1. Why do you cook? Is it to save cash or is it recreation? Or something else?
I cook as another creative outlet, as a way to relax and a way to put a break between work and personal time. It's a nice ritual to come home and cook a quick dinner, or take the time to make a big meal on a weekend and try something new.
Cooking for myself is also much cheaper most of the time, especially this time of year when we get so many great vegetables in season.
2. Do you plan ahead? Like a weekly meal plan?
I tried to do a weekly plan, but it just didn't work for me. I like to buy groceries for 2 days at a time, at most, and I enjoy the trip to the store to see what's looking good and inspires me.
The only real planning I do is to keep a well organized list of posts and recipes in Evernote that I want to try at some point.
3. What kind of things do you cook usually?
This summer I've been cooking a TON of fish and fresh corn succotash(like a cooked corn salsa). In the cooler months I love making a universal broth for ramen, braising greens ,etc and have it on hand for a couple days. And lots of simple roasts with a primary protein like chicken or pork and a ton of vegetables.
Food52 and Saveur are my go-tos for great recipes and a little inspiration. If you're looking for something simple and jsut starting out, I recommend sidechef.com for great beginner recipes and tips from start to finish.
4. Do you follow any diet? Atkins, Slow Carb etc.
I like the slow carb foods and naturally gravitate towards that without having to follow a real plan. Beans, lentils, proteins and a ton of vegetables are always staples on my plate at home.
5. Do you have any life hacks, tips to be more productive as a cook?
Just like exercise, reading, social time, it's all about how you prioritize. Cooking can be a quick 10 minutes to make a simple frittata, or several hours for something more elaborate on a weekend.
Personally, if I'm working from home, I schedule a break to start cooking dinner in the afternoon. And I usually cook enough to have leftovers to play with for another day or two. It saves time and money to make larger batches.
Other hacks are focusing on one-pot dishes and the slow cooker in the winter. I love putting a bunch of stuff in the slow cooker in the AM and coming home to a done meal at the end of the day with no additional work needed.
I cook as another creative outlet, as a way to relax and a way to put a break between work and personal time. It's a nice ritual to come home and cook a quick dinner, or take the time to make a big meal on a weekend and try something new.
Cooking for myself is also much cheaper most of the time, especially this time of year when we get so many great vegetables in season.
2. Do you plan ahead? Like a weekly meal plan?
I tried to do a weekly plan, but it just didn't work for me. I like to buy groceries for 2 days at a time, at most, and I enjoy the trip to the store to see what's looking good and inspires me.
The only real planning I do is to keep a well organized list of posts and recipes in Evernote that I want to try at some point.
3. What kind of things do you cook usually?
This summer I've been cooking a TON of fish and fresh corn succotash(like a cooked corn salsa). In the cooler months I love making a universal broth for ramen, braising greens ,etc and have it on hand for a couple days. And lots of simple roasts with a primary protein like chicken or pork and a ton of vegetables.
Food52 and Saveur are my go-tos for great recipes and a little inspiration. If you're looking for something simple and jsut starting out, I recommend sidechef.com for great beginner recipes and tips from start to finish.
4. Do you follow any diet? Atkins, Slow Carb etc.
I like the slow carb foods and naturally gravitate towards that without having to follow a real plan. Beans, lentils, proteins and a ton of vegetables are always staples on my plate at home.
5. Do you have any life hacks, tips to be more productive as a cook?
Just like exercise, reading, social time, it's all about how you prioritize. Cooking can be a quick 10 minutes to make a simple frittata, or several hours for something more elaborate on a weekend.
Personally, if I'm working from home, I schedule a break to start cooking dinner in the afternoon. And I usually cook enough to have leftovers to play with for another day or two. It saves time and money to make larger batches.
Other hacks are focusing on one-pot dishes and the slow cooker in the winter. I love putting a bunch of stuff in the slow cooker in the AM and coming home to a done meal at the end of the day with no additional work needed.