OT-How many of you make dinner?

[My3cents]

My DH does ALL the cooking. When I get off work, dinner is on the table. lovethis

I clean up.

Bingo!!! My message is too short but I have nothing more to say other then Bingo!!!

[DaisyMamma]

During the school year my husband will get home and start dinner at 5:00. Most of the kids leave at 5:30 so we eat when they are gone. We can usually have it all cleaned up by 6.

This year I have 2 kids staying for dinner and leaving at 6:30, so it will be interesting to see how it goes. Luckily they are family friends, so I can bathe my children after dinner while they are still here
My plan is to have the two SA do their homework at the counter while DH cooks. Hopefully it won't be too crazy! But if it works then we will have family time 6:30-bed

[Lianne]

I don't know how you people manage to cook a meal in 30mins or less. I haven't figured out that trick yet.

Today's dinner is fairly basic, fairly simple. I'm having cheddar bacon chicken ranch pasta. I need to cook the pasta and the bacon which I can do at the same time but will take 30mins. Then I have to cut up the chicken (will start that while watching the pasta and bacon) and cook that in the same pan the bacon was cooked in which will take 30mins. Next I add some flour and dried ranch dressing, coat the chicken, add milk and stir til bubbling, should take 7-8mins. Add cheese and crumbled cooked bacon, stirring until cheese is melted 3-4 mins then serve on pasta. That meal takes an hour and 15mins and thats if I get my s.hit together and don't forget ingredients or utensils in cupboards and drawers causing me to walk across the kitchen 15 times. Also, I haven't even cooked the vegetables (steamed broccoli) yet. It'll only take me 10mins to eat but clean up will take at least 45mins.

I'm single so I only cook 2-3 times a week and either eat left overs or pb&j the other nights

[MsMe]

I don't know how you people manage to cook a meal in 30mins or less. I haven't figured out that trick yet.

Today's dinner is fairly basic, fairly simple. I'm having cheddar bacon chicken ranch pasta. I need to cook the pasta and the bacon which I can do at the same time but will take 30mins. Then I have to cut up the chicken (will start that while watching the pasta and bacon) and cook that in the same pan the bacon was cooked in which will take 30mins. Next I add some flour and dried ranch dressing, coat the chicken, add milk and stir til bubbling, should take 7-8mins. Add cheese and crumbled cooked bacon, stirring until cheese is melted 3-4 mins then serve on pasta. That meal takes an hour and 15mins and thats if I get my s.hit together and don't forget ingredients or utensils in cupboards and drawers causing me to walk across the kitchen 15 times. Also, I haven't even cooked the vegetables (steamed broccoli) yet. It'll only take me 10mins to eat but clean up will take at least 45mins.

I'm single so I only cook 2-3 times a week and either eat left overs or pb&j the other nights

I cook all of my bacon in the oven. You could start cooking the chicken while the psta and bacon were cooking...or put it in the oven to cook too! I don't liek thick cut chicken so I usualy cut mine thin or even pound it out so it has a quicker cookign time...is this an option for your recipe?

[AmyLeigh]

I cook all of my bacon in the oven. You could start cooking the chicken while the psta and bacon were cooking...or put it in the oven to cook too! I don't liek thick cut chicken so I usualy cut mine thin or even pound it out so it has a quicker cookign time...is this an option for your recipe?

I was thinking the same thing. Or chop the bacon before you cook it and cook it with the chicken at the same time, same skillet. If the chicken is cut into bite size pieces, it would take no more than 10 minutes to cook. Just about the same time it would take to have the pasta water boiling, then make the sauce while the pasta is cooking. Bingo bango....30 minute meal! It sounds really yummy, though, may have to make it myself!

[SilverSabre25]

I was thinking the same thing. Or chop the bacon before you cook it and cook it with the chicken at the same time, same skillet. If the chicken is cut into bite size pieces, it would take no more than 10 minutes to cook. Just about the same time it would take to have the pasta water boiling, then make the sauce while the pasta is cooking. Bingo bango....30 minute meal! It sounds really yummy, though, may have to make it myself!

I was thinking something similar. I can't imagine chicken taking 30 minutes to cook in a skillet...I cook mine on high and it takes 15, tops, from frozen even.

