• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Good Cheap Eats
  • About
    • Welcome to the Good Cheap Eats Kitchen
    • Media
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Contact Me
  • Members Only
    • Login
    • Club Homepage
    • Club Resource Library
    • Downloads
    • Live Club Events
  • Recipe Index
  • Recent Posts
  • SHOP
    • Purchases
    • Cookbooks
    • Planner
    • The Good Cheap Eats Club
    • Meal Plans
    • Holiday Helps
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter Recipes
  • Start Here
  • Members
  • All Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
    • Cookbooks
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter Recipes
    • Start Here
    • Members
    • All Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
      • Cookbooks
    • About
      • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Kitchen Tips

    How to Enjoy Cooking

    Published: Jan 14, 2026 by Jessica Fisher

    FacebookTweetPinPrint
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.

    When you love something, it’s easier to do. Make this the year that you learn how to enjoy cooking so that prepping dinner and planning meals is a joy and not a drudge! You’ll do it more often and save more money.

    scooping pasta up with tongs from a black bowl. this …

    Want to save this post?

    Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you budget recipes and money-saving tips every week!

    Save Recipe

    I’m always a little taken aback when someone says they don’t like to cook. Certainly, they like to eat. Most people I know like to eat. Why don’t they like cooking?

    As I think about it, though, I get it. I think about things I didn’t naturally like (hello, sports!) and I see some parallels.

    If you don’t enjoy cooking, do these things ring true for you?

    • You don’t understand how it works.
    • You think you’re no good at it.
    • You are too embarrassed to try and fail.
    • You don’t have the right equipment.
    • It feels hard.

    Thankfully, there are easy fixes for all these things. You can learn how to enjoy cooking!

    Why Love to Cook

    Why does it matter? Well, when you enjoy something, you’re more likely to do it. We tend to procrastinate the tasks we dislike.

    Learning to enjoy cooking means you will cook more. Cooking more means you will save more money over pricier restaurant, fast food, and convenience meals.

    Saving more money gives you freedom. ‘Nuf said.

    While I was interested in cooking from a very young age, I still struggle with loving to cook some days. When you have six hungry kids and limited time, it can sometimes feel like a chore.

    Learning to love cooking even on the hard days has gotten us through debt, illness, and grumpy, no-good days.

    large silver crockpot behind a bowl of chili.

    How to Enjoy Cooking

    There are things that you can do to help you enjoy the cooking process more. They aren’t typically time consuming or expensive, but they pack a powerful punch to improving your experience in the kitchen.

    I asked the Good Cheap Eaters on Facebook what helps them. You can read their answers here.

    Here’s my personal list of things that can help you enjoy cooking:

    clean and pristine kitchen with a cake stand of cookies on counter.

    1. Start with a clean kitchen.

    If I have to clean the kitchen before I even start, it really takes the wind out of my sails. That’s just no fun.

    Cooking in a messy kitchen is no fun either. It’s cluttered, not to mention there’s some germ potential going on. You’ll be more efficient and have more fun if you cook in a clean kitchen.

    Ideally, the kitchen is cleaned and spotless when I shut it down after the last meal. If your housemates are continually making more messes, time to establish some kitchen rules. (And yes, kids should have kitchen chores.)

    Beautifying your clean kitchen with good lighting, some fresh flowers, and relaxing music is a bonus. Make the room pleasant to be in and you’ll be there more often. That is a good thing because it means more good cheap eats!

    artichokes sitting upright on cutting board

    2. Sharpen your knives.

    Sharp knives make meal prep go quickly, safely, and without a lot of fuss. A junky knife will make meal prep no fun at all. You don’t have to be a chef to know this.

    Every so often, my husband takes care of all the knives for me. This weekend I was able to chop through a bowl full of vegetables in about six minutes. I had a tidy work space, sharp knives, and a trash bowl. It was a total breeze!

    Learn to sharpen your knives; there are plenty of videos around to show you how.

    Bryan has progressed through these types of tools:

    • pull through knife sharpener
    • electric knife sharpener
    • sharpening stone
    dinner in one cookbook by melissa clark.

    3. Read a good cookbook.

    Cookbooks are not just recipe collections. At least not good ones. They are compendiums of knowledge about their particular subject within the realm of food.

