Pink of Perfection

Comments

• Christine S.: What I love about eating in is the creative process that goes into a meal and the appreciation that always ensues. It isn’t so much about the meal being spectacular, frou frou, chic, rustic, or whatever. It is about creating something for the people one loves and the pleasure received when that the appreciation is given. My kids can be picky eaters which causes sometimes friction when it comes to meal planning and “satisfying” their palates. However, more times than not, they eat with satisfaction, even if the taste isn’t what they thought they wanted. They are nurtured and that nurtures my spirit! Eating in beats eating out any day!28 weeks ago

• Becca Smith Hill: I love eating in because my husband usually does all the cooking, and I just help with the prep work…this works out well for all b/c he is a better cook and I take direction pretty darn well, at least in the kitchen

  This book looks amazing–would love to have a copy!28 weeks ago

• emily: I adore the act of sharing. Breaking bread with others. Whether I’m cooking or baking for others (LOVE) or eating out with people, I simply love it.28 weeks ago

• Haley: I love eating in because it is usually the only way to satisfy my cravings. I am plagued (plagued is too strong a word, but anyways) with intense food cravings almost all the time, so almost everything that I eat out is a compromise between what I really want and what the restaurant serves. When I cook at home I can make exactly what I want and more often than not it’s delicious.28 weeks ago

• kat: The sense of accomplishment when you have something to show after all that work. It’s wonderful. Except when you end up with a bowl of “eh.” Not worth time time it took. Unfortunately, more often than not I end up with a bowl of eh.28 weeks ago

• Kelly: I love that I can make things just the way that I like them. My boyfriend and I are stuck in a small town that we’re not too fond of (but we found jobs here, alas), and it’s so much more fulfilling to spend time together, cooking, than it is to eat out anywhere around here. I absolutely hate to sound snobby, but it’s just true.

  I love that even when I mess up a dish, I learn something. I love the whole cozy process, the sweetly-scented kitchen, the sips of wine I steal while stirring, the rhythmic chopping, and the conversation that my boyfriend and I share once we sit down to enjoy.28 weeks ago

• Magda: I love eating in because I know I can have dinner on the table in less time than it takes to get take-out and much less than it takes to eat in a restaurant. one of the most important things my amazing mother taught me is how to have a good, homecooked meal on the table in 20 minutes, start to finish.28 weeks ago

• Sara Lang: I love that I can control what goes into my body. I know exactly what I put into each dish, and that I can choose if I’m eating local, organic, etc. I also love that for rich dishes, knowing how much butter and sugar goes into it makes me savor each bite, as opposed to rushing through and overeating.28 weeks ago

• Karen: Here are a few things that I love about eating in;
  - the aroma of a home cooked meal
  - having control over the ingredients
  - sharing time with family and friends in a relaxed atmosphere28 weeks ago

• Jen: two words for why I love eating in:
  Elastic. Pants. That’s right, elastic pants. As in sweats, pajamas…something comfy that will allow me to curl up in the big chair with a warm bowl of something delicious.28 weeks ago

• Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams: I love eating in because it’s an act of community. My mother always insisted that we eat dinner together as a family - and now I know why. It’s so important to have time to catch up after a busy day, and you can relax in your own home, over homemade food, as you never can at a restaurant. I also love the creativity of making and modifying your own dishes - a welcome tactile relief from my writing and editing job.28 weeks ago

• Ashley Arneson: What I love about eating in? The coziness; you simply can’t match the feel of curling up, with your love by your side and cats at your feet, eating a dinner you’ve made together with bare feet & a deliciously intimate atmosphere.28 weeks ago

• marzipan: i love eating in.. my pajamas. its the best. next to curling up in said pajamas and eating, while watching a movie! or favorite tv show! oooooh how deluxe.28 weeks ago

• Margaret: Being on your own timetable! When cooking for oneself or for a few close friends, you can be creative, you can change your mind, you can get advice (e.g. from this site), you can take as long as you want if you’re not particularly hungry but want to experiment… it can fill many a need. This looks like an excellent book. Kinda like Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant- another great read!28 weeks ago

• Jennifer: I love the feeling of accomplishment when I make a meal. And, I really enjoy watching my husband eat food that I have prepared. It gives me a little feeling of pride. 28 weeks ago

• Claire: i love lots of things about eating in, but certainly the appreciation i have for the meal i made is among the top reasons. food i took the time to select, clean, and cook always tastes better than something picked up quickly on the way home. eating in always tastes like love.28 weeks ago

