I do have a question. My amazing husband has been suffering from long covid so I’ve been taking on more responsibilities in the home and trying to make things more efficient so I don’t get burned out. Do you have any suggestions for NO CHOP meals (especially dinner). I want to keep feeding us nourishing, delicious food, but maybe with a little less overall work.
Also, your instapot bolognese is a true life saver.
Oh yes! The green spaghetti + braised chicken with pinto beans from simply Julia are two no chopping favorites. Also - frozen vegetables! Embrace them! And if your super market has a salad bar, you can use that as your “prep cook” and buy already chopped stuff. Just some quick ideas but I can think of more if you need.
So glad you’re figuring out how to make this sustainable for you and I hope your husband gets some of his energy back soon. So sorry you’re both going through this.
Hi Heather! I'm sorry to hear about what you and your husband are dealing with. I hope you don't mind a non-professional weighing in. I have a couple of ideas that I like to lean on when I need good food with minimal effort.
I've found that the food processor can save a ton of time and energy. Sometimes for soups, I'll just pulse some very roughly chopped veggies (esp the onion, carrots, and celery) in there if I don't mind the final product being a little "rustic." I also started using the slicing blade to create a mountain of veggie slices in a flash - you line them up vertically and use the pusher to send 'em through. I've used this technique on all kinds of veggies - carrots, fennel, celery, radishes, brussels, cabbage wedges, onions, apples (not a veg, but can fit in nicely with a salad). Then you can eat them raw, saute, put them in a soup, roast - it's pretty versatile.
Finally, I like slow roasting grape tomato halves (can do in advance) and wilting some greens with garlic (powder or the little frozen cubes from Trader Joe's if I don't want to deal with the garlic press) and making a simple frittata with parm. I also buy big jars of pesto at Costco and freeze them into 1-Tbsp cubes in a silicone tray, so that can be a nice little accessory on top to dress it up. No chopping, great meal.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. A new set of eyes can be really helpful. I love the pesto idea and am about to check out the link right now.
What a beautiful retrospective! Loved reading this. And cannot wait for your next cookbook! The first three get so much use in our kitchen. Happy New Year!
Thank you for all this loveliness, Julia, and for ALL the loveliness you've shared and created this year. I feel tons of gratitude for this newsletter and for you. Happy new year! (and: new cookbook!! Woohoo!)
My son recently asked me to cook more fish for our family dinners. I don’t love fish and don’t have much experience cooking and buying fish. Do you have family friendly advice for beginners? Thanks!
Very excited about the new book! Congratulations! My older son (19) started college in August and that is a sentence that, for most of his life, I didn't think I would every write. He is a neuro-diverse fantastically wonderful person for whom school has been a struggle. I only wanted him to go to college because HE wants to go to college and the application, acceptance, and decision process was so wonderful and affirming for him. He is a freshman at St. Mary's College of California and is killing it. It is the highlight of my year for sure but definitely one of the highlights of my life. All the hard work my husband and I put in and all the fighting we did for him paid off.
love all the photos, julia. so so much good stuff.
Thanks Jude 🧡🧡
I do have a question. My amazing husband has been suffering from long covid so I’ve been taking on more responsibilities in the home and trying to make things more efficient so I don’t get burned out. Do you have any suggestions for NO CHOP meals (especially dinner). I want to keep feeding us nourishing, delicious food, but maybe with a little less overall work.
Also, your instapot bolognese is a true life saver.
Oh yes! The green spaghetti + braised chicken with pinto beans from simply Julia are two no chopping favorites. Also - frozen vegetables! Embrace them! And if your super market has a salad bar, you can use that as your “prep cook” and buy already chopped stuff. Just some quick ideas but I can think of more if you need.
So glad you’re figuring out how to make this sustainable for you and I hope your husband gets some of his energy back soon. So sorry you’re both going through this.
Thanks for the reply and the reminder of those recipes. They are some of our favorites from the book but I hadn’t thought of them in that context.
Hi Heather! I'm sorry to hear about what you and your husband are dealing with. I hope you don't mind a non-professional weighing in. I have a couple of ideas that I like to lean on when I need good food with minimal effort.
This recipe is very easy but truly delicious - https://food52.com/recipes/66790-victoria-granof-s-pasta-con-ceci.
I've found that the food processor can save a ton of time and energy. Sometimes for soups, I'll just pulse some very roughly chopped veggies (esp the onion, carrots, and celery) in there if I don't mind the final product being a little "rustic." I also started using the slicing blade to create a mountain of veggie slices in a flash - you line them up vertically and use the pusher to send 'em through. I've used this technique on all kinds of veggies - carrots, fennel, celery, radishes, brussels, cabbage wedges, onions, apples (not a veg, but can fit in nicely with a salad). Then you can eat them raw, saute, put them in a soup, roast - it's pretty versatile.
Finally, I like slow roasting grape tomato halves (can do in advance) and wilting some greens with garlic (powder or the little frozen cubes from Trader Joe's if I don't want to deal with the garlic press) and making a simple frittata with parm. I also buy big jars of pesto at Costco and freeze them into 1-Tbsp cubes in a silicone tray, so that can be a nice little accessory on top to dress it up. No chopping, great meal.
Best wishes and take care!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. A new set of eyes can be really helpful. I love the pesto idea and am about to check out the link right now.
I clicked on the link and had to laugh. I know that recipe! I have it on my meal planning list as “tastes like spaghetti-os”. Thanks for the reminder.
Community! Love it!
woo hoo - new cookbook 2024~ Can't wait!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Can we time-travel ahead to the release of your new cookbook??? I’m SO excited...I know it’s going to be amazing, just like your other books. 🙌🏼
Awww thanks so much. I’m really excited about it 🧡
You’ll come to Portland, Maine on book tour - PLEASE?!?!
Oooo fun idea! I truthfully haven’t thought this far ahead but Maine sounds wonderful 🧡
What a beautiful retrospective! Loved reading this. And cannot wait for your next cookbook! The first three get so much use in our kitchen. Happy New Year!
Thank youuuuuu!!!
Thank you for all this loveliness, Julia, and for ALL the loveliness you've shared and created this year. I feel tons of gratitude for this newsletter and for you. Happy new year! (and: new cookbook!! Woohoo!)
Well this is so kind - thank YOU!
A new cookbook!! The best news! I use your cookbooks more than any others. I am so happy you decided to write another one. 🥳😍
Thank you so much Susan!!!!
Hi Julia,
My son recently asked me to cook more fish for our family dinners. I don’t love fish and don’t have much experience cooking and buying fish. Do you have family friendly advice for beginners? Thanks!
I sure do! I'll work on getting this all in a newsletter soon! thanks for the suggestion!
I am so excited for your new cookbook because I know I’ll have some amazing new recipes to try! Your recipes are always my favorites!
thank you so much!!!
Very excited about the new book! Congratulations! My older son (19) started college in August and that is a sentence that, for most of his life, I didn't think I would every write. He is a neuro-diverse fantastically wonderful person for whom school has been a struggle. I only wanted him to go to college because HE wants to go to college and the application, acceptance, and decision process was so wonderful and affirming for him. He is a freshman at St. Mary's College of California and is killing it. It is the highlight of my year for sure but definitely one of the highlights of my life. All the hard work my husband and I put in and all the fighting we did for him paid off.
mazel tov!! I hope he's having a great time. thanks for sharing this!!!!
How did you get the m&ms to spill out of the cake? I’d love to make that happen for my favorite almost 3 year old!
hi! I essentially did this: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/rainbow-surprise-inside-cake/ac4233e4-f5de-4750-ad6e-50fdf624d50b
I just did two layers though!
Thank you so much!