The joy of cooking
The power of purchasing groceries and preparing meals at home.
It seems like every time I tell someone I cook I get two responses.
The first is shock. Like I’m only supposed to know how to yell at the TV as Kirk Cousins quarterbacks the Vikings. I’m always shocked when any adult admits they can’t cook. I’ve always viewed it as a basic life skill.
After the shock comes a standard question for which I never have an answer.
“What’s your specialty?”
I never claimed to be a chef.
My mother made me smile when she remembered over Father’s Day weekend that I used to boast about my chicken Alfredo. And then I turned 25. No one is impressed with sauce from a jar, Mom. But it worked when I was younger, and I’m thankful a lifelong habit formed.
The truth is my skills in the kitchen fall somewhere between “gets the job done” and good. I will never say I’m a great cook, and I’m nowhere near gourmet.
But since the start of the year, I have committed to cooking and eating at home. No more dining out whenever I want. No more pulling into a fast food drive-thru because I was captivated by a commercial’s pitch.
The change has been good for me. When I think of the benefits on my body and see how it’s impacted my bank account over just six months, I wonder why I didn’t commit to cooking sooner.
Some of my most peaceful moments are when I’m alone in the kitchen. It gives me solitude and serenity. I don’t need sound, and in fact I prefer not having any. My thoughts and ideas are enough. Occasionally, I’ll put on a financial podcast. Lately, I’ve preferred quiet.
That’s probably why it’s been somewhat easy for me to suppress my temptation to eat outside my home. I’d rather not deal with the hassle. I also feel comfortable making plenty of meals that at least compare to the quality of your run-of-the-mill chain. The fancy places are out of my league.
I don’t make chicken fettuccine Alfredo anymore, but I cook plenty of spaghetti. The noodles come out of a box and, yes, the sauce still comes out of jars. The version with meatballs has become one of Parker’s favorites.
Parker’s three favorite dinners by Daddy
By Parker Mayberry
Chicken. THAT WAS THE BEST CHICKEN I’VE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.🤤🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🤤 🍗.
Tacos. The best ones are beef/steak to me and so are the taco Thursdays (they’re so good 😋.)🌮.
Spaghetti. I had spaghetti recently but without the meatballs, but it was still good.(I like the meatball version)🍝.
My breakfast fare is what I do best. I’ve mastered French toast, Belgian waffles and mouth-watering pancakes. If anything, those are as close to a speciality as I get. All it took was finding online recipes I liked. But those delicacies are all reserved for weekends with Parker. My typical breakfast is oatmeal and eggs, generally with fruit on the side and sometimes with toast.
Lunch and dinners can be as simple as spaghetti, sandwiches, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, tacos or some form of chicken. I don’t do much frying, but I remembered how much I missed fried chicken wings after frying a few batches recently.
I don’t mind grabbing frozen vegetables and steaming them for quick sides, or even stocking up on a few canned goods. They’re cheap and tasty enough. For dessert, me and Parker are perfecting everything from chocolate chip cookies to sinfully moist brownies. Baking has brought both of us joy.
Oh yeah, and water — always water.
Dining out might offer a better meal. But when I look at what it costs compared to the overall value and experience, I know that lifestyle no longer is for me.
My credit card statement shows I spent $8,165.56 in the food and drink category in 2022. A chunk of that was reimbursable expenses due to job-related travel. That caveat applies to 2023 as well, yet this year’s statement shows a sizable difference.
I’ve spent only $909.19 in the food and drink category in 2023.
In other words, I’m saving $528.93 each month so far by not dining out, putting me on pace for $6,347.16 in savings this year.
Here’s the funny thing. I haven’t spent more on groceries. I’ve spent less.
I’ve cut out alcohol from my shopping list and, while inflation spikes, scaled back on non-essentials like bacon. Yes, bacon. I chose it even though I know it will probably make at least a dozen of you want to unsubscribe. Those might rank among the more challenging changes for some, but I can assure you they don’t feel like major losses after going a few months without them.
Equally important is that I’m now cooking and consuming the groceries I’m purchasing. I try to not let food spoil or waste anything I prepare. If I buy it, I’m going to eat it. Sometimes, one night’s dinner is the next day’s breakfast and lunch. I have 99 problems. Leftovers aren’t one.
With only those changes, I’ve slashed my grocery bill. I spent $324.51 a month on groceries in 2022 compared to $167.62 a month from January through mid-June.
I’ll still enjoy the occasional restaurant and will frequent them more when I truly can afford their costs. But for now, I’ve fallen in love with the joy of cooking and all that it brings.