Why I don't cook

Yesterday I decided to make dinner for my family - the whole deal - entree, sides, even a salad. While this may seem like everyday fare for most people, for me it was a bit of a bigger deal. I don't really like to cook. Well I don't mind it and sort of enjoy it if I'm trying a new recipe but I prefer to bake (unfortunately this does not yield healthy meals). Whatever interest I have in cooking, however, is quickly thwarted by the pure agony of preparation. Yesterday's meal went something like this:

2:00pm - cut up chicken, broccoli, etc. during naptime and clean up the kitchen

3:45pm - Daughter (who will hereinafter be referred to as "Olive" after her current favorite food - she is called "Chiquita" by her grandfather because she used to start each day with a banana but currently olives are the object of many temper tantrums) is up and hungry and ready to start eating, so I start cooking up the food. To help my sanity and give me a little space, I turn on a Dora DVD and she is happy. For about 4 minutes.

3:49pm - Olive returns to the kitchen and is screaming for a snack so I give her a few blueberries. She is happy and returns to Dora.

3:53pm - As I'm turning around from the stove, I trip over a toy that Olive had brought in and left right behind me.

3:54pm - Olive returns, begging for milk. I comply and she returns to Dora.

3:55pm - The dog, who is literally RIGHT under my feet, takes one wrong step and I trip over him.

3:59pm - Olive returns, this time screaming screaming screaming to be held. I pick her up and put her on the counter away from the stove and she is happy.

4:00pm - Olive decides to start pulling all the fruit out of the fruit basket on the counter and peeling off all the stickers. Therefore, I now have to cut up the pears, bananas, etc. because they are now open and exposed.

4:05pm - I put Olive down and tell her to go play with her baby stroller. She objects and starts screaming at the top of her lungs and pulling on my legs and pulling down my shorts and begging to be held. I cannot hold her as I have 3 things on the stove top so she screams and throws a little tantrum. Finally I pick her up, she is happy.

4:10pm - Oops, the broccoli got a little overcooked. It was looking great a minute ago...guess I got distracted.

4:30pm - Dinner is ready, but she won't eat it. Finally, I smother everything in cream cheese and she becomes a champion eater.

4:45pm - Oops, totally forgot the salad. Better chop it up and prepare it.

5:00pm - Salad is done, but I'll put it back in the fridge so it will stay fresh until hubby gets home and we can eat it.

5:45pm - Oops, forgot to take the salad out of the fridge to let it come to room temperature (hubby doesn't like it ice cold)

6:00pm - AAHHH....hubby and I eat, Olive plays nearby, the dog rests on the couch. Perfect quiet and harmony...

6:30pm - Hubby and I decide we should have some of the Jell-o No-Bake dessert so I whip it up (this is a much faster process) then stick it in the fridge and go upstairs to put Olive to bed, leaving the kitchen a total and utter disaster.

7:15pm - I come back down and the kitchen is clean, the food is put away, (thanks hubby!) the kid is in bed, and we have the rest of the night to ourselves. AAHHHHHHH

But from start to finish, this took many hours, and it was a really simple meal. One of these days I will learn to enjoy cooking, but for now, I don't think it's always worth the stress. Think I'll call Domino's... ;)