The Beginners Guide to Simple Cooking for your Family
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Do you wish there was a more affordable way to get a family pleasing dinner on the table than ordering takeout?
If you are willing to give it a try, you will see that making dinner can be easy and you don’t have to have a shelf full of cookbooks or be a classically trained chef to put together a yummy meal for you and your family.
I love simple cooking. It is something that I have done for most of my adult life. I guess I took it for granted that I even knew how to do it, it just comes easy to me. I love food and I really love food with a lot of flavor! I was never one to be ok with just making a can of soup. I always doctor it up to make it taste more like it came from a fancy restaurant. It's easier than you may think it is.
I will never forget the first time I made enchiladas for my family. That night I honestly couldn’t decide what to cook so I started scrounging around in the freezer and cabinets. I found some ground beef but we didn’t have any buns to make burgers. Then I found a can of enchilada sauce in the back of the cabinet. I quickly read the directions and saw that all I needed was that can of sauce, a pound of ground meat, some cheese and tortillas. Guess what? We had all of those things! So that is what I made. I made some rice as a side dish and in less than 30 minutes I was serving up a family sized dish of bubbly cheesy tex mex goodness! Everybody was so thrilled and started telling all of their friends that I make THE BEST ENCHILADAS! From that day on, everyone gets excited when they find out that it's enchilada night. :) I keep telling them that I just followed the instructions on the side of the can, but nobody cares. All they know is that it is one of their favorite meals. Now that to me is all the proof you need that dinner doesn’t have to be stressful or time consuming. Please let me know in the comments below if you have any stories like this one.
What is Simple Cooking?
Simple Cooking is recipes involving less than 10, or even better less than 5 ingredients to make the main dish and sides for a meal. Another goal of simple cooking is to not have a ton of clean up when you are done so only 1-3 pots and or pans are needed to complete this meal. The skills that you learn in this simple cooking method can be expanded on to make more creative or complex meals, but I’m gonna be honest, simple cooking tastes Really Good! And the family is always happy to sit down for these dinners. Well at least 95% of the time. We can’t please 100% of everyone 100% of the time. :)
How to get started with Simple Cooking
You are in a great place to get started. More than likely, you already have the tools and a few ingredients in your kitchen to make your first Simple Cooking Meal. Now pick a flavor that you are going to recreate. Is it comfort food, or possibly something that reminds you of your favorite restaurant? Remember there are so many easy shortcuts that you can find at the grocery store. Taco seasoning is the most simple way to turn ground meat into taco night in less than 20 minutes! A jar of gravy and ready made mashed potatoes can turn lunchmeat turkey into a comfort dinner in no time.
Whatever you decide to try, just read the directions and get cooking!
#1 Tip for Success in Simple Cooking
The #1 tip that I can give to you for success in simple cooking is the same tip that I give everyone in life... Don’t be so hard on yourself. The flavor is in letting go of perfection! You will make mistakes, but sometimes mistakes can help you discover something new. In cooking, you will always learn something from your mistakes.
It turns out that one of our boys likes broccoli, but he really likes it when one side is burnt! We have decided that we don't get upset about burnt food anymore, we just say that it's been blackened. LOL There is always some sauce in the fridge to doctor up any over cooked food and the microwave is there to put the finishing touch on anything that came out of the oven a little too early. But keep practicing and these go to helpers will become less and less needed as your skills in the kitchen get better and better.
Common Questions/FAQ About Simple Cooking
What is the easiest thing to cook?
In my opinion, pasta is the easiest food to cook. Boil Water, add salt, add the pasta, stir and cook for the recommended amount of time on the box. There is usually a range for the cook time (example 7-9 minutes). Using a fork or tongs or pasta scoop, grab a piece out of the boiling water at the earliest of the cooking time (7 min in this example) and take a bite. Is it perfectly al dente or do you and your family enjoy your pasta a little softer? If you want it softer, continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes. Once it is cooked to your likinging, drain the pasta into a colander and it is ready to serve with your favorite sauce or simply drizzle with olive oil or butter and add pepper, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese. Open a bag of salad and dinner is served.
