I was raised to cook and clean by my mom (now I understand Aunt) Renee. I took home economics at Greenville Middle School. I made chocolate eclairs for a project. I made pasta primavera many times in high school. While at the College of Charleston I made pasta and pasta sauce, hamburgers, and rice and beans.
I make pastas, gnocchi, stir fry, meatloaf, salmon, fried cod, shrimp and grits, jambalaya, veggies and chicken with Indian sauces such as tikka masala, tacos, pork loin and veggies, bread, ect. I use fresh, frozen, or canned veggies. I cook the meat safely myself. I use premade sauces, now, most of the time.
My husband grills hamburgers, sausages, and veggies, often when it is nice out.
My kitchen does not yet look like an advertisement everyday, but I am cleaning the kitchen twice a week or more.
Since I was born, cooking and cleaning has been in the budget. Now, only, $250,000.00 can be held in a checking account. Eating out, having food prepared for 14 meals a week, as far as I understand, costs too much.