“… no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.” Julia Childs.
Our time is valuable and our resources (money) are limited. So choosing a new recipe to try can be a bit scary but it doesn’t need to be. By following my tips you will find more success when venturing into the world of recipes.
- Know what your family likes. That doesn’t mean that they can’t try something new. What it means is, what type of ingredients do they enjoy? Such as, my family absolutely LOVES garlic. That means, no matter what the recipe calls for, I know that I have to add at least twice the amount. While we love garlic, we are not huge pork eaters. Unless of course it’s bacon, ham, ribs, or pulled pork. 😂 (We just do not care for pork chops. They don’t have much flavor, even when you add sauces.) So as you can guess, I rarely make pork chops.
- Consider your time. How long does it take to make the recipe? Look at your current schedule. (Keep in mind that like most of us, that may change as the year progresses.) Choose recipes based on the kind of meals you need. Are you into or heading into sports season? Do you tend to work late? Is meal prep time limited? Consider choosing slow cooker recipes for mostly hands-off meals. Find recipes that take less than 30 minutes start to finish. Don’t want or need a pile of dishes? Look for “sheet pan” or “one pan” supper recipes.
- Choose meals that bless you with leftovers. If the recipe says it feeds 4 and there are just 2-3 of you, unless someone is a very big eater, you should have leftovers. I still have a hard time cooking for just two instead of five. The plus is that I don’t have to cook everyday. If I choose recipes that provide ample leftovers, I find that I really only have to plan for 3 dinners a week. Because things alway pop up and I have leftovers to fall back on.
- One of our favorite leftovers is my Beef Tacos, Shredded Meat, Salsa Chicken, and Slow Cooker Kalua Pork. The leftovers for all four are very versatile. For instance, I can make a taco salad with the leftover taco meat. Or Chimichangas, nachos, or burritos with the leftover Shredded Meat, Salsa Chicken or Kalua Pork. I bet you can think of even more options that will please your family. (We just happen to like Mexican style food.)
- Look for recipes that do not require special ingredients. Look for ones that use ingredients you normally have in your cabinet. Or at least, buy occasionally. Save the fancy, time consuming ones for when your children have moved out and you want a challenge. (Or maybe never?)
- Keep in mind textures. Some people are put off if the texture is not right for them. Personally I do not like the texture of vegetables that have been cooked till mushy. I prefer them a bit on the al dente side. So if I have any doubts about the end result of the veggies, I just pass over that recipe. Yes, I may be missing out on something amazing, but if I can’t get past the texture, it won’t matter how tasting it is, I won’t eat it.
- Don’t try to add a bunch of new recipes at a time. Build most of your meal plan with recipes you know and have made before, then add one new recipe. It will make each week feel new and expand your recipes repertoire at the same time. And if the new one doesn’t turn out how you imagined, you can always have leftovers from the night before.
- Looking for recipes. When I’m in the mood for a new recipe I often find it on Pinterest. (Unless of course Pinterest sends it to me first.) I swear they send me at least 3 emails a day. I start by looking at the ratings and the number of ratings. But don’t make that your primary tool. I also like to read the comments. If I’m still curious, I click on the recipe and look at the ingredients and total time to make. If I think it looks interesting, I will pin it. But if I really like it, and want to make it sometime soon, I will print out the recipe.
- Have a way to store your recipes. If you find one that you and your family like, then you will probably want to make it again. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to make something but not being able to find the recipe. I’m a bit old fashioned. I like to print out the recipe I’m making so that I can add notes about changes and taste. If it’s a keeper, I place it into clear sleeve protectors and add it to one of my 4 three ring notebooks which are separated by type of recipe (i.e. beef, chicken, slow cooker, low carb, etc.). The protectors also keep the recipe clean when I’m cooking. (Yes, sometimes I’m a bit messy.)
- But most of all, cook meals you really want to eat. Seriously. Pick recipes that inspire you, the cook. If you are not excited about making it, you will be tempted to order pizza, or eat out. There are hundreds of recipes out there. You might have to spend some time figuring out which ones are right for you, but it’s worth it. So, bottom line, only cook the meals YOU want to eat!
Well, have fun exploring and taking chances. If you have any questions or some tips that work for you, please feel free to comment below or email me at nana@mykitchenandkin.com. Happy cooking!
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