A young couple (not accustomed to cooking, apparently) house sat for us recently. We told them we'd leave the refrigerator stocked and they were to feel free to help themselves. When we checked in after a day or two and asked if they were doing all right, they told us that there was no food in the house. What? We had left all kinds of food. Not so, they informed us, we'd only left ingredients and they couldn't find a thing to eat!

Recently, I came across a wellness advice column which suggested living according to the 80-second minute rule. I'm not sure what this means but did appreciate some of the practical tips such as planning your week's dinner menus in advance (and shopping accordingly - make a list) to lessen the feeling of dread or desperation as darkness falls and you begin to wonder what's in the refrigerator or cupboard that can be “whupped up” into a meal to feed the crew. Also, a good plan for dinner meals could keep you from settling for the quick and easy junk food options...just takes planning and a little time. Maybe that's when you need those 80-second minutes to squeeze in what it takes to save time, save money, reduce stress and enhance your life.

So, what do you do when the clock indicates it's time to start cooking dinner but you really don't have anything planned? Well, after asking around, we've discovered that each of us has a way around this dilemma. Bruce turns the heat up on the cast iron skillet, coats it with a tablespoon or two of olive oil, dices an onion and crushes garlic to sauté. From there his dinner can evolve in any of a number of ways (from a hash to taco fillings to marinara sauce over pasta). Cory puts a covered pot of water on to boil and adds rice to steam, then checks the refrigerator for possibilities. Maybe the next step will be chopping vegetables for a stir-fry, or just heating up a can of beans for beanie-cheese burritos con arroz). If she ever doubts the existence of God, she remembers the wonder of complimentary proteins in the union of beans and rice.

Grandma Barbara's first step to dinner is to boil up a pot of potatoes. Katie goes to the freezer for a chicken to thaw, when the dinner dilemma arises. Regan calls his solution, "Mountain Ramen." Fast, efficient and effective, he simply takes the cheapest priced carbohydrate in the grocery store, Ramen Noodle Soup, and prepares it by first carefully opening the packet at one end. He then removes the flavor envelope from the bag, opens it and sprinkles it's powdery contents over the Ramen Noodles, still in the pouch. He then closes the pouch by folding over the end. After shaking it vigorously to mix (without losing contents all over the floor) he eats the Ramen Noodles raw from the package. For the start of a more traditional dinner, Barbie makes dessert first, then whisks up a white sauce and puts a pot of water on to boil for pasta. Here is an excerpt from her Daybook of Helpful Household Hints.

I've started writing a daybook of helpful household hints. I was looking back through some of my pages and thought that the entry for August 1, 2001 might be useful since it had apples and Smoked salmon in one meal! - Love, B.

August 1 —(Recorded in a Daybook of Helpful Household Hints by Barbara A. Eberhart)

Cook dessert first.

Apple Crisp

Preheat oven to 375°

Mix 3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c flour
1/2 c oatmeal
3/4 t. cinnamon
3/4 t. nutmeg
1/3 c. softened butter

Peel, core and slice 4 large granny smith apples into a greased 8x8x2 pan. Cover with crumble mixture and bake for 45 minutes.

What's for dinner?

If in doubt make a white sauce and start heating water for pasta.

Tonight I added:
1 clove garlic (crushed)
lemon pepper
fresh basil
a handful of diced zucchini
a handful of diced yellow squash
2 handfuls of crumbled smoked salmon

I called it "Smoked Salmon Alfredo Primavera" and served it on Lemon Pepper Linguini, but that was just because I had those ingredients in the refrigerator. You can use whatever you have handy!

Plus, fresh garden salad with lemon tahini dressing, cooked corn and warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

It's October and there's a chill in the air but that doesn't daunt the football players and fans in the family. They will brave any weather for as long as it takes, for football.

Katie has planned a menu to feed a cold and hungry crowd after the game. It just takes a bit of organization and preparation. A good hot meal, cooked up in a slow cooker earlier in the day, and ready to dish up after the game will make you a star! Here's what you need to do early in the day:

1 - Make some hot Mulled Cider to take with you in a thermos.

2 - Make some Chicken Apple Curry (to serve 4) in the crock pot so it will be hot and ready when you get home! If you double the recipe, you might need to increase cooking time. Also put together a cheese and fruit plate because it's easy and can be brought out and served with a hardy loaf of french bread or peasant bread along with the hot curry and rice.

3 - Put together a dessert such as Baked Apple Crumble ahead of time, place it in the refrigerator, then pop it in the oven when you get home from the game. Serve hot with ice cream!