The Family that Cooks Together

I was recently reading a comment on Reddit regarding going out to eat versus cooking at home. There was also recently an article in the NYTimes about being happier by paying for takeout or a maid. While I do think that paying for experiences and services is better than the mindless mass consumerism of objects, there are ways to save money by making these experiences enjoyable.

Additionally, I love to cook with my husband. I think we make better tasting food together than almost anywhere we eat out. (With the exceptions of sushi, pork dumplings, and smoked salmon) I also love talking to him while we prepare food and coming up with ideas together.

Another nice thing about cooking together is that we don’t have to wait for a server or worry about a bill. I love having intimate conversations where we can enjoy each other’s company in the privacy of our own home. This is the same with cooking with extended family as conversations tend to go deeper when you aren’t in public.

There is something relaxing about chopping mushrooms, garlic, spinach, tomatoes, and onions with my husband. When the aroma of fresh cut garlic or basil hits me and we have fish or veggies cooking, I feel the stress of the day melt away and my shoulders relax. I love the smells of spices as they fill our small cottage when I sauté dinner or bake it in the oven. I came home yesterday and my husband had started some jasmine rice. The scent of warm rice made the whole cottage feel warmer.

I am by no means and accomplished chef or the perfect housekeeper. But I enjoy making memories doing these things myself and with my family. I love feeding my daughter while my husband stirs food or records it. I love that we are saving money and know exactly what ingredients are in our food.

I still enjoy eating out on date nights occasionally and getting together with friends. But in general, I prefer a potluck or dinner at someone’s home over a restaurant. There’s something so satisfying about creating something yourself and being able to share it with the people you love. It’s even better if they enjoy it too!

P.S. I find a lot of great food for thought on subreddits. I enjoy the following subs:

Frugal, minimalism, personal finance, leanfire, simpleliving, mealprepsunday, financialindependence