This is what it consisted of:

2in thick steaks…marinated of course…for the men only. Boys and kids had “regular” steaks, which were still pretty awesome.

Chicken with spices and marinade. The women all wanted chicken instead of steak. Go figure.

Macaroni & Cheese (lots of butter and milk)

Pasta Salad (I didn’t eat this, but heard it was good)

Corn on the cob (cannot have a cookout without it)

Catfish – broken up into small nuggets, lightly breaded, drown in butter, Frischs Tartar Sauce on the side

can’t type. (sorry)

And, don’t forget, that cooking is a major chick-turnon. Nothing like whipping up a creative tasty dish (plenty of easy recipes in mags like Mens Health, too, until you get the hang of it.)

In fact, not only did i land a hot chick for a girlfriend, I’ve inspired her 10-year old daughter to become a chef.

Paulo

Good point about frozen veggies. If you don’t have a farmer’s market nearby, frozen veggies are sometimes the way to go. The reason is the breakdown of nutrients is halted by the freezing process very soon after harvesting, usually within a few hours. By comparison, a “fresh” crown of broccoli from Mexico has been losing nutritional value and crispness for days.

@ Keepiru:

What I meant by ‘too late this year’ is that my wife has already used the available garden area in our yard to plant daisies, poppies, etc. Next year I’m claiming it. I’ll keep the hydroponics in mind, though.

@Paul
Are not other food groups awesome? Imo, fruits and veggies are key to variety and important to every-day eating experiences. They often get a bad rep, imo, because of:
-eradic quality of fresh selections (which is what frozen stuff is for–though not all plants freeze with equal grace)
-canned over-seasoned, overly-salty, otherwise tasteless canned veggies
-overcooking steamed veggies (turning them to bitter mush)

Everyone mistakenly thinks we should endure veggies because they are “good for you.” Why not instead enjoy tasty food of all sorts for enjoyment?

Having a constant source of fresh vegetables and herbs for your kitchen would be a huge benefit for your meals!

First off, if the thought of cooking anything more complicated than a frozen pizza is just too intimidating, check your nearby fancy restaurants (not chain outlets). Many of them offer periodic cooking classes. You can learn the basics of knife handling, how to make the five basic sauces, and how to prep chicken or beef. You can also find lots of videos on Youtube to guide you through this.

Find a cookbook you like, preferably one that explains WHY each step is taken. Stick to proven recipes at first, but eventually, as you come to understand basic cooking methods & the proper balance of ingredients and seasonings, you can branch out and create a signature dish of your own. Believe me, when your wife’s friends tell her how jealous they are of her for having a husband who can cook, she’ll appreciate you even more!

Don’t be intimidated by a recipe that sounds fancy. Remember that the famous French dish coq au vin is little more than chicken stew with red wine poured in, and baked Alaska is just a mound of toasted meringue on top of a thin layer of cake.

Another key point is to use the best quality ingredients you can find or afford. Fresh herbs instead of dried flakes can make a real difference, and homemade tomato sauce is MUCH better than a jar that says Ragu on the side.

When it comes to meat, remember that the pecking order for cuts of meat from the processor is this: restaurants, butcher shops, and lastly grocery stores. In other words, restaurants get first pick of the best cuts, and your local supermarket gets last pick. Therefore, get to know your nearby butcher, who can special order certain cuts or organs for you as needed, or if you really go through a lot of meat, team up with a few people and buy half a cow (grain fed, of course) from a locker plant. For fruit and veggies, try using your local farmer’s market.

I’ve been trying to move away from processed foods as much as I can (you’ll be shocked at how many foods have high fructose corn syrup in them… even bread!). My next step (next year, it’s really too late this year) is to grow my own veggies and learn how to can them for the winter using my grandparents’ canning equipment.

After cooking for a while, you’ll probably find yourself using the drive-thru less frequently, and you’ll likely save some money, too.

Cooking is definitely a creative outlet for me. I enjoy cooking as much as my friends enjoy coming over for dinner