Do you enjoy cooking?

Was talking to someone this weekend who said they cook because they know they have to, and if they didn't have to, they probably wouldn't. Got me thinking - do you enjoy cooking, or do you do it only as a necessity?

It's become very therapeutic for me to cook - I look forward to it and seeing the final result. The nights when I can't cook, I feel pretty down and get upset that I have to eat something that wasn't made from scratch or if we have to eat out.

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

I go through cycles of enjoyment. I really love it that my family and friends enjoy my cooking, and it gives me great satisfaction to make something that they enjoy eating. But then I also have periods where I just don't want to cook - this usually occurs after I have been making everything from scratch for an extended period of time. But at the same time I don't like prepackaged foods. eta: Near my house there are some outstanding restaurants but they are insanely expensive. Then there is just everything else. The mid-price and low cost options are not good and frankly, my family feels my cooking is better than those options. We generally cook things at home.

Message edited 3/17/2013 10:45:39 PM.

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

Yeah, we feel pretty much the same. If anything, we just feel SOO much better when we eat home cooked food instead of going out. Although its more convenient to just eat out, it also becomes too expensive and just not as enjoyable (atleast to us). We've now moved into bringing lunch to work everyday, and having breakfast at home. It feels great.

So many times I've thought of going to cooking school and making that my profession, but someone gave me great advice - save it as my passion.

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

Usually, no. It's a chore to me most of the time. Occasionally I'll think of making something interesting or something I haven't made in a while & it'll be fun if I'm feeling up for it. I like home-cooked food, but wish I had a cook to do it for me!

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

I love cooking, but after working a full time job...it feels like a chore to cook each night! I would really enjoy it more if I didn't have to do it after working!

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

Yes, I love cooking. Its a creative outlet for me, and I also find it to be therapeutic.

I started cooking for myself when I was a preteen because I became a vegetarian and my mom told me that the kitchen wasn't a restaurant; I could eat what she made or make something myself. It was the best tough love she gave me, because it was so much fun planning meals and cooking.

Now, all these years later, its such a passion of mine. I would never do anything professionally with it - I dream about that, sure - but I feel like it would make me resent cooking.

I work full-time...I just plan meals well and prep ingredients or entire meals on Sundays for the week.

Do you enjoy cooking?

I like cooking. I like that my husband likes my cooking and enjoys coming home to a yummy meal. I like that I am able to give my son yummy homemade meals that are healthy. Do I always feel like cooking? no some nights I dont but I honestly usually enjoy it, put it this way I would cook over clean anyday lol

Message edited 3/18/2013 9:13:11 AM.

Do you enjoy cooking?

Nope. I do it but I don't enjoy it.

Do you enjoy cooking?

I hate it and avoid it as much as possible. DH cooks most of the time.

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

i LOVE to cook. but im never home and my SO loves eating out. last thursday was probably the first time i cooked in a few months. eating out EVERY meal took a toll on me. i gained about 15 lbs in 4 months. blech

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

when I have the time and am not starving or in a hurry, yes I really like and enjoy cooking! Its a form of art for me. I think I'd enjoy it more if I didn't have to cook in an outdated small apartment kicthen with barely any counter space. lol.

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

I love to cook, I wish I had more time to devote to it. I try to cook at least 5 nights a week and plan for left-overs for our lunches during the week. The weekends are usually a free for all, but if we don't have plans on a Saturday night, I'll try something totally new and different, or pick up a whole fish from the fish store - something I don't have time for during the week!

We re-did our kitchen and double-ovens were a must-have!

AKD - where do you food shop? I haven't found a place near us for produce that I love. I do most of my shopping at KeyFood on Covert and Pellegrini for meat/fish.

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

I do enjoy cooking. I love looking through cookbooks, online, magazines, etc. for new ideas. DH and I like to entertain - dinner parties, holidays - and we are adventurous eaters who enjoy different types of food. I definitely consider cooking a hobby. And I find it satisfying and comforting to make good food for myself and my family and friends.

I do cook most weeknights, but it can be hard because DH usually doesn't get home until 7:30/7:45, and sometimes I work late showing houses. So weeknight meal planning isn't as fun. I am usually looking for stuff that can be prepped ahead of time or made in the slow cooker for convenience. Plus, since I have been back on WW, I am also looking for healthier things. So time and health and all of that can restrict my cooking creativity and make it less "fun" and just more of a necessity.

And also, while I like the cooking itself, I definitely don't enjoy the planning, food shopping, and clean up that is a necessary part of the cooking!

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

I would enjoy it alot more if my DH wasn't so picky.

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

I seriously LOVE to cook!! I am so inspired half the time to try all different foods, and OMG I LOVE IT!!

Dh loves me for it! LOL

Re: Do you enjoy cooking?

I used to think I loved cooking.. and sometimes I do. But on my terms.

I don't like rattling pots and pans just to get something on the table so that my family is fed. And when I do that .. it shows in the end result.

I like to cook when I have the time to be slow, to taste and adjust. I like when I can engage my senses. I like kneading bread. I like chopping vegetables. I like the smells of a simmering sauce or a roasting meat.

When I am able to cook without feeling stressed or rushed.. my meals are spectacular. Even the quick and simple things have fantastic depth of flavor. I don't have a single ounce of humility in that statement because it's just true.

Unfortunately.. that magic doesn't happen a lot lately so my meals are often just .. fine.

The upshot? I derive the greatest amount of pleasure from making people happy with my food. I LOVE to see people really enjoy what I prepare. When it all comes together and I get that reaction.. I can say I love cooking. When I'm feeling out of sorts or rushed or distracted then I don't get that reaction and I don't love the task that much.

Does that even make sense?

Do you enjoy cooking?

I hate it. i am all for easy, simple, one pot, convenience foods.
I do love baking from scratch though.

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LOVE it. I would cook all day every day if I could. I love trying new recipes and coming up with things on my own.

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Do you enjoy cooking?

HATE IT!!! I do the minimum I need to. Thank god DH is perfectly happy having PB & J for dinner. Now that DS is eatign table food I try but it is still very easy things.