https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:41:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877402 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 14:08:31 +0000 mrs. wagon 1877402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meal plan on the weekend for the entire week. Grocery shop before the week starts. </p> <p>Prep all your ingredients the night before, if possible. Peeling, washing, and chopping produce is one of the most time-consuming parts of cooking! </p> <p>Figure out which kitchen items you like to use best and store away the rest. For instance, if you have 3 spatulas of varying sizes, figure out which one you like using most and put the others in a drawer. I keep all the utensils I constantly use in a crock on the counter and the rest in a drawer. Same with pots and pans-- I like to keep the pot and pan I use the most right on the stove, and the rest go in a drawer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877392 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 14:04:52 +0000 Tanjowen 1877392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We keep it super simple at our place because we have to take turns cooking from night to night based on schedules. Easy meals like tacos or spaghetti that take minimal time to prepare work great. Crockpot meals are also fantastic and can be prepared the night before if both cooks are available!</p> <p>Also, the primary cook (that's me!) plans out the weekly menu and puts it on the fridge, and preps or defrosts any needed food the night before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877348 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:52:09 +0000 Adira 1877348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hubs and I tend to share cooking duty, with me doing the majority of it, but if he was going to take over completely, I'd just let him figure it out himself. I think the cook can make whatever he/she feels like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877339 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:49:25 +0000 Mrs. Detour 1877339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cooks Illustrated is the best thing that ever happened to DH's previously-pasta-only cooking skills. They present techniques in a sciencey, technical way that really appeals to him and doesn't presume any cultural familiarity with the kitchen (as also avoids the condescending tone of some of the food network beginner tips). If you subscribe, the website has full length how-to videos for specific recipes so on the nights that I can't cook, I sent him a link and tell him what time to get started. I also try to take things out of the cabinet before I go to work since he had no hand in designing the kitchen and therefore no intuition about where to find things. I'm praying he'll be more independent one day, but this (along with the Paprika app) has really helps defeat our take-out habit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877335 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:48:57 +0000 Radish 1877335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My plan to re-becoming the cook of the household is to meal plan well and do a lot of prep on Sundays so during the week it is easy and I won't get in the it is 5 o'clock and what is for dinner rut. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877333 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:48:22 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1877333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is kind of the situation we are in. Right now I'm on maternity leave, but my husband as the primary cook in the house. He's usually the one in the kitchen because he's a little bit pickier about how his food is prepared. We've come up with a few things to try to make the transition easier. </p> <p>First we've agreed to a couple of freezer meals that we both like. Then we try to set a menu for the week and at least have the groceries on hand for everything we want to be able to cook. </p> <p>Secondly, during the day I tried out least have the meal prepped and the kitchen cleaned up so that when he does come home he can help cook </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877327 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:45:57 +0000 looch 1877327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd do the menu as a family/couple, to make sure everyone has things that they like on it.</p> <p>Then I'd do a big grocery shop as a couple, and do as much prep as possible ahead of time. I would freeze meals in various stages, such as raw meat portioned (chicken breast), food prepped but not cooked (enchiladas), fully cooked (chicken curry). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-becoming-the-cook-of-the-house#post-1877319 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 13:42:17 +0000 mediagirl 1877319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Say your family had a lifestyle change and the primary cook in the family started working full time while the person who doesn't/doesn't like to cook was now staying home.</p> <p>The person staying home will now be the one responsible for getting dinner on the table at night for the family (adults and children). </p> <p>What tips would you offer to this family? The primary cook is available to help/set the table/meal plan. </p>