You may recall two weeks ago Claire threw down the gauntlet and challenged me to cook dinner from scratch for 7 straight nights.There seems to be a wild rumour out there in the ether that I'll do just about anything to avoid cooking dinner, aided no doubt by my own admission in the disclaimer section of my profile.
Its not that I don’t like to cook – I’m as Nigella as the
rest of you. Its just that by the time I get home from work most nights all my creativity has been sucked away by the
events of the day and so Mr. P gets sent out to forage for food at the
local Maccas or Chinese takeaway. The hunter gatherer thing has been built into men’s DNA since time began so in reality I’m doing him a favour by providing ways for him to use his XY chromosomes.
I like a good challenge and I was interested to see if I could pull off 7 nights of cooking in a row mainly so I could email Claire and say "in your face" ( in the nicest possible way of course ).
And while things started well and I did spend some of the week cooking stuff I hadn't done before I think Claire is going to be emailing me and saying "in your face" instead of the other way around.
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| From Left to Right - Leek and Feta Pie, Monster Sandwiches (which was Monday lunch actually but how cute are they?), fruit stack snack (and little P looking earnest - he was telling Grandpa how bloody awesome dessert was ) |
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| Chorizo casserole, salad , and ginger ice cream sandwiches with hot fudge sauce |
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| Steak and salad , home made gnocchi rolled with my own hands, and the finished product ...gnocchi with bacon, garlic cream sauce -definitely making that again |
It wasn't all beer and skittles and cooking all week though. I lost it a few nights and reverted to my old modus operandi to get my belly full.
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| Yes, I actually had chips for dinner one night , yes I actually sent Mr. P to the local chinese for salt and pepper scallops another night and yes Mr. P took me out for Greek food on Saturday night so I didn't have to cook. |
Ridiculous challenge. Nobody cooks every night. It's just not natural.
Well played Claire - well played.
I wasnt aware the rules of the games said you had to cook a TWO course meal every night! And definately making your own pasta is Master Chef status in my book. What you did make looks awesome! I am only strive to add a few new recipes a year to collection of favorites...so well done.
ReplyDeleteI think just making the handmade gnocchi should've carried you through the week with compliments! I'm impressed (and jealous!;-)
ReplyDeleteI love that we can justify sending the hubby out for take away as nurturing his primal urge to hunt and gather...I think you did really well in this challenge...and those monster sangers are very impressive. Stick to what you do best Mrs P.....wait....what is that again? Bahahahahaha I crack myself up....
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what the pink stuff is next to the steak and salad? Looks like a side of prosciutto. Well done, I say. Just look at all those wonderful things. I only managed 5 of 7 myself. We live within walking distance of a couple decent restaurants which see us fairly regularly, and a sandwich shop because why make your own for 50 cents when you can spend $5 on a lettuce wrap?
ReplyDeleteLooks like you ate well. All that homemade deliciousness deserves a few options where the male of the household had a hand!
ReplyDeleteI would have called the delicious desserts, meals - you made it.
Enjoy your regular cooking schedule.
I cook about 95% of the time (unless I'm reheating one of the 50 odd extra portions that seems to emerge whenever I make soup or a casserole) but I'm not above having popcorn for dinner sometimes ;o)
ReplyDeleteWow! When you do cook, you certainly do it up properly! I am pretty much stuck in the rut of whatever works with tortillas most of the time.:)
ReplyDeleteI'm Impressed you made Gnocci don't they sell that in packets lol after all that you Deserve to be taken out for Dinner Well Done and the Ginger Ice cream stack looked Great!
ReplyDeleteCheers
I have a sign hanging over the kitchen sink that says 'I made my favorite thing for dinner....reservations.' Personally, I'm with you: no one in their right mind cooks every night of the week. It's unnatural. And I like that you bolstered Mr. P's instincts for hunting....that's totally brilliant!
ReplyDeleteObviously I am not natural, but I work part time so its not in our budget. I have never attempted home made gnocchi, not something I enjoy enough to attempt.
ReplyDeleteI admire you for taking on the challenge. The meals you did make were divine.