• Jessica: I love eating in because then I know exactly what is going into the meal I prepared.28 weeks ago

• michaela: i agree with claire above-many things i like about eating at home. going to the market, the act of preparing the food, and savoring the (hopefully) delicious fruits of my labor.

  i just said to my husband last night, the more we cook at home the less i want to go out.28 weeks ago

• shannon: I love eating in because it’s more healthy and so much more cost effective. My husband and I both enjoy cooking.28 weeks ago

• Kim: I love the process of cooking a meal, watching it come together, and then digging in. There’s a sense of triumph in cooking for oneself, it’s totally an art form.28 weeks ago

• Melissa B: I think the best part of cooking in is that it can be completely therapeutic. There is nothing better than making a mess with flour everywhere, clanging pans, cracking eggs, throwing a pan filled with batter into the oven and while it is cooking away, doing a little cleanup. Eventually you pull something yummy out of the oven, set it on your clean counter top and feel like you’ve accomplished something that day.28 weeks ago

• Sarah: I love eating in for the sense it gives me of providing for and nurturing myself and those I love. I choose vegetarian items that are nourishing, and I can prepare them any way I want, with the little quirks of my family in mind (hello, corn allergy!). Thanks for the opportunity to express this; I’ve never really thought about why I love eating in so much 28 weeks ago

• Natalie: I love that even with buying organic & local (read: DELICIOUS!) foods that cost more, it is still cheaper to eat in than eat out all the time. I also love that I have control over what goes into my food. About 6 months ago, I eliminated all artificial ingredients and pre-processed foods from my diet, and thus essentially only buy meat, dairy, produce and grains at the store and then make everything I need from those ingredients. I’m still looking for lots of good ideas and tips, but I’m getting better at it.28 weeks ago

• Adrienne: I love eating in because there’s nobody to judge me if I want to make a dinner out of four pieces of cheese, a slice of toast and a handful of M&Ms.28 weeks ago

• Aissa: I get to eat my own art.28 weeks ago

• Anne: I love eating in because it’s nice to spend time cooking with my boyfriend and we always have the most amazing meals for much less money than they would cost at a restaurant. Not to mention the benefit of not paying restaurant wine prices!28 weeks ago

• Jessica: I love being able to make something delicious and know that I made it myself. It’s my art. It also makes me think more about what I am eating, where it came from, and how it got to me. In a restaurant, you just point to something written on a menu and a few minutes later it is ready to eat on your plate.28 weeks ago

• Heather: I love putting a casserole dish, heavy with good, wholesome, delicious food into a toasty oven. Knowing that in 45 minutes I can take it out and eat something fabulous that I created.28 weeks ago

• Megan: Eating in your pjs and no one judging you for sometimes wanting to hunker in front of the tv with grocery store pizza.28 weeks ago

• Eliza: Oh, I used to read and love Cathy’s blog and for some reason lost it off my feed reader. Thanks for bringing me back to it!!

  Eating in is the norm in my house. I love the routine of coming home, putting together a meal, and relaxing on the couch with my boyfriend to catch up on our days while we eat. The meal can be as elaborate or simple as we want depending on our moods.28 weeks ago

• Cara: First, I love the cover art of this book.

  When I eat in, food becomes more of an art. It engages my mind as I try to decide what to cook and how to present it. I can play with flavors and new combinations and try to invent something new.

  My biggest struggle with eatting in is finding things that meet all my needs. I work full-time and am the mother of a 2 1/2 year old and a 4 1/2 month old. I want fast recipes, a short list of ingredients that are natural and fresh, to enjoy cooking it, and for it to appeal to adult and toddler tastes.28 weeks ago

• Jenn: I love eating in because I can control the portion sizes. Restaurant sizes make me eat so much more than anyone needs or waste food.28 weeks ago

• Liz: When we first started dating, my husband and I would go out to eat at least once a week. Now we go out far, far less often, and even though we’re both busier, taking the time to cook a meal, sit down and eat together brings us together every day.28 weeks ago

• Rae: I love eating in because it is therapy, nourishment, and entertainment all in one act. When I cook I feel the weight of the day disappear (for at least a little while) and I become hyper-present in every slice, stir, dice and fold. In addition to my momentary zen, when cooking at home instead of eating out, I know my food’s history and future. I can reminisce about the lemon I proudly selected from the farm stand and smile about it’s destiny when it tangs up my honey’s mussels.

