When you start cooking a lot, you’ll get a feel for what ingredients you use frequently. I call them staples, and you’ll want to have them on hand all the time. You can save money and time if you buy these items only when they’re on sale and in large quantities so you won’t have to restock often. These nonperishable items---extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt, pasta, flour, rice, canned chicken broth, canned tomatoes, Dijon mustard, pepper, mayonnaise, honey---have a long shelf life and are the base of a meal. If you stock these items, your shopping trips will be considerably shorter because all you need to buy are fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products for the day or the week.
Another time-saver? Get your family involved in cooking. People support what they help to create. Let your family choose the day, the food, and the menu. Have them check to see what’s in the pantry, then write the grocery list. Your children and spouse can help you cook, and they each can have a task. Young children can find ingredients in the refrigerator. They can wash the vegetables or put ingredients in a measuring cup. Older children can use the grater, peel vegetables, and be taught how to safely use a knife.
What kitchen chores do you give your children now? If you hand off only the unpleasant chores, they’ll learn to associate the kitchen with drudgery. I realize that loading and unloading the dishwasher has to be done, but you also have to measure spices that smell great, cut up tasty ingredients that they can sample, and take interesting looking vegetables out of the refrigerator. If you get your children involved in the fun parts of the cooking process—not just the non-fun cleanup—they’re more likely to grow up looking forward to this task.
Cooking is easier than you think and you and your family are worth the time and effort it takes.
Simple cooking idea: The smaller you cut your vegetables the quicker they cook.
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