[Lianne]

I cook all of my bacon in the oven. You could start cooking the chicken while the psta and bacon were cooking...or put it in the oven to cook too! I don't liek thick cut chicken so I usualy cut mine thin or even pound it out so it has a quicker cookign time...is this an option for your recipe?

The recipe said to cook the chicken in some of the bacon fat. I used to cook bacon in the oven but had it catch on fire once so I won't do it again. This was the first time making this recipe. It was ok, not great, a bit salty. I probably won't make it again. I started cooking just before 4pm, finished at 5:45, am done eating a mediocre meal at 6pm and now I have all the clean up to do. Ugh, I hate cooking!

[Country Kids]

The recipe said to cook the chicken in some of the bacon fat. I used to cook bacon in the oven but had it catch on fire once so I won't do it again. This was the first time making this recipe. It was ok, not great, a bit salty. I probably won't make it again. I started cooking just before 4pm, finished at 5:45, am done eating a mediocre meal at 6pm and now I have all the clean up to do. Ugh, I hate cooking!

Sorry it wasn't that good!

I like to cook but I want to have the time and enjoy myself. Not just rush through. My husband likes to cook but he wants to start the minute he walks in from work and I'm not in the mode yet as sometimes I still have kids here. We will double team and he doesn't understand I can't go from work right to dinner. Its just not in my make up. I like to unwind for 30 min. or so before starting my "2nd" shift.

[Lianne]

I was thinking the same thing. Or chop the bacon before you cook it and cook it with the chicken at the same time, same skillet. If the chicken is cut into bite size pieces, it would take no more than 10 minutes to cook. Just about the same time it would take to have the pasta water boiling, then make the sauce while the pasta is cooking. Bingo bango....30 minute meal! It sounds really yummy, though, may have to make it myself!

I was supposed to cook the chicken in the bacon fat but I never thought to cook them together. Duh! I cook chicken in a skillet on medium or else the outside is tough and the inside dry. I wasn't taught to cook when I was a kid because my mom couldn't stand anyone in her way in the kitchen. She was so tired and done by dinner that she just wanted to get dinner over so she could send us to bed. I learned to cook by hit and miss through my teens and young adulthood but I'm still not very good at it and not being good at it causes me to not usually enjoy the meal (because I mess it up somehow) and then I'm frustrated because all that tim, effort and money is wasted. I'm definitely not a natural in the kitchen.

[PitterPatter]

My DH does ALL the cooking. When I get off work, dinner is on the table. lovethis

I clean up.

WOW what a good man! Give him an extra hug tonight! happyface

[SquirrellyMama]

I always make dinner. Sometimes it takes a while and other times it is quick. Last night we had bagels w/cream cheese and fruit. The kids had TaeKwondo and I've found that heavy meals are hard for them to digest in time.

I usually have frozen spaghetti sauce or taco meat in the freezer for quick meals. I try to use my crock pot a lot also. I'm going to be making soup in two of them today. I also find that having certain meals on the same day every week helps with how much time it takes.

Since my kids are older they are helping with clean up more which is nice because we don't have a dishwasher and my dh doesn't enjoy dishes.

K

[momofsix]

Something that helps me: yesterday am I threw about 5lb of ground beef in the crockpot with a little seasoning and a bit of water. Took that out when it was browned and cleaned out the crockpot and put in about 5lb of chicken breasts with a little seasoning. Another few hours and they were finished.
Now I have meat ready to go for chicken lasagna, chicken salad, sloppy joe's, tacos and spaghetti (or whatever I want)! Since it was cone in the crockpot it really doesn't feel like work and I did it while all the dckids were here

[EchoMom]

Honestly, we eat out ALOT. I cook breakfast and lunch for daycare everyday 5 days a week, the last thing I want to do is cook a third meal and clean it all up each day. And my DH is no help at all when it comes to that. He can't cook because I want him out of the way during pick up time, otherwise he lounges on the couch looking very unprofessional or talks to the parents too much. Also, he can't cook, doesn't know how to cook anything, even though he gets home from work at 4:15 and I'm open until 6. Finally, he doesn't help clean up either. So heck no I'm not making dinner. Unfortunately, we eat out, get carry out, or get fast food just about every single night. Expensive! But seriously, DH is no help at all and I CANNOT handle cooking dinner on top of everything else I do.

[Former Teacher]

A hungry hubby is a cranky hubby! So yes I make dinner!