Hello everyone, this is Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, welcoming you back to Kathey Jo’s Kitchen. Everybody has a cooking story. Whether you have fond memories of baking cookies with Grandma, or you’ve burned a turkey (or two), cooking for most people is an intimidating process. For those of you who see it that way, you should feel reassured knowing that it’s not as complicated as it looks. Today at Kathey Jo’s Kitchen, we’ll talk about a few tips and tricks you can keep in the back of your mind while you’re approaching your kitchen cabinets and trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight. If you feel so inclined, share some of your favorite tips in the comments below with your fellow Kathey Jo’s Kitchen fans.
Center Stage
- A roasting chicken can be delicious with lemon rind, plus a few dashes of pepper, and salt.
- Build your meal around one dish, paired with a glass of wine, and you’re set.
- Buy artisanal cheese, finishing salts, and pasta ahead of time, and freeze them for future use.
- Label and store extra portions of entrées, sauces, and sides for hoagies, pizza, or soup.
- Track down no-cook proteins for pasta, pizzas, salads, and sandwiches, like rotisserie chicken, salumi, salmon, trout, and tuna.
- Learn and experiment with a slow-cooker. You’ll be surprised at the meals that can be cooked while you’re away at work.
Time Savers
- Have the butcher prepare your meat. Have the fishmonger to skin or fillet your fish. All you need to do is cook.
- Buy precut veggies.
- Specialty markets are full of ingredients like noodles, sauces, and spices that are ready to go.
- Keep precooked grain, marinara, and pizza dough on hand for those days when you don’t know what you want for dinner.
- Grill extra chicken breasts and roasted veggies beyond what you plan to eat for dinner. You can use the excess for pizzas, salads, and tacos.
- Simplify your prep time by having on hand – and knowing how to use – sharp, precise knives.
Do you have any tips you’d like to share? Let me, Kathey Raskin, know in the comments!