  Besides the obvious relationship building between myself and my produce, I love to chat with my fella an he swirls his cocktail and I stir the food that will reward us both. Call me retro, this is heavenly.28 weeks ago

• Jessica: I love eating in because even if I make something laden with butter or cheese it feels healthier because it’s homemade. 28 weeks ago

• Misty D. Lahti: i love knowing what is actually going into my meal. High quality, organic foods are so much better and I cannot afford to go to restaurants that serve those foods. plus, it’s just relaxing!28 weeks ago

• Lynette Cornell: Growing up, dinner time meant an opportunity to spend time with my family, sharing stories from the day. As I’ve grown up, I’ve discovered another joy that is strongly tied to dinner, the pleasure of making it with someone. Sharing responsibility with someone in creating a meal is a test of love, because you have to be willing to hand over control of part of that recipe to someone else. And for those of us who are very focused on every slice, dice, and chop, it’s an exercise in rethinking priorities.

  This might be why my favorite person to cook with is my boyfriend of three years. While I’m obsessive about perfect slices, he has more of a casual approach to cooking. He eyeballs measurements, whereas I use a knife to level off ingredients in measuring cups. I think it really helps us to bond and to learn to cooperate, even in situations outside of the kitchen.28 weeks ago

• KBG in DC: Cooking is my creative outlet. I pour my artistic, intellectual and spiritual urges into the food I make, and make my familly and friends happy in the process. Art should speak to those who experience it, and I cook to speak my soul to those at my table.28 weeks ago

• amy marie: What I love most about eating in is that fact that you are producing something so edible that you were able to make with your own two hands! It’s more than dining, it’s an accomplished experience.

  Plus, you don’t have to do yourself up when eating in, you can dine in your freaking pj’s if your lil’ heart desires!

  Also also, I gush over tasting as you go, bit-by-bit you add to your masterpiece until it is perfecto for your tastes! 28 weeks ago

• Lucy: What I love most about eating in: eating a wonderful meal in my pjs28 weeks ago

• Sarah Jane: I love eating in because I can get my hands dirty, so to speak. Now, I love food but I think I might love the process of cooking it myself more. Putting all the care and thought into what I cook for me and my dearests is rewarding and makes me feel very homey.28 weeks ago

• Sara A-G: I love that eating is social. It brings people together - the most significant events in our lifetimes are spent eating with people. Birthday cake. Casseroles at funerals. Wedding toasts. The annual July 4th barbecue. We mark significant moments with food, and make memories together.28 weeks ago

• Deena: I love eating in because then I know what’s in my food–and can always have dessert!28 weeks ago

• Kristina: I just love how fun eating can be! I love getting together with my mom or friends and deciding “ooh this would be good with that and then add a little of this and a handful of that” and then BAM! we have (probably) an incredibly cheap concoction that we can all enjoy as we snuggle into deep couches and chat or watch a really great movie. I love the harmonizing effect that food can have when you need it the most.28 weeks ago

• Christine H.: I love adapting recipes and making it my own thing—spicer! cheesier! nutier! I love the feeling of accomplishment—especially when I am cooking dinner for friends and everyone pitches in and helps. Tuesday night (when I roasted my first kitchen) was one of the best meals I’ve ever made & not just because the chicken was moist and delicious. It’s because I had Daniel mashing potatoes, Elizabeth steaming the broccoli & slicing bread, Tim helping me turn/flip the chicken & carve it up and Terry—hmmm—Terry devoured the food & declared it the best dinner ever (and wondered where I had bought a whole chicken. “Umm, at the grocery store.” “They sell whole chickens?!?”) Where else but home could we get a dinner for 5 like that for $20?28 weeks ago

• Christine H.: Umm, obviously I meant “roasted my first chicken”—not kitchen. Thankfully I have yet to roast & destroy my kitchen. 28 weeks ago

• LQ: I love eating in because my hubby and I usually cook together and it’s something we both love to do. I also like trying new things. The anticipation of waiting for things to done and tasting it are always fun. Sounds like a great book.28 weeks ago

• Sarah F: Home is the only place where I can pair my very un-gourmet tuna sandwiches and tomato soup with candles and linen napkins.28 weeks ago