    Think about something you love to eat, like bread or pie. Look to see what kinds of cookbooks there are on bread or pie. Chances are good that you will receive a veritable cooking class worth of information about how to bake a great loaf or pie in a dedicated cookbook. 

    Read the book, especially the early chapters. They are generally packed with info, tips, and tricks you could benefit from. Cookbooks can be a great way to enhance your joy of cooking.

    Some of my faves:

    • general cooking – The Food Lab
    • bread – The Bread Lover’s Bread Machine Cookbook
    • pie – The Book on Pie
    • instant pot – Dinner in an Instant
    • freezer meal prep – Not Your Mother’s Make-Ahead & Freeze Cookbook
    • soup – A Feast of Soups

    Anything you want to cook, chances are good you can find a dedicated book about it. I learn toward books more than blogs because you can haul them around with you, make notes in the ones you own, and since they go through a lengthy editing process, tend to be more reliable.

    illustrated image of cutting apple around the core.

    4. Learn some tricks.

    Chances are that when something is hard, it’s less fun to do. If you can make a cooking task easier, you increase the fun in the thing.

    What cooking task is hard for you? Google it and you will find a myriad of solutions and tricks. 

    C’mon, you’d be surfing the net anyway. Put that time to good use and figure out how to make things easier on yourself.

    If you don’t really know how, there are lots of cooking tricks to learn without taking a class or reading a book. Even something as simple as cutting apples in a new way can make the task easier and more likely to happen.

    wooden board, two pizza cutters, and a dough scraper on granite counter top.

    5. Invest in good tools.

    Sometimes you just need a little boost of something fun. A gadget or a new dish might cost about ten bucks, but if it gets you back in the kitchen and cooking more at home, then I say it’s worth it.

    My husband, a construction guy, insists that you must have the right tools. It does make all the difference.

    Is your potato peeler the pits? Then get one that works super well, like this one. It makes the job so much easier, and even fun.

    Some favorites of mine?

    • bench scraper
    • salad spinner
    • salad dressing carafe
    • bagel guillotine – seriously, it’s the best!
    • seesaw pizza cutter

    You can enjoy cooking more when you’re tooled up right.

    stacks of blue and white soup bowls in cabinet.

    6. Organize your kitchen.

    If you don’t know what you have in your kitchen in terms of ingredients and tools, it can make meal prep difficult and complicated. Not being able to find something is incredibly frustrating.

    Take some time to tidy and organize your kitchen space and you’ll be make cooking easier and more fun. You’ll also save money when you organize your kitchen!

    veggie curry in the dutch oven with dishes of rice, naan, and cilantro on the side.

    7. Experiment in your cooking.

    Any good cook will tell you that he or she has had lots of bad experiments. I’ve burned things, forgotten ingredients, and made many an icky mess in the kitchen. That comes with learning. It’s all about the process.

    My wise husband tells his carpenters, “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough.” It’s okay to fail in the kitchen. 

    Just learn from those failures. Use them to teach you kitchen skills and what not to do next time. We learn through experimentation. So experiment.

    Try new flavor profiles or cuts of meat. Test out the latest TikTok trend. Be fearless in the kitchen!

    jar of yellow tulips and a white kitchen timer on white tile counter near stovetop.

    8. Allow yourself more time to cook.

    Are you rushed all the time in the kitchen? Do you find yourself grumpy and fumbling because you’re in a hurry? Lots of people who dislike cooking, put it off, but then they feel rushed, make mistakes, and hate the experience.

    Schedule your cooking for a low-stress time slot. If you know that your family needs to eat by 6, then start the process at 4.

    You’ll have ample time to read directions, assemble your ingredients, and take the relaxed approach to cooking. I guarantee you’ll enjoy cooking more!

    two pizzas on pizza screens on backyard grill.

    9. Specialize in one thing before learning the next.

    Don’t try to learn everything at one time. It will feel overwhelming. Instead, choose one thing to get really good at and then progress to the next thing. 

    For instance, learn to make sourdough, then sourdough pizza, then how to grill pizza.

    This year I’m going to experiment with more one-dish dinners. Rather than making sheet pan meals and stir-fries and skillet dishes all in a bunch, I’m going to try one technique and master it before I move to the next.

    Whatever you want to learn, remember to take your time and get good. Then build on those successes. You’ll enjoy cooking more that way.

    excited girl rolling balls of dough for tortillas while dad and sister cook them on griddle.
    My husband has always included our girls in the process of making tortillas. He calls them the Tortilla Team.

