Very few people know this about me…I do not like cooking. When I was younger I used to tell my mom that I was going to have to marry Doctor slash Chef that way everything’s taken care of. Of course it made perfect sense in a fourteen year old’s mind. As much as it was a joke the idea of cooking was still horrible to me.
But slowly each day with my husbands encouragement I’m becoming more confident.
This is an insecurity God is working on in me. It has honestly been one of the toughest parts of being a newly wed. But because of our work schedules I am the main cook in our house.
Sometimes Peter helps me chop up veggies or check on the food to help me keep going. Many times I want to throw in the apron and call it quits.
For those who know Peter he is known as the picky eater. I haven’t witnessed it yet with my cooking.
Since we have been married I have made soup for the first time and used the crock pot. I’ve been trying different recipes but I keep them similar.
I set a meal plan so I’m only shopping twice a month (that way I don’t feel like I’m always always at the store) and stick to our budget. There were times when there would be a week left until the next month and I would have to get creative. Luckily cooking allows that.
Slowly each day I am becoming more confident as God is working out the insecurities in me.
Is It Just A Honeymoon Season?
It sounds like you’re off to a great start! I could barely cook when we first got married and it wasn’t until after we had kids that I really tried teaching myself. Something that I felt insecure about and that I strongly disliked became something I now earnestly enjoy.
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Well that gives me hope! Maybe I’ll end up liking it.
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God can use anything to make us grow, even food in a good way!
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I love that you are open to it and being obedient. Way to be bold!
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thank you!
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I wrote a similarly themed post recently. I like to cook when I have plenty of time and am inspired, but thats not the ordinary day!
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Oh, can I relate! We’re married almost 32 years and after all this time, cooking has become an easy chore. But I’ll admit, it’s still not my favorite thing to do… (Not to discourage you – Just being real.)
My suggestion? Make friends with people who love to cook, and encourage your children to try cooking. 🙂
Our adult daughter loves to cook and bake, so she will often have us over for a meal. Adult kids are wonderful! 😉
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Thank you for your encouragement 😊
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God does teach us to stretch beyond our comfort zones, doesn’t He?
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I get this SO much! I hate cooking. I really do.I’m not good at it either! Good for YOU for putting effort into this and allowing God (and Peter) to help you grow and stretch in this uncomfortable place. You are surely reaping the reward!
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Awesome! I love to cook and it gets more fun over time. Wishing you luck and lots of joy on your chef journey!
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Oh, me, too! Cooking is not something I like to do. But for 40+ years I have. Now my husband is home most days and he cooks breakfast, I do lunch and we work on supper together. I love it. When we got married my mother-in-law told RB, “Don’t ever say it doesn’t taste like mine.” He listened although he ate some not-so-good meals in the beginning. My advice? Don’t be afraid to be creative.
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Love the advice!
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So many recipes for the beginner! have fun with it! I love trying a new recipe a week. some are wins and some are not.
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It’s great that your husband is eating your food without complaint. My husband went through a BIG learning curve when we were first married because he grew up in a house full of junk food. He literally lost 20 lbs. in about 3 months after we got married, haha. After having my third child I’ve had no desire whatsoever to cook, but thankfully God’s putting in a dose of daily can-do spirit when dinnertime rolls around. We’ve not gone hungry yet.
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My husband lost weight when we got married too! He loves that I cook for us.
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Isn’t fun to go through the stretching periods! Hopefully you’ll begin to enjoy it more and more. Have fun with your meals. And, don’t feel too bad if one of them isn’t a win. We all do that. Also, my hubby learned early on to tell me if he didn’t like a meal. Otherwise, I’d serve it all the time. haha
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Yes I appreciate if someone tells me its good but not their favorite because like you said then you’ll just be making it all the time and not knowing. I appreciate honesty way more.
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I don’t like cooking either. I think it’s because I have this love/hate relationship with food because of always having to watch weight gain. It’s great you are moving beyond your comfort zone to try new things.
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Bravo!
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Thank you! 😊
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Love how encouraging your husband is and that his pickiness doesn’t appear with your cooking! I used to not know how to cook and didn’t enjoy it at all. Over the years, and lot of crazy messed up meals, I’ve learned a lot and enjoy it now. You’ll get there too!
