What do you consider 'cooking dinner'? (Like, a big deal dinner)
A friend and I were talking about this recently and a mutual friend was making a HUGE deal that she was boiling pasta and throwing in some type of jar of something or a premade seasoning pouch and making 'break-n-bake' cookies for her DH. I don't think she cooks dinner often so maybe this WAS her idea of cooking and it was a big deal to her IDK.
So, do you consider it 'cooking dinner' when you throw a pre-made sauce on something or open a can of something, throw it on chicken and bake it?
To me, cooking almost never involves shortcuts. We MAKE sauce and meatballs, etc. No jars allowed. Making sauce is really not that hard to do anyway)
Maybe this example will clarify...
I used to make quick dinner for DH and I. I would make a Lipton's rice packet and brown some chop meat then mix it all together.
Sure, it was quick, it was premade stuff, it was dinner, we ate it at dinnertime. But I sure as hell didn't go bragging about how I made this special dinner for DH
ChristineAaron08
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
I'm not hating on anyone
..just a convo about people's ideas of cooking a big deal dinner, shortcut cooking, whatever.
I honestly dont give a shat what any of you cook.
Unless, of course, you plan to have me over for dinner
dont lie....I know you're up at night worrying about how all of us cook our dinners
now that I know where you live, I will be at your house every night for dinner. It better not be from a box!
ChristineAaron08
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
Posted by ant n tilde
Posted by ChristineAaron08
Maybe this example will clarify...
I used to make quick dinner for DH and I. I would make a Lipton's rice packet and brown some chop meat then mix it all together.
Sure, it was quick, it was premade stuff, it was dinner, we ate it at dinnertime. But I sure as hell didn't go bragging about how I made this special dinner for DH
oh yeah i definitely agree! ACTUALLY I am the opposite. I love to say how EASY stuff is to make and how yummy they still are!
Like I make this chicken and dumplings recipe and it tastes like something made from scratch with tons of prep work but really its just all prepared stuff on the stove!!
mmmm dumplings!!
I actually told my sister to make that quicky rice mix-chop meat thing b/c she goes to school at night and has a 4 yr old. She is always looking for something different and quick.
At the time, I was working 62 miles from home and if there was a lot of traffic..rice mix/chop meat it was!!
ant n tilde
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
Posted by KK Holiday
Posted by ant n tilde
Posted by ChristineAaron08
Maybe this example will clarify...
I used to make quick dinner for DH and I. I would make a Lipton's rice packet and brown some chop meat then mix it all together.
Sure, it was quick, it was premade stuff, it was dinner, we ate it at dinnertime. But I sure as hell didn't go bragging about how I made this special dinner for DH
oh yeah i definitely agree! ACTUALLY I am the opposite. I love to say how EASY stuff is to make and how yummy they still are!
Like I make this chicken and dumplings recipe and it tastes like something made from scratch with tons of prep work but really its just all prepared stuff on the stove!!
mmm share that recipe!
It is my new favorite recipe!
Quick Chicken and Dumplings
Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 30 min Makes: 4 servings
1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup frozen green peas and carrots 1 cup cut-up cooked chicken 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup 1 cup Original Bisquick® mix 1/3 cup milk Paprika, if desired
1 . Heat 1 1/2 cups milk, the peas and carrots, chicken and soup to boiling in 3-quart saucepan, stirring frequently. 2. Stir Bisquick mix and 1/3 cup milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 8 spoonfuls onto chicken mixture (do not drop directly into liquid). Sprinkle with paprika. 3. Cook uncovered over low heat 10 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer
Autumn08
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
I like to cook but I usually mix it up between prepared and fresh ingredients. I used jar sauce but I'll add some fresh ingredients.
I've been dying to make a fresh sauce like from garden tomatoes and herbs fresh. But I don't have a garden with my apartment.
Bride908
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
Theres definitely a difference between throwing together a simple meal and making a nice home cooked meal.
I have never used a jar of sauce but Im Italian and know how to make my own.
I do use prepackaged seasonings for tacos and marinades for asian style dinners so someone of different background will probably look at me like I did something simple when they can make it from scratch. but I consider those to be simple also
KK Holiday
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
Posted by ant n tilde
Posted by KK Holiday
Posted by ant n tilde
Posted by ChristineAaron08
Maybe this example will clarify...
I used to make quick dinner for DH and I. I would make a Lipton's rice packet and brown some chop meat then mix it all together.
Sure, it was quick, it was premade stuff, it was dinner, we ate it at dinnertime. But I sure as hell didn't go bragging about how I made this special dinner for DH
oh yeah i definitely agree! ACTUALLY I am the opposite. I love to say how EASY stuff is to make and how yummy they still are!
Like I make this chicken and dumplings recipe and it tastes like something made from scratch with tons of prep work but really its just all prepared stuff on the stove!!
mmm share that recipe!