    10. Find a cooking partner. Or go it alone.

    If you don’t enjoy cooking, it may be that you don’t enjoy the solitary activity in the kitchen. If that’s the case, see if a friend of family member wants to cook and learn together.

    Conversely, maybe it feels overwhelming to cook with noise and people about. Schedule your cooking sessions for when you can enjoy the solitude.

    These are just a few simple ways to learn how to enjoy cooking and make a daily task into a delight! I can’t wait to hear what you try.

    brushing the cooked turkey breast with apricot glaze.

    More Kitchen Tips

    overhead shot of white bowl with potatoes and meatballs and slice of baguette.

    Why Cook at Home?

    bowl of salmon chowder made from leftovers.

    How to Make Soup from Leftovers

    veggie tray made on wooden board on a diagonal on a white counter.

    How to Eat More Vegetables with Limited Time & Money

    crock pot spaghetti sauce on spaghetti zoomed in close.

    Home Cooked Meals: Recipes & Tips to Make Them Easily

    What do you think?

    Let’s chat in the comments!

    This post was originally published on January 21, 2014. It has been updated for content and clarity.

    « Pantry Challenge – Day 13
    Pantry Challenge – Day 14 »
    FacebookTweetPinPrint

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. MH in OH

      January 20, 2026 at 8:24 pm

      I enjoy cooking because I like nourishing my family with food they enjoy, and as they have gotten older to teach and empower my kids in the kitchen. I am so grateful that my husband and kids are enthusiastic eaters, willing to try new things, offering constructive feedback, and contributing to menu planning.
      I do enjoy cookbooks (Make the Bread, Buy the Butter), but I learned most of my cooking skills from reading blogs (including yours!) when my kids were little. I find the comments to be super helpful, and cookbooks don’t have those!
      And I couldn’t agree more with the need for sharp knives. I always dreaded cutting chicken and beef until I had some good knives!
      Another thing that increased my cooking satisfaction was learning to make meals we enjoyed in restaurants at home. Googling copycat ” restaurant name” “menu item” “recipe” helped me find some of our favorite recipes, which I have tweaked to make a little healthier (less salt, more veggies) or just suited to our preferences.

      Reply
    2. Roks

      April 02, 2018 at 10:22 am

      What would you advise for someone who doesn’t like cooking, but doesn’t even like eating?
      I eat just so I don’t feel hungry, but I don’t have any pleasure of eating. There is no meal I would say I look forward. I hate cooking so much that sometimes I even get anxious of being hungry. I know it’s weird but I always was this way and I don’t know if that’s normal or what can I do to enjoy food.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        April 02, 2018 at 10:42 am

        I would decide on best foods for me in terms of health and then pick five affordable meals that I can keep in rotation. I would make them in bulk, so that I could just grab a plate when it’s time to eat. For instance, burrito bowls, I’d make four at the beginning of the week and have them every day for lunch. (Leftovers are good for up to 4 days.) I’d know that I’m getting good nutrition without the hassle and the anxiety.

        Have you ever tried eating the same thing every day? Do you get bored of it?

        Reply
        • Roks

          April 02, 2018 at 11:16 am

          Thank you for your quick replay. I am going to try that. I don’t really eat the same thing every day, expect porridge, which I get bored of, if I eat it for a few months, so then I swap it for a cereal or avocado toast. And after few months break I am back to porridge.
          I was thinking maybe I have less taste buds than average person…

        • Jessica Fisher

          April 02, 2018 at 11:22 am

          I’d honestly say there are some benefits to your situation. You can save money and eat really healthy stuff if it’s “all the same” to you. You may find that if you focus on whole foods that are generally considered “healthy” (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains), you will FEEL BETTER and that may change your feelings about food.

          Food can really seem boring if it’s not prepared properly and seasoned well. I’m guessing you’ve probably tried lots of things, but just thought I’d throw that out there.

