At some time or another, most of us have fallen victim to the trap of the take-out menu. Now, don’t get me wrong, if it’s been “one of those days,” then I can certainly get behind an order of Pad Thai and egg rolls, but sometimes falling into the trap of not cooking can lead down a long and pricey path. I’m lucky enough to live in a household where both my husband and I genuinely love to cook. But, this wasn’t always the case. Starting back in college, I’d turn to fast microwave friendly meals of ramen or pizza pockets and completely ignore the fact that I had a perfectly good range and oven that was just dying to be used. And, although my college-aged self could blame a fast-metabolism for my poor food choices, I really didn’t have an excuse for not using the cooking appliances and tools at my disposal.

If you happen to have stumbled into the take-out trap, I’ve rounded up five hacks to help get you back in the kitchen and cooking in no time!

 

Make a List and Check it Twice: Have you ever been to the grocery store only to find you forgot your shopping list at home? Instead of playing the ingredient guessing game, keep your list on your phone and even share it with your spouse or partner! This way you can easily see what is needed and check off things as you add them to your cart. Maybe you happen to be in the veggie isle and aren’t sure if your cilantro is still good, well, there's an app and appliance for that! Samsung’s Chef Collection Refrigerator has view inside cameras that allow you to view what’s inside your refrigerator directly from your mobile device. Pretty savvy huh?

Keep Calm and Stay Connected: We’re all lucky enough to live in an age when digital connections are at our fingertips, and that doesn’t exclude the kitchen. I’m sure we’ve all experienced the fear of leaving the house, just to realize that we forgot to turn the stove off. Samsung is giving your anxiety a break and actually alerts you and allows you to monitor your range and convection remotely through the Samsung Smart Home app!

Finally, Prepare Those Pinterest Recipes: Pinterest can often be described as a black hole when it comes to absorbing our free time. But, what good is all that time if we don’t actually spend the time to execute the ideas that inspire us? Next time you're stumped on what to cook for dinner pull up your pin boards and pull a new recipe idea. This keeps cooking fun and spontaneous, who knows, you may find a new favorite meal!
 

Create a Kitchen that Inspires you: One of the biggest tips for new homeowners is to not skimp when it comes to the kitchen! We spend so much time in the kitchen space so it's only right that the final design should inspire you. While paint trends come and go, appliances are key components that should work with you rather than against you! Samsung’s Chef’s Collection is an inspired series that a professional chef would love to come home to. Each appliance is commercial grade and designed to be both elegant and seamless! The refrigerator comes panel ready which allows you to create a beautiful built-ins to match your home design for a sleek overall design.
 

Don’t Be Afraid to Learn The Basics: Many of us may not be the next Ina Garten, but that shouldn't stop you from being afraid to learn the basics. If you’re looking to start cooking, start small and try and execute a few meals a week. Another option could be to subscribe to a meal kit delivery service. Many of these are generated for beginners and supply you with everything you need, so there’s no excuse not to start cooking!

What inspires you to cook from home?

Cheers,

Birdie