I've gone completely blank!

Lalaladybird

I used to meal plan and manage to shop OS but lately, thanks to a lot of upheaval, I have lost my way and the meals I prepare are well, either pasta, pizza or fish fingers! I attempted a pineapple chicken dish this evening and grabbed worcestershire sauce instead of soy sauce so that ended up in the bin and we ate noodles and bacon! Yuk!! The way to my OH's heart is definitely via his stomach and I think he feels neglected lately, poor love :rolleyes:

I really want to start meal planning and cooking healthy meals for the family again but have completely lost my confidence in the kitchen and it shows!

Any tips or advice?

misskool

Start slow and involve OH in cooking and meal planning?

Otherwise, just plan for a few home cooked meals a week and bulk cook those, rotate them. Or buy some ready prepared things for the times you don't have the energy and inclination to cook.

And don't feel the need to be perfect, take time out for yourself too

HTH

Nordictat2

This is a useful link...give it a look thru
http://www.savingdinner.com/

Woofles

Did the soy sauce really ruin the chicken. Delia has a recipe for Chinese stir-fried chicken with broccoli and mushrooms, which uses soy sauce.

I know, I know you got frustrated and angry.

Why not start with one dish and perfect that, Risotto is a very versatile dish with the ingredients you can add.

Don't give up.

Nordictat2

Woofles...she said "grabbed worcestershire sauce instead of soy sauce" heh. Of course soy goes with stir fry

Butterfly_Brain

Why not look on the weekly pennypincher thread on meal plans it might give you a few ideas. x

Woofles

Nordictat2 wrote: »

Woofles...she said "grabbed worcestershire sauce instead of soy sauce" heh. Of course soy goes with stir fry

Doh.:doh:said I was heading into my dotage, faster than I thought though.:rotfl:

NualaBuala

You might just end up inventing something fabulous!

I know how you feel though. I used to cook from scratch all the time. Nothing terribly fancy but I felt well able to do it and it was second nature. Then lots of changes in my life meant I got out of the habit and I've lost confidence in my abilities and forgotten lots. I'm hoping to get it back though.

Good luck - I'll be reading all these answers with interest.

Lalaladybird

Sorry I haven't had a chance to reply until now. Thank you for your suggestions.

I had to use up some food left in the fridge yesterday and dinner was a success although it was a weird combination (chinese/italian fusion I told my OH ) It was sweet chilli salmon and mushroom risotto, individually they both tasted lovely, together not great :rotfl:. I made the risotto with red onion, mushrooms, garlic, mixed herbs and milk with stock, it was lovely and really creamy tasting. Tonight I just did some breaded chicken breasts and mash but I made a nice cauliflower cheese (bit too much mustard in the cheese sauce but hey ho:rotfl:)

I am feeling a bit better having made 2 proper dinners

Lala x

Nordictat2

Don't forget you can use cream cheese to make something creamy...like adding it in with mushrooms and or with pasta etc.
and hey I make things that don't always work but you live and ya learn

zarazara

go slowly and dont try todo a whole week at once. just 1 meal is a start. eg HM oven chips [ cut spuds with skin on into chip size pieces,toss in a very little veg loi and roast in oven,serve with cheese salad or boiled mix veg[ frozen] and grilled bacon.