• Sarah Sheldon: I love that I can eat in my pajamas. 28 weeks ago

• melanie: i love eating in, because i never have to worry about my clothes and hair smelling like cigarettes, i get to save money, and i get the opportunity to try new recipes. what’s not to love?28 weeks ago

• Bree: I love that it gets my son to try new foods and it gets me to break out of my shell in terms of food choices and preparation techniques.28 weeks ago

• Ginger: I love discovering just what it is that makes those same dishes out taste so yummy in my home. I just experiemented (code: didn’t read the recipe beforehand so had to substitute) making some onion chutney that I will now be eating on EVERYTHING. I can’t imagine what a little homemade onion chutney would not make taste better.28 weeks ago

• Eva: I love knowing what all the ingredients are and where they come from, and feeling connected to my food in a way I never do when eating out.28 weeks ago

• Starlene: We rarely eat out any more. The obvious reason being money. We’re saving to buy a house. But it’s become so much more. Most Friday nights we have friends over. We can take our time in both preparing the meal and visiting with our guests. Sometimes I theme the evening, sometimes I throw something together with what we’ve got. But no matter how it’s planned, it always ends up being relaxing and fun! We wake up the next morning laughing and talking about the night before. It has brought us much closer to the people we love!!!28 weeks ago

• Karen: When you cook a meal for yourself and it turns out especially well, I love that sense of accomplishment and pride when you realize “Wow, I made something darn tasty!” Those great moments make eating in so worthwhile. 28 weeks ago

• Seton: I love eating in for two reasons:

  1.) Knowing exactly what i am putting in my mouth! Love cooking homemade “takeout” in my wok! And two the entire time i am cooking even if it is a long affair my five year schoodle, Lily, peers up and watches me with complete attention the entire time! I love it…and she does two because she usually gets a veggie or two to snack on:)28 weeks ago

• Patty: The best parts:
  1. The process. I love getting everything ready and how combining flavors can create a veritable explosion in eating.
  2. The social aspect: Nothing more fun than enjoying a meal with others.
  3. No long waits …. well, except for that cooking part. 28 weeks ago

• Steffie: I prefer the control over not just the ingredients in my food, but how they are prepared. For example, most restaurants steam their fresh (frozen) vegetables in the microwave, ruining their flavor, texture and nutrient base.

  I also love not tipping. Not that a good server doesn’t deserve it, it’s just nice not to do the math at the end of the meal and grab a cookie instead.28 weeks ago

• Barb: Eating in my pj’s and how low my credit card balance is are why I like to eat at home. : )28 weeks ago

• Melissa: I’m another member of the loves-to-eat-in-and-wear-pajamas tribe. (Who knew there were so many of us?)

  I also like eating in because after putting away a really good home-cooked dinner, you can stoke the fire and doze off on the couch and then toddle off to bed and not have to change your clothes…because you’re already in your pj’s! I should add that we typically eat between 9-9:30 PM at night, so this pajama business has some practicalities behind it.28 weeks ago

• Kayduh: I love cooking at home! It is really fun to try new ingredients or techniques. And if I cook, the boyfriend has to do the dishes!28 weeks ago

• Ann: Ooh this book looks fantastic. What I love best about eating in is making the meal with my boyfriend. It’s just fun to make something together.28 weeks ago

• Phoo-D: I love that when eating in we will often enjoy better tasting food than can be found at any restaurant in town, and better yet can enjoy it while wearing pajamas!28 weeks ago

• Cathy: I love eating in because it gives my boyfriend and I an opportunity to create something together and brings us closer together.28 weeks ago

• anne: Oh, I love her blog! Such an inspiration.
  I very much love eating at home. I can control the ingredients and the portion size. Plus it’s nice to sit down and enjoy my home after a long day at work. Not to mention saving $$.28 weeks ago

• Misty: The food is so much better! Seriously, my husband and I try to go out but have been consistently disappointed in what we get. We’re not averse to spending money on a good meal either, but just can’t seem to find one worth it. Plus I get such satisfaction from cooking up a great meal and seeing my husband enjoy it. 28 weeks ago

