Psst! Want to know our secret to quick and easy home-cooked meals all week long?
Firstly, always be prepared. Set aside some time during the weekend to prep meals in advance and freeze them in individual portions. (On the I Quit Sugar: 8-Week Program, this is known as the Sunday Cook-Up).
Then just whip them out of the freezer midweek and pimp them with these easy hacks. Long day at the office? Kids playing up? No problem! Midweek meal times are now a breeze!
1. Add some fresh herbs.
We’ve all got a few sprigs of leftover mint or coriander lying at the back of the fridge. And they too often go unused.
Keep leftover herbs in a jar of water covered in a plastic bag in the fridge (or wrapped in a damp cloth) and sprinkle over anything. You can even pre prepare a gremolata style mix that will keep in the fridge for a few weeks.
Lemon + Cinnamon Lamb Shanks with Gremolata
2. Add a squeeze of lemon.
The best way to use lemon? Squeezed over literally everything. The sourness of lemons work to bring out the flavour of other tastes in your meal adding another layer of vibrancy.
Lemons are also packed with essential vitamins and minerals and their acidity can help with digestion. Win, win, win!
3. Invest in a spiralizer.
Looking for clever ways to add more veg to your meal (or a healthy gluten-free replacement to pasta)? This little kitchen gadget’s your new best friend.
Spiralise up a rainbow of veggies (it’ll only take five minutes) and serve up with slow-cooked meat or your favourite home cooked pasta sauces. Dolmio who?
Slow Cooked Italian Beef Brisket
4. Season to taste.
It sounds pretty obvious, but we so often forget about salt and pepper! Keep some good quality stuff on hand to sprinkle over dishes right before you serve. A good dash of EVOO can also take your easy meal up another notch.
5. Spring for some spring onions.
You’ll always see a bunch of spring onions in a jar of water at the IQS office. They keep for yonks and are perfect for snipping off and garnishing at meal time.
6. Try a yoghurt dressing.
Precooked and frozen curries and stews are delicious. But sometimes it’s nice to add a bit of freshness by way of natural, full at yoghurt. If you’re feeling fancy, add a touch of salt, olive oil, lemon, garlic or even cucumber and make a quick tzatziki style dressing.
7. Pickles everything.
Homemade pickles make an excellent addition to salads and sandwiches in the warmer months. But they can also add a tangy crunch to soups, stews and curries when we’re in the mood for something heartier.
Plus, they’re dead-easy to make yourself AND you get the added nutritional benefit of fermentation. Pass us another pickle, please!
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