    3. Kathy Jenkins

      July 17, 2015 at 9:10 am

      The reasons I don’t care for cooking include:
      1. Time consuming.
      2.I have to make everything in advance or I’m so hungry after work that I go out.
      3. It takes planning and with my job (40-60 hrs/wk), it feels like all I do is plan.
      4. It dirties a lot of dishes for one person, and although I do entertain and cook, it usually requires energy that I don’t often have.
      However, I do best with easy crock pot cooking and am learning to enjoy that more. This summer, I’ m making a concerted effort to try new recipes that don’t require the crockpòt and will use a surplus of vegetables. I’m also trying to get excited about canning again. I do appreciate your enthusiasm for cooking but I cooked enough as a kid and enjoy my time away from the kitchen.

      Reply
      • Tanya

        May 03, 2017 at 8:17 am

        I really struggle with my dislike and lack of motivation for cooking which I how I came to read this article (google search of “how to like cooking”, haha). I feel like it’s another “job” on top of all the other house work. I’m drained after full-time work and loathe cleaning (which seems to be the main event other than eating after cooking). Most of the time I feel like everything I cook tastes the same, no matter what palette I’m trying or ingredients I use (to me, my Indian Butter Chicken tastes the same as my Ukrainian Borscht). I also feel really picky while I’m cutting the produce – I see how many weird spots are on the food and other imperfections that make it look unappetizing (and all the weird smells…). Meat is even worse. The only thing I seem to enjoy cooking is roasted vegetables and quinoa, but then my family gets bored. I’m hoping to use some of these tips like searching ways to make things easier. I might try and search how to make the cleanup process easier since I dread it so much. I’m not exactly sure how to solve the other issues but I suppose more google searching is in order – or deep reflection and greater mustering of will power. I do find that reading fitness and health books sometimes gives me the kick I need to try cooking again (the Abs Diet is a good one).

        Reply
    4. Katie

      April 07, 2015 at 9:25 pm

      So I see I am a bit late to this conversation, but I wanted to add my thoughts. I have never liked cooking. I think I like someone else making it for me and then enjoying it. Here’s some reasons why that is:

      My mother didn’t enjoy cooking either. She did it, but didn’t love it. And she did not invite me into the kitchen to help her. And since I wasn’t interested, I never learned. I couldn’t make anothing more than a sandwich well when I got married at 23.

      I hate cooking in a messy kitchen, but don’t have the time to clean when I work 30-40 hours a week and have three kids.

      I really just don’t like the process!

      And the last reason, my husband is the better cook and has a feel for it that I don’t.

      But all that to say, I like your tips for trying! thanks for the post!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        April 07, 2015 at 9:27 pm

        Thanks for chiming in!

        Reply
    5. Deepthi

      October 28, 2014 at 2:25 am

      Hi Jessica, you have got to help me! im engaged to be married and am trying to learn as much as possible about cooking .. the scary thing though is that I will be alone in charge of cooking for four people (includes in laws), all the meals, daily and the process of planning meals, buying groceries, assembling ingredients, prepping , cooking, feeding etc, just frightens me no end!!
      I ve always liked to chop up stuff and stir things while they cook , but the thought of doing it all alone instead of being just the ‘helping hand’ is scary. Do you suggest I join a cooking class. Maybe it will help me with the fast recipes, skills and techniques, the processes of planning, assembling and cooking fast …

      Reply
      • Janel Piersma

        October 28, 2014 at 11:47 am

        I can’t speak for what Jessica would say, but I’d suggest thinking about the meals that you really enjoy and work on finding your favorite easy recipes for those. Ask friends for their favorites and try them out. In the past, I’ve also “assigned” a type of meal for each day of the week to take some of the decision making out of the equation — like a crockpot meal on Monday, pasta on Tuesday, etc.

        I know Jessica has done several Meal Planning 101 posts that might help out with some questions that you might have — https://goodcheapeats.com/?s=meal+planning+101 too. Good luck!

        Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        October 31, 2014 at 8:00 pm

        Janel offers some great tips. I’d also plan out some make-ahead meals so that you can make them a few hours in advance and then not worry about being “on the clock” when your people are hungry.

        Reply
    6. Heather @ My Overflowing Cup

      October 20, 2014 at 9:41 pm

      I love cooking most of the time. It does get exhausting as there is just no room in the budget to eat out or buy convenience foods. When I’m not in the mood to cook, I will cook something simple just to get the family fed. Other times, when I am in the mood and have more energy, I will kick it up a notch and make something more special for the family to enjoy. Sometimes it is something I have to do. Most of the time, though, it is something I love to do. It is one of the ways I show my family how much I love them.

