We have something in common, dear reader.
Figuring out what’s for dinner.
We all have to do it. Whether we throw something on the stove, heat up leftovers, swing through the drive-thru, or place a last-minute DoorDash order, we all have to come up with a plan for suppertime.
Breakfast is usually easy or on-the-go, lunches are packed the night before or provided at school, but dinner? You’ll find dinner somewhere in all the evening chaos. After work and school, between homework and ballet lessons, before bath and bedtime lives the nagging question: What’s for dinner?
As I flip through cookbooks and scroll Pinterest, the pressure to attempt new dishes sets in. And, this is where I can get stuck. Between browsing recipes and taking a kitchen inventory, I get overwhelmed and want to default to a frozen pizza and a bagged salad.
But, here’s the thing.
I have a handful of tried-and-true recipes that my family loves. Why do I feel like I have to reinvent the wheel every week? There is nothing wrong with repeating your favorites. They are your favorites for a reason!
4 Reasons to Cook the Same Things
- You are building memories for your kids. When I think back on my childhood, I don’t remember the variety of our nightly supper tables. I remember having roast and mashed potatoes every Sunday with my grandparents. I remember the comfort of my mom’s chicken and rice casserole. I remember the smell of my dad grilling burgers in the backyard. What do you want your kids to remember about dinnertime as they grow up?
- You’ll become known for your recipes. When we have a potluck at church, everyone wants my friend Kayla’s mac and cheese. When I bake for a neighbor, I pull out the recipe card labeled Bri’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. The more you cook and serve the same things, the more you’ll be remembered for the dishes you make.
- It takes the guesswork out of dinner prep. When you are making a go-to, the need for checking the list of ingredients and instructions fades away. You know what you need and you know how to make it.
- You make it your own over time. Whether a loved family recipe or one you ripped out of a magazine, the more you prepare a dish, the more freedom you feel to change it up. Add another teaspoon of oregano. Double the cheese. Don’t add as much chicken stock. You will tweak it here and there until it becomes yours.
Your dinner table will change depending on the season of life you’re in. Of course, it can be fun to try out something new, but don’t be afraid to cook the same things over and over. There is something to be said for a worn recipe card and a dependable dish.
About Ashley D’Aubin
After graduating from The Dunham School in 2010, Ashley attended Louisiana State University where she received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from the Manship School of Mass Communication. She is now the Associate Admissions Officer at The Dunham School. She is married her high school sweetheart, Joel, and they have three children: Charlotte (4), Micah and Andrew (eight-month-old twins).