It is my new favorite recipe!
Quick Chicken and Dumplings
Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 30 min Makes: 4 servings
1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup frozen green peas and carrots 1 cup cut-up cooked chicken 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup 1 cup Original Bisquick® mix 1/3 cup milk Paprika, if desired
1 . Heat 1 1/2 cups milk, the peas and carrots, chicken and soup to boiling in 3-quart saucepan, stirring frequently. 2. Stir Bisquick mix and 1/3 cup milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 8 spoonfuls onto chicken mixture (do not drop directly into liquid). Sprinkle with paprika. 3. Cook uncovered over low heat 10 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer
i'm so making it this weekend! thanks
ant n tilde
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
Posted by KK Holiday
Posted by ant n tilde
Posted by KK Holiday
Posted by ant n tilde
Posted by ChristineAaron08
Maybe this example will clarify...
I used to make quick dinner for DH and I. I would make a Lipton's rice packet and brown some chop meat then mix it all together.
Sure, it was quick, it was premade stuff, it was dinner, we ate it at dinnertime. But I sure as hell didn't go bragging about how I made this special dinner for DH
oh yeah i definitely agree! ACTUALLY I am the opposite. I love to say how EASY stuff is to make and how yummy they still are!
Like I make this chicken and dumplings recipe and it tastes like something made from scratch with tons of prep work but really its just all prepared stuff on the stove!!
mmm share that recipe!
It is my new favorite recipe!
Quick Chicken and Dumplings
Prep Time: 10 min Total Time: 30 min Makes: 4 servings
1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup frozen green peas and carrots 1 cup cut-up cooked chicken 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed creamy chicken mushroom soup 1 cup Original Bisquick® mix 1/3 cup milk Paprika, if desired
1 . Heat 1 1/2 cups milk, the peas and carrots, chicken and soup to boiling in 3-quart saucepan, stirring frequently. 2. Stir Bisquick mix and 1/3 cup milk until soft dough forms. Drop dough by 8 spoonfuls onto chicken mixture (do not drop directly into liquid). Sprinkle with paprika. 3. Cook uncovered over low heat 10 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer
i'm so making it this weekend! thanks
i make it a bit spicier. i use chicken and herb soup instead of chicken and mushroom - i also add pepper and red pepper. . .and for the veg i just use a brozen box that has peas, carrots, green beans and corn! its perfect - Birds Eye makes it
Mici n KC
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
For the most part, the food I cook is from scratch. I make my own sauce, I buy all raw meats and fish. The only thing that I don't buy that's fresh, but frozen for the most part are veggies. I don't just heat them up, I cook them in EVOO and garlic or something.
I mean what about a crockpot dinner? The other night I made stew. I chopped up all the veggies and meat and threw it all in the pot. Does that not count as cooking? Cause it came out damn good
Jenn04
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
A big dinner is what I usually prepare on the weekends for us...it includes frying, making sauce, etc, etc something that takes 1-2 hours to prep.
During the week we eat easy, bbq steaks, chicken in the oven, tacos. DH is always appreciative and they are usually yummy meals but its not like 'Big dinner' in my mind!
ant n tilde
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
Posted by Mici n KC
For the most part, the food I cook is from scratch. I make my own sauce, I buy all raw meats and fish. The only thing that I don't buy that's fresh, but frozen for the most part are veggies. I don't just heat them up, I cook them in EVOO and garlic or something.
I mean what about a crockpot dinner? The other night I made stew. I chopped up all the veggies and meat and threw it all in the pot. Does that not count as cooking? Cause it came out damn good
they frozen veggies are better for you anyway!
lizzie217
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
Jarred sauce ( jkjk Im Italian and have to do that ) or anything like that to me is throwing dinner together...i CALL IT 'SEMI HOMEMADE' ...sure it's cooking but I would never 'make a big deal ' to me that would be a quick dinner on a weekday when I dont have a lot of time.
MSeed
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
IMO....if you put on the stove, oven, microwave, crock pot, toaster oven, hot plate.
Anything that needs to be cooked because if it weren't it would be raw or nasty is cooking.
GinaZ
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
I get what your saying. There is a difference between making dinner and cooking dinner. LOL. For example- your pasta thing. if I am boiling pasta and heating sauce from a jar- I may say i am making dinner cus I am not going out and I am technically preparing it. But cooking involves me actually making the sauce from sratch. Funny cus I am actually doing this tongiht! Funny you should ask!
Butterfly123
Posted:
Member since
Re: QOTD 4/24/2009
I think its cooking no matter what you do. Unless youre popping a tv dinner in the microwave. If youre slaving over a hot stove and putting things together then youre a cooking. Youre not a CHEF per se, but definitely cooking.
