10 Small Dinner Hacks
And thoughts on finding our way back into routine
September always feels more like the new year to me than January. Coming off a summer filled with a hodgepodge of camps, travel, and freeform days, I had been craving routine leading up to the start of school. While the anticipation of my kids’ new grades and classes came with big feelings (sometimes more for me than them) I had the first day of school marked on my mental calendar as the time when we would all feel settled.
Then, early September came as it always does, a reminder that starting a new routine is not like turning on a light switch. Or rather, it is exactly like turning on a light switch…when you’re still sleeping. Everything seems a bit too harsh and bright, and we need some time to adjust. Suddenly on a new school and activity schedule, our outer expectations have shifted, but our minds and bodies are taking longer to catch up.
Rather than immediately having our act together, the start of the month came with struggles to get out of bed, hectic afternoons, so many emails, and a haze of trying to figure out where dinner is going to fit into all of this.
Seeing September as a fresh start and a transitional time, I’ve been trying to come up with ways to make cooking a little more manageable as we find our way into a new schedule. To that end, I’ve gathered some small dinner hacks (don’t worry, none of them are a two-hour Sunday meal prep session). As you find your own footing this fall, I hope these steps can make a difference without being overwhelming.
10 Small Dinner Hacks (from planning to eating)
1. Keep a list of meals that everyone likes
I admit I have created this list several times and always forget to use it, but isn’t this the point of goals? Starting the year with a range of meals that work means you’re not planning off a blank page every week.
2. Utilize a shared grocery list
My husband and I use a shared iPhone note, including a list of all our regular stores and what we need from them. This saves so much time and energy on remembering requests and if one of us stops by a store, it’s all in there.
3. Double a recipe (or two)
If there’s anything that’s stuck with me from my college Econ classes, it’s economies of scale. Applied to the kitchen, it takes less work to make a larger amount of food than it does to make another entire meal. If it seems you can never make enough to last two full dinners (this is me), double a couple meals during the week followed by “leftovers night,” when everyone can choose their own adventure.
4. Double your sides and re-use them in a new way
Another version of the same hack: just make more of your side dishes. If you’re making grains, make a big pot. If the oven is already on, roast two pans of vegetables instead of one. Turn these into a different meal the next day with a new protein or sauce.
5. Use the bigger bowl (or pot, or pan)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve attempted to make salad in a too-small bowl or pasta in the wrong pot thinking it will be easier to clean up. Instead, it’s usually the opposite, leaving dressing all over the counter, pasta water bubbled over onto the stove, and a second dish I inevitably had to swap in. Do yourself a favor and just use the bigger bowl.
6. Prep while you’re already in the kitchen
If you’re already taking the time to cook, make the most of it. If the cutting board is out, chop some veggies for the fridge. If you’re waiting for a timer to ding, mix up a sauce or dressing for tomorrow.
7. And while you’re there, make lunches too
Another thing to do while you’re standing at the counter anyway: make school lunches for tomorrow. You’ll thank yourself in the morning.
8. Embrace shortcuts
As I wrote about in my last post, it’s okay to take the shortcuts. Grocery helpers like pre-chopped vegetables and minced garlic can make weeknight dinners more manageable.
9. Choose a regular slow cooker day
I can’t finish a September post without mentioning my favorite kitchen appliance: the slow cooker. Is there a day (or days) of your week when schedules just don’t align for dinner? A Crock-Pot meal makes it easy for everyone to grab their food at different times, keeping it warm for all. For my full ode and a recipe roundup, read this post from the archives.
10. Pick a take-out (or restaurant) day during the week
A friend once shared that she was so accustomed to only dining out on the weekends, it simply never occurred to her that it was something you could do on a weeknight. Here is your reminder that sometimes you just need to stop for pizza between activities or place a take-out order on your way home. Wednesday’s as good a time as any.
Some Good Stuff
A Good Recipe: Socca, from Bob’s Red Mill. I’ve been seeing some recipes floating around for this super simple chickpea flour flatbread. I ended up using this one right off the back of the bag, and it was as easy and delicious as promised.
A Good Read: She Knows Your Next Favorite Snack Before You Do, from the New York Times.
A Good Idea: A hot tip from It’s Your Kitchen: maybe we all need a rice cooker. Do you have one and love it, or does it sit in the cabinet? Let me know!