1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Hi everybody. I'm Kelsey Nixon and this is Kitchen Prescription, 2 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: the podcast you listen to when you don't know what 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: to make for dinner. Today is episode one hundred. Welcome 4 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: to the one hundred episode. I can't believe we've arrived 5 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: at this milestone. It's been about two and a half 6 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: years since I started this podcast and have regularly been 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: chatting with you weekly about what to make for dinner. 8 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: I can remember starting on the floor of what we'll 9 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: call my Harry Potter closet. It was a home that 10 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: I lived in previous to this one, and you guys, 11 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: if you I think I showed a little behind the scenes, 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: but it was We lived in this house that was 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: one hundred and ten years old, and you would have 14 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: to pull the clothes back from the makeshift closet, and 15 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: then there was a door that you would go in 16 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: and I would have to get on my hands and 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: knees to get in the closet, and there was no airflow, 18 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: and I would sweat, and I had my Dingled dongkele 19 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: headphones and I would record after my kids went to bed, 20 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: And truly like the most humble of places to start 21 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: a podcast, although what's funny is not much has changed. 22 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: A little bit's changed, but I'm still recording in a 23 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,880 Speaker 1: closet where the sound quality is best. So one hundred 24 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: episodes later, here we are still standing in this closet 25 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: is a different one. But today we're going to walk 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 1: down memory lane a little bit and chat about why 27 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 1: I started this podcast and why I keep going, plus 28 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: a few of the best takeaways from the first one 29 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: hundred episodes, and probably the most important lesson I've learned. 30 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: But before we do that, let's discuss, like we always do, 31 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: a few recipes you could throw on your real plan 32 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: for the week. A fresh batch of recipes are hitting 33 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: Recipe Club in the coming days, and we are fully 34 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: embracing comfort food, soups, stews, chili's, you get it. So 35 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 1: the first recipe on my meal plan for the week 36 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: is this lemon chicken soup with Israeli couscous. This is 37 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: a recipe that I think is a really good soup 38 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: to transition from warmer weather to less warmer weather. It's 39 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: not like overly hearty, but it scratches the itch if 40 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: you're feeling like it's soup season. I'm ready for soup. 41 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: I really like it because it's got some light and 42 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: bright flavors in it. Obviously, it's got lemon in it, 43 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: it's got time in it. It starts with a mere paw, 44 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: which is really just carrots, onions and celery. It's simple. 45 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: I can make it with a shredded rotissory chicken. But 46 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: the thing I love most, and this is kind of 47 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: a tip for making any soup that you want to 48 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: have for dinner. For years, my husband and I went 49 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: back and forth about whether or not soup is counted 50 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 1: as dinner. It is, it is, but I had to 51 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: convince him. One of the ways I do this, especially 52 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: if you like to prep in advance, whether it's day 53 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: of or weekend before is you'll make the soup base, 54 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 1: the broth, the tomatoes, the vegetables, the seasonings, all of that, 55 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: and then just before serving, take some sort of grain 56 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: or pasta. Like in this soup's case, I'm doing Israeli couscouse, 57 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: which is the bigger couscoose. Sometimes it's called pearled couscouse, 58 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: and I spoon about a half cup of that into 59 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: everyone's bowl, and then I spoon the soup over the top, 60 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: and it just makes it hardier, and it does so 61 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: without having that grain or pasta soak up all the liquid. 62 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 1: So it's a really good tip for any time you're 63 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 1: making soup. A add a pasta or grain, and b 64 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: do it separate so that it's not all in the 65 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 1: same pot. And that's what we're so we're doing the seek. 66 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: I'm excited to make it. On Tuesday. We're gonna make 67 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: my chili lime tacos. I want to kick with ground 68 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: meat at the moment, ground chicken, ground beef, ground turkey even, 69 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: and these chili lime tacos include that. I think I 70 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: have turkey on hands. I'm gonna do turkey, but you 71 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: could do any ground protein. I've told you before. It's 72 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: one of those recipes that while you could certainly get 73 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: the ingredients at any grocery store if you are a 74 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: Trader Joe shopper. I have been making these four years, 75 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: and if you blindfolded me and sent me into Trader Joe's, 76 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: I could walk to each of the ingredients and check out. 77 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: That's how often I've made them. They continue to be 78 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: a hit with my family. They are super duper healthy, 79 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: and one of the things I like is that will 80 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: do the tacos, and then I almost always have extra 81 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: meat that I'll turn into a really good bridle bowl 82 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,239 Speaker 1: for lunch the next day or even for family dinner. 