Friday, February 22, 2019

No Time to Cook, Bowling,

We had Macaroni and Cheese for supper - yes I made the sauce from scratch. Actually I make enough for 3 or 4 meals and freeze it. Use it for cauliflower cheese too. Anyway, I started thinking (yes I can do that LOL) about all the women (mainly) who don't have time to cook. Too lazy if you ask me. I used to be a "working girl" but I always cooked dinner. Even when I lived on my own in a bed sit - basically - I still cooked. I even invented menus and I was in my early 20s. Spent quite a few hours on the phone to my mother "how do you make a white sauce" for instance. That was in the days before the internet of course. The only person who knew about the internet was Isaac Asmiov. I remember Jamie Oliver, British cook, doing his thing with school kids and holding up items like a cucumber and none of them knew what it was, one suggested celery. I understand even young French women, who used to be the epitome of home cooks, don't learn to cook any more. That probably horrifies me more  than anything. Of course it is also made extremely easy these days, practically anything can be bought in a grocery store. But what happened to the Joy of cooking, literally, the pride in making a successful meal and so on?

We went bowling again Thursday afternoon, if I was stiff yesterday, I am doubled up today. Matt, who does far less moving around than I, doesn't seem to be feeling it. Not only that he beat me twice today. By 5 points the first time but he thrashed me the second time. He was bowling very well. I threatened him with all kinds of dire punishments if he beat me again but he took no notice.

By the way, my new cane tip works very well and my cane stood nicely wherever I put it. whilst Matt's was more difficult to place!!!! I can't imagine why he didn't want it. I could order him one in a flash too.

I was checking out some spinach recipes just now, saw one with gnocchi. I always tell people I eat basically everything, except squid, but I forget that I do not like gnocchi. I really don't know why, but I don't like the texture for a start.

I do enjoy spinach so I thought this would be a good recipe. Mind you, I would use fresh spinach not frozen although I suppose if you are in a hurry!!!!

Steakhouse Creamed Spinach

Among the mahogany walls and dirty martinis, something great is happening in swanky steak-houses across the nation…carnivores are eating spinach. A simple side dish that seems healthy next to fried hash browns and marbled rib-eyes, the overly creamy restaurant version is still too flaccid and watery
for our taste. Using whipped cream cheese, our easy, silky smooth spinach brings home all the taste of the upscale steakhouse without the $15 side-dish robbery and the velvet banquettes.

4 (10oz/283g) packages frozen chopped spinach
2 (6oz/170g) containers Kraft Philadelphia Whipped Cream Cheese
1/4 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 11×7-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Defrost spinach according to package directions. Drain very well, squeezing spinach to ensure all excess liquid is removed.

3. In a food processor, place cream cheese, melted butter, salt, pepper and spinach together. Process for 10 seconds. Using a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the bowl and do 3-4 quick pulses to combine.

4. Transfer to prepared baking dish, sprinkle top with Parmesan and bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

Servings: 8

Source: Bite Me More

Have a great day
 

14 comments:

  1. I don't cook as much as I like, but you're right, Jo, there is something satisfying about creating your own meal:)

    One thing I won't ever do, though, is buy those kits you can get these days, with everything ready to go. That would take away all the fun of prepping, listening to the radio and enjoying a glass of wine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very true Mork. It is fun prepping and slurping together LOL. I used to love giving dinner parties, too difficult these days unfortunately.

      Delete
  2. I cook everyday. But I live in an area where plenty of women brag about not cooking as though that is something only poor people do. All of my sons cook. My motto is 'If you eat, you cook'.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cannot imagine bragging about not cooking Denise. It is an art form in my mind. I agree with your motto.

      Delete
    2. There is a home builder in my area who once said to me that he didn't know why he bothered with kitchens in his houses, lol.

      Delete
    3. I wonder what would happen if he didn't Denise? Maybe he should build an assortment, some with, some without LOL

      Delete
  3. We do a lot of cooking at our house. We do use pasta out of a box though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pasta out of a box is OK Alex, but pre-made sauce is a different matter.

      Delete
  4. With so many conveniences these days for cooking like the microwave, crock pots, pressure cookers, etc., it is easy to get a meal on the table in about 30 minutes that is family friendly. People easily stay that long on social media sometimes!

    betty

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very right Betty although the prep part does take some effort.

      Delete
  5. It is amazing to me how many women don't even have an interest in cookery fun. Some claim no time but really, most I see just aren't interested and would rather grab takeaways.

    Hahaha, on you and Matt. You wrote that up funny.

    Love me some spinach!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too Ivy, its so satisfying isn't it?

      I love spinach too.

      Delete
  6. I LOVE spinach! I cook. I am not one of those who loves to do it though. But I prefer home cooking to going out, but I do like to go out if it's a good restaurant. My whole family loves to cook. I guess I didn't get that gene!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Funny, because of your French connections Lisa, I would have assumed you enjoyed cooking. Not sure why. Nice to go out now and again though.

      Delete