      Reply
    7. Apryl

      September 07, 2014 at 11:06 pm

      I hate cooking. 🙁 It is a dreadful task that I avoid at all costs. But now that I have a one and half year old, a baby on the way and a hard working husband who deserves a warm meal when he comes home, I decided something needs to change. I’m a 33 year old stay at home mom with a successful photography business and my husband usually comes home to left overs from the one day i cooked a huge meal enough to stretch it out, or he fends for himself. 🙁

      I was previously married at age 20 (and that lasted for 3 years) and while married to him, I cooked every night. Even though we both worked AND went to school full time, I somehow still managed to have a hot meal on the table. This is what ruined it for me though, (I think). I was married to a man who was emotionally, mentally and physically neglectful. I would cook for him because it would get him off of his excessive computer gaming (& later-learned pornography addiction) for me to spend 30 minutes of quality time with him at the table. I felt cooking was buying his attention. He was a very picky eater and sometimes I would have to make more than one meal in one night if he felt I over-boiled the noodles or if he found out I used the jar of spaghetti sauce that had been opened 2 days prior. (he was anti anything left over). When we eventually split up, I rarely cooked for myself as a single person.

      Years later when I married my current husband, who is amazing, I felt a little intimidated at his skill for cooking. And I think somewhere inside of me is this programming that if I start cooking as a wife “should” then I’m somehow letting go of my independence and self worth. Like I “owe” it to him or something. It’s pretty bad! It also has to do with laziness. I am one of those first world problem people who looks at a pantry full of food and says, “Oh no, there’s nothing to eat, there’s just a bunch of ingredients to make food…I’m going to starve to death!”

      SOOO. I sat down to edit wedding pictures and thought about some of the things I’d read recently in the “Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands.” (Yes, I’m slowly but surely trying to improvement my husband’s unfortunate circumstances). I went to google and typed in “learn to enjoy cooking.” I’m happy to say your website and specifically this post came up in the very top search. The title intrigued me and I read on and am now commenting. I am excited about the tips I read and though I don’t feel motivated to cook AT ALL, I feel motivated to take inventory on my ingredients, serving dishes etc and am looking forward to what happens after that. Sharing my story beyond thoughts in my own head is HUGE for me. I’ve started to finally admit that there’s a problem and am apparently ready to reach out. It’s just bizarre that I loathe cooking as much as I do after once enjoying it and being quite good at it! I would love your feedback. 🙂

      Idaho Girl who wants to want to cook again.
      Apryl 🙂

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        September 08, 2014 at 11:23 pm

        Wow, Apryl, thanks for sharing that. Those are hard things to work through. I’m honored to know Good Cheap Eats can be a resource for you as you work to reclaim the joy of cooking. One of the things my husband and I did a lot when we were dating was prep dinner together. We still do it sometimes when I’m not “working” — or I just tell him what to do. Ha!

        Maybe cooking together sometimes can be a way to help you work through some of those issues and gives you time to chat. A glass of wine while you cook is a pleasant extra.

        Reply
    8. Marsha

      January 23, 2014 at 6:05 am

      Cooking used to be a chore for me because I never felt I had time for it. But in the past couple years, I’ve done steps to help organize myself, like making a meal plan and trying new recipes and challenging myself with new flavors. This year as I improve my skills in the kitchen I am putting my kids along side me so they can learn how to cook. It’s been a challenge as both can be stubborn and not want to help all the time because they have more important things to do lol but this too will improve…….as will my patience for them.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        February 06, 2014 at 8:01 am

        What a great plan!

        Reply
    9. Sandi

      January 22, 2014 at 8:09 pm

      I’ve been preparing food since I was in elementary school. I’ve just always enjoyed it. It used to be that cooking was simply a means to an end and baking was my true passion, but that has shifted a bit over the years. Not to say that I do not still love to bake, but cooking has become more interesting. Perhaps it is simply having gained the experience of cooking from scratch enough times that while I do generally still like to have a recipe to use as a guideline, however vaguely utilized, I am capable of creativity on my own. Perhaps I’ve adapted because we have to eat every day but our waistlines do not need baked goods every day! Either way, I love working in my kitchen. Even if it is only 25% the size of yours. However, I’ve learned to just stay out of kitchen appliance stores. They are too dangerous!

