THIS ON THURSDAY
08.27.26 | #68
Hi Reader,
There was a stretch of my cooking past where I measured a dinner by how complex it was. Multiple pots going at once, a sauce that needed watching, a list of ingredients long enough to require two trips through the grocery store.
I don't think that way anymore.
Now, I pride myself on pulling together the best meal I can that uses what I have on hand, has mainly fresh ingredients, and tastes out-of-this-world.
That's a tall bill.
What happened to the good enough meal
Somewhere along the way, lots of us absorbed the Martha Stewart ideal. A meal's worth is tied to how hard it is to make, how impressive it is, and how many swoon over it.
And guess what happened? Lots of us quit entertaining. Some of us pretty much gave up cooking, altogether.
Honestly, being invited to dinner almost feels like a thing of the past. Everyone wants to meet at a restaurant. And it's no wonder. No one has the time, energy, budget, or patience to spend all that time on a single meal.
How to make the switch
I think I've entered the season of everything I make has to:
- Be genuinely good
- Require low'ish effort
- Be healthy'ish
And guess what else? I've started having people over again. I lowered my own bar and cooking and entertaining began to feel fun again.
A few weeks ago, I concocted a sheet pan meal with tortellini, tomatoes, shrimp, olives, and basil. All in one pan, barely any cleanup. And it tasted like I'd tried.
The truth is, I didn't try very hard at all, and I've stopped thinking that's a problem. But I did promptly have two other couples over for dinner. Rave reviews. Probably because the whole evening feel pretty much effortless.
Since it's just as easy to cook on a good sheet pan as a bad one, here's my absolute favorite sheet pan. The quality really does make a difference.
I wrote about my simple shift and how to execute it, over on the blog.
🍅 You can read it here.
🩷 Warmly, Susan
Create a life you love.
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