As a single parent, the last thing you probably want to do when you finally get home is cook a meal. It’s often easier to grab takeout or order out a pizza. But, this can become a huge drain on your single parent finances and is often not a very nutritious choice, either. Below are some tips to make cooking at home less of a hassle.
First, you need to plan. Do you ever have the good intention to cook supper, but end up calling the pizza guy after taking a look in the fridge and pantry. You may have lots of food in there, but you can’t figure out one good thing to cook. Make a list of recipes that your family likes and keep your pantry stocked with the ingredients to make them. Then, all you will have to do is consult your list to see what you can possibly make.
Second, you need to have some recipes that go together fast when you have an extremely hectic day. Maybe you could freeze a casserole for such occasions. Or, you could use a recipe that only has a few ingredients that doesn’t take much cooking. You can make some tasty soups just by opening a few cans, dumping them in a pan, and heating.
Learn to do substitutions. Maybe you forgot to get sour cream at the store. You can make fake sour cream and save the recipe. The internet is a good source, or some cookbooks list common substitutions.
Slow cookers can be a great way to beat the dinner rush. You can put a meal on to cook in the morning when you leave and come back to a home-cooked meal.
You can partially make a meal beforehand, and then finish the cooking when you get home. One example is a cookbook called Make a Mix that teaches you how to make homemade mixtures that you can use as the basis for your main dishes.
You can make cooking less of a hassle and help your single parent finances by eating out less. Just use the tips above to make some tasty meals even when you are short on time.