Eat, Drink and Be Merry

I love cooking. I really do! I watch the Cooking Channel, and the Food Network religiously, and relish in the Hi-Def images of all the wonderful recipes I hope and wish to create in my own kitchen.

Then, I am brought back down to reality, and my world of not having enough hours in the day is rearing it's head again... After all, even an hour to spare of watching an entire 2 episodes of Barefoot Contessa is a privilege, not a right....right?

If these are the types of dilemmas you face, then you are in the right place! On this blog, I share recipes and preplanning cooking initiatives to help save you time and energy, and maintain sanity through busy weeks of work, kids' activities, and QT with your hubby or BF. It actually IS possible to have a nice meal more than a few times in the week without sacrificing the things that make us and our families happy!

Here are some key things to remember:

1. Pre-Plan your menu for the week.
• This is a huge advantage. Taking 30 minutes to 1 hour on Sunday to plan the menu for the week helps to maintain organization in the week, calorie counts for dinner (for those who are counting...ahem, like myself), and good sound bedtimes! Sometimes meals that take longer than usual to decide on, get started on later, and kids are eating at or after bedtime. This equates to Major Mom Guilt... Momphoria FAIL!
2. Pre-Prep the ingredients.
• You would be AMAZED at how much time you save during the week by chopping up all the garlic and onions and parsley ahead of time! Pre-prepping ingredients from your menu for the week is a great way to get ahead of the game, and free up time for you to cruise my blog at the end of the night :-)
3. Save the gourmet for the weekend.
• I am SO guilty of this one... I find these awesome recipes, then actually believe that I will have the time and energy after working 8 hours, to come home, and prepare these extravagant meals in 30 minutes or less. The key to a seamless and stress-free weeknight dinner: K.I.S.S. "Keep It Simple Stupid" :-) There are so many recipes that are tasteful, healthy and quick and easy. Don't be ashamed of shortcuts!!
4. Always have wine!!!
• This is an important one. Don't forget to reward yourself for the awesome chef you are! Always have a great glass of wine to curl up to after you produce the most tastiest dinner EVER! Then have one more after the kids go to sleep :-)

Feeding your family is a treasured duty for us moms. We take pride in feeding our families and there's always that fuzzy feeling you get when your family is reveling in your culinary creation. I'm here to tell you that you can get those same "Thank you Mom! This is soooo good!" praises without sweating out your makeup and building up resentment towards your sports-watching-spouse while in a kitchen cooking for HOURS. Some awesome websites that I utilize to help me along the way for recipe inspiration are:

• www.skinnytaste.com
• www.food52.com
• www.recipegirl.com

Stay tuned to the blog for my recreations and originals of great-tasting meals and my awesome wine picks to reward yourself. After all, you are MOTHER and YOU deserve it!