One of the best ways to save money and involve the whole family in one activity is to cook your own food. And by cook, I mean getting your hands dirty in the kitchen with some fresh ingredients! It’s not only very calming and mindful, it’s also a learning experience – you learn about yourself and food at the same time, all while saving money.
One-pot wonders
When I was a kid, my mom used to throw a bunch of leftovers into one pot and make a stew-like dinner we called “Hodgepodge.” It was always surprisingly good – but only because Mom had years and years of practice. These days, I’m a fan of chili: I can cook everything in one pot and let it simmer for a while on the stove. It’s quick and easy to make, too. There are tons of one-pot recipes on the Internet, so get crackin’!
Love the grill
Years ago, my brother gave me a George Foreman grill as a birthday gift, and for a while it sat in my cabinet. But this year, I’ve embraced grilling on it, and I can’t get enough. If you have a grill around the house, it’s a completely new way of cooking (and if you have a stovetop or Foreman grill like me, it’s year-round!) that opens up new cooking possibilities.
Keep track of new experiments with a homemade cookbook
We’ve talked about crafting your own cookbook as a great way to keep track of your recipes. Having your cookbook handy not only saves a lot of stress in figuring out what to cook, it’s almost like a scrapbook of cooking memories. Have your kids add in the book how they helped to make it something you can hand down to them.
Have any easy recipes you cook for yourself? Like us on Facebook and tell us!
