For weekday meals, I need options that are quick and easy. I sometimes joke that I write my cookbooks for myself . . . but there is a hint of seriousness in that statement. Being a working parent with kids who need to be driven to after-school activities as well as helped with homework, I no longer have the luxury of spending hours preparing a meal.
Enter the grill. Grilling is a fast way to prepare many dishes. I take advantage of quick-cooking cuts of meat like chicken breasts, lamb chops, flank steak, and fish fillets for my weekday meals. All you need is a fast marinade or a tasty accompaniment to make a simple dish a knockout.
I throw meats into a marinade before I take the girls to their volleyball practice or piano lessons so the meat has time to become flavorful and tender. Homework is often done in the kitchen so that I can help my girls while I’m assembling the meal.
To take the stress out of dinnertime, I try to keep my pantry well stocked. Just because I am putting a home cooked meal on the table, it doesn’t mean I can’t take shortcuts! Refrigerator staples like orange juice, soy sauce, and lemons are a great way to add flavor to just about any dish. For a quick fix, save a step by using a bottled marinade or other prepared food. For a side dish, pasta, rice, and even grilled bread are quick and easy ways to round out a meal.