Did/do you enjoy cooking for a family?

I don’t like cooking and never have although I usually cook from scratch,
When my adult children and grandchildren visit I always make a big effort main plus dessert, and I usually take a dessert for them when we visit ( nothing too fancy)
I always cook my husband an evening meal but rarely eat one myself I find by the time I have cooked it I just don’t fancy eating it ( probably says something about my cooking 😂)
I always find the worst part about cooking is deciding what to cook.

I will always cook, simply because I love food. I do not mean by that that I enjoy stuffing my face or eating to excess, but I love food, trying new things, making my favourites, sitting down to a meal and really savouring it.

I really do not enjoy supermarket ready meals or over processed foods and like really good quality fresh food from assured suppliers.

For all those reasons I will always cook for myself, and as family cooking is only a question of scale, I will always cook for my family.

I am really pleased that i have passed this love of food on too the younger generations and both my grand children are excellent cooks, and food enjoyers

I have always loved cooking when our son and daughter where still at home. I often cooked three different meals it didn't bother me I was happy to do it. I don't often get to cook for them now they are very good cooks and so are their partners. My three grand children love to cook and bake with their parents.

Bonnybanko

I love cooking for my family especially with my grandchildren but I need help now since I had a stroke 5 yrs ago.

I enjoy making raspberry jam, lentil soup, mince and potatoes, beef bourginough, macaroni cheese, spaghetti bolognaise, chilli con carnie and much more. Sadly my Yorkshire puddings are always a flop and I’m no good at baking

Have you tried making your Yorkshires with bread flour?

Cooking and I have tolerated each other over the years. However, that being said, I think I catered for three satisfied and healthy males for over twenty years. Now that I'm self catering, I snack regularly whenever/whatever but I do eat out regularly in decidedly congenial company. All good.

I love cooking. I like to plan ahead and have a blackboard on the side of the fridge where I write a time plan! Baking and making puddings is my favourite thing but I love making a roast too. My two sons always cook when they’re here - elder son is the main cook is in his own home. Daughter has cooked a meal once when visiting, and that was a Mothering Sunday lunch. OH cooks a bit, mainly casseroles.

It has been fun teaching my 8-year old granddaughter how to do little things. She often helps her dad.

On the other hand, I do enjoy a delicious meal out!

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I love cooking for my family especially with my grandchildren but I need help now since I had a stroke 5 yrs ago.

I enjoy making raspberry jam, lentil soup, mince and potatoes, beef bourginough, macaroni cheese, spaghetti bolognaise, chilli con carnie and much more. Sadly my Yorkshire puddings are always a flop and I’m no good at baking

When I left home I had zero interest in cooking. I hated the kitchen as I always seemed to get the job of washing up...for a family of seven.

It was only when I got together with my now husband in my 30s that I began to really take an interest, he was a worse cook than me. Slowly my interest and skill grew.

Thirty odd years later, I love experimenting with new foods, baking and making jams and chutneys. I think a lot of my enjoyment now comes from having plenty time and no faddy eaters to cater for.

I enjoy cooking more now I'm older with more free time, than when my children were living at home. I was always "time poor" and used to cut corners. I much prefer just cooking simple things for the two of us. Things taste much better when they're made from scratch.
What I don't like is cooking for a big group. There are usually too many people with special diets and allergies to cater for and I find myself spending huge amounts of time researching different recipes and struggling with how to adapt them for everyone.

I do not like cooking, my partner does.

I've cooked for a family & DH who has one of those metabolisms where he eats double portions & doesn't put on weight, for nearly 40 years and I don't like cooking. When I had my first & was staying at home & learning to cook, I did quite enjoy it. But for 35 years I've disliked it, except for baking. But I guess I cook from scratch because it's healthier, & I grow some veg, & I waste practically nothing. I do wish I enjoyed it.

Always hated cooking

When children were younger and all at home, DH and I were setting up and running our own business.

Most nights I/we cooked, not unusual to have children’s friends over and/or other family members, enjoyed batch cooking and baking at the weekends as I had more time. Always had (and mostly still have) Sunday lunch with family here.

Still enjoy cooking whether just for us two or visiting friends and family.

Farmor15

Not in Ireland, unfortunately! I've tried all the supermarkets near me and was told it was no longer available. Looking at the Colman's site, others in Ireland have a similar problem. We've plenty of Asian shops so might try one of those. Thanks for the suggestion Jane.

It’s available on Amazon if that’s any help.

I do like cooking for the family sometimes, and love baking cakes, scones, and biscuits, but there are times when I really don’t want to be bothered and we either get take out or go to a nice restaurant.
Tbh hated cooking in the recent heatwave we had, lived on salads with a variety of protein rich foods.

I bake, and enjoy that. I find all other cooking tedious, and lived for years without doing it. I now share it 50/50 with my husband, as he needs to eat a lot to maintain his weight. I wouldn’t bother otherwise.

I loved cooking and baking for my late husband and (now adult) children. We ate dishes from all over, the family love my adventurousness.

Now In widowhood, it’s what I miss most. I derive no pleasure whatsoever cooking for one - despite Delia’ famous “One is Fun”. Ha! I cook nutritious food for myself, but rarely enjoy it. I cook/eat to live.

No! I have no interest in cooking ot eating anything but basic things. I would be happy with salads. I dont like puddings apart from fresh fruit.

Not in Ireland, unfortunately! I've tried all the supermarkets near me and was told it was no longer available. Looking at the Colman's site, others in Ireland have a similar problem. We've plenty of Asian shops so might try one of those. Thanks for the suggestion Jane.

Farmor15

JaneJudge - that cheese biscuits recipe sounds good. Unfortunately Colmans have stopped making mustard powder - anyone know a source? I suppose you could just put in a bit of the mustard paste but it's not the same.

Sainsbury’s, Tesco’s, Morrison’s and all major supermarkets still sell Colmans Mustard Powder.

An Asian supermarket or the world foods section in a Tesco or similar in a multicultural area sell it in 100g bags (quite cheaply) I hadn’t realised Coleman’s had stopped selling it

JaneJudge - that cheese biscuits recipe sounds good. Unfortunately Colmans have stopped making mustard powder - anyone know a source? I suppose you could just put in a bit of the mustard paste but it's not the same.

First thing I cooked for poor Jim was curry , using powdered curry powder , but I used a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon , he manfully ate it as did I
I enjoyed doing plain stew ,mince with veg hidden in , vats of potatoes , but lost the enjoyment when there was no one here to eat with me

I always used to like cooking but the last few years I have got fed up with it after a lifetime of family cooking. My mother was a good cook and I like good food but it's hard work when you are older to shop, prep, cook, clear up and wash up after a meal. I have family living with me and spend far too much time in the kitchen.

I’m no great cook but have always found it enjoyable as so much changes over the years. Quite a challenge sometimes- well done to all of us who have kept on and kept up!