I used to live alone so ate a lot of ‘girl dinner’. For those not perpetually online this means snicky-snacky things that require little prepping. In my case I had Roast Beef flavoured Monster Munch and M&S Chicken Wings. And sweeties for dessert. I would often think, ‘hey, I need to eat actual healthy meals’ and do some food prepping and take a healthy lunch of leftovers to work. This would last 4 days. In any given week I would make maybe 3 dinners. Which is a high number of dinners. And the weight crept back on… so no more of THAT behaviour.
In my defence, I was in mourning for like 4 years of the time of the time I lived alone, and now I am merely grieving* and I no longer live alone. SO. I think about what exciting dishes I can cook for myself and my flatmate. And he gets annoyed with my constant asking, ‘what do you want me to cook, man?’
Here’s the thing. It is hard enough for me to actually cook the meal. I don’t enjoy cooking. I find it tiresome and dull. I enjoy the eating and I know I am a decent cook. I can cook more than 3 things. And I’m not even including beans on toast or Roast Beef flavoured Monster Munch and M&S Chicken Wings. So, that’s 5 things right there. But the main thing that bothers me about cooking dinner is the thinking about what to cook for dinner.
My flatmate and I have a pretty decent set up. He buys the meat (because he’s a man?) and I buy the other things which make up what the heck the meal is going to be. You can do all these different things with, say, chicken breast. I often feel like a contestant on Ready, Steady, Cook (is that the one with the carrier bag of random ingredients?). Sometimes I’ll let him off the hook and just ask, ‘OK, what protein? GO!!’ and from that I have to create a meal. Sometimes I’ll say, ‘OK, with potatoes, with rice, with noodles, or with pasta? GO!!’ or ‘Chinese-y, British-y, Spanish-y or what? GO!!’
It’s like living in a sitcom/quiz show/mildly perplexing comic strip. I don’t know, ask him what he makes of it all. He’s just grateful to be fed. And he mostly does the washing up so I think it’s a fair exchange if somewhat slightly sexist.
Anyway, he’s going away for a week soon so I had better stock up on Roast Beef flavoured Monster Munch and M&S Chicken Wings. Otherwise, what on earth will I have for dinner?
*I have a whole thing to say about the difference so stay tuned for THAT fun adventure into sadness.
Vicky Goes On (Again) 