How much do you cook in your free time?

[Magpie]

So for all of you who cook professionally for a living...How much do you cook in your free time??

I am Just curious because right now I do not do too much cooking. I work 40 hours a week (in a non-cooking job) so I don't really feel like cooking at the end of the day, plus I never have much money for good ingredients or equipment, so everyone is kind of surprised when I tell them I am interested in attending culinary school. However I do enjoy food alot, and when I do have the time and money I enjoy trying new recipes and cooking for my family and friends.

[SousWee]

I try to cook at home on at least one of my off days each week just to try something new before I take it to work

[Pete]

You say you don't have money to buy things for cooking at home, but then where do you eat? Cooking at home can be very inexpensive-less than the cost of McD's if you watch your budget. And cooking cheaply doesn't have to mean cooking poorly, or cooking second rate food. A simple, yet elegant meal of pasta tossed with olive oil, fresh tomato, fresh basil and topped with parmesan accompanied by a couple slices of grilled bread and a salad. You could cook that for 2-4 people for what a meal at McD's would cost you, just about. Besides being cheap, the meal I just described can be made within 1/2 hour or less (I could probably do it in 15 minutes). And there are a million more recipes out there like this. What it comes down to is that you have convinced yourself that cooking, at home, must be time consuming, and that you must use the best, most expensive ingredients out there. While it can be, it most certainly doesn't have to be.

[Magpie]

Originally Posted by Pete

You say you don't have money to buy things for cooking at home, but then where do you eat? Cooking at home can be very inexpensive-less than the cost of McD's if you watch your budget. And cooking cheaply doesn't have to mean cooking poorly, or cooking second rate food. A simple, yet elegant meal of pasta tossed with olive oil, fresh tomato, fresh basil and topped with parmesan accompanied by a couple slices of grilled bread and a salad. You could cook that for 2-4 people for what a meal at McD's would cost you, just about. Besides being cheap, the meal I just described can be made within 1/2 hour or less (I could probably do it in 15 minutes). And there are a million more recipes out there like this. What it comes down to is that you have convinced yourself that cooking, at home, must be time consuming, and that you must use the best, most expensive ingredients out there. While it can be, it most certainly doesn't have to be.

Well I guess I over-exagerated in my post. I do cook at home. My bf and I take turns cooking dinner. I guess what I mean is I don't have the money to always try the recipes I would like. I do try to do something new every once in a while though, but usually stick to the same recipes I have used before...the ones that I already know how to do and that I know are quick and easy! When I have the time and money I like to get a little more creative and fancy! Oh and I definately am not a pro-McDonald's person!!

[ChefMarco]

well since you cook at home already can you be creative there

lets say you have ground beef out for dinner

for meatloaf

why not be creative and instead of making the meatloaf make a casserole

start by making a basic cheese sauce you dont need fancy cheese either

milk heat until 180 degrees
thicken with roux equal amounts of oil and flour
and american cheese or cheddar

cooked elbow pasta

browned ground beef

diced tomato
salt and pepper
garlic

mix all together after cheese sauce is made bake in oven for 1 hr at 300

Magpie the secret to a great chef is not his/her reading skills but his/her creativity

[ricib]

When you do it for a living, you tend not to do it at home. Whether it be computers or cooking.

When I was in the Computer business, I didn't want much to do with them away from work. Now that I'm in the food business, I don't cook much at home. I say much, because you need food, more than computers to live your life.

I can make a pot of chili that will last me say 2 meals minimum per week, for upto a month. Total cost? @ $15 max. Time involved? 45 minutes to the store, prep and stirring occasionally, over a few hour period. How about a chuck roast? $5 for a few lbs. (here where I live anyway) and the rest of the supplies, and it can last a few nights or meals.

There's lots you can do for cheap and very little money. The problem is if you feel like actually cooking once you get off the job.

[chinds85]

Off the job I tend to play it simple and cheap. Typically my meals only have one part to them... meaning that I'll make chili, soup, or just keep ingredients around for sandwiches, kindof like ricib. However, I do spend quite a bit of my free time cooking and entertaining my friends (I cant seem to stay away from my hobby, even when its my job too). Usually when I do the fancier stuff it is for friends, company, or for customers. However, when cooking for myself I do not go to such extreme measures, because I enjoy life's simpler tastes. Its all about the way you want to spend your time.