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We all have our skills that are naturally given and those that we must work harder to master! I have full confidence you’ll be an amazing cook in no time! Slow cookers really are the best tools for busy chefs! Pinterest has so many great recipes that are easy, cheap, and quick. I also love going to the famers market instead of the grocery store when I can, so that I don’t feel like I’m going to the store every week. If you’re looking for a cookbook that is always on point and easy to read, anything Paula Deen has ever written won me over. Of course, I’ma southern girl, so butter and oil is okay with me, but only on occasion. We clean eat for the most part. Clean eating makes it really simple to cook because there isn’t a lot you have to do with the food to make it taste good. I have some great ideas on Pinterest if you wanna check it out! Good luck with your cooking journey!!
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wow thank you for all the awesome tips and encouragement! Pinterest has definitely been a huge help for me too. Great stuff on there.
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I felt like this too when I was a newlywed! It didn’t help that I had a friend who was constantly pointing out how inexperienced I was :-/. We ended up eating out quite a bit … but it came in time. I’m still not a chef by any means, but I can feed a crowd til they’re stuffed, and nobody goes hungry :-). Keep at it, you’re doing great!
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oh wow I’m sorry that your “friend” was tearing you down.
Cooking to me is another way of being vulnerable. That’s awesome that you can feed a crowd! Way to keep at it even with lack of encouragement.
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I love the shot of you in the kitchen. Cute! I pray that you keep trying because I used to feel the same way. I gained confidence when I was able to find several dishes that my fam likes – I’d make them over and over. You’ll get it!
The How-to Guru
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It is getting easier over time : )
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When I first got married, my wife didn’t know how to cook either. Over time though, she did develop a love for cooking. However, now she is the breadwinner and I’m at home with the kids and the house duties, so I get the turn to cook. I have found meal planning and freezer meals to be the most helpful! I’m actually following a meal plan from Iamthatlady.com now and they lay it all out very well. Just take your time, it sounds like you are doing great!
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Thank you!!!!
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Mihaela,
As a husband, I’m encouraged by the way your husband has been such a help to you, even in the area of cooking…which is typically viewed as a woman’s realm. Makes me want to be more encouraging to my wife. Thanks for sharing so transparently!
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Personally I love cooking but I know SO many people who hate it. I think if it is something you really would like to do, just start off cooking things that really interest you and go from there.
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I hate cooking too. I curse a lot while I’m doing it. Or I have my husband do it on his days off since he has hands too. Or we have cereal nights 😉 I do love cereal nights.
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we do cereal nights too!
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Unlike you I love cooking it is like a therapy and my way to show my love for my family. Husband help in the kitchen is very appreciated though.
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That’s such a cute photo…recipes are so helpful
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If its any consolation…. I still don’t cook and have been married for many years… Hubbie is fine with it since I sometimes make an exeption.
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One of my mantras is “happiness starts in the kitchen”. Take it slow and easy with recipes until you fall in love with making things with your hands. It’s rewarding.
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You’re doing great! My husband only used to be able to cook fried rice with spam but now he does all the cooking and loves it too!
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It appears you are off to a spectacular start. You have to start somewhere and I learn something new everyday in the kitchen… okay maybe an exaggeration, but I have been cooking for years and I still have a lot to learn.
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I completely understand about the insecurity with cooking. I used to hate cooking in the past because everyone made me feel like I was just to be a natural cook. But, then over time once I found my favorite part of cooking — i enjoy it more than I ever did. Glad to see you working on it!
xoxo,
Isaly Holland
http://www.memoriesbyisaly.com
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I wish that I could find time to meal plan.
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I don’t like to cook either. I do it every single day though. 😉
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Hahaha! I can totally relate to you. Cooking was not my thing, until I started in this expensive city which left me no choice. 😉 Way to go! 😉
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Girl you are not alone !!! I can clean happily but cooking omg what a chore 😱 lol I love baking and I love following recipes . I need to do what you are doing meal prepping !!
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I wasn’t a born cook either, but I love the idea of trying different recipes out. It’s like playing in the kitchen!
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I hated cooking as a teen so try as my mom might, I didn’t learn as much as I should have. I wasn’t a very good cook when I got married. Now, almost 15 years later, I get a lot of compliments on the food I make. What a difference a few years make, hey?
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[…] am also a big fan of the The Bold Chef from Michaela over at Hyla and Peter Echols. I am all for things that make people feel […]
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I love to cook and it comes naturally to me now, but I made some pretty crazy cooking mistakes in our newlywed years!
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