work that same 4 day/10 hour schedule. There is no way I did much cooking on those nights- we ate a lot of spagetti and sauce out of a jar. A human being can only do so much....

I love the Cooking forum for inspiration ; they are a wonderful group that welcome newcomers, some of you should look it up if you haven't already.

The What's For Dinner" threads have provided me with inspiration and recipes many times, you can do a search for previous ones.

How about attending those fun cooking class w/ your DH. He learns how to cook, you learn a new dish for your repertoire, you guys get to spend time together, and maybe you will make new friends from the cooking school.

You can find those class at adult school, community college, or private cooking school.

Here is a link that might be useful: something like this...