Hey chefs,

Welcome to the in-between week — that magical stretch of time where the fridge is full of half-used ingredients, the schedule is fake, and no one can confidently say what day it is.

It’s not Christmas anymore… but it’s also definitely not “new year, new routine” yet. And honestly? That’s a gift. This week is for easy, flexible, low-pressure cooking that keeps you fed without requiring a full personality reset.

Let’s talk about how to eat well this week without overthinking it.

---

This Is Not the Week for Ambitious Cooking

If you feel zero motivation to grocery shop, meal prep, or follow a strict plan — congratulations, you’re normal.

This week works best when you:

• Cook once, eat multiple times
  
• Lean on pantry + freezer staples
  
• Stop pretending every meal needs to be “a whole thing”
  

Think comforting, forgiving food that doesn’t punish you for improvising.

---

Low-Effort Meals That Still Feel Like Real Food

These are meals that adapt to what you already have and don’t fall apart if you swap ingredients:

• Soups & stews – forgiving, reheatable, and great for using odds and ends
  
• Sheet-pan dinners – protein + vegetables + olive oil = done
  
• Grain bowls – rice, quinoa, or couscous with whatever toppings exist
  
• Egg-based meals – omelets, scrambles, or “breakfast for dinner”
  
• Slow cooker meals – minimal effort, maximum payoff
  

If a meal can survive you forgetting about it for an extra 10 minutes, it belongs in this week.

---

Pantry-Driven Cooking Is the Secret Weapon

Before you shop, do a quick pantry + fridge scan. You’re probably sitting on:

• Canned beans
  
• Broth or stock
  
• Pasta or rice
  
• Frozen vegetables
  
• That one open jar you meant to finish weeks ago
  

This is the week to use the last of things instead of opening new ones. It saves money, reduces waste, and weirdly makes your kitchen feel calmer.

---

How to Avoid Food Waste (Without Trying Hard)

A few gentle rules:

• Stop saving “special” ingredients — now is the time
  
• Combine leftovers instead of storing them separately forever
  
• Cook one anchor meal that can stretch into lunches
  

You don’t need to be perfect. Just aim for less forgotten produce in the crisper drawer.

---

Don’t Plan a Whole Week — Pull Ideas Instead

This is where Cook’n really shines.

Instead of building a rigid plan:

• Search by ingredient (“chicken,” “beans,” “rice”)
  
• Filter by low effort or slow cooker recipes
  
• Save ideas you might want — not ones you’re committing to
  

You’re not planning January yet. You’re just answering the question:

“What sounds good tonight with what I already have?”

That’s enough.

---

One Cozy Meal to Anchor the Week

If there’s one thing worth making during the in-between week, it’s a warm, comforting soup that feeds you now and later.

At the end of this article, I’m linking a delicious crockpot chicken tortilla soup — the kind of meal that:

• Practically cooks itself
  
• Uses pantry staples
  
• Tastes even better the next day

It’s exactly the energy this week needs. Here is that recipe.

---

No resolutions. No rules. Just good food, low effort, and a little grace for yourself and your kitchen.

We’ll worry about schedules next week. 👋