"Seven reasons I think home cooking is overrated."

By SHAUNA ANDERSON

When I was in my 20s, Friday night was my favourite night of the week. Long work lunches, after work drinks, dinner from a kebab shop or just peanut butter toast when you staggered home.

These days Friday night is still my favourite night of the week… but its not because it involves cocktails at a bar (though a few glasses of wine are a definite feature) it’s because Friday is the night I DON’T COOK.

Do you get me? Do you have that same small thrill as well? It actually starts for me on a Friday morning, as it is TUCKSHOP DAY. So I don’t have to make lunches (those with non-school aged kids will be wrinkling their brows in complete confusion right now for my total and overarching excitement at this but I guarantee its enough to make you throw a few cartwheels in the kitchen).

The simple fact is that home cooking is over-rated. Yes I know it’s nutritionally important and good for kids. BUT gimme my Friday night off please before you judge me.

Seven reasons I think home cooking is over rated.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by KFC. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

1. “What’s for dinner Muuuuuuuummm?”

On some days if I hear that one more time I am going to bury myself in meat and three veg. No one told me when we had kids that we would have to start thinking about what to have for dinner EVERY SINGLE DAY.

The lack of inspiration some days is mind numbing. Remember when it used to be easy on those days – can’t be bothered cooking for one? Grab some sushi, eat some toast, drive through the drive through.

Life with kids is a whole new game of oh-no-not-that-decision-again.

2. Cooking to order.

Complicated much? So with three kids sometimes it’s like being a waiter in a top restaurant.

Spaghetti seems easy huh? But no… Jasper will have spaghetti with Bolognese sauce please ma’am and extra onions. And for Sir? Well Odie wants spaghetti with butter and cheese. And the madam? She will have the spaghetti, but no onions and extra cheese please.

3. Cleaning sucks.

I’m ashamed to say it but part of the reason I look forward to Friday night takeaways so much is that my cleaning day is Friday. After hours spent scrubbing cooktops and mopping floors the thought of my benches being smeared with peas and my sink filled with saucepans makes me want to cry. (I’m actually not kidding!)

I jump teeny tiny skippy steps just imagining throwing the takeaway containers in the bin, a quick wipe and voila cleanliness again. Well, until breakfast.

4. You can never anticipate when the hunger monster will strike.

Just when you think you’ve got this timing thing sorted it changes.

One day they are under your feet in the kitchen demanding dinner at 5.30, the next day its 5pm. “But Muuuuummmm I’m hungry now,” they say as you are just about to put the roast in the oven. Can’t you wait an hour and a half? Not a chance in the world.

5. Time spent with my kids.

The week is a blur isn’t it? A rush of put-your-shoes-on, have-you-got-your-homework, I’m-running-late-for-work-kids, where-is-your-soccer-top?

Often you wonder whether you ever stop to enjoy each other’s company.

I really look forward to just sitting down with my family and being with them, talking to them, even sometimes watching those bloody annoying Minecraft videos on Youtube with them. Friday or Saturday night off kitchen duty gives me that extra time.

6. It tastes better than what I can cook.

Look I don’t expect you to all be as hopeless as me but cooking ain’t my forte. I can whip up a mean cottage pie and who can destroy a stir-fry right? (Hmmmmm * slightly embarrassed looking emoticon * )

7. You can make good quality food choices.

I was taken on a behind the scenes tour of KFC that I must admit surprised me. I had demonised all types of fast foods in my mind, and I can now admit I was pretty wrong. Apart from the total and complete dedication they have to cleanliness (I had to wash my hands about six times with a two tier type of washing – water and soap followed by an application of hygiene gel). The food was all prepared fresh, not frozen cuts of chicken, hand rolled in flour and spices in front of you and nothing like the amount of oil I imagined I would find. The grilled chicken was actually really yum.

So I am urging you all to embrace my big-night-in and enter the world of a night off. You won’t believe the difference it makes.

What’s your favourite thing to do when you get a night off from cooking?

If you want some delicious food ideas, flick through our amazing food gallery…

KFC takes lot of pride in its unique cooking process, hand-breading fresh chicken with The Colonel’s 11 secret herbs and spices throughout the day to deliver the iconic taste people know and love.

 You can register for a free Open Kitchen Day tour in their local area at www.kfc.com.au/openkitchen.