Kitchen Basics > Time Savers | Printable Version |
Five Tips for Getting Supper on the Table in Record Time
We all know that cooking is one of the best things we can do to ensure that what we are eating is healthfully. When we cook for ourselves we know that the ingredients are fresh and that there is no added fat, sugar all salt; this cannot be said for prepackaged meals or take-out. However many people choose to eat out because they feel like it’s faster than cooking. The reality is, is that cooking at home is not only healthier, it’s faster. Think about it, even if you order a pizza you still won’t have it in your kitchen in less than 20 minutes. Try a few of these tips to speed up your suppertime routine.
1. Be organized. Having all the ingredients you need on hand it one of the best ways to ensure that you will have supper on the table before the whining starts. This may go without saying but choosing recipes with the fewest ingredients will help ensure that everything you need is on hand.
2. Use a slow cooker. Slow cookers can be used to make all sorts of meals from beef stew to oatmeal. These time savers require a few minutes of prep in the morning but your foods cooks all day so when you get home all you need to do is serve!
3. Double the recipe. Making twice the amount of food you and your family will eat in one night is a great way to cut out an entire evening’s cooking time. Leftovers do not need to be a dreaded word. Try making a large pot of soup and freezing half of it; you will be glad you have this warm and hearty meal on a rainy Monday night when all you have to is microwave it and supper is served. This also goes for sides like brown rice; if you are already making a pot of rice, double up and freeze what’s left.
4. Buy pre- washed, pre-sliced and pre-cooked where your budget allows. Often these foods are more expensive so make your own; as soon as you get home from the grocery store, wash your spinach, and chop up those green peppers. When it comes time for supper- the hard part will be done.
5. Skip the peeling. For foods like potatoes and carrots a lot of time can be wasted by peeling. As long as the vegetables are washed, there is no need to remove the skin. Bonus: This is where a lot of the nutrients are!
kitchen
Kitchen Basics
Tools and Equipment | VIDEO
Selecting A Chef's Knife
Essential (and Optional) Kitchen Equipment
Essential (and Optional) Kitchen Appliances
Time Savers | VIDEO
Five Tips for Getting Supper on the Table in Record Time
Simple Technique | VIDEO
Mistakes Every Chef Makes and How to Avoid Them
Commonly Used Cooking Techniques
Basic Knife Skills
The Basics
Quick Reference Guide for Commonly Used Measuring Units
Herb and Spice Substitutions
Food Safety | VIDEO
Food Safety Basics
Tips for Fresh Produce Safety
Cook & Eat
Think Outside the Box
Creative in the Kitchen
Lighten Up | VIDEO
Leaner and Lighter Cooking
Know Your Fats | VIDEO
Easy on the Olive Oil
Olive Oils-What’s the Difference?
A Chef’s Tips for Dining Out
Culinary Adventures
Take a Culinary Leap
A Cooking Community
Fresh is Best
Leftovers | VIDEO
The Right Time for Some Left Overs
Slow Cookers | VIDEO
Selecting a Slow Cooker
Adapting Your Favorite Recipes to a Slow Cooker and Other Slow Cooking Tips
A Few Words on Slow Cooker Safety
Hot Topics
Seasonal Foods | VIDEO
Cooking Root Vegetables
Super Foods
Cooking up Fruits and Vegetables
Gluten-Free
Tips For Cooking Gluten-Free
Living Gluten-Free in a Gluten-Loving Household
Sweeteners | VIDEO
A Sugar by any Other Name is Still Sugar
Tips for Moderating Sugar Intake
Artificial Sweeteners
Where Does Your Food Come From?
Where Did All the Farming Go?
Where Does Our Meat Come From?
Cooking w/ Kids
Picky Eaters | VIDEO
Attacking the Problem Behaviorally – Yours and Theirs!
Creative Food Solutions
The Power of You
Meal Makeover
Why Makeover?
School Lunch | VIDEO
Setting a new Rule for Lunch in School
Fun in the Kitchen | VIDEO
Cooking with Toddlers
Cooking with School-age Children
Cooking With Teens
Age Appropriate Tips to Get Your Kids Cooking
Sneak Attack
Teach a Little, Sneak a Little
My Kitchen
Navigating the Aisles | VIDEO
Shopping Around for Health
Stocking the Staples | VIDEO
Cooking Beans
Cooking Grains and Flours
Oils
Spices, Herbs and Vinegars
Shopping on a Budget
A Few Tips for Cutting Down Your Grocery Bill
The Must-Haves Food Shopping List
Grab and Go Snacks | VIDEO
Healthy Snack Bites
Snacks for the Sweet Tooth
Why, When, and How to Snack
Blogs
Inside Ana's Kitchen