How to Cook a Wider Variety of Foods (Brainstorm)

My friends and I started a brainstorming group in early 2007 and we meet each month. Each of us poses a question and we brainstorm ideas.  This has been so good for all of us.  I thought it would be fun to share some of the questions we discussed this past year.

How Can I Cook a Wider Variety of Foods?

• Plan out 2-3 days of meals on your calendar. Cook for 3 days and freeze the extras.
• Make a goal of doubling your 5 staple meals
• Host a recipe exchange at your house
• Put family recipes & favorite recipes together so you have one place to look for ideas
• Ask your family for ideas
• Take a cooking class to get motivated
• Commit to trying one new recipe each week [like Whip It Up]
• Let the kids choose what to make, let them help you prepare, shop and cook
• Make a theme meal i.e. Mexican, Italian
• Ask a group of friends to trade the recipes for their staple meals
• Go to a friend's house and teach her how to make one of your favorite recipes; then do it at your house
• Share cooking with a friend
• Try kids’ cookbooks for easy ideas
• Go to Super Suppers and get a pre-made meal; just pop in the oven
• Have a no-stress sandwich night
• Have breakfast for dinner
• www.allrecipes.com has an ingredient search
• Put a sticker in your calendar when you cook something new
• Think back to childhood dishes you liked and google the recipe 
• Make a dinner that has part of it already prepared
• www.savingdinner.com has shopping lists and recipes based on ingredients you have on hand
• Make a list of 5 recipes you would like to try, and put a list of the ingredients in your purse/wallet.
• Pick one food that you are curious about, and find a recipe that includes it.

Check out some of the brainstorms we created together.