5 Tips to Make Cooking a Little Easier

I enjoy cooking for my family, and one thing I like more than cooking, is being prepared to cook.  I love getting in the kitchen and having everything I need, ready to go.  Below is 5 things I do that help me stay happy in the kitchen.

1. Prewash lettuce – We recently stated eating more salads and I wanted to make the process easier.  I wash my lettuce and place in a plastic container lined with paper towels.

2. Prep Veggies – I’m not a master chef, so chop veggies takes me a little more time since I really like having all 10 of my fingers. When I make my list and I know what veggies I will need for the week, I try (this does’t happen all the time) to cut them according to how I will use them in my recipes and store them in separate containers or baggies.  I also buy extra for making my trinity (onions, bell peppers and celery) and I freeze in freezer safe bags.  This comes in handy when make almost any dish.

3. Buy precooked chickens – I purchase the rotisserie chickens from Sam’s for many recipes.  One chicken can yield approximately 4 cups of shredded meat that can be used in tacos, soups and salads.  I normally separate the shredded meat into two cup packages and freeze until needed.

4. Buy fresh (in season) fruits – We make a lot of smoothies, so I purchase fruit like bananas, blueberries, strawberries, peaches and pineapple. I freeze what I need for my smoothies in individual baggies, and the rest we eat.

The best way to freeze strawberries and blueberries is to place them on a cookie sheet – try not to over lap or touch.  Freeze until solid. Once fruit is frozen, transfer into freezer-safe baggies. Frozen fruit can last up to 6 months.

5. Clean as you go – I hate having a sink full of dirty dishes while I’m trying to cook.  Or having no room to prepare foods because my counters are full of stuff I’ve used in my cooking. I make sure I clean as I go.