What kitchen tools do I need?
Let’s keep the kitchen tools down to a minimum. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish with a frying pan, sauce pot, sheet pan, wooden spoon, tongs, and a spatula (which is known as the “flipper” in my house).I strongly suggest getting a digital meat thermometer. You can keep cutting your meat to see how pink it is or isn’t, but your food will taste much better if you take its temperature instead. I also highly recommend a slow cooker. You can find a simple one almost anywhere. There are alot of cool appliances and kitchen gadgets that you can get but I suggest that if you are trying to keep things simple and not clutter up your kitchen, make sure that your tools can do more than 1 specific task. For instance, my sauce pot doubles as an excellent meat tenderizer/flattener.
Where can I get meal ideas?
You can find Simple Cooking meal ideas everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes and your mind open. Everytime you see a commercial for a restaurant meal that makes you want to run out, think about how you might be able to prepare the same thing at home for a fraction of the cost. You can also find ideas on the internet or from friends and family, or you can check out my Secrets for Less Stress by clicking the button below.
Do you want answers to the never ending question… "What's for dinner?"
Secrets for Less Stress includes Easy Menu ideas and the shopping list you need to make these ideas a reality!
What ingredients should always be in my kitchen?
Here is a list of ingredients that you should never be without. Having these staples on hand make prepping for simple cooking a whole lot easier.
Salt
Pepper
Garlic (minced and or powder)
Italian seasoning
Olive oil
Butter
Your favorite condiments (ketchup, bbq sauce, mustard, mayo, soy sauce)
Your favorite salad dressing
Other ingredients needed will be specific to what you are planning on making in the next week. You will build your pantry as you get further along your Simple Cooking journey.
What is a sheet pan dinner?
Sheet Pan Dinners are some of my favorite Simple Cooking meals to make. There are usually only a few ingredients and only 1 pan to clean when you are done! Or if you prep like I do, I hate washing dishes, line your sheet pan with aluminum foil so you can just throw the mess in the trash!
Sheet pan dinners use baking or roasting to cook the entire meal, protein, vegetables, and starch, all on one pan at the same time. For example, you can cook chicken thighs, broccoli, and roasted potatoes all on the same pan at the same time. Place ingredients on the pan with a little olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and dinner will be ready in 30 minutes or less depending on the size of your portions. Remember, the smaller the pieces , the faster the cook time. :)
Here is an amazing deal on 2 sheet pans, 2 cooling racks, silicon mat, parchment paper for non stick and easy clean up if you are looking for one of these to get started on easy sheet pan cooking. You get all of this for $19.99 on Amazon.
What is a freezer meal?
Freezer Meals are an excellent option for those days that you have absolutely no time to cook. Grab a prepped meal out of your freezer and throw it into your slow cooker in the morning. That night, when you are ready for dinner, open the lid, give it a stir, and serve!
To make a freezer meal, either pick a day that you would like to do some meal prep or you can do what I like to do. When I buy meat in bulk, boneless skinless chicken breast for example, I take the 2-3 pieces out that I will need for that night’s meal and I will divide the rest into gallon size freezer bags. Then all you need to do is throw in some chopped veggies and whatever sauce you like to make the meal (for example BBQ, or Teriyaki), seal the bag, don't forget to label it, and put it in your freezer for a later date.
If you need any ideas on freezer meals, check out Six Sisters Stuff on youtube 15 EASY FREEZER MEALS For Instant Pot or Slow Cooker.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Simple Cooking
Remember, simple cooking is just that, SIMPLE. Don’t overthink it. You can do this and it will save you big on your food budget and your family will LOVE it!
There are so many resources available from YouTube to Pinterest, to ideas at the grocery store and ask your friends. There are so many home cooks that are more than happy to share one of their go to dinner ideas. Don’t stress about it. And yes, you can still have pizza night!
I would love to hear from you. Please leave any questions or ideas in the comments below. Also, if you have a friend that would benefit from this information, please share the article. And if you haven’t already done so, please click the button to join my email list and receive my FREE Have a Great Day Planner!