| If you're anything like us, family meals can take | | | | ideal additions to your pantry. |
| too much time. Whether you're working full time, | | | | 4. Read the labels. All Made In Napa Valley |
| taking care of the kids or simply running errands | | | | products are all natural, so there's no mile-long |
| and enjoying life, finding time to whip up a fresh | | | | ingredient list to sift through. But other products |
| dinner every night is hard. But if you've been | | | | aren't always as simple. When you buy pre-made |
| replacing home-cooked meals with too much | | | | gourmet items like ravioli and risotto, take a look |
| takeout, you might be putting your health at risk - | | | | at the label before you buy. This will let you know |
| and your waistline! | | | | which items offer natural, healthy ingredients and |
| Celebrate 2008 by making a resolution to eat well. | | | | which are packed with preservatives, sodium and |
| With homemade dinners that are healthy, easy | | | | fat. |
| and never dull, you'll feel better - and look better, | | | | 5. Prep in the morning. After a long day, it's hard |
| too. To get you started, check out these six | | | | to come home to a fridge full of unwashed |
| no-fail tips from our own kitchens: | | | | vegetables and packaged meat. To cut down |
| | | | cooking time, try prepping your ingredients in the |
| 1. Scratch cooking from scratch. Sunday | | | | morning - fill a freezer bag with some easy |
| afternoon may be a great time to pore through | | | | chicken marinade and some chicken breast, wash |
| the cookbook, but for most of us, Tuesday night | | | | and trim vegetables, or simply ensure the kitchen |
| is not. Instead, try supplementing homemade | | | | is spic and span. Just 15 minutes in the morning |
| items with simple, flavorful pre-made sauces and | | | | can prevent getting started in the evening from |
| seasonings, so all you have to cook are the | | | | feeling like a chore. |
| basics. | | | | 6. Have a snack! If you come home starving and |
| 2. Make your meal plan manageable. If you love | | | | unable to think, take a moment to have a simple |
| to eat gourmet, it's easy to get carried away at | | | | little snack, such as a piece of fresh fruit or some |
| the grocery store. Planning out your meals for the | | | | fresh tomatoes drizzled with one of our balsamic |
| week - or at least a couple of days - will help you | | | | vinegar recipes. Not only will you feel better while |
| stay on track when shopping. Otherwise, you | | | | you cook, but you'll be less likely to overeat at |
| could come home with grand plans, expensive | | | | dinner - or worse yet, scratch cooking altogether |
| ingredients and no time to actually cook! | | | | and head for the nearest drive-thru window. |
| 3. Shop for versatility. Foods and ingredients with | | | | With these six simple tips, you can make |
| multiple purposes can help streamline your cooking | | | | weeknight dinners fun and easy. Chicken |
| process and make evenings easy. Chicken | | | | marinades, dipping oils, simmer sauces and more |
| marinade that serves double-duty as a dipping | | | | from Made In Napa Valley taste great - and are |
| sauce, bread dipping oils that can just as easily | | | | good for you, too. This year, make your New |
| dress a salad and savory sauces that work | | | | Year's resolution to eat well - the wine country |
| wonders with both pasta and sandwiches are all | | | | way! |