I made 3-course meals at home for a week, and it was simultaneously exhausting and inspiring

Paige BennettJan 15, 2024, 23:33 IST

I made three-course vegetarian meals every day for a week.Paige Bennett

I challenged myself to make three-course meals for seven days straight.
I made both complex and simple meals throughout the week, though I had to go grocery shopping twice.

I've loved cooking and baking for a long time but lately, spending time in the kitchen has felt more like a chore.

I decided to challenge myself to make three-course meals in hopes of snapping out of my cooking rut. I made appetizers, main entrées, and desserts every day for a week.

Here's how the challenge went.

I spent a lot of time brainstorming and menu planning.

Planning the simple and elaborate dishes took some time.Paige Bennett

I had to kick off my experiment with two desserts, since one needed plenty of time to chill.

Day one's meal consisted of salad skewers, mac and cheese, and pumpkin streusel.Paige Bennett

Thankfully, the weekend prep work meant I didn’t have to make a dessert on the second day.

Day two's meal included guacamole and chips, veggie nachos, and a tres leches cake.Paige Bennett

I was impressed with my day-three meal from start to finish.

I made a vegetable chili, cornbread with butter, and a pear-apple pastry on day three.Paige Bennett

On the fourth day, I was exhausted, and my lack of enthusiasm was pretty evident in my cooking.

Day four's dinner consisted of a salad, jalapeño-popper burgers with potatoes, and ice cream with fruit.Paige Bennett

On day five, I felt creative and swapped the simple app I had planned for an autumnal soup.

For day five, I made a pumpkin-pear soup, sheet-pan vegetables with a ricotta spread, and a lemon mousse.Paige Bennett

Day six fell on a Friday, so I made it into a date night.

Day six's dinner included bruschetta, a meatless carbonara, and a crème brûlée .Paige Bennett

With the exception of the appetizer, my final meal and dessert ended the week on a high note.

For day seven, I made cream-cheese-stuffed peppers, Buffalo cauliflower and tofu with zucchini, and chocolate-chip cookies.Paige Bennett

I learned a lot in this short week, including how to tap into my inspiration and excitement for cooking.

It could be hard to find the energy to make even simple dishes on some days.Paige Bennett

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