Cooking is so overrated & Gratitude Friday

I've read a couple of posts lately on the topic of what a craft blog should be. Should they be strictly crafts, showing all pretty stuff and nothing personal?  Should they show the reality of dirty dishes and piles of laundry or are we happy to believe the fantasy? Well, I've got my own bone to pick with a few of you so called crafty bloggers. Quit posting all the beautiful, nutritious meals you prepare for your families. There is no place for such in the craft blog world and you're making lazy cooks like me look bad. Just check out this post. Pesto Seared Salmon? Fillet of Beef au Poivre? Lauren, you're killin' me here! How about hot dogs or sandwiches? Doesn't cereal for dinner sound fun? The only time I get a cookbook out is the rare occasion that I bake. I guess it's not that I don't like to cook as much as I am a poor pre-planner. I'm sure you can't run into the kitchen 10 minutes after everyone is whining they are hungry and whip up Fillet of Beef au Poivre, that is unless Stouffer's is involved. We eat way too many convenience foods and too few fresh vegetables and fruits. I'm sure we consume more cheese in a year than is allowed by law. My family knows about blogs and there is a chance one of them my somehow stumble across the likes of this or this. Is it too much to ask that you keep your fancy little dinners to yourselves? You're bringing me down.

**disclaimer** JOKING FOLKS I love being inspired by all types of domestic talent. Maybe one day all the pretty food pictures and mouthwatering posts will motivate me.....naaahhh.

Now that I have that out of my system I can do gratitude Friday.

• Laughter
• Tears
• Smiles
• Hugs
• Understanding
• Sunshine
• Rain
• Love
• Forgiveness
• Success
• Failure (when there's a lesson to be learned)
• Happiness
• Memories

Gratefull for all...

Comments

[beki]

Autum honey, one of the reasons I posted my meals is because I remember reading one of your first posts that was about making meatloaf for supper. I ended up cooking meatloaf that same week because I was reminded that it was one of my family favorites. And believe me, we have our fair share of hotdogs, pancakes, and frozen pizza for supper!

[wendy]

I can assure you that there is not much in the way of healthy meals in our house this week, with no kitchen. Thanks for thinking my little quiche was worth a mention though, I am very flattered.

[Lori]

Oh, Autum, I couldn't agree more with your joking ways. Last night we had Hamburger Helper, hey, it wasn't carryout!!! Preplanning is the key, but entails the grocery store, one of my least favorite places to spend money.

[Kathie]

Autum,
LOVED your comments about foods!
When the kids lived at home and were in school I used to TRY my best to cook during the school year and then during the summer we were all free to eat the junk the kids craved and gave me the chance to be out of the kitchen and crafting more. I loved it.
Now that the kids have moved out DH and myself tend to pick up at the grocery whatever looks appealing which does not mean healthful. The weeks I do plan some healful menus tends to turn on me. Hubby will have to work longer hours or things come up, weather/family etc, and we end up eating out and all the healthful veggies rot in my fridge. (This actually just happened to me again two weeks ago). So I tend to wonder, is it worth it if you are spending twice as much money?
I always thought life would slow down when the kids moved out but it hasn't happened yet; it seems to get faster and faster and sometimes I really do miss those nice, delicious, home cooked meals.

[lla]

I will ask you to notice that that meal was prepared for Father's Day! Which was probably the last time that I cooked something that good. However, I am quite thrilled to be placed in such lofty company...

As of late, I've been feeling unconscionably fat and ugly lately - so there have been a lot of salads, salads and more salads. And cereal. Lots of so called "good for me foods" that can be eaten out of bowls.

Sigh.

(On the recommendation of another blogger, I attempted the SlimFast plan. It made me crabby as all hell... For real. It was kind of scary....)

Anyway, this state of mind, coupled with your virtual "food porn" post, has me licking my computer monitor and drooling and dreaming of carrot cake muffins and other tasty treats.... Sigh some more...

[Tanya Nichols]

im drooling...you said cereal for dinner..that's my specialty...have a great weekend...
mmmmmm...hotdogs...hehehe

[Emily]

Oh my gosh, I loved it today! I did actually make a really nice supper last night to honor the first day of school. It was a Rachel Ray, 30 mins or less..... took me about an hour to get the meatballs done. Add in the tennis time and I would say, after we finished eating at 830 last night, it took forever to make. Thank goodness I seem to have doubled and now we have a WHOLE MEAL in the freezer just waiting for one of those menu days when I just am so over the cooking thing!!! Oh, by the way, tonight is pizza night, after football practice... another late eating night. Maybe that is why I am starting to weigh a ton!!!

[Lauren]

Autum. You gave me a huge laugh right when I needed one!!! The honest truth is that I love, love, love to cook. I was a caterer in my pre-kids life. The thing is...I only like to make what I feel like making which can be a bit of a problem.
Just a note...Steak au Poivre is really steak with peppercorns smashed into it. (He he.) Also, my children's favorite meal is a gratin nouilles du fromage. (yes, the kind from Kraft.)

[Debhogan]

Hi Autumn,
I have been meaning to introduce myself for a while now. My name is Debbie and I enjoy sewing and crafting as well. I found your blog about a month ago, visit regularly and really enjoy it.

Great post on "what's for dinner?" I actually like to cook but often fall into a real rut when it comes to thinking up what to make -- night after night after night.

I look forward to reading more of your posts and enjoying your photos.
Take care,
debbie

[Amy]

HA! I aspire to greatness but truth told we eat a lot of PBJ here. I've been fixating on food lately -- sorry. But I haven't been sewing at all lately and I can't show pics of my cute daughter everyday, can I? Just sewed something today, finally so maybe I'll get back to being crafty. Hmmm.