I hate following recipes. I kind of google what I want to make and then loosely follow the recipe and add or take away whatever I like. I know that’s probably a silly approach, especially for someone who can’t really cook well…but it makes cooking a little more tolerable for me.
I enjoy baking (hello cupcakes!) but I can’t seem to wrap my heart around cooking. It takes a lot of effort and like I said above, I hate following recipes and having to buy every.single.ingredient. that needs to go into the recipe. I use recipes more like a guide instead of a set of distinct instructions.
While grocery shopping today, I decided I wanted to make a healthy, veggie-packed soup. I googled a soup recipe on my iPhone as I shopped and picked up some of the ingredients that appealed to me and added some of my own favorite veggies.
I’m quite pleased with how my soup turned out!
- Onion
- Garlic Powder
- Black Pepper
- Carrots
- Tomato
- Sweet Green Peas
- Zucchini
- Light Red Kidney Beans
- Great White Northern Beans
- White Potatoes
- Organic Chicken Stock
- Parsley
Though it takes awhile to peel and chop everything, I’m really glad I took the time to do it because now I’m more confident about exploring more and trying different recipes (or recipe guides, as I like to use them.)
Are you a cooking novice like me? How did you finally get yourself excited about cooking? Let me know because I could use more motivation!
xoxo,
Veronika.
PS- I have a giveaway coming up this week! Look out for that 🙂
I am definitely NOT the cook in our home, but I'm getting there! I also haaaate following recipes, so like you, I take them as more of a guide. I'm a lover of simple flavors, so I like to use what I have on hand… you can never go wrong with garlic, sea salt, and a little peppercorn medley for spice. my biggest motivator is my husband… I love getting compliments from him regarding cooking because he knows how much I hate it!
Aw yay I'm glad you cooked haha! I think over time you'll fall in love with it, I hated it at first but as I got more creative I started having more fun with it. And your soup looks amazing 🙂
I'm the same way – not much of a cook, but I LOVE to bake. That soup looks yummy!
Hi Veronika, Your soup looks awesome! I, too, do not enjoy any part of the cooking, including the shopping. I think you did the right thing googling from your iPhone – that helped you make a choice right there in the store. I think the best thing about finally cooking something is the joy you experience when you eat your food and you start seeing the results of eating healthier. So good luck with that and mix it up! Try new and easy things….maybe some crock pot cooking? Cheers!
Girls Day Out gdo-family.blogspot.com
I like the idea of cooking, but I just wish all the ingredients were randomly in my house because I don't like the ordeal of shopping for them. I really want to find some good healthy recipes for one. I have tried searching online but its hard. I can't seem to find anywhere that lists healthy, clean, recipes to feed one person.
That soup looks delicious and is extremely healthy. I LOVE to cook and am kind of a health freak and I never follow a recipe straight through. I'm always changing and adding.
I'm exactly like you- I am a baker, and hate cooking! Luckily I married a man who loves to cook, and grocery shop! He makes dinner every single night, which is amazing to me. I don't know how he has the energy for all that! He enjoys it so much though, so it's really quite a perfect pairing! 🙂
On the very off chance that I want to make dinner, I find it much easier to follow the recipes. I would rather follow what is layed out for me. 🙂
@coutney—my husband cooks too! thank GOD!
Next time you make the soup, make double (or even triple) the recipe. Then you can freeze the leftovers in individual portions for work or when you don't feel like cooking! A little more effort but worth it in the long run.
One good thing to do is really stock your pantry/refrigerator with lots of basics, then you don't have to go and search out every single ingredient for cooking. Grocery shopping is probably my least favorite chore, but I find it much more tolerable to either go very early in the morning or late at night. I sort of discovered it wasn't the shopping I loathed, but dealing with all of the idiots at the store that got under my skin. Plus, shopping at places like Central Market, Phoenicia, and the farmers' markets make it even better because you can always discover new (i.e. delicious) things.
I love to cook. Love it. Some people see it as a stressor at the end of the day, but to me it's a way to wind down. There is something very therapeutic about peeling, chopping, stirring, etc and then getting to sit down to something awesome. It also helps that my husband cleans up every night after dinner, lol.
