Katie Lee's Tip For More Efficient Cooking
Preparing quick and healthy meals at home can be a struggle after a busy day. Katie Lee, a mom, cookbook author, and Food Network star, is no stranger to the difficulties of coming up with dinner ideas at the end of a long work day. However, to ease that stress, Lee has compiled some tips for efficient cooking. "Our lives are so complex. Cooking shouldn't be another thing to worry about," she says (via Shape).
Lee's hacks, which can also be found in her newest cookbook, "It's Not Complicated: Simple Recipes for Every Day," boil down to kitchen staples, food prep, and strategic grocery shopping. With a few new habits, anyone can prepare dinner with the efficiency of the "Kitchen" co-host.
"I want people to feel empowered by cooking and to enjoy delicious dishes that make them happy," Lee shares. So, whether you're desperate for meal ideas or wondering how to stock your pantry, these tips have you covered.
Katie Lee makes cooking healthy easy
Everyone knows the feeling of not having the energy to make dinner. Maybe you really don't want to wash and shred the lettuce for a salad. Perhaps peeling a potato is just too daunting a task. Katie Lee's advice? Prep your produce as soon as you get home from the store.
"Cooking three meals a day has been exhausting for all of us," she tells Shape. "Having that well-stocked pantry makes it much easier. It really helps to wash and prep my produce when I get it home so I can just grab it and use it. It will go bad faster when you do that, but I use it a lot more quickly if it's prepped." Fresh, in-season produce can serve as a foundation for many quick and easy dinners. That being said, don't be afraid to chop up your produce and freeze it for later.
Other staple ingredients, such as pasta and canned goods, are good starting points for healthy meals. Top with some fresh herbs, experiment with different seasonings, and send your creation to the table. After all, a delicious dinner doesn't have to take hours of prep or use fancy ingredients.