Sanity-Saving Holiday Hacks
Time-Saving Kitchen Tips That’ll Preserve Your Sanity
It’s super fun that most of us can get back to the holiday traditions we love this year - parties, school concerts, family gatherings, shopping, and vacations are BACK, even if they’re scaled down a bit. The downside? We’re all VERY busy. Give yourself the gift of taking some shortcuts and relieve some of the pressure . . . so you can relax and be merry (because nobody wants a scrooge in the kitchen). Here are my top kitchen hacks to save your sanity!
Go Semi-Homemade
Clearly, I’m very pro-cooking, but as I always say, there is NO SHAME in the shortcut (this is true all year ‘round!!!). In fact, a shortcut can turn a potential take-out night into a kitchen win. Why not try:
● Grabbing a rotisserie chicken and incorporating it into soups or chilis so you can reap the benefits of high-quality protein without spending extra time cooking it. Shred the chicken and stuff into lettuce leaves, add a squeeze of lime and/or some salsa for lunch.
● Starting with your favorite pre-made fresh or frozen pizza dough, then adding your favorite jarred sauce (spaghetti sauce is just fine!) and vegetable toppings plus a sprinkle of flavorful cheese to make it a meal! If you have kids around, why not let them make their own pizzas?
● Buying pre-chopped produce, especially those hard-to-manage vegetables (I’m lookin’ at you, butternut squash). Toss with a tablespoon of olive oil and roast for a side dish or make a double batch and add them to salads during the week.
Cook Once, Eat Twice
I advocate for batch cooking as an efficient way to keep up with healthy eating goals no matter what time of year. What is it, you ask? It essentially means cooking more than what you need in the moment so you can repurpose it later. For instance:
● Need rice, quinoa, or pasta for your Sunday or Monday night meal? Make a large batch so you can easily incorporate it in salads and grain bowls all week long. When my daughter was living at home, I’d make a couple POUNDS of pasta on a Sunday and keep it in the fridge – she’d microwave it with sauce for snacks, a quick meal after practice, I’d use it in recipes, etc. etc. etc. Now that she’s gone most of the year, I do extra quinoa or brown rice for me and my husband (and in much smaller quantities, lol).
● Making hard-boiled eggs? It takes the same amount of time to make six as it does to make two. Enjoy as a snack, crumble into salads, or mash with some avocado. Or try one of my favorites: Make a slice of toast, spread it with mayonnaise, cut a hard-cooked egg with an egg slicer and place the egg coins atop the toast. Sprinkle with salt & pepper and voila! A hearty meal (double this if you need more food). If you’re in a hurry, eat an apple alongside this, if this is dinner and you find yourself with more time, toss a salad.
● Baking sweet potatoes? Make a few more than you need, and you’ll have the base for an easy, customizable lunch, or even breakfast! Have you ever had a sweet potato spread with nut butter and drizzled with honey? #Trust. Psst – want to make this even FASTER? You can also microwave sweet potatoes and they’re delicious – scrub your tater well, poke a few holes in it w/a fork, wrap it in a paper towel, and microwave it in 2-minute intervals ‘til it’s nice and soft. Remember, the skin has awesome fiber and nutrients, so eat it up!
Sheet Pan and One Pot Meals
Raise your hand if your least favorite part of cooking is the clean-up. I feel you. Make it easier on yourself by searching for one-dish meals to seriously cut down on time spent doing the dishes. Here are a few to get you started:
● Create baking pockets by lining foil with parchment then crimping for perfectly roasted fish that stays juicy. Search the ‘net for “fish en papillote” to find recipes.
● Roasting your favorite protein on the same sheet pan with seasonal produce is a tasty, no-fuss way to incorporate a few servings of vegetables into a meal. Save even more time by buying pre-cut/cleaned produce.
● Still haven’t learned how to use your Instant Pot? No time like the present! You can get frozen proteins to the table fast with this safe and simple pressure cooker. An EZ 12-minute recipe: frozen protein [like chicken thighs] + favorite jarred tomato sauce (Rao’s marinara is YUM) + a jar of olives + some sliced green bell peppers = yummy cacciatore that will have everyone running to the table for dinner. Serve this over pasta of your choice, or even cauliflower rice! If you want to use plant-based protein, like dried chickpeas, soak the dried beans overnight and be sure they are covered with at least a cup of fluid [jarred sauce + some broth] before cooking in the Instant Pot.
Hope these help you keep the crazy away over the next few weeks! Why not share your hacks with all of us in the comments?
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