Tam: Creativity with a Plan
I love coming home with a plan, all the ingredients on hand and a glass of wine. – Tam
Kitchen Hero Tam was that teenager every busy parent wanted: one who sought out cookbooks and cooking shows. For Tam, creativity and relaxation meet in the rhythmic slice and dice of a new recipe. With 20 years of family cooking under her belt, dinner ruts can be a real issue. Yet, Tam found a way to keep her menus fresh and interest piqued with the help of our meal plan service.
Name: Tam
Age: 57
City, State: Northville, Michigan
I cook for: my family, for joy, for fun.
Outside of the kitchen I: love my job working with elementary school kids, laughing with my family and being creative.
The kitchen tools / equipment I cannot live without are: cast iron skillets, my KitchenAid mixer and spatulas. I definitely want a closer relationship with my Instant Pot!
I cook because: it brings me and others joy, I find it relaxing – the more slicing and dicing the better – and it’s a great creative outlet for me.
Favorite Cook Smarts meal so far: I have so many favorites but I find myself making the Pork Schnitzel again and again.
HOW DID YOU LEARN TO COOK?
I learned to cook at a young age, it all started with my easy bake oven. I can remember cooking at home in my early teens and always interested in cookbooks and cooking shows.
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST COOKING CHALLENGE?
My biggest cooking challenge has been menu planning. My kids are 20 and 17 now, and as they were growing up we always had our meals at the table together. We’ve never really been the type of family that eats out much so that’s many, many years of menus.
I also don’t like to repeat a lot of meals; I always want to try something new. That’s where Cook Smarts really became a game changer for me. The biggest chore for me with cooking has always been deciding what to make. Now I let Cook Smarts do that for me. It’s like a huge weight has been lifted!
How has your cooking routine changed since starting Cook Smarts’ meal plans?
I love coming home with a plan, all the ingredients on hand and a glass of wine.
The biggest chore for me with cooking has always been deciding what to make. Now I let Cook Smarts do that for me. It’s like a huge weight has been lifted!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROUDEST KITCHEN MOMENT.
My proudest moment in the kitchen is when my daughter Emilia came home after a few weeks at MSU and told me she really missed my cooking. Looking forward to my second proudest moment being when Henry comes home from college next year and declares the same. He doesn’t know how good he has it!
WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR HEALTH AND SUCCESS IN THE KITCHEN?
My tips for health and success in the kitchen are a well-stocked larder, use seasonal ingredients and don’t use prepared food items.
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Tam. Your continual thirst to try new and exciting recipes is inspiring. We are so glad to take the burden of menu planning off your plate so you have more time in the day to engage your creativity and laugh with family over a new meal!
To join Tam and cook meals like her favorite Pork Schnitzel with Braised Cabbage & Apples, check out our meal plan service. You can get started for free!
