Could I please get some feedback on this cookbook idea?

[liberalhistorian]

I've been a single parent since my son was born nearly fifteen years ago (GULP!), so I'm well aware of just how time-crunched such parents are.

The last thing you want to do when you come home tired from a long day's work is cook a good meal, especially since it's all up to you to deal with everything, the shopping, cooking, cleaning up, then dealing with the kids homework, bath, bedtime, school activities for older kids, etc., etc. But you also need to feed yourself and the kid(s) good, nutritious food, and not rely heavily on processed and fast foods.

So, I was talking to a fellow single mama today about this dilemma and all of a sudden I got the idea for a cookbook specifically for single parents. It would include good, wholesome recipes that would not take a lot of time, effort and energy to cook, (some of them could involve "family" preparation, with the kids helping as well), as well as time management techniques for cooking, and other tips. I know many single parents, and most would really welcome this. Whaddaya think?

[SoCalDem]

1. There are some here that could give you ideas..

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=single+parent+cookbook

My grown up son had me write down all the easy-to-make favorites from his childhood in a journal-book

I am happy to say it's in the top drawer of his kitchen drawer.. he and his wife have added their own concoctions to it..

he still calls me sometimes mid-recipe, to ask about a substitution or a clarification..

Family recipes live on :)

[liberalhistorian]

2. Hey, great,

thanks! I'm anxious to take a detailed look at them. There are some of my own I can use, as well.

[Tab]

5. I want a recipe

to make my 9-yr-old eat something other than hot dogs and mac-and-cheese :)

[liberalhistorian]

8. LOL!

I think a LOT of parents would welcome that!

[SoCalDem]

10. Here's how you do it..

First.. plant a garden (even a container garden.. Let the 9 yr old plant his/her own plants, and tend to them. They will want to eat what they grow..

Second.. teach them to cook, and let them prepare a nutritious meal, at least one day a week. Make sure they have a balanced meal.. Kids like to cook.. It also helps with reading and math skills.. Have them "double" a recipe, so you have leftovers..

Third...Let them help with the grocery shopping

Fourth... Quit buying hotdogs and processed foods:)

or make them a once a week treat.. My friend had Junk-Food-Friday.. Every family member wrote down what they wanted, and each person drew a card.. High card got to draw the paper with the junkfood written on it..

[mandyky]

3. Cooking for two is not my forte

I am originally from a family of 7 (5 kids and 2 adults), so I always make too much, but leftovers make cooking easier, too.

We have 2 adults and 1 9 y/o, so most of my recipes make 2 or 3 times what is needed. So, in a week we have some meals 2 or 3 times, or I freeze what's left over.

I take a tray of ground chuck and add finely chopped onions and green peppers, eggs, bread crumbs, salt, pepper Italian seasoning, and minced garlic. I make 2 meatloafs and a pan of meatballs (bake them in the oven). I froze both meatloafs this time, and made a big batch of spaghetti sauce with meatballs (#10 can of tomato sauce, peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchinis), and froze the leftover sauce (it fit in a large margarine container).

I also make sloppy joes, have leftovers and then make spanish rice, ghoulash, or chili con carne with what's left. (I use about 2 pounds of ground chuck)

Breakfast foods also make quick suppers - eggs and pancakes, omelots, etc.

Right now, I am stay at home, but when I work outside I try to do my prep work on weekends and make weekly menus ahead of time. Remembering to thaw meat etc. is also a plus, for working parents.

[Ecumenist]

4. I think that this is something that is overdue

I know about many people who've been divorced and suddenly find thenmselves with such a dilemma. I have a few recipes I've honed for me and my husband, if you're accepting...:hi:

[liberalhistorian]

9. Sure, if they'd

work for single parents and a wide range of ages for their children.

[NMDemDist2]

6. you mean like these?

there's a whole section in Amazon for these cookbooks, browse and enjoy

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/ref=dp_srsubj_allbutton/104-3982501-3418334


http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0875964486.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875964486/sr=8-3/qid=1139718351/ref=pd_bbs_3/104-3982501-3418334?%5Fencoding=UTF8

and this

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1581823479.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581823479/ref=pd_sim_b_4/104-3982501-3418334?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155

and this one

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1930819099.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIlitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,32,-59_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1930819099/ref=pd_sim_b_3/104-3982501-3418334?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060522593/ref=pd_sim_b_4/104-3982501-3418334?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155

[liberalhistorian]

7. Those look interesting, AZDem,

but it appears that they're geared toward couples, and not single parents, which is what I'm focusing on.

[NMDemDist2]

11. I'm wondering how cooking for kids is different than cooking for two?

fast and nutritious is age affected? But since I don't have kids I guess I'm missing the point....

[eyesroll]

13. If your kid is like I was, there is no difference.

But I was probably the most omnivorous kid on the entire planet. I don't remember going through a picky phase. Sure, if given the option I would have lived on PB&J, ramen, and McDonalds, but I was never given the option.

My sister, on the other hand, was difficult. She didn't like beef or fish or vegetables other than carrots and corn or mushy fruit or anything too strongly flavored or much of anything, really. She grew out of it (still doesn't like beef too much, but it's not like you need to eat it to be able to function in society), but it was tough for awhile.

Cooking for my SO's 3-year-old daughter is a crapshoot -- she used to eat anything, and now it's up in the air. (She'll eat anything called a meatball, though, which helps. But otherwise -- rice is a staple one day, icky the next; pasta and meat sauce served out of the glass bowl is icky; that same pasta and meat sauce served out of Tupperware is yummy.)

It's not so much that a child will starve to death if you cook what they won't eat -- it'll balance out -- but it's disheartening to put in the labor to cook something and have the one person you're cooking for say "that's yucky." (Or, "eeew, mom, gross.") I can see where LH is coming from on this.

[wildeyed]

14. Kids are picky about foods they are not used to eating.

Personally, I don't care. Here are my eating rules for children (and picky husbands, too): I make what I make, you can eat it or not, you may not complain, you may not have something else. Wanna send Ketchup over to eat ;)

Actually, my husband is picky, too, so cooking for him is basically the same as cooking for the kids. And it is disheartening when you make something you think is fabulous, and no one will touch it. Last spring I made an Italian Chard Tart. The dough is made with olive oil instead of butter and the filling is cooked chard with some egg and Parmesan. Such a pretty dish, and really tasty. No one would touch it but me. I was pretty mad. But I am not willing to go to a diet consisting solely of mac and cheese and chicken fingers, and I won't cook two dinners, so we are where we are. The kids tastes will mature (already are). The husband is pretty much hopeless, but after 10 years, I should be used to it :crazy:

[randr]

12. A good time saving cookbook

should have recipes for left overs. When I was a single parent I grew frustrated by cooking small amounts. Especially when saving are on larger bulk items.

[wildeyed]

15. You might include recipes that freeze well.

I often make a double batch of certain time consuming recipes, then freeze half for later. That way I get two good dinners for the time it took me to prepare one.

Also, recipes that utilize leftovers are good. On Sunday, I often make a roast chicken 'cause I am around the house long enough to cook it. The next night we have a chicken stir fry, or I make chicken in cream sauce. And the sandwiches are divine.

[existentialist]

16. laugh if you will but,

First, I am reminded of Garrison Keillor's satiric advertisement of a book on "Men's Cooking" but I now add two of my super simple recipes for (cheap) ready to eat food:

Hard boiled eggs.
Pre-baked potatoes.

I usually try to keep a few of each on hand.