A newbie’s culinary hacks

Our old-school stove with our only pot and pan. Grandma would be proud.

OK, it’s hilarious that I find myself blogging about FOOD. Yeah, I earned my Girl Scout cooking badge back in the day — so I’m certified — but time in the kitchen has never been something I’ve enjoyed.

That said, here are some handy hacks I've been discovering. Some of them might seem obvious to you, but remember I’m new to this!

If you’re cooking anyway, make enough for leftovers 

Put small portions of more than one thing on your plate. Keep it diverse

Freeze things before they go bad.

Since getting out and going shopping is not cool when you have no immune system, look for organic produce you can order online and have delivered. (I've been liking Skarsgard Farms)

Balsamic vinegar adds zip — and nutrition — to all kinds of things.

Sprinkle raw or roasted nuts on everything. 

As best I can tell, you can use olive oil for just about everything. 

Make every meal as colorful as possible.  

Taking pictures makes it more fun. 

Keep a food journal, making note of what you've fixed, what works, what doesn’t

Feels like cheating — always handy in the freezer — but I love this stuff.

A tip from my friend Amy. I haven’t tried this one yet.