There are a lot of things about raising kids I haven’t figured out yet.
But there’s one thing I feel like I’ve pretty much nailed: What to cook for family dinner that they actually love to eat.
I’m a cookbook author and food writer, so you might be thinking: Well of course this is the case — you have a never-ending supply of creative recipes in your arsenal, so things are always exciting in your kitchen.
While this is true to some extent, for the most part it’s completely false. The family meals I have the most success with are without question the simplest ones, and probably look a lot like the ones you’re making for your own kids — pizzas, pastas, soups, burgers, tacos and golden-fried anything. And yes, while there is riffing involved within each of those main “food groups,” these are the dinners that get us through the week.
So consider the following no-recipe recipes. I’ve field-tested and honed them over the years into reliable go-tos. I hope they help you get through the week, too.