      Reply
    10. Nicki

      January 22, 2014 at 7:42 pm

      After reading… I figured I share that I do not like to cook because I’m tired after working 60hrs and it just sounds like more work.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 23, 2014 at 8:40 pm

        I totally get that. How would you feel if you had quick, easy meals to fix?

        Reply
        • Nicki

          January 26, 2014 at 1:13 pm

          Yes- I may be willing to do that… Any ideas on things? I also have 2 picky boys at home (that are the “meat & Potato” type which is my 2nd obstacle.

        • Jessica Fisher

          February 06, 2014 at 8:00 am

          I’m working out a series of 30-minutes meals. 😉 These might help? http://lifeasmom.com/2012/08/eat-well-spend-less-quick-meals-for-busy-nights.html

    11. Lori R

      January 22, 2014 at 3:02 pm

      We have always eaten most meals at home in an effort to save money. I used to view cooking as a chore. I dreaded dinner time all day. It was so difficult cooking while consoling a fussy child or pulling pans from burners to address a crisis. Now that my kids are older (youngest is 6) and can amuse themselves or pitch in while I cook, I really enjoy cooking. I am more relaxed while I cook and don’t feel like I am trying to beat a ticking time bomb. I try to do some prep work earlier in the day or use a component from my freezer. Planning ahead for the week is most helpful to me. My kids appreciate home cooked meals both for flavor and health. They like trying new foods and give great feedback. They inspire me to keep cooking and for our family to enjoy healthy home cooked meals together.

      Reply
      • Mindy

        January 24, 2014 at 6:59 pm

        I know exactly what you mean. I am at that earlier stage… my kids are 4, 3, & (2) 18-month-olds. Since I’m expecting in May, I know I won’t be out of this stage for quite a few years. It seems like no matter what I make or when I start, I am always interrupted. I used to love to cook and now I really don’t care for it because I get too stressed out. It’s good to know my love may return in a few years… but I do agree with your suggestions, Jessica. Especially the clean kitchen and sharp knives – they make a huge difference!

        Reply
    12. Kristi

      January 22, 2014 at 1:35 pm

      Great post! I love cooking, baking, trying new recipes, kitchen gadgets, and cookbooks! On your recommendation I checked out The Kitchen Counter Cooking School from our library. While I was looking for it I came home with several other cookbooks to peruse. My mom was an excellent cook—made many things from scratch—and she let me help and eventually make meals on my own. I think that really fostered my love of cooking. I have her 1951 Better Homes and Gardens cookbook now. I used to love to look through it at the pictures of the ladies (in their aprons) demonstrating various cooking techniques. I’m also fascinated by the menu plans from that era.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 22, 2014 at 4:41 pm

        I find that era fascinating as well. I have a lot of vintage cookbooks which are fun to read.

        Reply
    13. Deb

      January 22, 2014 at 7:58 am

      I pretty much enjoy cooking but if I have a ton of things I have to make, I can get overwhelmed. LOVE all your tips and your blog. There is one small typo in your article…”Every so often, my husband takes care of all the knives for me. This weekend I was able to chop through a bowl full of vegetables in about six months.”

      I am going to look into a knife sharpener, ours are getting dull

      Have a great week!

      Reply
      • Kristi

        January 22, 2014 at 1:25 pm

        Ha! I noticed the typo and assumed she meant six minutes. I have but one old paring knife, and it might take me six months!!

        Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 22, 2014 at 4:40 pm

        Good catch. Thanks.

        Reply
      • Sandi

        January 22, 2014 at 7:45 pm

        I saw that too, and it cracked me up. As awful as my knives are these days, I thought she was using mine. It sure *feels* like that long if I have a bunch to cut!

        Reply
    14. annie

      January 22, 2014 at 7:31 am

      I used to have oodles of time from 3pm until 5pm. Our family kept aging too *gasp*, and grew into one with pre-to-full blown-adolescent kiddos with their myriad of personalities and needs. As these variables changed I found cooking to become a downright chore for me.

      I create anxiety for myself each time I think about all the things I can’t make due to cost, time constraints, picky eaters, or whatever. Denial keeps me from accepting the season of life this mom is in because my circumstances are hanging around much longer than I want them to 🙂

      Making something difficult easier? For the next few months I need to cook only things that I know like the back of my hand. I need to think effortless meal preparation. It’s not the time for me to try something new every week. That time will come back someday.

