MNN - Mother Nature Network

I’m all for anything that will help a family get a home-cooked dinner on the table, allowing family members to spend time together. The publishers of Parade!, the weekly magazine found in many Sunday newspapers, have created a magazine with that in mind. Dash “aims to help busy moms balance the demands of work and family with the daily dash to get meals on the table.” Content for dash is culled from Bon Appetit, Epicurious.com, Gourmet and Parade.

• Focus on cooking from ingredients. Recipes like Almond Muffins, Quickie Vinaigrette, Roast Chicken and Vegetables, and Pea & Mushroom Fried Rice all use fresh ingredients and pantry staples. Cooks can choose the quality of ingredients, and any of these recipes could easily use organic and local foods.
• Price per 4 servings of each recipe included. Of course, prices of ingredients can fluctuate, but cooks can get an idea of how much each dish will cost. There’s even a feature with three meals under $12.

For busy cooks looking to add a new recipe or two to their nightly dinners, Dash will have some ideas. You’ll have to weed through the recipes that can easily be made healthy and those that are sponsor-pleasing (Chicken Frito Pie), but it’s not too hard to do. If you come across Dash in your Sunday paper, give it a flip through.