• Ashley Parker: Eating in is much like creating a masterpiece when everything else around you falls in. Deed, most of us have had our sights set for a fantastic evening out, complete with shopping for a new outfit which, let’s face it, you didn’t really need, calling around for reservations, and slipping into a pair of shoes that will kill us by the end of the night, but look amazing, only to have said evening crash and burn around us. Thus, the marvels of cooking in. While cooking in the comfort of your own home, you can dress up or down to any extent and should you kick off that pair of killer heels (both literally to your feet and figuratively to how heels work their magic) in the middle of cooking, who will know? Cooking your own meal, bet it for you or a party of friends and family, can make you feel like one of the most amazing chefs in the entire world, even if you’re throwing something out of a box together last minute. Home cooking is a liberating and binding thing for all involved, the cook, the diners of the home masterpiece, and the midnight noshers of the leftovers.28 weeks ago

• Diana: Hm…what’s not to love? It’s artistry. It’s showing I love my husband. It’s yummy, joyful, warm in winter and nourishing in summer. And it’s so much happier a task when you own a dishwasher!28 weeks ago

• Julia: oh man, i love love love cooking and eating in. mostly for the cozy warm atmosphere in my kitchen. chatting with someone while i taste the sauce. being able to stick a spoon in everything and taste it before it’s done. being able to choose the music and even play a song twice. no annoying waiters coming to refill the water. so many reasons.28 weeks ago

• Melissa: I love to eat in because I feel like the act of cooking for myself and others make me competent and caring — this is something I can accomplish and we can do for ourselves and each other. There’s so much history and culture tied into cooking that there’s a thrill when you tap into that at home on your own stove.28 weeks ago

• Nikki: I love eating in because watching just a few ingredients turn into something delicious.28 weeks ago

• Christina: There’s no wondering if your special orders or substitutions will come through as requested.28 weeks ago

• KJ: I love thinking about the food I have at home and knowing that once I get there I can make something beyond what my roommates expected. I can’t wait for CSA to kick in again.28 weeks ago

• beth: I haven’t peeked at Cathy’s blog in a while — how exciting to see that her book is out! It’s sure to be a good one. One part of eating in I like is enjoying what I’ve got when I haven’t been able to plan ahead, as weird as it might turn out to be. A small reheated bowl of leftovers, plus some fruit and cheese from the fridge, plus a slice of cake (and not necessarily in dessert-last order)? Yes, please!28 weeks ago

• Megan: I love cooking for how it expands mine and my boyfriend’s cultural horizons — we may not be able to afford a trip to India or Thailand, but we learn so much in exploring new recipes and ethnic markets, and it broadens our worlds.

  I also love how it shows care for those you’re feeding — making the house smell good, carefully arranging/plating, being able to sit cross-legged and comfortable, and just a sense of being nurtured.28 weeks ago

• Kim: I just saw a twitter announcement by my alma mater for this book. Apparently she graduated the same year as me, I wonder if I’ve ever met her.28 weeks ago

• dru: I love the quiet stillness as you sit down together, with a glass of wine, and no requirement to go out or drive home, and did I mention the glass of wine.28 weeks ago

• melish"thedish": The best part of enjoying a fabulous meal “in” is that you are already home and able to “corpse-out” after!28 weeks ago

• kathy: I love eating in because I love to cook. I love to throw things together and make something delicious out of it. I feel like I know a secret that those that don’t cook don’t know!!28 weeks ago

• John: My favorite part about eating in is the creative process. You’re in complete control of the menu and how the food is prepared. You can experiment. There’s no pressure to dress up or act your age. It becomes all about the food.28 weeks ago

• Ellen: I love that I can make things exactly how I want them. I like the tomato soup at the restaurant down the street, but they put celery in it, and I eat around that. I love the salmon fajitas at another place, but I really enjoy them with grilled onions. I really enjoy having control of exactly how I like things (too much cinnamon, no raw tomatoes, etc.).28 weeks ago

• Erin: I eat in because the husband makes better chicken noodle soup than anyone else in the whole world, and when I am sick, it’s exactly what I need. Also when I am not sick.28 weeks ago

• Amy C: The sheer joy of a rustic piece of bread slathered in fresh butter, a bright vegetable simply roasted and sprinkled with salt, the smell of stock simmering for hours over a low fire - what’s not to love?28 weeks ago

• Bethany: I love eating in because I know exactly what goes into my food: love.28 weeks ago

• Karen: The best thing about eating in is making it a fancy production for no good reason. You make an ordinary Tuesday night a special one — and your dollar goes further!28 weeks ago

• Emmalinda: I love eating in for the simple pleasure of curling up with a warm bowl of delicious food with my husband.28 weeks ago

