🌿By: Hey Ivy !
There was a time when cooking dinner felt like one more thing on my already endless to-do list. Between work, errands, and family, the thought of chopping, stirring, and cleaning up was exhausting. But over time, I found a few shortcuts that helped me fall back in love with being in the kitchen- without spending hours in it.
If cooking has started to feel more like a chore than a joy, here are five small changes that made a big difference for me.
🥕Use Frozen or Pre-Cut Vegetables
Frozen veggies (or pre-cut fresh ones) are my go-to when I need to save time. They’re perfect for soups, stews, and sauces. I generally choose frozen because they stay fresh longer and are less expensive when you factor in quantity for price. You still get the same nutrition and flavor, minus the tedious prep work.
💡Pro tip: keep a few mixed veggie blends on hand so you can toss together a quick stir-fry or hearty soup anytime.
🥣Prep Ingredients by Step, Not by Item
When I follow a recipe, I scan it first to see which ingredients are added at the same time, then measure and combine those ingredients into one bowl so they’re ready to go in together. This saves me time, bouncing between the instructions and the ingredients list for measurements, or rummaging for what you need at each step.
Prepped and ready- because shortcuts start before the stove turns on.
📃Create a Flexible Weekly Menu
I love planning weekly meals, but I don’t lock them into strict “Taco Tuesdays.” Instead, I write down five to seven meals and decide each day what my family might be in the mood for that particular evening.
This keeps grocery shopping affordable, avoids food waste, and significantly cuts down on our last minute desire to just click a delivery app for takeout.
Meal planning doesn’t have to be rigid, it’s just intended to make your week a little easier and keep some precious dollars in the bank.
🍲Prep and Freeze Soups or Sauces
When I make soups or pasta sauces, I cook them with our favorite seasonings and veggies, let them cool, and then freeze them flat in zip-lock bags. Once frozen, they stand upright in the freezer to save space.
Later, I just thaw, simmer and add whatever I have on hand, chicken, rice, or pasta. It’s like homemade “fast food” and it feels amazing to pull out a ready-to -go base on busy nights.
Bonus: serve with fresh bread or even in a bread bowl for a cozy dinner on a cold day.
🍚Cook Once, Eat Twice
Whenever I make rice, roasted veggies, or grilled chicken, I cook a little extra. Those leftovers become wraps, salads or sandwiches- great for lunches.
This saves time and money without meal prepping a dozen containers; just think ahead one meal at a time.
🌿Final Thoughts
Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. These shortcuts remind me that food is about comfort and connection-not perfection.
If you’re looking for ways to make life in the kitchen feel lighter, try one or two of these tips this week. You might find, like I did, that the joy of cooking is possible without locking yourself away in the kitchen-and that it’s even sweeter when shared with family.
🌿Because shortcuts should always leave room for joy-Hey Ivy