I'm tired of all the things I know how to cook 🍳

Hi Emily and Marjorie,

"Canned chickpeas are your humble savior!" says Carey Polis, Senior Director of Content and Audience at GNI. "They cost about $1/can and are ridiculously versatile. Honestly, there's basically nothing savory they don't go with."

The theme here is work smarter, not harder. If the pantry staples are there for you to make quick meals, then these ideas for toppings, condiments, and spices to have on hand are there to level-up those weeknight dinners.

"Cheap and easy doesn't have to be boring or predictable (or a casserole). But it's hard to motivate yourself to make something new and shop for ingredients you may not have after a long work day," says Dawn Perry, author of Ready, Set, Cook; How to Make Good Food With What’s on Hand and founder of Superkind Cookies. "Instead of making a whole new thing, you can make a few small things whenever you have like 30 minutes during the week. Then use those to zhuzh up the stuff you already know how to make by heart."

I'd also add, since Emily asked about where to find recipes, that these pantry staples and ingredients could themselves be a great resource. Once you've narrowed down your favorites, check to see if the people behind the ingredients have written about how to use them. I'm thinking of recipes from Diaspora Co. (spices!), Rancho Gordo (beans!), or King Arthur (flour!). I've been eyeing Red Boat Fish Sauce's cookbook, too.
 

make the most of cooking time
 

Marjorie mentioned time (not having much of it, that is). You probably don't want to make a long, slow, braised meal when you're in a time crunch, but a one-pot dish or a grain bowl could be perfect. More thoughts from our experts:

"One-pot meals are a great way to incorporate fresh vegetables, protein, carbs, and they're pretty versatile," says Dzung Lewis, founder of the Honeysuckle YouTube channel and author of The Honeysuckle Cookbook. "I love making one-pot pasta or rice because they really stretch. They're budget-friendly, flavorful, and not to mention quick!"

Dzung's Recipe Rec: Easy Chicken Rice Soup. "This was something my parents made all the time when we wanted a cozy and warming but fresh, healthy meal."