I've written a lot about the various things I choose to do with my days now and apart from not being able to work in the garden, I'm a peace with my daily choices. What I've never talked about with you though, is what I choose not to do. Recreational shopping, smoking, reading fiction, flying, making soap, vinegar and yoghurt from scratch, growing food, travelling, sitting in front a some sort of screen day in and day out and hundreds of other things. I believe the things I do not choose are shaping my future just as much as what I choose to do.
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When I get up each morning, I'm not catapulting myself out of bed like I used to but getting up slowly, thinking about my day, making decisions about the hours I'll spend within these walls, having breakfast, tidying up, drawing, talking to myself and Gracie and writing. I think that time weaves its own strange web and without me realising, the hours become another ordinary day. Another day I'm thankful for; another day in my past.
Today I'm writing about the process of feeding ourselves. I suppose we know this process as cooking but it also involves preserving, fermenting, preparation, shopping, baking, and depending on the type of cooking you do, a variety of other processes that delivers food to the table. I'm currently working out ways to keep cooking from scratch and eating the foods I love without wasting what I buy. I was pleased to see many responses to the information about the Zwilling vacuum-packed food. It's a good way to keep fresh food available for a long time.
But today's main topic will be some of the recipes I have on rotation in my own home. I'm not giving the recipes for each meal because writing out recipes is painful and the main reason I didn't write a cook book. But all recipes you choose should be edited to suit your own taste. When you find the meal you want to cook, look for a few different versions of the recipe and then edit your chosen one to your taste. Here is my list of 40 favourite easy meals.
All the recipes here are for four servings. I used to serve two portions for Hanno and I and either freeze the other two portions or eat them the following day. Cooking this way helps you build up a stockpile of frozen home-cooked meals to eat on the days you're busy or too tired to cook. If, like me, you're cooking for one now, you'll either halve these recipes before you cook, then eat one portion and freeze one. Again this helps by building a small stockpile of home-cooked meals. Work out which spices you'll need to have on hand when you're cooking. If you're eating mainly European food - German, Italian, French etc., you'll need salt, pepper, paprika, and herbs, either fresh or dried. Asian food requires soy sauce, chilli paste or flakes, cumin, curry paste or powder, coriander/cilantro, turmeric, ginger etc. You'll probably find the meals you like will use the same or similar seasonings. Grow your own herbs, it's easily done in containers and it will save you a lot of money over the year. Currently a bunch of herbs is between $3 and $4.90, depending on if you buy organic herbs.
If you're a solo cook, it might be better for you to buy your meat at the local butcher shop instead of the supermarket. The supermarket has only trays of meat and apart from $70 per kilo fillet steak, generally the trays are too big for a solo cook. However, if you want to buy a bulk tray of meat, that will save you money as long as you repack it into meal sized portions to freeze at home. A butcher will give you what you ask for - 2 sausages, 200 grams minced beef, two chops, a small piece of corned beef, a small whole chicken or a rack of 4 prepared chops suitable for roasting. They also have a range of bones for stock.
If you're new to this kind of cooking, set up your systems first because it is having a stockpile with a variety of food, having your kitchen well organised, and your list of meals that will support your cooking and make things easier for you. Here is some extra reading all about home cooking and providing nutrition. It also contains my own list of 40 meals I cook on a regular basis. If you're serious about home cooking, it's helpful to build your own list. It will provide constant and long-term inspiration.
To find more recipes on my blog, go to the side bar under my photo and search for simple terms such as chicken, not roast chicken, or just click on Home Cooking in the list of topics on the bottom of the page. Good luck with this. If you can organise a list of favourite and easy meals, get your kitchen ready and create a small stockpile or pantry, cooking will be easier for you. Don't forget to delegate jobs too. Kids and partners love to cook, peel, chop and test taste. 😉
Cooking for one is so different and can be quite a challenge. You are so organised!! When I ended up just cooking for me, I kept it really simple, it was just easier for me.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Rhonda. I love that you have embraced the things you do not do and I especially love the use of your word ‘choose’. Xx
ReplyDeleteI used to be so organized with meals, cooking a set rotation each week. My mom grew up with her mom doing the same meals on certain nights, so everyone knew what to expect. This makes your grocery list easier too. I think we've made meals too complicated now days. As always, I love to see your posts :)
ReplyDelete(Little Penpen) your meals always look so healthy, colorful, and delicious! Our meals are pretty simple, but it’s fun to try new things every now and then.
ReplyDeleteWe are like-minded regarding solo cooking -- halving recipes, buying from the fresh meat case when possible, and portioning and freezing larger packages of meat. I do the same with the deli counter, when purchasing lunchmeat and deli salads that I cannot economically prepare for one at home. I'll get 1/4 or 1/2 pound of meats or cheeses and ask for a single scoop or single serving of the deli salad. When home canning, I now primarily use pint jars for tomatoes, broth, and home-canned juices, and my jams are often in 4 oz. jars. It certainly took some time to get used to!