• Kristen: You know exactly what is going into your food when your making it and it’s fun to hang out with my husband and dog while cooking.28 weeks ago

• Chelsea: I love the satisfaction of the process: watching ingredients transform into a meal, and that meal be both sensually satisfying and nutritious! This book looks great.28 weeks ago

• Samantha: I love the process of preparation with a sharp knife - especially kale and onions, the bloom of curry in oil, the ability to put my learning into practice, the comfort of knowing that what I am making again is something that I will love, and the surprised delight when I make something new and know that I’ll want to make it again.28 weeks ago

• Jennifer Louie: I love eating in! I love the zen I feel when preparing a meal, I love sitting in the comfort of my own (mini) apartment enjoying that meal, and I love that I’m saving so much money! Whether I’m cooking for friends or just myself, eating in has a very different sense of pleasure than going out. And I don’t have to get all dolled up just to eat at home!28 weeks ago

• Lara: I love eating in because I am VERY picky. Onions make me sick, and restaurants put onions in almost everything! So when i cook at home, I know my food is meatless, onionless, mostly saltless, and free of everything else i don’t like. Plus, I get to make dessert which is possibly my favourite thing ever!28 weeks ago

• jj: Not being a person who likes following instructions, I enjoy the practice of consistently eating in precisely because it has allowed me to familiarize myself with ingredients, spice and food combinations, textures, techniques, and utensils etc so that I am no longer dependent on a recipe book. The freedom of knowing just enough to create something splendid is satisfying indeed, and for some reason food tastes more scrumptious by recognizing the work I’ve put into it.28 weeks ago

• Erin: My favorite thing about eating in is getting to experiment and lovingly serve those closest to me. I’m in the wine industry professionally, and this phrase sums it up - “It’s not so much about what’s going on inside the bottle, but what is happening around it.” I feel the same way about cooking at home for friends and family. It’s not so much what is going on with the meal, but around it.28 weeks ago

• Yvonne: What i love about eating in is how i can go into the kitchen and emerge with something i can share with my family. At home we can make as much noise as we want and sprawl all over the living room and eat at our leisure and i love it28 weeks ago

• Sy: Doing the dishes.28 weeks ago

• Moll: Hubs and I are huge fans of eating in! We spend so much less and enjoy so much more (well, other than when the cat decides to hack a hairball during our romantic dinner - that joy of home made me reconsider restaurants for a few weeks); we enjoy debating over recipes, shopping for produce, fighting for counter space, and sharing tastes of this or that.28 weeks ago

• Mari: I love how therapeutic the entire cooking/dining process is. That is what I love about eating (in). I love the smell of fresh vegetables after being chopped, the sound of the sizzling saute pan, and the taste of the little “taste tests” along the way.

  Gosh, now I’m hungry!! 27 weeks ago

• Sarah: What I love about eating in: it’s good on the grad school budget and I always have something to take for lunch the next day - - even better for the grad school budget!27 weeks ago

• brookstar: Every night my partner and I get home around the same time and start busying ourselves with dinner preparation. We usually laugh and go over the day with each other while we’re cooking, but sometimes vent about something frustrating. By the time our food is ready, we feel ready to settle down into a relaxing evening. Right before we eat, though, we always change into cosy pajamas. It’s a bit of a tradition now to both go in and take off our day’s clothes and put on our “uniforms” together. It fills me with gratitude and warmth and the process of cooking and eating in creates a nice transition from my workday into my personal time.27 weeks ago

• Kate: I love being able to try new recipes and cook things i might not order in a restaurant. Every time I cook it’s like a new adventure - much more fun than eating out!27 weeks ago

• Mellisa: I love it because I can eat in my pajamas 27 weeks ago

• Jennifer: Honestly if I have my choice of going out or eating in I prefer to eat in. There is something calming to me about being in the kitchen and making a meal. I love being able to pick out the ingredients and seeing the meal come together.27 weeks ago

• Christy: I love the leisure of eating at home. My daughter can run around and play, and my husband and I can linger at the dinner table.27 weeks ago

• Erin: I love eating in because, although going to a restaurant used to seem way easier, now it seems like a hassle and there is the expectation of getting a “good dining experience” for the expense (we no longer like going to “cheap” places unless its a quick lunch or appetizer). Plus, at home we control sodium and fat content and don’t have to take home a doggie bag from the enormous portions often served. We are finally getting better about coming up with easy but good ideas. One last thing…After working all day, it’s nice to wear comfortable clothes and relax; not have to drive somewhere.27 weeks ago

