Weeknight dinners

Introducing recipes for uncomplicated meals

By Kim Carlson

February 26, 2008

The kitchen is full of myths, and one of them is that we don’t have the time to cook. Honestly, though, most of us do have the time, although scheduling it isn’t easy, I know. Sometimes — between getting home from work at 6 and attending a meeting of the fill-in-the-blank club at 7:30 and the kids are horrid with hunger and the dog chewed your new leather sandals and oh! there’s nothing in the refrigerator — cooking feels impossible.

Still, if we make cooking — even simple cooking — a priority, we can begin to steer our own ships. And if, by effort and determination, we learn to approach cooking with a sense of wonder and as an agreeable task, we can begin to restore food and preparing food to its rightful place in our lives: as an essential pleasure rather than an oppressive chore.

Noodles with Peanut Sauce makes a fine weeknight meal.

Need shoring up? Read Sarah Gilbert's blog posts. She’s determined and cheerful, and even if you don’t start — ahem — from scratch, as she’s done, you can take bits and bites from her experience and make it your own.

We’ve also assembled a new collection of recipes we’re calling Weeknight Meals. Here are dinners that are tasty, healthful, and not too complicated. Think Chipotle Chicken Tacos or Roll-ups with Spinach, Feta, and Olives. Or noodles: Friday-Night Spaghetti with Tuna and Black Olives or Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Chicken. Or rice: Risotto Primavera or Mexican Brown Rice with Pinto Beans.

We’ll continue adding everyday recipes to this collection, both seasonal favorites and anytime classics. Come check in often, and tell us what you think.

Attempts at better eating are reasons to celebrate. Let’s revel!