ReplyDeleteMost excellent post. Thank you :D
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's just not natural that anyone cook 7 straight days in a row! From that duty, I get Friday and Sunday nights off, sending Marty out - not sure he sees it as hunter/gathering though. And if I plan really well, two nights of cooking can leave me with sufficient leftovers for the other three nights a week :)
ReplyDeleteI think you win.
ReplyDelete....after all one cant be a sewing Goddess and quilt!!!
Linda
LOL!
ReplyDeleteNo, we don't cook every night.
We have our main meal in the middle of the day and cook for then instead.
We do find we like the occasional day off - fish and chips suits us for that.
I'm impressed by what you did cook!! I want to make Monster Sandwiches!! Yum!
ReplyDeleteLeek and feta pie? Yum.....would like that recipe, please! I cook nearly every night, but when one is retired and no longer working there is no excuse, unfortunately......wish the cooking fairy would take up residence here.....
ReplyDeletePretty good effort Shay. Hugs....
ReplyDeleteYou win because you made your own gnocchi. And I love that final photo!
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up....hunter gatherer...lmao
ReplyDeleteI think making your own gnocchi more than makes up for having salt and vinegar chips for dinner. When you do something you do it so damn well. I give you three chef hats for that lot!
I love this post!! It was such a great way to start my morning. But I have to say...I don't know if I am full our starving after looking at all that yummy food! You should seriously consider starting your own cooking show.
ReplyDeleteLMAO! Not natural, indeed! But man, wish I was over for fresh gnocchi and bacon night!! Or for one of those ice cream sandwiches?? Any of it, really (even the chips for dinner looks good!)
ReplyDeleteWe've been having canned soup and toast for supper. (Supper because a meal of canned soup cannot be called dinner.) So you win!
ReplyDeleteHugs
I knew you could do it Shay. Tinned tomato soup is a great standby in our house !!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud!:)
ReplyDeleteEverything looks delicious.... That was a huge plate of Greek food. Even I don't cook every night!
I agree, the homemade gnocchi promotes you as the winner!
Bravo, you did great, above and beyond in making your own gnocchi! Maybe it wasn't 7 nights in a row, but you cooked more than you didn't!
ReplyDeleteFunny as always! Hope Claire doesn't feel too snarky. My go to dinner when hubby is not home is cold cereal so I think chips are an improvement. Love the monster sandwiches. Glad you got a dinner out to celebrate not cooking for the 7th day, lol!
ReplyDelete*sigh* I really thought you were going to do it. I hoped you would, cause I like fairy tales. Yeah, it doesn't happen here either. Right now people are wandering around here pondering the dinner question. Those who have known me longest have variously eaten leftovers (from the meal I lovingly prepared last night - surely that counts?) and been voting for their favourite brand of take away. (We have dominos and HJ's in a head to head battle at the moment.) The youngest is still hopeful that I might actually cook something. And me? I'm reading blogs, in my PJs. Yeah. Not happening here tonight.
ReplyDeleteSo funny Shay. You had a go, that's what matters.(doesn't look like the takeaway is hurting anyone). Sharyn:)
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I am a fairly consistent cook (planning a menu & shopping for ingredients on a weekly basis helps me), but I only cook 5 nights a week. It's all I can take, and sometimes not even that much. Sometimes, I'll put stuff in the freezer, cross off what I was planning to cook from my list and order a pizza for the kids.
ReplyDeleteAnd unless you've found a "cooking for two" (or "cooking for four" in my case) cookbook, you'll never be able to use up all the leftovers when you cook for 7 straight days, even if you have them for breakfast AND lunch.
If we were meant to cook every night of the week, takeaway would never have been invented. I think you did a marvelous job!
xo -E
P.S. that Little P gets cuter and cuter and you are absolutely beautiful! I love your hair!
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Ok, I think for most of us, it's not that we cannot do it, it's the WANT that is before everything to cook. I like to cook, but do not WANT to cook every night. You outdid yourself, but I know you could not sustain it for long periods of time...it is why god made "takeaway" or "takeout", or frozen meals.
ReplyDeleteGood for you though. Home made gnocchi? What is with that?
You did good girl!
ReplyDeleteWell I don't know what to say ......Love making a bet I know I will win !! Love ya Shay cooking or not !!! lol
ReplyDelete