Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well

There are two words that should be a part of every cook's vocabulary "Quick and Easy."

No one wants to spend all of their valuable time in the kitchen cutting, chopping, mixing and measuring ingredients for the family meal. If you are going to get out of the kitchen in a hurry, perhaps you should learn to use your time more effectively.

Use your time wisely by planning meals for a week at a time. This planning may not come easy for you at first, but it will get better each time you plan your meals.

Once you have put your meals down on paper, look over your plans and make out your grocery list. It is also helpful to arrange your grocery list like the layout of the store. This will save you time while in the store.

Plan to shop only once per week. However, keep a pen and paper handy to keep up with items you may run out of between shopping trips to the store.

It is never a good idea to shop with small children. They can distract you from your mission and add unwanted items to your grocery cart.

Another rule of a thumb is to never shop when you are hungry. Studies show that you tend to buy more when you are hungry.

Organization is another key element in preparing quick and easy meals, because it can save you steps, time and money.

Remember that you don't have to backtrack when you are organized. Keep work areas free of clutter. Place all equipment close to areas where they will be used.

You might want to reserve a special area for those items that you use often. Clean out your cabinets and if you find items that you have not used in a year, donate them to a shelter.

You can speed up your pre-paration time by purchasing some items that are already cut up, chopped, diced or grated.

But, if money is a problem, some items can be cut, chopped, diced or grated while watching television with the family. You might make it a family affair. Family members can help pre-measure items and place in containers or self-sealing bags until you are ready to use.

Don't forget about those time- saving appliances around the house. Drag them out of the cabinets, dust them off and put them to use.

Perhaps the most efficient appliance in your house is a microwave oven. It saves both time and energy. You can cook and serve in the same container. You don't have to preheat or defrost ahead of time. You can cook foods quickly and have very little nutrient loss.

For more information, contact the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service at 887-2817.