83 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: And then, speaking of ground meat, I didn't even realize 84 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: this Italian Bolonnese. We're also having bolonnes so wildly different 85 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:37,919 Speaker 1: from Mexican. We're going Italian, but a really good, hearty 86 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: meat sauce. I've got some fresh pasta that I picked 87 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: up at the grocery store, and I'm excited to serve 88 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 1: it with this really hardy meat sauce. I'm going to 89 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: double the sauce and freeze some because it's such an 90 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: easy thing to double, and it is so easy on 91 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: a night when you would typically just have pasta and 92 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: jarred sauce, you can pull out this. It's like even better. 93 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: So there are your recipes for the week. You can 94 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: find and print them all in Recipe Club individually or 95 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: in our weekly meal plan with an easy to follow 96 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: shopping list that's always broken down by recipe. We wrapped 97 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: up a giveaway this past week where I gave one 98 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 1: of you, Mallorie, a custom recipe binder filled with all 99 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: of my personal favorite recipes from Recipe Club. I literally 100 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:26,279 Speaker 1: took my binder and replicated it and it was so fun. 101 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: So as a final hurrah to my fortieth birthday month 102 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: where in the last few days of September, we are 103 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: going to give away one more custom binder plus a 104 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: handful of my favorite items in the kitchen. So you 105 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: can enter from now until September twenty ninth on Instagram. 106 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: My Instagram handle is at Kelsey Nixon and hopefully you'll enter. 107 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: We had such a good response to people wanting that 108 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 1: binder that I thought let's give another one away plus 109 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,840 Speaker 1: a few of my favorites. Remember that one of the 110 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: things that makes our recipes different in Recipe Club is 111 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: the when you print them, they're all formatted to look 112 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 1: like they came straight out of a cookbook because it's 113 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: important for me for it to look pretty. And we 114 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: always write our recipes very specifically. We include the ingredients 115 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: and the method. We make all of the recipes fit 116 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: on one printed page so that you're never going back 117 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: and forth. We always offer swap suggestions and make a 118 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: head steps and I would just love for one more 119 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: of you to win my favorite binder filled with all 120 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: my favorite recipes plus a bunch of my favorites, so 121 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 1: make sure you enter check it out on Instagram. Now 122 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: let's jump into the back half of the podcast and 123 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: discuss how we got to one hundred episodes of this podcast. 124 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: When I started working on this podcast, I had one 125 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 1: goal in mind, and that goal was you. I had 126 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 1: just spent the first decade plus of my career working 127 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 1: in food television with Food Network and Cooking Channel, primarily 128 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: hosting cooking shows, and in many ways it was like 129 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: the ultimate dream job. Truly, you guys, I got to 130 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: have dinner with Ininegarten. Find me a dream job better 131 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 1: than that. But as you probably have noticed, the media 132 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: landscape drastically changed over the past couple of years. We 133 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: went from cable networks like you know, DIY and What 134 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: Am I oh HGTV Food Network obviously, and we moved 135 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: to streamers a huge emphasis primarily in food television on 136 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: more prime time competition shows versus the original cooking shows 137 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: of standing starring instruction based cooking shows think thirty Minute Meals, 138 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: Barefoot Contessa. Obviously, we go way back to Julia Child, 139 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: Emiral La Gassi, and that really might that's where my 140 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: passion was. My passion has always been rooted in the 141 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: home cook and really helping her solve the problem of 142 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: getting dinner on the table. My first show was Kelsey's 143 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: Essentials and the show that followed was Kelsey's Homemade, and 144 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: both of those were rooted in teaching you how to cook, 145 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: elevating the basics, really focusing on those things that helped 146 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: you get dinner on the table. We had an amazing run. 147 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: We did seven collective seasons of both Kelsey's Essentials and Homemade, 148 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: but the budget for that type of programming dried up 149 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: from a network standpoint, and once that happened, I kind 150 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: of lost my way a bit. I was trying to 151 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 1: fit into a primetime competition mold that really my passion 152 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: wasn't rooted in. I loved watching those shows. I wasn't 153 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: able to scratch that itch of really helping people solve problems. Now, 154 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: with that said, I did do two seasons of Dinner 155 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: Takes All, which is a family food game show that 156 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: was so much fun. In the process of trying to 157 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: land a new show after Dinner Takes All, I really 158 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: felt a calling to start something completely on my own 159 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: without the support of a network or streamer. I was 160 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: kind of bit by the entrepreneurial bug and I started 161 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: Recipe Club in early twenty twenty two. Not only was 162 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: it a collection of recipes you could rely on without 163 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: the distraction of ads or long blog posters stories, but 164 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: at its heart it was a simple dinner system that 165 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: you could turn to week after week to help you 166 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: get dinner on the table. And with the recipes being 167 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: really important. All of the recipes are family tested, They 168 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: are well written, they are good, delicious, they are healthy, 169 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: they are balanced. But the emphasis has always been on 170 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: connection as well, the connection that happens at the table 171 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,079 Speaker 1: and the ritual that's formed as a result of getting 172 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:42,559 Speaker 1: to the table more often. So with the launch of 173 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: Recipe Club came the launch of the podcast, and I 174 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: remember asking myself and writing down in my planner. In fact, 175 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: I still have that page and I look at it 176 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: every so often. Is what is it that people need 177 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: from me? Do you need tips? Hacks? Do you need advice? 178 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: Do you need recipes? Do you need systems? And I 179 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: think ultimately what you needed was you needed dinner to 180 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: be more simple. So I decided popping into your ears 181 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,319 Speaker 1: once a week would be a great way to kind 182 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: of meet you where you were at wherever you were 183 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: in your day, at work, at home, doing chores, running, 184 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 1: shuttling kids around, but to take a minute and to 185 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,199 Speaker 1: chat with a friend about something we all have to do, 186 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,080 Speaker 1: feed ourselves and our people. I looked at what was 187 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: working in my own life, and I asked myself if 188 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 1: it would work for the members of Recipe Club and 189 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: the listeners of the podcast. And what was working for 190 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 1: me then and is still working for me now is this. 191 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,760 Speaker 1: It is my simple dinner system. I schedule a specific 192 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: time every week to map out my meals for the week. 193 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,080 Speaker 1: I set an alarm in my phone and I show up. 194 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: I look at the week ahead to determine how many 195 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 1: days I'm actually going to cook. Being brutally honest with myself, 196 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: I shot my own kitchen, looking at my fridge, freezer, 197 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: and pantry to see what needs to be used up. 198 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: Then I select rests to match how many days I'm cooking, 199 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: and work with as many gradients ingredients as I have 200 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: on hand so that I'm not wasting food. And then 201 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: I place an online grocery order and I cook. But 202 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 1: one of the reasons this system has worked for me 203 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: is that I did something called temptation bundling, or even 204 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 1: habit stacking. I attached something fun to something that felt 205 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: like a chore, and that fun was listening to a 206 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: podcast while I meal planned. For years, I always kneel 207 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: planned on Thursdays, and one of my favorite podcasts came 208 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: out on Thursdays, and I would always listen to that 209 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,000 Speaker 1: podcast while I'm meal planned. Now I'm doing it at 210 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 1: a different time because seasons of life change and chapters change, 211 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,439 Speaker 1: and now I do it really early on Saturday mornings. 212 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,360 Speaker 1: But that is kind of how the origin of this 213 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: podcast came to be. I focused on formatting this podcast 214 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:57,479 Speaker 1: to be this idea that if we started every episode 215 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: where we shared a few meal ideas that can get 216 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: your wheels spinning as you're mapping out meals for your 217 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: own family, and then we had a brief chat about 218 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 1: something that might be helpful for you that week. You know, 219 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: whether it was chatting about how you have dinner in 220 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: the car on busy extracurricular nights, or discussing what pieces 221 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:17,679 Speaker 1: of cook where I think you should own. We have 222 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: covered a lot, but I think if