Who does the meal preparation at your house?

[Jim Franklin]

We two rarely sit down to a meal together, mainly Thanksgiving and Christmas with the kids, otherwise it is each one for themselves. Maybe we'll be eating together once Esther retires but we didn't this summer so no assurance. She often is out of the house before I know she is gone so I make my own breakfast, she eats at school and I make my own lunch and then since she most often does not come home from school until after 8 PM I have already fixed my own supper and then she fixes whatever she wants when she gets home. I have tried to prepare a few things such as fajitas, stew or chili that she may or may not choose to eat. I know this is not considered normal but whoever said that we were normal.

[Diane Likens]

Weekends I cook. Monday is usually leftovers from the weekend (I still seem to cook as though we weren't empty nesters). Tuesday Joe usually comes up with something really good. Wednesdays my office closes at 1 p.m. so I usually cook then, too. Thursday is Joe's day and if he doesn't want to cook Fridays I bring something home -- huge salads from my grocer's salad bar and fresh crusty bread from the bakery are the ticket.

Today will be buttermilk marinated oven fried chicken, loaded mashed potatoes and garden fresh green beans. And tomorrow? How about a stuffed braised pork shoulder with oven roasted root veggies (rutabaga/carrot/parsnip)?

I rarely cook breakfast anymore because I've never been much for a big breakfast. A toasted english muffin with citrus marmalade is the ticket. Joe's on his own if he wants a breakfast.

Our big meal on weekends is early afternoon. Weekend supper is every man for himself.

Reflecting on this, I've realized -- we've been here 5 1/2 years and have never eaten alone together at the dining room table. We use the dining room when we have guests. Otherwise, it's TV trays in the living room after dipping portions out of the pots. Part of me says we should change that. Another part of me says -- nah. Not having to set and then clear the table is really kind of nice.

[John Reilly]

Often Paul Newman comes by to prepare a meal for us. Once in awhile 5 Guys stop by. Mr. and Mrs. Fenn of "Fenn's Kitchen" prepare an awesome selection of fried rice, lo mein and spare ribs. We also enjoy sandwiches from Park Ave Deli. I think the Papagallos family makes the best lasagna. For breakfast, often General Mills is here.

[Peggy Gray]

When we got married, Bob said, "I'll do the dishes if you'll cook." That sounded like a good deal to me.

[Mike Schutz]

I do almost all the cooking. It is a real relaxing hobby for me. Esther is certainly as good a cook, but let's me have most of the fun.

In the last 16 months we have radically changed our diet. For nine months during testing, Esther could not eat gluten, soy, dairy, and many other things, and was primarily eating meat, vegetables and fruit. It really challenged meal preparation. She now can have soy and dairy, but we have cut out most highly processed food, eat no gluten, and eat organic whenever possible. The traditional recipes of our childhood are no longer an option.

[Nate Pruitt]

We alternate, however I grill exclusively and Sabrina bakes almost exclusively. When a meal requires something to be grilled I will do that even if Sabrina does the rest of the meal prep. We used to tag team more meals, but with three little ones age 5 and under we now have one keep the restless natives happy and contained while the other is in the kitchen. Of course the kids will ransack what they can, which is why the pantry is locked. On the occasions the lock doesn't secure we can wake up to odd sites like our daughter wiping greasy fingers on her bare chest with a bag of chips neatly dispersed around her.

[Gina Stevenson]

Sounds like you & Sabrina have fun at your house, Nate!