Do you enjoy cooking?

I used to love cooking and trying new dishes but now I can’t be bothered unless I am cooking for family. I stick to tried and trusted meals which I know are their favourites so I don’t get the rush of anticipatory joy that I used to when cooking something new. I live alone and eat very simply and lazily although I rarely succumb to ready meals. I do bake a lot, however, again for family although not being terribly adventurous, they usually request the same things over and over! Sick of making brownies, muffins, banana bread etc etc! And the current request is for yet ANOTHER chicken pie! Something I personally HATE!

I’m now the sole carer for my husband and providing 3 meals a day for him is important for his routine and well-being but I find I no longer enjoy cooking. His preferred diet is different from mine but I tend to cook what he likes and share it with him. If I was merely catering for myself the food would be simpler and more based on fruit and veg. Funny how things work out sometimes!

After working all week nothing better than spending Saturday morning in the kitchen baking whilst listening to the radio

I loved cooking and I mean really loved it. Unfortunately health and mobility issues have put paid to my passion. Occasionally I help my husband prepare the veg etc and I have to sit at the table to do it. I'm the only person I know who gets out of breath peeling carrots. I really miss being able to do it as I found it very therapeutic as well as that sense of satisfaction I used to get from turning out a nice meal.

No I hate it !

I used to enjoy cooking when the children were at home and then when my DH was still alive. Now? I feed myself properly, but derive no enjoyement either cooking or eating anymore.

Yes, it's very creative.

My mum was a brilliant cook and was a pastry cook when she was younger. I wish I could cook like her but I do make decent cakes. In fact I have my fruit soaking in brandy at this moment ready to make my Christmas cake later. I made my own for years and a couple for family. Then there was only the two of us so I bought one from a local bakery but they have now sadly closed so it's back to making my own.

Been cooking since I was 14, now 73, as mum had left us so I was in charge !
Like to try one new recipe every week if possible to keep the brain cells going but I bake less than I used to as only 2 of us to eat it all 😂😂
Do enjoy cooking though and being in the kitchen on my own with radio or music ! I can lose myself in making soup or a new dish ! It can be therapeutic !

Witzend

I enjoy it, at least partly because dh (who doesn’t cook*) is always very appreciative of everything, and isn’t in the least fussy. I couldn’t do with a fussy-eater bloke!

*but since retirement he invariably clears up the kitchen, loads the dishwasher, and unloads it in the morning 🙂)

My husband is a bit fussy about food too, he doesn't like many vegetables, but he really appreciates most meals. Like your husband he has taken over dealing with kitchen cleaning and dishwashing for which I'm very grateful.
I give my grandchildren breakfast three days a week and love getting up to a clean and tidy kitchen to mess up again.

No, hate it. Cook just enough to keep my family alive!

I really like to cook, and it's something I'm good at. Yes for me it's therpeutic, a bit like gardening. My family (husband, children&partners, grandchildren) prefer to eat in, not going to a restaurant. I cook meals from all over the world - yes I'm blessed to live in a place where I can get most ingredients. We also like to receive, our friends are always happy to be invited. But sometimes this gives me a problem : my husbands just loves to choose recipes, and although I always have the last word on the menu, he always picks things that take a lot of time/work/preparation. If and when I tell him that, he looks very disappointed, says things like "I thought that for John*and Jane* we might go full out". I usually give in. He always offers to help but I hate cooking together (my bad, sorry). He does most of the shopping though, especially picking up orders from the cheese merchant, fishmongers or the butchers etc., and he does the starters or other small bites that go with the apérif. He does that very nicely, creatively!
The only times I don't like to cook is when I don't like the people I'm cooking for. As we all know, that happens too 😊

Esmay

I used to love cooking and baking .
I'd cater for huge parties .
I still cook if needs be , but my cooking has become quick and lazy .

Yes, I did this too, 120 people or so. But we don't have the room or the number of friends any longer!
My everyday cooking is fairly simple because that is what my husband likes. I often feed my grandchildren after school but tend to give them pasta because I can prepare it in advance and I know they will eat it!
If family come round I usually do a big roast dinner. My children have busy lives and say that they don't often have time to do it for themselves, though they all enjoy it.
I can't say that I do much baking any longer, we are both watching our weight, though I do make birthday cakes and desserts.

Sago

I love it, I’m happiest preparing and planning meals.
I make all my own bread, butter and even posts and grind my own Indian spices for Garam Masala etc.

My mother was a miserable cook, everything was served with a big dollop of resentment.

My MIL was like this, she wasn't interested in food at all, eating or cooking. We used to travel a long way to see her and she used to make dried up frozen sausage rolls for the children, with out of date orange squash and biscuits.
On one occasion we took her to a local hotel for a nice lunch, a wide choice of traditional and other dishes. Afterwards she said it had been OK but she didn't want us to take her out again, which would have meant the usual three or four hour visit with no proper meal, nothing for the children to do, and absolutely no TV.
And then she wondered why we didn't go too often.

I used to quite enjoy cooking but now it's a chore. DH has become really picky: doesn't like this, doesn't want that. I'm tempted to buy him a load of M&S one person meals and tell him to get on with it, I'll cook for myself.

I used to love cooking and baking .
I'd cater for huge parties .
I still cook if needs be , but my cooking has become quick and lazy .

I really find cooking a chore. I never learnt as I was growing up. I was always asking my DH how to cook things when we first got married, such as custard, gravy, all the basics!

If I was on my own I would live on poached eggs, bread and cheese and fill up on fruit.

Fortunately once or twice a week DH takes over and he is a good cook. Last night for my birthday he cooked, venison steaks with a peppercorn sauce, large juicy mushrooms, chips, peas, delicious.

Now a widow and after 30 plus years of professional writing and testing recipes, not so much. However, I am not a big fan of ready meals, although I do buy them occasionally. Mostly I go for old favourites that are quick to prepare.

We bought an automatic pasta maker so we are having a lot of pasta and noodle dishes. Mostly I cook Asian food anyway because it is quick and tasty and you can vary the ingredients easily. I like cooking when I am in the mood. We also have an ‘instant pot’ steamer which I am gradually coming to terms with. Last night I did a tomato, beef and olive hotpot in it with home made spaghetti and that worked out well. Lots of red wine in the mix!

I love cooking ,I spend most of my time in the kitchen .I dont have lots of machines ,no stand mixer or food processor as I enjoy prepping the old fashioned way with good knives .I make soup almost every day and my OH tells anyone who'll listen that he's the best fed man in the shire .
Downside of that is when we do go out to eat he always says its not as good as he'd have t home!
Today was spent baking for my sister and my neighbour ,both widowed last week.Theres been a constant stream of visitors to both so I've been taking a supply of cake ,scones and pancakes over every couple of days.One less thing for them to think about .Tomorrow I have my 4 year old GD for her 2nd "cookery lesson" its sure to be fun .I've taught my own kids and the other 4 GC from when they were 4and they can all cook very well

I used to love finding a new, unusual, recipe and cooking for DH and me on Saturday nights when the DC were safely tucked up in bed 🙂

Now, well, it's something good but quick and easy eg steak and trimmings, Charlie Bigham or Gastropub!

I love to cook, prepare the ingredients, take care to a garden, lay the table - all of it really. I'm a very good, albeit slow, cook and baker.

LauraNorderr
😂😂😂

Love it LauraNorderr! 🤣

Oh laura, that's funny