• Carole: I really enjoy eating in. The reasons:

  1) I love going to a farmers market and thinking about what’s in season and why. I love interacting with the farmers and their help about different ways of preparation.
  2) Eating in is the only way to know what I am putting into my body.
  3) It is really fun to think of aesthetic aspect of presenting the food. This is often related to nutritional value of what I am eating.
  Thanks!27 weeks ago

• Sarah: What I love about eating in is the feeling of “fullness” you get, not only from the physical eating part, but from the accomplished feeling of knowing that tonight, you nourished yourself.27 weeks ago

• MaryLeigh Bishop: It’s very cathartic and relaxing to go through the whole process of making a meal…deciding on what to make, rounding up the ingredients, prepping ingredients, then getting to play around with things as it all comes together in a delightful sensory experience.27 weeks ago

• michella: I LOVE being able to share a great meal with lots of flavors with the people I love. The act of making food for someone and sharing it with them is a very wonderful and fulfilling experience.27 weeks ago

• Melissa: What I love about eating in is that I can control what goes in the food. I can make it mine and I can invite whomever I want to eat with me.27 weeks ago

• Ayah: I love the sense of pride that comes with knowing I made an amazing meal myself, and I love sharing delicious and wholesome food with my friends and family.27 weeks ago

• Hope: I have a hard time getting motivated to cook most days, but there are a few things that make it totally worth it:
  1- knowing what’s going into my food and being able to personalize it to my tastes
  2- the sense of accomplishment when my husband enjoys what I’ve created for him
  3- The creative process of cooking (it is an art form)27 weeks ago

• maria: in love cooking in for two main reasons: drinking wine straight out of the bottle and wearing pjs27 weeks ago

• Brooke: I love the way my husband never fails to say “That smells good!” when all I’ve done is start sauteeing onions in butter. Because it does smell so good!27 weeks ago

• Kirsten B: I love the process of creating my food, and the anticipation that builds through that process. Plus, my food tastes good.27 weeks ago

• vivian: the way everything taste at the end27 weeks ago

• Betsy Peggy: I love eating in because it gives a structure and formality to the home. Brings it two notches up to break out the good china, the silver, the candles, and say proper family grace and practice good manners.27 weeks ago

• Kate: I love the looks on people’s faces when they realize that not only is the food home cooked (so many of my friends are college-age and just miss that home-cooked feeling/taste) and that THEY can do it, too!27 weeks ago

• Jackie: I love eating in with my fiance, Michael. I have always loved food but never appreciated the art of cooking until we first started dating, 5 years ago. Up until then, my idea of “cooking” was anything that could be made in the microwave, in the toaster oven, or poured from a box. Michael shared his love of the Food Network and his passion for following a recipe and having a finished product. These days, as we try to budget and save for our upcoming wedding, we are spending more nights eating in — we try to put together themed nights where as we cook a meal together, we will listen to music from that particular country. It gives us a lot more joy and satisfaction than we would probably get from going out to eat.27 weeks ago

• June: In today’s hectic world, it’s so nice to take the time to sit down around the family table & share the moment together. I adore eating at home…because it’s one of the ways I can show how much I care about my family & friends by creating something wonderful for them to relish.
  It’s about passing on a tradition of family meals with one another & building that family bond.27 weeks ago

• Robin Roberts: I like gathering all the ingredients for a specific recipe, then getting them all prepped in small bowls like a cooking show. My daughter and I sometimes pretend we are on camera and explain what we are doing to the ‘fake’ camera.27 weeks ago

• fefe: i love the comfort i get from eating. it satisfys and makes me happy. a nice glass of wine with cheese and crusty bread…probably the best thing about eating!!!!27 weeks ago

• CS: I was afraid to say it, but reading the comments that precede me, I see I’m not alone. I love eating in because I can control the calories, fat, etc. I love an indulgence as much as the next person, but I like to see it coming and know it’s in the budget, so to speak. On a more relaxed note, I love the creative process of meal planning and creation. I am most relaxed at home, as well, and I love to share food I’ve prepared with my family in our most comfortable setting.27 weeks ago

• Donna: My family eats in most of the time. I enjoy preparing healthy foods. Getting tons of recipe books out to decide on what the weeks menu will be is a treat for me. I love to see my family enjoying the food I have prepared for them - that brings me comfort.27 weeks ago

