Allaine Mark

The Distinct Dish Allaine Mark

There's a lot to consider when deciding what to make for dinner: likes, dislikes, budget, what's already on hand, how to make it healthy and fast... just to name a few. To get started, take note of where you're at now. How often do you currently cook dinner? If you cook once or twice a week, start there. If you make the leap from once a week to five nights in a row, you could be setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Start by making a plan for the two dinners you normally attempt, and build from there. Take advantage of the idea of cook once, eat twice and get up to three or even four meals without much more effort. For example, Monday's roasted chicken can be shredded for Tuesday's tacos or enchiladas, or even Wednesday's soup or chicken and vegetable potpie. Roasted vegetables from one night can be transformed into a vegetable lasagna the next. Meals often can be recycled or reinvented into stir-fries, Mexican (bowls, enchiladas, quesadillas, burritos), frittatas, pizzas, and soups.