Kate: A Home Cook Hero
I cook because I enjoy experimenting with a variety of new fruits, vegetables and cuisines. – Kate
Kitchen Hero Kate used to be in a dinner rut, cooking the same quick, less-than-healthy meals for dinner every night. With some meal plan inspiration and practice in the kitchen, Kate now experiments with different dishes, cut back on prep and cooking time, and serves up a variety of healthy, delicious dinners that her whole family will enjoy. The best part? She can chop an onion without shedding any tears! Read more about her Hero in the Kitchen story below.
Name: Kate W.
Age: 38
City, State: Chicago, Illinois
I cook for: myself and my husband (mostly), plus 2 kids, ages 5 and 3.
Outside of the kitchen I: work in finance for a Fortune 100 company.
My specialty dish that everyone always asks me to make is: spaghetti and meatballs (family recipe).
I cook because: I enjoy experimenting with a variety of new fruits, vegetables and cuisines; creating healthy, interesting meals.
Favorite Cook Smarts meal so far: Definitely the Maple-Dijon Panko Salmon! (First CS meal ever made)
HOW DID YOU LEARN TO COOK?
It’s amazing how much I’ve learned from Cook Smarts! Before Cook Smarts, I mainly followed recipes from my family, books, or cooking sites. Now my knife skills have improved greatly from the videos and tutorials, and I am much more confident using spices and combining flavors on my own with leftover ingredients.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST COOKING CHALLENGE?
My biggest cooking challenge in the past had been weeknight meals. My husband and I work long hours and we always seemed to be making the same quick (and less-than-healthy) dinners for the family. Now we make and eat a variety of fresh, healthy meals every weeknight.
Because of Cook Smarts we’ve tried a whole bunch of different foods and recipes we otherwise wouldn’t have and enjoyed them the vast majority of the time!
How has your cooking routine changed since starting Cook Smarts’ meal plans?
When I first signed up for Cook Smarts, I used the weekly prep section all the time, but now my knife and general cooking skills have improved so much that it really doesn’t take me that long to prep and cook our dinners after work!
In addition, we used to spend a ton of money at the grocery store each week, shopped mainly in the aisles, and wasted a good portion of the fresh stuff we did buy. Now our grocery store trips cost significantly less, we spend more of our time along the perimeter, and we rarely waste food. Lastly, the amount of seafood that we eat now (at home or out) has increased because of Cook Smarts expanding our horizons.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROUDEST KITCHEN MOMENT.
My proudest kitchen moment was chopping an onion (using the method learned in a Cook Smarts video) in under 1 minute. No more tears for me. 😉
WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR HEALTH AND SUCCESS IN THE KITCHEN?
We follow the motto “Trust Cook Smarts” so we almost always stick to the weekly menu. Because of Cook Smarts we’ve tried a whole bunch of different foods and recipes we otherwise wouldn’t have and enjoyed them the vast majority of the time!
Thanks, Kate! We’re so happy to hear of all the accomplishments you have made in the kitchen. It makes us so proud, and we’re pretty sure your family thinks you’re a home cooking hero with all the delicious meals you’re making!
To join Kate and cook meals like her favorite Maple-Dijon Panko Salmon, check out our meal plan service. You can get started for free!