      This is a perfect post. I’ve been working on decluttering my kitchen space, keeping only the things I love or use or have to keep until they can be replaced. Another task I’ve been doing is moving pieces into more intuitive places because my magic wand is not obeying the command to give me a brand new kitchen.

      Thank you for the post. QUestion for you, where do I take a knife to get sharpened? I have one of those weustinhorf (?!) chef knives that can’t cut butter anymore.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 22, 2014 at 4:39 pm

        I think yours is a really good plan: make simple, easy no-brainer meals for awhile. Seasons come and go so quickly.

        Reply
    15. Carolyn

      January 22, 2014 at 5:50 am

      I love cooking and baking! I absolutely agree with the right tools making the difference! I do have limited space so what I buy must be something I will use and be totally worth the space it takes up.
      I credit my 7th grade home economics teacher with lighting the fire within me. I remember so many things she insisted were required in the kitchen (at least in the school kitchen!) for example: tying back long hair, wearing an apron, the right way to wash dishes. Such fun memories! I remember going home one day after school and deciding I had to recreate the jelly roll we’d made in class that day. What I hadn’t counted on is that my mom didn’t have the right size pan…yeah, it was definitely a disaster. But it didn’t keep me from pursuing cooking! I’ve made many a “hockey puck” biscuit in my day. Well, my early days. Now? people request my bread. Even my pastor – for large church functions 🙂
      I only wish I’d been able to thank that teacher. I moved to another state after that year and by the time I even thought of thanking her – many, many years later – and got back to NH for a visit, I’d unfortunately forgotten her name. She not only taught cooking, but crewel embroidery, sewing, crochet…. the poor woman didn’t quite know how to teach a leftie…. so I taught myself to crochet right-handed! This teacher also gave me the courage to teach myself how to knit.
      Sorry. Off on a tangent of memories. You do have a penchant for pulling out the good ones — thank you!!

      Reply
      • annie

        January 22, 2014 at 7:49 am

        ‘wearing an apron’

        a dear friend of mine speaks of ‘the power of an apron’. skeptical i gave it a try. when i’m in the kitchen i tie one on and it tricks my mind into power tool mode. and when i take it off, my mind wanders to other things.

        you’re home economics teacher was onto something!

        Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 22, 2014 at 4:39 pm

        I agree with the apron, too. I’m much more efficient (and less likely to ruin my clothes) when I put on an apron.

        Reply
      • Sandi

        January 22, 2014 at 7:41 pm

        We didn’t get home ec until 10th grade, and the teacher was… not the best. I don’t think it is even an option for kids any more. I also agree that wearing an apron just changes the mindset. I tend to not think of it when doing just daily meals, but I have a couple of them and will pull one out when doing marathon or holiday cooking.

        Reply
      • Ariyah

        December 18, 2016 at 9:15 pm

        Please do tell, “the right way to wash dishes”. I absolutely abhor it! That’s my main reason for not liking to cook. The dishes. No dishwasher here either. Otherwise I would have no problem cooking at all.

        Reply
    16. Stephanie M.

      January 22, 2014 at 3:22 am

      Cooking is a very huge part of who I am. Being in my kitchen and preparing a meal or baking bread or a cake brings me a great deal of pleasure. I became interested in cooking when I was 16. I would stand next to my mother in the kitchen with my notepad and take notes. That’s how it started for me. I agree with Jessica that a clean kitchen is paramount to an enjoyable experience. I usually clean as I go. It’s like anything else though, some people like cooking while others don’t. Some people like watching sports on TV, while others, like me, don’t. My husband loves hockey and no matter how many times he asks me to watch with him, try as I might, I just can’t get into it. The same is with anything including cooking. My love for cooking is something I like to share with my friends and family in the form of dinner parties. I have several a year and it always warms my heart when I watch people eating the food I cooked and enjoying a nice evening together. Like you said, all good cooks have had bad experiments and I’ve had plenty of disasters. But I never let that stop me from moving on and trying again. Even if you’re new at cooking or just don’t care for cooking, think of it like this:
      you can give your family a gift everyday by making a simple meal; it does not have to be fancy but they’ll all appreciate the effort that was put into it. Your gift will be the smiles on everyone’s faces after they enjoyed what you’ve done.

