4 Easy Ways to Enjoy Home Cooking Again
Whether you feel right at home in the kitchen or tend to burn the toast, it’s a good idea to master the basics of home cooking. Aside from being more affordable and sustainable, cooking can be a great way to connect with your loved ones, and share satisfying meals together.
Of course, even the most accomplished cooks can struggle with the meal preparation process, especially when they’re juggling dozens of tasks at home and beyond. If you’re looking to develop your meal prep skills, there are plenty of ways to make the process a little easier on yourself!
How to Enjoy Cooking: 4 Tips for Easy Meal Prep
Tip #1: Say goodbye to planning and purchasing with a meal delivery kit.
You’ve probably seen ads for meal delivery kits throughout Instagram and Facebook, and for good reason: These subscription services are perfect for those seeking gourmet experiences sans effort. Although the kits are a little more expensive than the average grocery store trip, you can save a lot of time on planning and purchasing, while still learning how to chop, dice, and fry from their expert chefs.
Here are some of the best meal delivery kits out there:
· Standard meals: Following the viral success of Blue Apron, many different companies and influencers have tried their hand at creating tailored home cooking kits, including Martha Stewart herself.
· Vegan and healthy meals: For healthier and lighter fare, options like Sun Basket and Purple Carrot can provide satisfying plant-based alternatives created for vegans and vegetarians.
· Smoothies and snacks: Just want some easy breakfasts and on-the-go snacks? Methodology provides nutrient-rich super-food options that purport to take under 5 minutes, and there are lots of smoothie delivery options out there too!
Tip #2: Develop your own “set” of 6-8 easy recipes.
If you really want to develop your own meal planning skills, it’s best to start as small as possible – and preferably, with uncomplicated recipes that you already know and love. By limiting yourself to a strict group of 6-8 rotating recipes, you’ll strengthen your core skill set and reduce the number of grocery store items you have to purchase.
For ideas on what to include in your “dinner set,” ask your friends and loved ones if they have any good recipe books you can borrow, or check out this post from Food Network. Once you’ve mastered them all, you can start adding new recipes to your repertoire!
Tip #3: Make your kitchen work for you, not against you.
A well-organized kitchen leads to better meal planning and execution. Make a Saturday project out of re-arranging your kitchen and purchasing any common kitchen tools that you lack, whether that means getting a decent blender or replacing your old whisk.
At Merry Maids®, we now offer organizational services that will help you declutter your entire space – and we have the experience to make your kitchen a little more efficient, too.
Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to offset cooking days with food delivery services.
We’ve all been there: You get home from work or picking up the kids, and you want to collapse right into the couch. On those evenings, it may be better to prioritize “me time” over cooking. Thanks to the rise of food delivery services like Grubhub and Postmates, you can pay for the convenience of restaurant-quality food delivered to your door.
Cleaning Services You Can Count On
While we can’t promise that your attempts at Baked Alaska will turn out perfectly, our home cleaning experts at Merry Maids® can promise that your kitchen will be spotless and sparkling before you start cooking. In fact, we back up all of our home cleaning services with a worry-free guarantee, so that you can focus on experimenting with delicious food.
Leave the clean-up to us and enjoy more moments at home! Call (888) 490-4227 to schedule our services.