• Heather: The shear variety of textures, colors, and flavors.27 weeks ago

• Hannah: I love eating in! It takes less time (most often) and I love the opportunity to be creative in my cooking. Also, my menu selections are always healthier than most of the ones you’d find at a restaurant.27 weeks ago

• Betsy: I find the act of preparing the meal as nourishing as the food. And even though I don’t think I’m a great cook, I think what I prepare for my family tastes better, is less expensive and is healthier than most of the dining options in my city.27 weeks ago

• Alison: I love eating in because I can enjoy some good wine cheap! Totally agree with the elastic pants comment too! That’s good stuff.27 weeks ago

• Patricia: I love cooking for my husband. He thinks I’m a really good cook. When you eat in, you can fix fabulous food, and save money.27 weeks ago

• Asha: Making my own meals excites me. When I cook for myself, I feel so connected to what I eventually lay on the table - I know exactly what goes into the meal, and I can always make it to my own taste. Cooking is also a friend to my bank balance. 27 weeks ago

• Carrie: I love to eat at home as it gives me more control over the food my family is fed. I know where the ingredients come from and how each item is prepared. Having our own garden we try to use as much of our own produce as possible. No icky pesticides and the freshest of flavors. Garden to table….it doesnt get much better than that! There is something nourishing about the tradition of eating in all in itself. Feed the family, nourish the soul.27 weeks ago

• kristin: I’ve always loved to be at a big table at home surrounded by family and enjoying a great meal. During a lot of my twenties I got away from that a lot by working too much and then just “grabbing something out” with friends which can get very monotonous week after week. Now that I’m married with babies I cherish our time around the table. It’s really everything I ever wanted. Sharing food and love and time with the people I love most in the world at home where we can eat what we really want, laugh too loud or break out it song every once in a while. Life at our table is good :).27 weeks ago

• Rebecca: eating is the great equalizer of all men, no matter their beauty, status or race. It is a univeresal way to engage with people, as it is the essence of life (with water and air, which are also needed for eating!). Eating plays to every sense, especially when we tune in. It is also a platform for personal transformation, as we are in relationship with food as much as we are in relationship with one another. Finally, its as way to celebrate our creator (God, whatever you call it), as we get the gift of food from God and we use it to carry out conscious actions that are in turn offering gratitude to God for the abundance and sustainence of life.27 weeks ago

• Hannah H: I love eating in because I get to experiment with ingredients and textures and flavor. I love cooking to because it gives me the opportunity to forget about what is going on in my life, put on some relaxing soft/alternative rock and just focus on this amazing dish that is in my near future 27 weeks ago

• Jules @ Lovely Las Vegas: I love the time of preparation, working closely with my husband in our small kitchen. Talking, cooperating, and creating. And finally to spend quality time eating a meal and eventually getting cozy on the sofa with a glass of wine or some dessert. Eating out is nice in that no clean up is involved, but the coziness and comfort of eating in with my love can’t be beat.27 weeks ago

• Ssanyu Burrell: I love taking a bunch of ingredients out of my fridge when I have no idea what I’m going to make, and creating a gastric masterpiece. I love tasting something when it isn’t quite done, but I can already tell how amazing it’s going to be. I love having a glass of wine or a cup of herbal tea while I’m stirring. I adore cooking with a lover, dancing and stealing kisses while we prepare a meal. Cooking at home is one of the most fun, inexpensive, and full-sensory experiences. It’s one of life’s most accessible pleasures.27 weeks ago

• Lola: It sounds like a wonderful book! My favorite part about eating, is the memories that are attached to the food. I like cooking because it reminds me of my family. The times that we spent preparing the food. The shared recipes. And all the laughter!27 weeks ago

• Kate: Oooh, ooooh. Looks like I just eked my way in. Just in time for the deadline! Thanks for spreading the Art of Eating In love.27 weeks ago

• Gisella: I like eating in because I get to cook for my family. I enjoy that. And I enjoy getting to make healthy meals. All the talking and laughing is a complete bonus. But that’s the part I love the most!27 weeks ago

• Manders: The part of eating in that I enjoy the most, is family. I enjoy cooking with my husband and my daughter. Teaching and sharing our traditions. And I just enjoy the whole family aspect of it. Being together. 27 weeks ago

• Lisa: It makes every day feel like an adventure!27 weeks ago