The reality is that it’s necessary for most families to utilize both parents to provide a family income sufficient to meet rising costs and attempt to put money aside for retirement, and the kids education, creating a time crunch.

The surge of convenience foods and prepared entrees in the supermarket has certainly helped ease time requirements for busy families but at what price? Are the packaged mashed potatoes and the pre-cooked beef roast as flavorful and nutritious as one that comes out of our own oven? Do the additives and preservatives necessary to carry these foods from factory to table give us the same essence and taste as home prepared meals? What about health risks? How, as very busy people, do we find the time to cook at home?

Over the next few weeks I will try to address these issues and offer tips and techniques to make it easier to produce meals at home. Those of us that cook professionally must carefully budget our time and efforts to successfully prepare a complex menu for service.

In the meantime check out the Slow Food site.