you were to 223 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: ask me to define the biggest lesson I've learned or 224 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 1: the most impactful thing we've chatted about over these past 225 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:32,560 Speaker 1: one hundred episodes, it would be to start small. Cooking 226 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:34,920 Speaker 1: dinner is something you will have to do for the 227 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 1: rest of your life, and depending on the season of 228 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 1: life you are in, it will likely feel hard in 229 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: some capacity. Whether you are cooking dinner for toddlers or teenagers, 230 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,959 Speaker 1: or you are a newly minted empty nester, there are 231 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: going to be obstacles. And even if you like to cook, 232 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,839 Speaker 1: which I of course I like to cook. I love 233 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,120 Speaker 1: to cook, and I actually think many of you like 234 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,439 Speaker 1: to cook, it's not the cooking that's the problem. It's 235 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: the deciding what to make for dinner that is so hard. 236 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: That's why I believe it, like truly, so strongly that 237 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:15,680 Speaker 1: it is worth the investment in brain space to set 238 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 1: up a system to make it easier. But anytime you 239 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: go to set up a system, I can't emphasize enough 240 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: just how important it is to start small. If you 241 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: are not in the habit of regularly planning meals, do 242 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 1: not plan to cook seven nights a week. Start with one. 243 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: Set yourself up to succeed, not fail. This podcast has 244 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: run alongside the greater experience that I've personally had with 245 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: building a business and becoming an entrepreneur, and I say 246 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: that phrase to myself almost every single day. Make it small, 247 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: make it smaller, Start small. Every single problem is best 248 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: tackled one bite at a time, including a dinner problem. 249 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: And you've heard me say it again. I'm going to 250 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 1: keep saying it this podcast. Those problems are going to 251 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 1: change often. That is why there is so much content 252 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: out there about simple recipes and making dinner, because the 253 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 1: problem never goes away, and that can feel overwhelming, or 254 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: that that can feel I don't even want to say, 255 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: it's never gonna feel exciting, like you're just gonna have 256 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: to do it, But you can be smart about how 257 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: you approach it. And once you get a system set 258 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: up in place, that's when you get to see the 259 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: benefits of it. The fact that you do enjoy gathering 260 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: with your family around the table and creating a ritual 261 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 1: so that when your kids leave the home eventually they 262 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: will look back and have memories about being around the 263 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,200 Speaker 1: table together. You'll teach your kids how to cook a 264 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: few things before they leave home to set them up 265 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: with some skills that will really benefit them throughout their life. 266 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,320 Speaker 1: So With that said, I want to thank you for 267 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 1: being here. Whether this is the first episode you're listening 268 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: to or the one hundredth, thank you for showing up. 269 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 1: I hope it it helps you make dinner feel more manageable. 270 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: I hope that it promotes connection between you and your people. 271 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: I hope that it promotes a ritual in your home 272 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,880 Speaker 1: of more home cooked meals around the table, and that 273 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 1: you recognize that that is an incredible gift to give 274 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: both yourself and those people that you've love so much. 275 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: All Right, one thing we started doing at the beginning 276 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: of this calendar year was finishing every episode with gimme 277 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: five five things that made my life easier or more 278 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: enjoyable that week. So this week I wanted to focus 279 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:40,360 Speaker 1: on the five items in my kitchen that genuinely make 280 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: it easier to run my kitchen. I have now swapped 281 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 1: out all of my half sheet pants with big sheet pants. 282 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 1: It's literally just called the big sheet pan. It's made 283 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: by Nordic Ware, who is known for being a leader 284 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: in sheet pants that won't buckle in an oven. That 285 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: they are the best, they will last you forever. But 286 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: they make a larger size that still fits in a 287 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: standard oven that is so great for sheet pan meals 288 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,640 Speaker 1: and all of the holiday baking you're about to embark on. 289 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: So I love it. Every time I use it, I 290 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: think I'm so glad I can make more food at once. 291 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 1: They are awesome. So number two the Epicurean cutting boards. 