Okay, so full disclosure: lately I’ve been feeling a little stuck in the kitchen.
It’s not burnout exactly, but more like a creative block. It’s hard to admit cause this is my job, and I feel like I should be SO EXCITED about food all the time, full of boundless food creativity.
But truthfully? When most of my meals are tests, I don’t really get to enjoy a fresh, hot, satisfying dinner anymore. When it’s time for me to make a meal for myself, I’ve found myself staring at a fridge full of random groceries, feeling like I “should” cook something great, but not feeling excited about any of it.
But here’s what has been helping: a no-brainer dinner formula that’s been keeping me afloat: 1 starch + 1 protein + 1 veg + a few spices + a quick sauce = done.
It’s super flexible and takes all the pressure out of weeknight cooking. You can mix and match based on what you’ve got and what vibe you’re in the mood for - taco, Mediterranean, BBQ, whatever. It’s basically how I build most recipes anyway, just stripped back for real life.
So if you’re also standing in your kitchen at 6 PM wondering what to eat, I got you.
This week I’m sharing how I’ve actually been using that formula, plus 5 variations to keep in your back pocket in case you're in the same boat.
And as for me… you might see the vibe shift a little around here as I find my kitchen spark again. Maybe more real-life meals, maybe me cooking someone else’s recipe for a change. Don’t worry I’ll keep my good old ASMR, just adding some more to the mix with a little less polish and a little more honesty while I find my spark again.
PS: if you’re into this format, let me know so I can keep sharing more variations with new bases (like rice, pasta, toast, etc) in future editions.
the dinner, sorted cheat code
1 starch + 1 protein + 1 veg + some spices + a quick sauce
This week’s base/starch: potatoes. Because they're delicious, cheap, filling, and basically impossible to mess up.