Good luck!
@leslie—I made enough for 3 more lunches 🙂 good idea though, next time I'll make even more than i did this time around and freeze it!
Veronika – what you described IS cooking my dear…anyone can follow a recipe but if you are "loosely" following one and adding or taking away depending on preferences then you are more advanced than most.
I honestly believe a crock pot would be your best friend. It is tiring at the end of a long workday to prepare a delicious meal and crock pot meals are often the easiest to prep, flavorful and you can make big quantities for leftovers. I think during the week its the way to go…if you aren't a big fan of "cooking" then it would be easier to make things you like on the weekends and use "cheats" during the week. I love food posts and I'm excited that you are venturing into it! I can't wait to see what delicious things you stir up!
@carolina— I think we have a crock pot (lol obviously I've never used it!) I keep telling my H i'll cook more when we have a bigger kitchen!
I love to cook & bake. It was something my Gramma, who was my mother figure, and I enjoyed doing together. I agree with the pp, it can be very therapeutic and to me, also rewarding. I love allrecipes.com, you can see how other people switched up the recipe in the comments. Best of luck!
I'm like you in that I very loosely follow recipes. I'm not meticulous when it comes to measuring things out and I substitute things often. I just "wing it" when it comes to making things, and things always turn out great. I enjoy baking moreso, but I don't particularly dislike cooking.
I use to not care about cooking at all. I think it was so obvious that I cared so little that it scared my poor mom! Honestly watching Rachael Ray and then eventually Top Chef totally motivated me start learning how to cook. Rachael Ray's recipes all tend to be pretty easy and yummy so try one of her many cookbooks or recipes online.
The soup looks delicious! I got to the point where I don't peel the vegetable if I don't have to (i.e. carrots).
I love to cook and bake. I started helping my mom when I was a kid and now I can't imagine not to cook. For me it is really relaxing and love to know where my food is coming from. I also love food shopping as much as I love shopping for clothes 😀 and if I have time I'll head over to farmers market every Saturday. And if you are looking for recipes that are really yummy Jamie Oliver is always great.
xx Olga
I'm not much of a cook either, well until recently. It took me a few years though. I don't enjoy cooking but like you, I love baking! I love decorating cakes and cupcakes. It's just way more fun and creative than cooking food. I totally get that. Your soup looks delish and it seems easy enough so I may try that later this week. Thanks!
Looks good! I got excited about cooking by watching a lot of the Food Network. So many of the shows taught me to cook in college. Once I got married, I knew I would have to be the woman who take on this responsibility and I have loved developing my signature recipes.
Love the Fitnessista blog for super healthy and yummy recipes and meal ideas. Try the sweet potato & black bean chili… SOOO good! Definitely a good source of health/fitness motivation! 🙂
Yammy.
https://lifeisfullofbeautiful.blogspot.com/
That looks great, V! So great in fact that I may make a pot of soup this week, too!
It looks really good!! I'm with you though, I HATE to cook, HATE to go to the grocery store! I'm lucky that I have a cajun hubby that loves to cook. The downside? His food isn't exactly healthy!!
I LOVE to bake but no one needs dozens of cookies just laying around to tempt… especially when its just DH and I. So I've been trying to find things to make that are actually beneficial and have been on a soup kick. I always freeze some in individual serving size ziploc bowls w/ twist lids so all we have to do is microwave for a quick dinner when we're busy. Much better/healthier than a lean cusine too! Good luck trying out different kinds.
Making a soup on a Sunday used to be a Sunday tradition back in the UK. My then best friend and I always used to make enough soup for 2 on a Sunday. Because it's dull to eat the same soup 2 days in a row (never thought of freezing it!) we would do a soup swap evey Sunday.
But I do think you have one hell of an elaborate recipe there. I've made a soup before of just onions and a can of stewed tomatoes and some fresh basil. But kudos to you!! It looks yummy!
xjcx
I like cooking, but what is difficult is finding something to cook that my husband and I both like! lol
Where did you find this receipe?
🙂
@araceli—i checked allrecipes.com for a soup recipe but then I just made it myself and put whatever I felt like into it 🙂