During the school year, getting organized is no easy feat. From homework to activities and weekly menu planning, the to-do list can be quite impressive! In order to facilitate your daily organization and optimize your time in the kitchen for some delicious home-cooked meals, here are a few simple tips for you to try.

1. SIMPLIFY YOUR MENU (THE NUMBER ONE COOKING TIP)

Forget the three-course meals during the week; opt for easy-to-make recipes instead. The secret? Prepare a large batch of whatever it is you’re making, and freeze extra portions for suppers down the line.

Get inspired by our tasty ideas to make several meals out of a single recipe:

OVEN-BAKED HAM

Get your ham in the oven or crockpot early in the day and let it cook slowly with your favourite aromatics. Then, enjoy a comforting dinner of sliced ham with mashed potatoes and green veggies. Carve the rest of your ham and use it in a variety of other easy weeknight meals:

• Ham and arugula pizza on naan. A recipe the whole family will love and that’s as easy as 1-2-3 to make! On busy weeknights, opt for a store-bought tomato sauce and bagged shredded cheese. For a touch of exotic, try this Hawaiian pizza recipe, featuring ham and pineapples.
• Ham and endive salad. Feel like something fresh? This hearty salad by Stefano Faita, served in taco bowls, is as original as it is delicious!

2. USE MEAL-PLANNING APPS

When it comes to preparing healthy and delicious homemade meals, time is of the essence. Meal-planning apps are indispensable tools for helping you organize and maximize your time, both in the kitchen and at the grocery store. Thanks to the Tada! meal planner, available on the IGA app, you get access to loads of weekly recipes, as well as the complete list of ingredients you need to make them! And don’t forget that you can order your groceries directly online. Another great advantage to the app? It helps you save money on food! In fact, all the featured recipes are made using items that are on special in the weekly flyer.

And don’t wait until the last minute to use Tada! Get into the habit of planning your weekly meals whenever you have a few minutes to spare, like when you’re on public transport, waiting in line at daycare, or picking your kids up from school.

3. GET A HEAD START AND MULTI-TASK

Before deciding on a recipe, always check the prep and cooking time. If such information is not listed, make sure to read through the entire recipe before starting; some steps can be very time consuming. Next, make an action plan, determining which steps can be executed simultaneously. For example, as the meat and onions are cooking, start chopping your other vegetables. Handy tip: the smaller you chop your vegetables, the quicker they’ll cook!

Try getting into the habit of reading through your recipe the night before to see if any of the elements can be prepared in advance, such as cooking the rice, making the pie crust, or chopping the veggies.

Another strategy: preheat your oven as soon as you step into the kitchen, that way you can start cooking your dish as soon as it’s ready. Need to boil water? Get a pot on the stove right away. Small things can make a big difference!

4. HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED ON HAND

Avoid having to constantly retrace your steps in the kitchen. Before starting on a recipe, gather everything you’re going to need: ingredients, seasoning, utensils, cutting boards (one for meat/fish and another for fruits/vegetables), bowls of various sizes, casseroles, and small appliances. Have a cloth ready in case of a spill, and try to clean up as you go. Finally, have the garbage and compost bin nearby, or use a small container and empty it when done. There’s one way to save time in the kitchen!

5. USE YOUR SMALL APPLIANCES

Instead of letting them collect dust in the back of your cabinets, use your small appliances and save time while you’re at it:

• Use your food processor when making baked goods. For example, you can combine all the ingredients for your pie crust in just 5 minutes in a food processor.
• Use your food processor to chop any vegetables you want to add to your soup or spaghetti sauce recipe. Or make a quick pesto by pureeing nuts and herbs.
• Use your slow cooker to make chicken curry, bolognese sauce, ratatouille, or chili.
• Use your immersion blender to thicken a sauce or whip up a dressing.
• Use your rice cooker to make the perfect rice or oatmeal.

6. SHARPEN YOUR KNIVES

It might seem obvious, but it’s often neglected! You’d be surprised by how much sharpened knives or scissors can help you save time in the kitchen! Dull blades tend to crush your ingredients, rather than cut them. Look into the various tools and methods that can help your knives perform better, such as a sharpening gun, sharpening stone, or grinding machine. If you don’t feel confident sharpening your blades yourself, keep your eyes peeled for trucks passing through your neighbourhood offering such services.

Need a high-quality knife? Take advantage of our current vivo collection promotion to cash in your IGA stamps!

And there you have it—you’re now ready to handle the school year like a pro!