Finding an Essential Recipe for When Your Family is on the Go
by Tiffany King
I know how difficult it can be to juggle soccer practices with teenage boys, help with homework, or try to get things done with toddlers underfoot and still make time to get dinner on the table for a hungry family. The chaotic weeknights, especially during the back-to-school season, can push anyone to find themselves sitting in the drive-thru of a fast food chain feeling like a failure for not having the time to make a home-cooked meal.
That’s why over the years, I’ve developed some essential recipes that I can throw together at a moment’s notice. Eating at home can be easier than hauling the kids through the drive-thru on a busy night if you have a trusty go-to recipe.
What makes a good go-to?
- A recipe you know by heart.
Don’t worry if it’s something you’ve made a hundred times. In a pinch, it’s better to have a well-loved recipe that you don’t have to look up, than tire your brain trying to think of something new and end up eating out anyway! Pick something you won’t have to search for directions. You’ve made it dozens of times because it works! There’s nothing wrong with that. Even with the hundreds of recipes I’ve made over the years, I still have my favorites that I know like the back of my hand. Yes, that includes chocolate chip cookies!
- A recipe that uses ingredients you have in your pantry.
Let’s be honest—there’s no use knowing the recipe by heart if you don’t have the ingredients to cook it. That’s why I try to keep a stockpile of pantry ingredients that can be turned into a meal on any hectic evening. I always try to stock up on certain foods such as rice, beans, and pastas that can all turn into fast meals. If you’re out of something, improvise with that you have (or knock on a neighbor’s door… don’t worry, you’ll return the favor later!).
- A recipe that’s fast.
I remember the days of making dinner with a baby on my hip, preschoolers asking questions, and a toddler getting into trouble. Whether your evenings are the messy joys of young children or the crazy nights of carting teens around before they can drive, you can’t waste time with meals that take too long. It’s okay if the meal is simple, as long as it’s fast too.
- A recipe your family enjoys.
It’s always great if you can serve a family favorite. Now, you won’t please everyone, every time, but there’s nothing wrong with a repeat—especially if it’s something your family enjoys. Even if it isn’t their favorite, down the road, those go-to recipes will be what they long for when they’re homesick. Several years ago, my oldest daughter told me when she was studying abroad in China that she missed the Mexican rice and bean bowls I made weekly.
Bonus points if you can make something that can be eaten in the car! Throw something in a quick wrap or on some bread and make it a sandwich for when you’re really in a hurry.
I’ve got several of my go-to recipes in my new cookbook Eat at Home Tonight along with dozens of other simple recipes for busy families like yours!
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