I love cooking, but like most people, I'm always looking for ways to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with my family.
Here are a few tips to save time in the kitchen....
*Wash and chop your vegetables in advance-Chopping vegetables can easily turn a 30 minute meal into a 45 minute one. Prep for the week so you one less step when it's time to cook after a busy day.
*Use canned beans and frozen vegetables whenever possible- Canned beans save me sooo much time. Also, I always have a few bags of broccoli or corn on hand to quickly steam vegetables.
*Get some help-Get your child/ren to help mix ingredients or wash dishes. Sometimes my boys aren't as enthused to help in the kitchen, so I casually ask one to hand me an onion, and another to boil some water. Before you know it, they're cooking and chatting with me and don't even realize it. It works like a charm every time!
*Wash dishes as you cook-Who wants to enjoy a delicious meal only to come back to a sink full of dishes? That kills my mood Every. Single. Time. Rinse and toss dishes in the dishwasher as you go along.
*Make enough to last 2 days. I hated leftovers growing up, but things change when you're the one doing the cooking. I try to make enough spaghetti (which is always better the second day) and macaroni and cheese to last for 2 dinners. Also, even though I don't do this, preparing and freezing meals in advance can save even more time.