Recipes To Fuel a Freelance Lifestyle
A transient career can mean a transient life which can mean not having a lot of consistent time to cook. Of course freelancers should be creating structure in their lives and meals are a great way to do it. That being said, time and money are of the essence for freelancers so it’s still valuable to have a few recipes under your belt that are easy, affordable, and versatile. These recipes only take 20-30 minutes to prepare, and can even impress guests if need be. Plus, the more you cook them, the more comfortable and confident you become with them, and eventually you’ll be able to whip them up without even checking a recipe. Nothing saves you more time than that.
ON THE GO
We all have days when we brush our teeth in the car. Oftentimes that means rushing out in the morning, but not always! Whether you need to make a whole meal or just a snack to fuel your busy day, check out these three simple recipes for your busiest of times.
One of the classic on-the-go breakfast options, you’ll have a hard time finding a simpler recipe than overnight oats. One of the great things about overnight oats is the variety. This particular recipe uses blueberries and almonds, but you can use any combination of fruits or nuts and get pretty tasty results.
If you make these for breakfast, we won’t judge you, but this is probably your mid-day (or late night) snack option. Plus, these two-step chicken nuggets are a guaranteed money saver. The recipe mentions the option to withhold the chipotle pepper if heat isn’t your forte.
Sometimes you’ve got a long day and won’t be back home for a while. If you need a quick meal that will keep you full for the day, this wrap is a great way to get in plenty of good fats and protein so you won’t need to stop at Krispy Kream.
EVERY WHICH WAY
Some of the toughest things to overcome for those wanting to cook at home are time and variety. Most of us can’t eat the same thing for weeks without getting bored, but there are only so many hours in the week so cooking something new every day isn’t an option. If you know how to make variations on the same basic dish, you can save yourself time and money without ever getting bored of your cooking.
Pretty much any version of eggs could work here, but an omelet works particularly well as a vehicle for almost any food. It doesn’t have to be a perfect French omelet (they’re surprisingly tricky), it can be a classic diner omelet. You can stuff that thing with ham, mushrooms, spinach, avocado, hell even ramen noodles.
Arguably the most versatile dish available (it’s basically any combo of meat and vegetables), stir fry has so many variations possible that you couldn’t get tired of it if you wanted to. This recipe has numerous suggestions for varietal options, and why not try them all. Getting excited over cooking is the best way to keep doing it.
Maybe the only thing that can challenge stir fry for versatility. If you have soup base (chicken stock, veggie stock, even water) and vegetables, just throw them in a pot and you’ve got soup. Few things are more comforting than a well-made chicken soup, and few things are easier to make too. If you don’t feel like you can have chicken soup for weeks on end, here are some ways to change up your soup routine.
SHOW OFF
Whether you’re looking to bring someone by for dinner or just impress yourself, there are a couple of simple tips to make the best version of any meal. First, use fresh quality ingredients. It is impossible to stress enough the difference it makes, and spending a few more dollars can make a marked difference in the tase of any dish. Second, incorporate colors into your dish. If you have the option to use a number of different vegetables, like in the second recipe we’ll talk about, it’s psychologically proven to be more pleasing.
You bring figs out, you’ve already won. This recipe only requires five ingredients, four steps, and about 20 minutes of your time. The process of making this looks a bit intimidating, but we promise it’s easy and approachable.
SHEET-PAN SMOKED SAUSAGE AND VEGETABLES
If you’re not yet an avid cook, your best friend in the kitchen is your oven. As long as you pre-heat appropriately and watch your time, you’re guaranteed easy, great results. An incredibly easy way to get that colorful plate we just talked about in front of someone, is with this awesome sausage and veggie recipe. Seasonality is another important variable when considering what to cook. This dish is perfect for summertime.
There is no better proof that we eat with our eyes first than this dessert. Once your ingredients are prepped, all you need to do to make this beautiful dessert is spoon in the batter and drop the fruit on top of it before popping it into the oven. Completely headache-free and guaranteed to drop jaws.
If you made any of these and enjoyed them, another really easy step to make your kitchen experience more fun and efficient is to invest in your tools. No need to pour hundreds of dollars into your kitchen setup. If you get a hold of a decent chef’s knife, pan, and cutting board, you’ll be well on your way to impressing friends and dates alike.
