Costco Connection - August 2009

family proud by providing healthful meals while spending a little time together to share the events of the day. Most, however, feel this is virtually hopeless. Well, it’s not!

In the last 13 years I have written five bestselling meal-planning books. I teach that modern-day meal planning is key to taking the weight off your mind when it comes to making dinner, but so is a little trick I came up with called the “five-minute, night-before dinner miracle.” Between my books and my show Fixing Dinner on Food Network Canada ( www.foodtv.ca), it’s caught on. People in all situations, even people who hate to cook, suddenly find their dinners coming together.

Believe it or not, a silly five-minute prep may be just what you need to get back to the dinner table. Why? Because it takes the task off your mind, which is 90 percent of the battle!

Here are the five rules for the five-minute family proud by providing healthful meals while spending a little time to- gether to share the events of the day. Most, however, feel this is virtually hopeless. Well, In the last 13 years I have written five bestselling meal- planning books. I teach that modern-day meal planning is key to taking the weight off your mind when it comes to making dinner, but so is a little trick I came up with called the “five-minute, night-before dinner PHOTODISC ONTINUED FROM PAGE 49

dinner miracle:

1. Brown ground beef, chicken or lamb and freeze it flat in a zippered freezer bag; this allows even a child to accomplish an assembly-only dinner, with pride, before a parent arrives home.

2. Cut, chop, marinate or boil something in advance for a child to assemble; you’ve added to his or her repertoire.

3. Spice a beef or pork roast that’s large enough to bake all day in the oven while you are at work; you’ve bought yourself peace of mind, extra meal starters and lunches.

4. Double up on something that is easy to freeze; you’ve bought yourself an emergency backup.

5. Incorporate a slow cooker into your list of essential weekday tools; you’ve bought yourself the tenderest ribs and an array of fabulous stews and soups in minutes.

Each of the above steps takes no longer than five minutes to prep.

If someone said to you, all you need to do is exercise for five minutes and you will be as fit as can be, wouldn’t you try it? So, try the dinner miracle:

1. Brown ground beef, chicken or lamb and freeze it flat in a zippered freezer bag; this allows even a child to accomplish an assembly-only dinner, with pride, before a parent arrives home.

2. Cut, chop, marinate or boil something in advance for a child to assemble; you’ve added to his or her repertoire.

3. Spice a beef or pork roast
that’s large enough to
bake all day in the oven
while you are at work;
you’ve bought yourself peace
of mind, extra meal starters and lunches.
4. Double up on something that is easy
to freeze; you’ve bought yourself an emer-

Get the kids involved

• Have kids take out ingredients and equipment so they learn where things are.

• Start kids young, giving them mixing and assembly tasks.

• Kids are more likely to eat a meal that they make.

• Start kids with easy meals that become their signature dish.

• The more you praise kids, the more they will cook.

• Reward the meal maker or helper by releasing them at cleanup.—SR

five-minute dinner miracle yourself. You may be shocked to see where it takes your health, while saving you a bundle and enriching your family time together. C

Costco member and author Sandi Richard is an award-winning Food Network Canada host and repeat guest on the Today show. Her Web site is www.cookingfortherushed.com.

The Costco Connection Costco members will find fine meats, fresh produce, spices and fixings (plus slow cookers) for their own five-minute miracles at their local warehouse.

Freeze now. Fresh later. Ziploc® Fresh Shield™ Freezer Bags deliver great freshness solutions for your bulk purchases, helping you keep your food fresh and delicious.