292 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: Not only do I love these cutting boards for their material, 293 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: which is a wood composite, which makes it super easy 294 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: to clean. You could even stick it in the dishwasher, 295 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,600 Speaker 1: they come with little rubber feet on them so that 296 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: the cutting board doesn't move round, and I just like 297 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: the way they feel under my knife. I like it's 298 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: so much better than a plastic board, and it's not 299 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: as heavy as like a big booze board, which is awesome, 300 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: but it's just not totally practical for everyday cooking in 301 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: my house. These boards are awesome, but remember, buy a 302 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: bigger pord than you think. At minimum, I would buy 303 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: a thirteen inch by seventeen and a half inch. It's 304 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,640 Speaker 1: so much easier to slice, dice and chop ingredients when 305 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: you have enough space to work with. I feel like 306 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:04,480 Speaker 1: most people are trying to cut on boards that are 307 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 1: way too small, and it makes the whole process more frustrating, 308 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 1: so get a bigger board. Next is my favorite piece 309 00:17:11,160 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: of quickware ever. It is a stob three and a 310 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: half court brasier with a glass lid. Lakers Say also 311 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: makes a very similar one, but I love, love, love 312 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: love the glass lid on this so I can see 313 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: what's going on in there. It is enamel coded cast iron. 314 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 1: I will have it forever. I will pass it down 315 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: to my children. I make everything from curries to skillet dishes. 316 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,360 Speaker 1: We have a whole category in recipe Club quick skillet 317 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,479 Speaker 1: meals that are mostly just one pop meals, meaning that 318 00:17:40,560 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: you don't have to dirty any other dishes than that skillet. 319 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,639 Speaker 1: And this one is the best. It is the perfect size. 320 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 1: It is comfortable to use because it has handles on 321 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 1: both ends. It's pretty enough that I can take it 322 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: straight from the stovetop to the table, whether I'm entertaining 323 00:17:56,119 --> 00:18:00,159 Speaker 1: in laws or friends, or just serving my family. I 324 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: cannot see the praises of this piece of quickware enough. 325 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:07,440 Speaker 1: I love it. It is my favorite ever. Next we're 326 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:11,160 Speaker 1: going to go with keeping my kitchen clean. I love 327 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: Force of Nature, which is an amazing product that does 328 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: electrolyized water to clean your house. It is as powerful 329 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: as bleach, but non toxic. It's amazing. I love the 330 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: smell of it, which mostly just smells like bleach, or 331 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:27,439 Speaker 1: as my kids would say, it smells like a swimming pool. 332 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 1: And I use it on everything. I use it on 333 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 1: my countertops, I use it inside my fridge. I sometimes 334 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,480 Speaker 1: it's a deodorizer. I use it in my garbage cans, 335 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: I spray it in my sink. And it is truly 336 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: a workhourse in my kitchen. And then lastly, I added 337 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:49,959 Speaker 1: this because it really does make me happy. I have 338 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:54,080 Speaker 1: these ed to home charcuterie boards, and what they really 339 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 1: are is serving boards, but they also sit propped up 340 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: behind my stovetop, and I just love the wood texture 341 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,200 Speaker 1: that it kind of brings to my very white kitchen. 342 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: I use them a lot for Recipe Club when I 343 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: am styling photos, but anytime I am doing a snacking 344 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,480 Speaker 1: board or we have people over, like I've done a bake. 345 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: I did a baked potato bar last week where I 346 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: pulled out stuff and I put everything on the big board. 347 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: It's just a good solid piece to have that you 348 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,960 Speaker 1: will use over and over again. So I really really 349 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 1: love those charcuterie boards. That's it. We wrapped up our 350 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: one hundredth episode. Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast 351 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 1: so that you never miss a future episode like we 352 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: talked about today. This podcast was created so that you 353 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: could have a quick twenty to thirty minute listen while 354 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: you map out your own meals for the week, and 355 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: to help you establish your own simple dinner system. I 356 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: have listened to a podcast for as long as I 357 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,160 Speaker 1: can remember when it comes to meal planning, and I'm 358 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: hoping that this podcast can be a good fit for 359 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: you as you fall into a system of getting dinner 360 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: on the table for your family more regularly. Remember we're 361 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:06,199 Speaker 1: giving away another Kelsey customer recipe binder along with a 362 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: bunch of my favorites, all of them that I mentioned, 363 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: and give me five this week. But you only have 364 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: a few days to enter. The giveaway closes this Sunday 365 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: on September twenty ninth, so make sure you enter before them. 366 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,479 Speaker 1: I'm so glad you're here. Until next time, happy cooking. 367 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 1: I'm Kelsey and look forward to chatting with you next week.