ReplyDeleteI am still getting used to cooking for one, right now just eating very simply but I expect to get back to cooking eventually. It is a completely different way to do things, I used to buy large pork loins, slice and freeze, but that is far too much food now for me. I like your idea of just buying at the local butcher area. Thank you. Hilogene in Az.
ReplyDeleteI keep wondering if I will ever cook again now that Joel is gone.
ReplyDeleteKim, I feel the same way about Stu. I defrost chicken breasts and then look at them in the fridge and ultimately toss them…I cannot imagine cooking again but Cheryl says we will. I am giving 80% of my pantry and freezer away. Hilogene in Az.
DeleteI remember when my dad was in his eighties, he would cook his meals each day. He had oatmeal in the morning, and used his crockpot to simmer leg of lamb and vegetables while he played bridge at The Bridge Club with friends. He also liked stewed fruit. I taught him how to make enchiladas, and he loved them. Our family has always eaten a lot of leftovers. I find them so convenient when you are living alone. There is always something delicious in the fridge that is ready to heat up and eat. Self-care is so important. and cooking and eating well is a big part of the regime.
ReplyDeleteYour meals always look delicious and healthy! I have to write mine down because I am forgetful. It's not easy getting older! andrea
ReplyDeleteWhat you said about choosing, Rhonda….you’re right. Choices of what we don’t do are as important as those we do.
ReplyDeleteThanks, as always, Rhonda for you thoughtful suggestions for a simpler life. We are ‘empty nesters’ now and have made some changes to our shopping and cooking. Still cook more than we need and tend to eat it for 2 nights, or have a decent lunch the next day with leftovers and a light supper.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t see your list of 40 favourite meals and would love to use your inspiration.
Jenny
Hello Jenny. I've just added the link to the 40 meals list above. 🙂
DeleteI too like the statement about choosing what not to do...without guilt!
ReplyDeleteI would rather pursue those things I am interested in and which will make a difference in our household atm. For me at this time I like growing a few vegetables, making sure my pantry has the staples, using leftover meals for my husband's work lunches and trying to stick to the rhythm of daily chores which keeps our house under control. I have few 'hobbies' ...but that is ok. I am trying to be careful in the hobbies or craft area, as I know I have spent money on what I thought I wanted to do..but never got around to doing! Trying to be careful with the funds.
Some really wise words Rhonda and I love the quiet way you have written about meals and how your life is now. I still have my lovely husband and I value every day. We have quiet days, meals we like and take our time, we don't feel the need to rush around, things that need doing get done when we feel ready!
ReplyDeleteThat's very similar to how my life was, Chris, and I loved it that way. You're right to cherish every day. After years of work, you can both enjoy all you worked for. xx
DeleteEven though I'm in the thick of it right now and cooking for our family of 5, your ideas for planning are immensely helpful. I had fallen out of menu planning and, as a result, ended up wasting so much food! With the current price of groceries, that simply wasn't sustainable. Now, I'm back to planning menus based on what's on sale--and eating way more plant forward dishes to try and save some money--and I find it's much more enjoyable. I love knowing what we're having each night for dinner, and knowing that if there's anything I can prep early in the day prior to going to work, to make dinner easier, is absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteAfter separating from my ex husband 1 year ago I struggled big time with buying less and cooking smaller meals. I am finally getting the grocery bill under control only buying what I need when I need it instead of buying the same thing each week and having way too much. At least now when I cook too much I take it to work for lunches so I am not buying lunch everyday like I used to. I am using my freezer much more after investing in lots of glass food containers. I tend to cook the same things over a month with a new recipe thrown in every now and again. Thanks for some more inspiration Rhonda. Hope you are going well x
ReplyDeleteThank you Rhonda. Such good ideas for solo cooking. I have always cooked from scratch but way too much. This is so helpful. May I ask why one of the things you no longer do is reading fiction?
ReplyDeleteVicki
Hi Vicki. I have read fiction in the past, my two favourite novels are The Shipping News and Ulysses. Now I read non-fiction so I can learn from them. They're entertaining and enjoyable.
DeleteI always had problems with my meal planning because I felt I was cooking the same things over and over again. Now that I have made a list I can easily choose. I divided my list up into three parts - meals that go together very quickly, dishes I can prepare and just put in the oven for two hours, and "normal" meals.
ReplyDeleteNon-fiction books are the only ones I buy nowadays. I get fiction from the library, and I always have one for reading in bed or when I just can´t concenrate on something demanding. Most of the time I read non-fiction, there are so many fascinating things to learn about. And I always enjoy bringing thr books back to the library so they don´t clutter our already much too full bookshelves!
Hilde in Germany
💕 Renáta :🇭🇺
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always - Thank you Rhonda! Photos are very inspiring - makes me want to head to the kitchen straightaway to make for my family (or maybe just for me as my teenagers are being a bit challenging at the moment with my food choices). Anyhoo, also appreciate the links to the recipes.
ReplyDelete