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 22, 2014 at 4:38 pm

        I think that is the ticket: food doesn’t have to be fancy. Simple meals can be fabulous.

        Reply
    17. Kristy

      January 21, 2014 at 8:44 pm

      I LOVE cooking. I recently realized that I had lost some of my good kitchen habits simply through life being busy and being distracted! Things like keeping a stock jug going in the freezer for all my veggie scraps that are great for stock. I was pleased at the end of the day when I realized I had made excellent chicken stock from things I would have normally thrown out like chicken carcass and veggie scraps plus some spices and 2 carrots. And I did it without a recipe, and without stress. I feel like such a pro when I make something now with the chicken stock I made! Cheesy but true.

      I also use your tip for Thursday night soup and have a container in the freezer collecting leftovers. It makes me so happy not to throw things out that are still good and useful!

      Reply
      • Jessica Fisher

        January 22, 2014 at 4:37 pm

        We’ve had soup a couple times this week from homemade stock and it has been so yummy.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    teal graphic with the words, do you know what's for dinner tonight.

    What's New

    • vanilla almond granola atop a yogurt and blueberry bowl.
      Vanilla Almond Granola
    • Plastic sandwich bag made into instant oatmeal packet on white counter.
      How to Make Your Own Instant Oatmeal Packets & Bowls
    • close crop of cauliflower stir fry on plate with noodles on side.
      Quick & Easy Cauliflower Rice Stir Fry
    • array of pancakes on platter with sausage and fruit as well as orange juice.
      Pancakes for Dinner – Recipes & Tips
    • square crop of red pickled onions in glass dish with tongs.
      Quick Pickled Onions
    • instant pot mac and cheese on a spoon over the pot.
      Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

    Reader Favorites

    • asian marinated chicken breast sliced on a plate with rice and veg.
      5-Minute Asian Chicken Marinade Recipe
    • close-up of cream of celery soup in a jar with celery leaves behind.
      Homemade Cream of Celery Soup Recipe
    • small glass pitcher of milk on black background.
      20+ Easy Milk Recipes to Use Up the Leftover Gallon
    • with a fork fluffing the baked rice in the pan with steam rising.
      Baked Rice: How to Cook Rice in the Oven
    • green onions added to meal prep salads.
      Meal Prep Salads for Easy Lunches You’ll Want to Eat
    • best pulled pork in a freezer container to freeze.
      Best Pulled Pork Recipe
    jessica from good cheap eats

    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm a 4x cookbook author and 6x mom. I know what it is to be in a hurry and on a budget. I believe anyone can prepare delicious meals -- no matter what's on their plate. I've been featured on Good Morning America, PBS News Hour, and NBC.

    More about me

    collage of media outlets where good cheap eats has been featured.
    teal graphic with the words, do you know what's for dinner tonight.

    What's New

    • collage of thanksgiving breads in baskets and on baking sheets.
      20+ Thanksgiving Bread Basket Ideas
    • overhead shot of the relish tray near a stack of toothpicks on a holiday table.
      Easy Relish Tray Ideas
    • ingredients for fish seasoning in a small glass bowl.
      Spicy Fish Seasoning
    • close up of pot of creamy chicken noodle soup.
      Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
    • two bowls of turkey rice soup on board with spoons and sliced baguette.
      Turkey Rice Soup with Spicy Sausage
    • bowl of salmon chowder made from leftovers.
      How to Make Soup from Leftovers

    Reader Favorites

    • asian marinated chicken breast sliced on a plate with rice and veg.
      5-Minute Asian Chicken Marinade Recipe
    • close-up of cream of celery soup in a jar with celery leaves behind.
      Homemade Cream of Celery Soup Recipe
    • small glass pitcher of milk on black background.
      20+ Easy Milk Recipes to Use Up the Leftover Gallon
    • with a fork fluffing the baked rice in the pan with steam rising.
      Baked Rice: How to Cook Rice in the Oven
    • green onions added to meal prep salads.
      Meal Prep Salads for Easy Lunches You’ll Want to Eat
    • best pulled pork in a freezer container to freeze.
      Best Pulled Pork Recipe

    Footer

    back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Shipping Policy
    • Return Policy
    • Digital Shop

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2026 Good Cheap Eats

    collage of food bowls, with text overlay.
    bowl of pasta, with text overlay.
    collage of different meals, with text overlay.