For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

Do you feel the need to come up with creative dishes to make,or are you at the point where you just throw stuff together?

I think I spend entirely too much time thinking about what I can make for dinner.

Also, how do you handle it when DH critques your meal?

Last night I made Lasagna for the first time- I thought it was great, but he thought it was a little too salty( I like my meat seasoned well). I totally came off my high.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I'm always thinking about what to make for dinner. Now that we are low carbing I feel I need to be especially creative to keep DH on track.

I have no problem with DH critiquing my cooking. Our tastes are pretty similar, so I usually agree with him.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking on your home..

I do a lot of the same dishes and I am so bored. We eat so late and I don't have a lot of time to plan so don't always have the special ingredients on hand.

What I started to do - if I have a free night after work - I go thru my recipes and write out the ingredients to some quick but different recipes and I keep them in my bag so when I get to go food shopping they are with me. Since moving to the 'berbs, I try to plan for a week at a time because it is not convenient for me to go food shopping whenever I feel like it when I lived in NYC or Queens. It is tough for me to plan because I am one of those cravings eaters but I need to plan now. I am trying to throw one creative meal into the mix a week. Also, if we are around on Sunday, I try to use that day for a new or different meal that takes more time.

As far as critique - DH usually likes what I cook so it hasn't been much of an issue. I am a much tougher critic on my own food. But I have been cooking for a while and I know what he likes and I have naturally adjusted our meals to fit both of our likes. He is a lot more health consious than I am - so I tend to cook a lot more healthier now. I also try to keep him out of the kitchen because when he sees the ingredients, I don't need his opinion (esp when using butter or oil!). Also, I like my food very well done and he hates that. I learned to put in my portion in the oven earlier so we are both happy. I am sure he isn't insulting you with his criticism - it will just take awhile to get use to/blend each other's tastes.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I do think a lot about what I'm going to cook just because I'm tired of eating the same old stuff! DH doesn't critique my cooking much, he's really good about not hurting my feelings if I try something new and it doesn't come out good. We're both novices at this.

Don't take your DH's comments to heart.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I don't cook much, but I still do MOST of the cooking.
But every time is pretty much a new adventure. I hate just putting on rice and veggies.... I like to be somewhat creative to impress DH when I actually take the time to cook.
I usually go to allrecipes.com to find different recipes, and the other day I found a website that has THAI recipes and I made Thai style salmon. DH LOVED it

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

Want to add, don't worry about his comment, some men just don't have tact. I'm sure it was great.
There are many times DH may give me a little critique, I just remember it for next time

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

Every once in a while, I try to make something new. If we like it, I write down the recipe in my book so I can make it again. If we don't like it, I never make it again.
I sometimes ask DH what he is in the mood for eating for dinner. If DH really likes something, he will repeatedly compliment me for it.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I am CONSTANTLY trying out new ideas and finding ways to reinvent myself! I tend to not cook from recipes too much, unless it's to get ideas of techniques, or if it's a basic recipe I am looking for. I like to be really creative... I know what I like and what my DH likes, so I have a general idea of what will work. My DH doesn't critique me often, he says everything is good but I think he's a big liar sometimes! He just doesn't want to hurt my feelings... I know when it s*cks! When I'm busy or need to go food shopping, I definitely have some 'staples' that I make often. All in all, I would spend all day in the kitchen if I could! (Can you tell I want to be a chef??)

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I love to cook and I try not to repeat recipes too much. Although, sometimes it can't be helped!! But I like the creativity part of cooking and all the planning. I get recipes from books, magazines, TV, internet, family, whoever.

As for DH's comments, he usually loves what I make, but I always ask for his honest opinion anyway. Cooking is something I really want to be good at and honest feedback is the only way for me to learn what I'm doing right/wrong.

I can see though, how it would sting if he wasn't crazy about something that I thought was really good. Don't worry about it! Everyone has different tastes.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I am always trying to be creative. MY hubby usually loves everything I make. I am usually the one hard on myself. Like yesterday I made French Toast and I thought it was ok but it could be better. He said it was awesome that I didn't need to change anything. I am the one always trying to better my cooking, DH never complains unless I burn the food by mistake.

ETA: I made Chicken Marsala about 2 weeks ago and was having company over. I tried it and said something was missing. DH tried it and thought it was perfect. My guest tried it and was raving all week about it. Then my SIL told me that I am hard on myself when I cook and 'we ourselves are usually our own toughest critic' and I think that appies to me.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

Depends on how much time I have-if I have some extra time I enjoy trying out new, creative recipes. But if it's late and we're hungry I make old standby's-pasta, chicken cutlets, etc...

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

Fish is only meat my husband I eats. So I am always trying to find new creative ways to cook it for him. He usually likes everything I make.

I love experimenting in the kitchen.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

Both of us work full time and long hours as well. Even so, I am home first most of the time, so the duty of cooking sort of became mine or else I'd starve if I waited for DH to get home.

I know what he likes and what he doesn't. I usually cook the same things, on a rotating basis of course. I don't experiment much, unless it's a weekend and I have the time.

DH will usually call on his way home and ask what's for dinner. I've stopped telling him, because a few times his voice said it all 'oh, maybe I'll stop and get a burger at Wendy's instead.' However, if I don't tell him, he'll come home and eat whatever I put in front if him, and sometimes he'll eat seconds!!

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I cook all the time, well at least Dinner. I love my CrockPot you can make excellent dinners in there. Also I check some times for recipes online. And, yes sometimes I just through together dishes, like my Cranberry chicken it is quick simple has only 3 ingrediants cooks in about 1/2 hour and wala...Dinner, my DH and the kids love it too.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I do most of the cooking during the high school football season because my husband is a coach. I try to come up with new things to make, mostly because I get bored easily with what I make. Lately I have been buying anything that has a good price and then I search for a recipe. Last night I made veal scallopine for the first time.

Once in a while Keith will make a suggestion for how I make something NEXT time. So, he will suggest that next time I use a different kind of meat or pasta or that I add a spice that I didn't use. I smile and tell him that HE can make it next time and that he can make it however he wants.

When he isn't coaching though he does most of the cooking because he gets home before me. He is a very good cook and is addicted to the Food Network, so I love the off season!

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I dont cook all the time since my husband works different shifts. When I do cook I am trying to find new ways to make the preparation a little easier.

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I also spend too much time thinking about what to make for dinner. I get Cooking Light magazine every month and I read through it, write down the recipes I would like to try, and a list of ingredients under each recipe that I would need to buy. I usually plan out meals for the week on the weekend. I should cook more of the same meals because it will save me time planning, plus they're usually good. My DH hardly critiques my cooking so I can't comment on that. But at least you know that he is a bit sensitive with the salt (I am too). I suppose it depends how he critiques you and how confident you feel about cooking in general. Don't let his critiques get you down - if you enjoyed your lasagna and he didn't, it just means that you don't have to share the leftovers!

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

I am always trying to come up w/ new ideas. I cook very well so nothing ever comes out bad, but when I get 'the reaction' from DH, I know I have a keeper and the recipe goes into my mental recipe database for semi-regular usage!

Re: For those wives who do the majority of the cooking in your home..

depends but i throw alot together unless i have time