Episode 114 It’s Not About the Recipes
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For years when I went to speak at MOMS groups and PTOs people would say they couldn’t wait to get some new recipes. They were surprised when a talk about weeknight family dinners didn’t include recipes.
We have been conditioned to think that the secret to weeknight dinners is an arsenal of easy recipes, but my year of helping busy families has taught me that it is not about the recipes.
You may say that you found a great recipe last week and you served to your family, they ate it with minimal complaint therefore the recipe made dinner a success.
But the recipe was successful because you chose the right recipe.
For a recipe to be successful four things have to happen.
1-The recipe had flavors or ingredients your family likes.
2- You deemed the recipe easy or manageable in the time you have to fix family dinner.
3- You planned enough to get the ingredients and make it on a night you had enough time.
4- You actually cooked the recipe.
Through your phone you have access to millions of recipes. If all you needed was more recipes to make weeknight dinner work in your home, no one would struggle with dinners. The reality is you need the right kind of recipes with the right flavors and ingredients for your family. No two families are alike. Choosing recipes for your situation and food preferences is key.
When looking at recipes ask yourself three questions:
1-Will I have time to make this on a Tuesday night?
2- Is there something in the recipe that is already familiar to my family when it comes to flavors or ingredients?
3- What kind of day is this recipe for? Is it a prep ahead and use the oven or slow cooker day or is it a stand at the stove for 30 minutes day?
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Marie Fiebach is a married mother of four active kids. She helps busy families plan and execute weeknight dinner so they can recapture a little calm in the crazy. You can see her every week on KAKE TV’s Good Morning Kakeland or listen to the Feed Your Family Tonight Podcast.