8. Try a few recipes

Each week, in addition to the basics, I cook two or three “real recipes” that require me to follow instructions or invest a little more time. Things like Italian Sausage & Eggplant Strata or Shepherd’s Pie or Chocolate Chili are complete meals and taste better after a day or two in the fridge. They require no additional work beyond a reheat, so they’re the perfect cooking and “making dinner” experience.

To summarize, here’s a formula for your Weekly Cookup: [raw materials for Hot Plates] + [2-3 recipes] + random snacks