DH phones on his way home from work and asks what you’d like him to pick up for dinner...

[Mondayponderings]

Near enough every day DH does this (he’s the cook in the house) and I’m always absolutely stuck.

Give me some inspiration, if someone was to offer to stop and pick up ingredients to cook a meal what would you pick today?

I'm jealous.
I'd love DH to do this !

We have a list of about 30 meals we both like for when we can't think what to cook. Some are simple, some take longer, but you can always find something you want. Ps paella would be my go to request!

@yesthatisdrizzle me too! Toast me a crumpet, anything, just so long as it's one meal I didn't do myself!

Fajitas!!!

A light fish pie tonight with peas please

Recently bought 50 craft sticks for a pound from the range (look like ice lolly sticks). Wrote 50 meals on them. Pick out 5 each time I’m going shopping and that’s dinners for the week

Salmon, with herbs, fresh asparagus, peas, salad and new potatoes, thanks.

I used to love cooking. Years of cooking for a picky, unappreciative child has killed it. I no longer care. Someone asking me daily what I would like and buying and cooking it for me is an unrealisable dream!!!

otoh, when I was cooking for my DH, I got fed of having to decide all the time too, so I get it’s annoying. If asked, he would only ever suggest two things, so I used to cook them one after another and then ask what he wanted on day three just to get my own back.

In the end I made a monthly meal plan. I’d do something else if I fancied it or felt inspired, but it was a good fall back when I just couldn’t face another bloody decision.

Perennial problem in our house as the teens complain about the food but won’t offer up any suggestions.

current favourite is a gnocchi bake www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chorizo-mozzarella-gnocchi-bake

And this broad bean, Parmesan & mint risotto with pancetta is lovely
thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/broad-bean-parmesan-and-mint-risotto/

He needs to do what my Dad used to do ( Dad was Mums carer and used to do the cooking , shoping and housework. He also liked going to the supermarket every day )
As a child of Post War rationing he liked a bargain and hated food waste .
So the Reduced Section

Then he planned his meals round what bargains he gathered . No two days the same
We had a family in-joke of Stir Fry Pork Pie when he was adamant he wanted a reduced pork pie and I was doing quorn veg and rice . (He got the pork pie , otherwise he'd have muttered darkly )

Mine does this! I love it because I hate meal planning in advance. So he will phone me from the car park if the supermarket and ask what I want. (Plus he’s actually a chef so I can literally say anything I want and he will cook it) I am very lucky. (And fat.)

I have a menu of our favourites on the wall. Helps immensely.

This would drive me mad!
What a waste of time and money!

I’d do a weeks shop and then decide at home.

He also liked going to the supermarket every day

It’s definitely a hobby for some people (especially men I’ve noticed).
I guess it’s something to do to pass the time but I can’t wait to get home after work even if I’m not doing anything fun.

Chicken in breadcrumbs with new potatoes, gherkins and croutons on lettuce with creamy dressing.

We are having chicken in marmelade and mustard with onion rice and spinach, courtesy of the Nigel Skate book Eat. It is amazing as everything is quick and nothing uses many ingredients

On the one hand, you don’t want to plan in advance because you don’t know what you’ll fancy on a particular day.

But every evening when your DH calls, you’re still not sure what you fancy.

Can’t he just decide? Or would that be annoying?

Salad, feta, olives.

I meal plan to make life more organised for myself. Food to me is something I enjoy and what I need at certain times of the day.

I do not understand people who say I may not fancy the meal planned for that day!! Maybe it is just me 🤷🏼‍♀️

I don’t know. I’m stuck. As you are the one in the shop, maybe it will give you ideas?

At least that would be my answer

(We have a weekly menu to avoid that exact situation btw)

This is my and DH's go-to 'Saturday film night' food! We make a big pile of nachos and whilst we're making them decide what film we're going to watch - it's one of my favourite things to do.

OP, as far as I'm concerned, if your husband is willing to cook whatever you fancy, I'd make it my purpose in life to come up with a veritable STACK of delicious recipes to keep him busy! Weekday dinners in our house are often things like:

• smoked haddock chowder


• turkey chilli


• 12 minute carbonara - as long as it takes a pan of spaghetti to cook!


• quartered roasted chicken or chicken legs with grilled artichoke hearts (the tinned ones from Sainsburys), sautéed potatoes and lemon mayo


• grilled mackerel fillets with mini roast potatoes, feta, black olives and sun-dried tomatoes


• prawn/fish curry (there's a truly amazing Asda recipe I've recently found - Google 'Asda Vietnamese style cod and prawn curry' to find it)


• white fish fillets roasted with a minted pea puree, chorizo and feta or cod loins wrapped in parma ham


• minute steaks, French fries, garlic butter, side of mushrooms


• halloumi burgers - I fry the halloumi in my new uber-non-stick pan so the outside of it gets that lovely caramelised thing going on, then slap it in a soft bun with a ton of mustard mayo, hummus, salad leaves and sliced tomatoes...mmmmm


• mushroom risotto with plenty of freshly-grated parmesan


• chicken Milanese with caprese salad. I buy big chicken breasts from the local butcher then whack 'em with a rolling pin between two sheets of cling film until they're fairly thin, dip them in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs or polenta (sometimes a mix of both) and shallow fry them for about 4 mins on each side on a medium heat before sticking them in the oven for another 15 mins on about 160 degrees - they're also really good sliced up and eaten cold with salad the following day

I'm still stuck on him being actively involved in any aspect of dinner.

Misses point completely

I second the PP who said fajitas! What a lovely man you have!

Same here @Onwards22 I find it cost effective and saves on faffing around before or after work. I also go through the freezer weekly before shopping to see what needs using up.

Chance it one night.tell him the third item on the meat isle.
2o seconds in on the veg.
And adapt from there.
It's a nice thing for him to be doing.
It might also be his coming down time from work.which is good for both of you.

With my DH it would be mushroom risotto or fajitas.

Currently we have
Fajitas
Shepherd pie
Chicken bacon pie
Salmon spinach enceoute
Cabanara
Chilli side of salmon
Curry
Chicken tray bake
Bacon and pea risotto
Creamy leek and pork casserole
Chicken and barley stew
Ready bought puff pastry pizza style slice
Steak
Franferter and dolmio pasta
Tuna spodge
Tuna and pastry envelope
Chicken in white sauce
Chicken and chorizo stew
Garlic bread topped mince