I like to go round the shops, look at the luxury meals, then figure out how to bake them myself! It's fun.

I agree we are living in a lazy age. Sis' fiance wanted to call in the decorators... to paint the downstairs loo! She had to teach him how to paint. Everything is "convenient", from decorating to food to basic car maintainance. Pay someone to do it rather than use your own hands. I hate it - but then I cook from scratch 95% of the time, we grow our own veg and DH can not only decorate but do the plumbing etc too.

My mother cooked "ifit" - "if it goes round you'll get a bit". Oh, how I longed for the day I wouldn't get a bit! I hate mince meals.

I tend to follow recipes - but every time I cook I change the recipe a bit depending on what we have in and what I actually fancy eating.