61 - Learning to Cook Simply

I love to cook. Used to go nuts with all sorts of exotic recipes, baking homemade bread, braises that took endless hours. Then I had kids. I mourned the time I had been able to squirrel away in the kitchen. Suddenly take-out became a regular fixture, we started eating frozen pizzas. All this because I was unable to adjust my mindset to a realistic set of cooking expectations. When I would manage to get a moment in the kitchen I would attempt to make something that took so absurdly long that it would inevitably lead to a great deal of frustration and dinner at nine o'clock. I started to think I didn't love cooking anymore. Somehow thanks to the gods of obvious I realized there was all sorts of fantastic food that could be make quickly, or in advance, even frozen for a later date. At least I figured it out before baby boy #2 arrived.

Here are some simple and satisfying dinners we've had lately...

1. Steak & Black Bean Tacos / 2. Pork & Veggie Kabobs / 3. Antipasta / 4. Pimento Cheeseburgers & Oven Fries / 5. BLT Salad & Garlic Bread