well, maybe it is already out there. Please tell me.
In general, I like cooking. I’m not very experienced, so things don’t always turn out well and it takes me longer that I’d like to cook many things. The girls very often don’t like what I make, because they are very particular (Chloe likes only one specific saag paneer; any other won’t do).
One of the big things that makes me not want to cook is cleaning up afterwards. I spend such a big percentage of my day cleaning, that the last thing I want to do at night is wash the dinner dishes AND the cooking dishes. For instance, tonight I used the hand grater for the zucchini, because the idea of having to clean up the cuisinart was just too much for me. I’d rather grate for ten minutes than spend five minutes washing the food processor.
SO, I need a (vegetarian) cookbook that uses a minimal number of utensils, pots, tools and bowls. No recipe with two mixing bowls (prefer NO mixing bowls). A cutting board, a knife and a pan would be ideal.
In the end, I didn’t much like the recipe as it was cooking, so I added a can of diced tomatoes. Much better, but I’d add them earlier and without the juice next time. Experimenting and winging it are just fine — even though I tease my mom about it when she does it. AND, Camille LIKED it! — Chloe said it was okay but that we should leave out the zucchini next time — hmmm.
Being carnivores, not sure I can help. But I do have one suggestion. I do all the cooking (my one domestic talent/chore). But Katie is in charge of the dishes. And not just dinner dishes. If there are dishes to be done, she’s in charge of it. IF the dishwasher needs to be unloaded or started…that’s her game. Maybe if one or both of the girls was in charge of that…it would make the cooking more…”palatable.” 🙂
http://tinyurl.com/4dr23j – it’s crockpot, but you could adapt for stovetop. If you need help on how to do that, let me know 🙂 I haven’t tried this book, though. Moosewood has some quick & easy cookbooks, I think. I tend to go all out with intensive cooking, but I’ll keep on the lookout for the recipes I make that are quicker and less washing-intensive than others. What kind of cuisine/type of dish does your family enjoy?
Ooh, scroll to the bottom for my Sesame Noodles recipe (adapted from Cooking Light): http://allisonmariecat.blogspot.com/2007/04/four-years-of-kitty-fun-retrospective.html
I whisk the dressing in a Pyrex measuring cup, and it just gets the garlic press, a paring knife, the measuring cup, and my pasta pot dirty. Sometimes I throw in cubed tofu and I usually leave out the red bell pepper.
I was able to modify and experiment because Gwyneth’s dad always said — the last one up makes the bed and the one that cooks doesn’t have to clean up.
Thanks for the recipe ideas Allison. We’ll have to try them out!
Kat – The girls already empty the dishwasher; maybe it is time for them to help out a little more. Camille is so clumsy at times that having her help would triple the amount of work that I do.
Hey there. There is a great website with different cookbook ideas that you might be interested in.
http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/eating/vegcookbooks.html
THanks Jenn, I’ll check it out.