Deciding what to cook for dinner is one of the most challenging parts of my day. I make decisions all day long, every single day. But for some reason, I draw a blank when it comes time to putting together a dinner. Cooking for a family can be a daunting task. After all, how do you decide what to cook? Do you go with something tried and true? Or do you experiment and risk disappointment? Furthermore, do you want something easy or something that fits your budget? Or both?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some people are good at looking through the pantry and fridge to decide what ingredients are available. My mom was a master of this. Based on the ingredients she had on hand, she was able to put a feast together. Sadly, my brain does not work in the same way. Instead, I start with a recipe and then look in the cabinets for ingredients. What I don\u2019t have, I purchase at the store. This takes time. And planning. And most of the time, I am incapable of both. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last-minute meal planning involves way too much work. By the time my mind begins processing dinner options, my stomach is already growling, and the dinner hour is less than one hour away. I have enough stress in my life. If I could figure out a better system for feeding the bellies and expanding my bandwidth, that would be a win-win. Here are my top tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For me, meal planning starts with inspiration. And because I feel uninspired most of the time, it can be difficult to come up with something new and exciting every night. It\u2019s a great idea to have some go-to meals that are no-brainers but big winners in the family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keeping consistent ingredients on the shelf for these easy meals is a great idea. Favorite recipes can help direct thoughts for other recipes, too. If you know your family likes certain meats, ingredients, flavors, or ethnic foods, use this to direct you to some new recipes. The internet can be a great resource for discovering new meals and dishes and helping with meal planning. Most recipe sites have a search bar, where you can type in basic categories of interest to help guide you with meal preparation. If you are planning meals on a budget, find out what seasonal ingredients are in stock and discounted at the grocery store. For example, if green beans or asparagus are on sale, search for recipes online with these items as the key ingredients. The internet has also proven to be a go-to site for recipes for many people. Just use caution with too much web-surfing recipes. If you are anything like me, you may start out on a site searching a recipe, and next thing you know, you have been redirected down a rabbit hole of looking at unrelated \u2013 yet entertaining \u2013 articles and pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though we are now living in an age of technology, do not discount the old familiar cookbook. There are some amazing cookbooks with simple dishes with minimal ingredients. I feel like I\u2019ve hit the lottery when I trip across these recipes. Even better is when I have all the ingredients in my home and don\u2019t need to shop for any extras. Look for cookbooks that have weathered the test of time, such as \u201cThe Joy of Cooking.<\/em>\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Borrow favorite recipes from older generations. Nothing beats a recipe handed down from generation to generation. Family members from previous generations may have their favorite cookbooks that are still being published and updated. Sunset Magazine <\/em>has a ton of recipes and has published countless numbers of cookbooks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like to thumb through magazines at the doctor\u2019s office or in line at the grocery store, many have recipes tucked somewhere into the text. If any jump out at you, snap a picture of it with your phone. I have scored some winners this way! Of course, I have also cooked up some losers, too. It\u2019s okay to be adventurous, as long as you have a back-up pizza in the freezer! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Slow-cookers and one-pot recipes are wonderful easy cooking solutions. You can get the food organized and let the flavors mesh without the need to stand over the stove. If I can plan these meals for the week in advance, I find I am much less stressed the day of preparation and I save money as well. Planning works best after a good night\u2019s rest. On a day off with no time constraints, you can visit the store to purchase the necessary ingredients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When meal-planning, think about leftovers. These can give you an extra day of food! Leftovers can also be used for another easy meal, such as making a stir-fry. And, don\u2019t forget to research recipes of soups and salads. These are generally tasty and easy to prepare. Another huge winner in my home are pancakes. Yes, pancakes. I never hear any complaints when I\u2019ve resorted to these for dinner. The kids get a kick out of eating breakfast foods for dinner. We always get a lot of giggles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thought when considering dinner options is to opt into a meal planning kit. There are a zillion different companies out there that will deliver ingredients with their recipes to your home. Some are based on a subscription, while others are on a pay-as-you-use basis. I recommend the latter. Some of these meal kits are divine. Most are expensive. I enjoy them because they provide me with some wonderful new foods and ideas for future recipes. My family has enjoyed some of these, and others have gotten two thumbs down. As long as you can easily cancel this service, you have nothing to lose by trying it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Preparing dinner is never easy for me; but, by keeping some of these thoughts in mind, I find meal planning a bit more approachable. If all else fails, take-out is always an option!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Laura D<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Deciding what to cook for dinner is one of the most challenging parts of my day. I make decisions all day long, every single day. But for some reason, I draw a blank when it comes time to putting together a dinner. Cooking for a family can be a daunting task. After all, how do you … <\/p>\nThe Previous Generation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Slow Cooking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Leftovers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Meal Kits Delivered<\/h2>\n\n\n\n