Dinner tonight was leftover black beans eggplant casserole and chili rellenos.
The other day when I said that if we eat at 5:30 (which we didn’t), that I’d have to start cooking by 3. She wondered why it takes me 2-1/2 hours to cook dinner. Heck, I never thought about it but I’ve been paying attention. Just the peppers for dinner tonight involved the following:
- Roasting the peppers
- Letting the peppers sit and steam
- Skinning the peppers
- Removing the seeds
- Making the stuffing for the peppers
- Stuffing the peppers
- Breading the peppers
- Coating the peppers with egg mixture
- Frying the peppers
Yes . . dinner often takes me 2-1/2 hours! And it was so worth it!! 
Sibyl Scott says
Judy
That doesn’t seem out of place for making dinner. It usually takes me close to that amount of time for most of our meals. I don’t know how people can pull making dinner in 30 minutes or so.
Sibyl
Donna says
One reason it takes so long is you start from scratch and cook healthy. No boxed dinners or frozen entrees. In other words you cook real food instead of fake food. Sounds good to me! When you gather it and cook it in the same day it takes time but is so worth it!!
Tonight we had pork chops,fresh corn, pinto beans, fresh cucumbers and watermelon. SO, so good!
Becky G says
I read that reply to your post & admit to strongly disagreeing with her… You were not complaining @ how long it takes to fix dinner. Cooking is such a wonderful sensory experience… The shapes & colors of the fruits & veges…. The fragrances created as we build the flavors, layer upon layer. I love it all… Not for every meal, but when I can it is rewarding as I cook, sharing with others, then the afterglow…. All so good…. Certainly a major part of living the good life. Cudos to you; your love of fresh, flavorful cooking is one of the many reasons i relate to you & read each & every post. Thanks!
Missy says
It usually takes me between 30 minutes to an hour. I cook all healthy and from scratch, but I make some stuff ahead of time, like my spaghetti sauce with meat is canned and put in the freezer. Otherwise I worked for so long and was so hungry when I got home I would cook things quickly. I would love to learn how to cook things like chile rellenos though! Stuff like tacos and seared steak with corn or peas do not take long at all to make.
Sharon says
I’m glad I’m not the only one that takes so long. I usually start making the salad at 6:30, and often don’t finish cleaning the kitchen until around 8:30! I dislike cooking, so I don’t make as delicious things as you.
Susan says
I start out each day with a mental list of what I need to do…….. I have learned that where I start is as far as I will get……. If I start in the kitchen I will be there all day….. If I start doing housekeeping it will take all day…. If I start in the yard I am there till dinner time……..
I am constantly amazed at how much you accomplish……… I even failed to get my knitting picture on On The Needle Friday…….
But the yard is starting to look good.
CindyM says
I work long days at an office ( I work 9 hour days in order to have every other Friday off …. my choice), so obviously I don’t have 2 1/2 hours every day for dinner. But I do enjoy having that much time on the weekends for meals with all of those special touches. During the week I make a lot of soups, which I cut veggies for on the weekends, or I’ll just grill meat and have a salad or veggie with it. Healthy meals can be fast… they are just simpler.
S Arimes says
Really like good chili rellanos. Will you share your recipe?