Trying to cook

I'm not a great cook but i can cook occasionally, some dishes here and there. However, when it comes to planning what to cook for the family this week (aka My FIL, Ww, Eliza & Me). It's quite a research thesis. (ok i'm exaggerating) still i had to do some research and do quite a bit of planning.

READING
It all started with reading up on healthy food to cook for Eliza - apart from the porridge she has been eating since she weaned. I'm trying to add more variety to what she has for her meals. Moreover, Sunday is no-porridge day cos we don't have time to cook the porridge in the morning. (we usually have 45mins to 1hr to get out of the house...seems like a lot yet not so)

PLANNING
Plan what to cook. I love western style of cooking and eating...foods like sandwiches, salads, cheese... Well...the rest of the family prefers asian styles...with the exception of Eliza. I try not to cook too cheesy stuff when Ww's dad is eating cos he can't take the taste of cheese. Then i have to plan such that the foods can last or which dishes can match. Somehow it's quite nice to have some soup to go along especially with chinese dishes.

BUYING
I love grocery shopping. Only problem...I need to plan what i need to buy, else i'll be making multiple trips to ntuc. This sunday is grocery shopping day...mainly so that the foods remain as fresh as possible. Stuff like parsley & spring onion don't have a long shelf life.

FEAR of STOCK
Really, so much foods need a good stock base to bring out the flavour of the food. And soups can't go without it. Somehow i can't seem to get around how stocks are cooked...like how do you store them, or it's just bones??, and i can freeze it? Gosh i am puzzled. I've checked out and read many recipes but i just can't imagine those chicken bones, or prawn shells etc and how it can make the water taste better. But i'm going to try to cook my first veg stock to freeze so i can cook soups & noodles & Eliza's meals.

So here i go...cooking for the family.