So far in the series, we’ve talked about
Today, we’re going to talk about another way to simplify the cooking process.
If you followed along as I planned my family’s dinners for October (you can now view the video on my Day 1 post), you noticed that I repeat meals throughout the month. This is a really easy way to simplify, especially when making meals that are a little more complicated
And if you watched the video and listened closely, you may have already heard me share some of what I’m sharing today.
Make it Twice
If you are making a more complicated meal during the month and you’ve scheduled it for a day that might be less busy than usual, consider making double and freezing the other batch. For example, this month I am making homemade lasagna. When I have already pulled out all of the ingredients to make lasagna, I have found it is practically the same amount of work to lay out two pans on the counter and make two pans of lasagna simultaneously. Then I take the second pan, wrap it in foil, write on the outside so I remember what it is and how long to bake it (and at what temperature), and stick it in the freezer until it comes up on my meal plan again. That second lasagna night might be scheduled on a busier night, but that is OK because now all I have to do is stick it in the oven.
If the meal you are making has multiple steps, consider doing several of the steps earlier in the day or even the night before so that things are less hectic at dinner time. For example, I will be making biscuits and gravy in October, per my boys’ request. They make a big deal about how much they love my homemade biscuits. I have found that grating the butter with a cheese grater makes my biscuit dough come together perfectly. But this step takes longer than just cutting it into slices and blending it. Trust me when I tell you: it is worth the extra work. So while my little girl is eating lunch and my four boys are in school, I take a few minutes to grate the butter for the biscuits I’ll make later. Then I keep the grated butter in a container in the fridge until I’m ready to use it.
New recipes deserve at least a glance over before dinner time just to alleviate that end-of-the-day fatigue that sets in. I know that fatigue all too well!
If you are making a stew or goulash, you may want to double the recipe and freeze half for another day. The same is true for pizza or bread dough: make a big batch and freeze half. When you are ready to use it again, just pull it out a few hours ahead of time so it can thaw.
Be Committed
If you are already committed to cooking a specific meal on a particular night, you are far more likely to see it through than if you feel like it is still up in the air.
Also, do yourself a favor and write yourself some notes (I do it directly in cookbooks, but I also keep a “recipes” section in the Notes app on my phone) about preparing a recipe. If you have substituted ingredients before and it’s turned out better, help your future self. There is no point in trying to remember that information: you’ve got enough stuff to try to remember on a daily basis!
Let’s keep the momentum going. If you are planning meals this month or you try some of the tips I share, I’d love to see! Email me, tag me, or comment in a post so I can celebrate your success with you.
