31 Steps for Feeling Happier, Step 8: Cook from scratch

Did you create your motivational playlist yesterday? If you did, please share it on Facebook. Also, get ready to groove along to it while you work on today’s task of cooking from scratch.

Why cooking from scratch, especially during the week when we’re even more pressed for time? It’s simple–if you can pull off cooking a meal from scratch in the middle of the week than everything else will seem easy in comparison. When you’re planning a weeknight meal, you have to be focused, organized, and time efficient. All of those skills are extremely helpful when you’re trying to feel happier about yourself and life.

Also–and this is coming from a former disaster in the kitchen (don’t believe me? Read about the time I melted my kitchen floor)–it is such as sense of accomplishment when you can pull off a healthy, tasty and easy meal on a weeknight. There is just something about taking raw ingredients and turning them into a delicious meal that doesn’t give anyone food poisoning that feels so good. It’s even better when the people you’re feeding tell you how tasty it is! (If you live alone, I recommend sharing your culinary feat with a friend or co-workers.)

Finally, I’ve learned that when I eat better, it helps with my depression. I know there’s science behind this but I hate science so we won’t talk about it but I will say that when I’m eating a balanced diet and cooking most of my food myself, I have more energy. I can stay focused. I can remain motivated. I sleep better (is that weird?). And because I’m saving money, that helps alleviate stress.

I know that, by now, you’re probably thinking that there’s no way you can pull of a complete meal from scratch on a Tuesday on such short notice. You’re probably right. But, if you have 30 minutes to run to the supermarket, you can pull of any one of these three meals:

Lemonade chicken

I got this recipe from my mom. I actually wrote about it once so if you’re interested, check out that post. It involves breaded chicken and a can of frozen lemonade concentrate. That is all. It’s super easy to make and if you serve it with a side of rice and broccoli (or vegetable of your choosing), it’s even better.

Slow cooker barbecue chicken

Buy a 3 lb chicken or use chicken breasts. Pour a bottle of barbecue sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cook on high for about 3-4 hours. Shred chicken when fully cooked. Serve on rolls as sandwiches, or over rice (we’re big rice fans in our house. Is it obvious?), with a salad or carrot sticks or corn on the cob or cole slaw (easy bonus recipe: combine a bag of shredded cole slaw mix with a 1/2 to full bottle of honey mustard salad dressing and 1 tsp of black pepper. Chill for about 30 minutes. Voila! Homemade cole slaw).

Pasta with chick peas, zucchini, and tomatoes

I totally stole this recipe from a Weight Watchers cookbook. Here’e what you do:

1. Cook pasta according to directions
2. While that’s going on, heat 1 tbsp olive oil, chopped zucchini, can of diced tomatoes (or fresh chopped tomatoes. I used canned because I’m lazy), and a can of drained and rinsed chick peas. Add some seasoning like Italian seasoning, basil, oregano (about 1-2 tsp worth. You want the flavor but not overpowering). You can also use a can of Italian seasoned tomatoes if you’re afraid of overseasoning the food.
3. When the pasta is done, drain and combine with zucchini, chick peas and tomatoes. Top with grated Parmesan cheese or sliced black olives or both or none.

All of these recipes are relatively inexpensive, provide leftovers, and don’t take that much time to make. Plus, while the food is marinating or in the slow cooker, you can do other things like go back and work on any tasks in the this series you haven’t yet completed. Or help your kids with homework. Or watch more Friday Night Lights or Sons of Anarchy. Or read. Or fold laundry. Or nap.

It’s really up to you what else you do with your time. But please, take a few minutes and cook a meal from scratch and see the difference it makes.

If you plan on following this task today, what are you going to cook? Leave a link or recipe instructions in the comments!