HerMoney with Jean Chatzky: Episode 463 – Dinner With 10 Ingredients Or Less

In this engaging episode of HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, host Jean Chatzky sits down with Ali Slagle, the acclaimed author of I Dream of Dinner So You Don't Have To and the creative mind behind the Substack newsletter 40 Ingredients Forever. The conversation delves into practical strategies for simplifying meal preparation, reducing grocery bills, and making cooking an enjoyable and efficient part of daily life.

Introducing Ali Slagle and Her Culinary Philosophy

Jean opens the discussion by relating a common kitchen dilemma—running out of a crucial ingredient and making last-minute grocery runs. She introduces Ali Slagle as “the queen of fast and flexible recipes and using fewer ingredients in more ways,” highlighting Ali's expertise in creating simple yet versatile dishes.

Notable Quote:

“With food prices continuing to rise, it just feels worse every single time.”
— Jean Chatzky [04:13]

The Essence of "40 Ingredients Forever"

Ali explains the core concept of her Substack, 40 Ingredients Forever, emphasizing flexibility rather than strict adherence to a specific list of ingredients. Her approach encourages cooks to understand the roles of various ingredients and how they can be substituted to prevent waste and adapt to what’s available.

Key Points:

• Starting with Desired Foods:
  Ali advocates for stocking the kitchen with ingredients you love, such as chickpeas, pasta, eggs, garlic, lemon, and oil.

  “If there's food in your house that you really want to eat, you're probably going to eat it.”
  — Ali Slagle [04:13]

• Ingredient Substitution:
  She discusses how understanding the function of each ingredient in a recipe allows for creative substitutions without compromising the dish’s integrity.

Overcoming Cooking Challenges and Excuses

Jean and Ali tackle common excuses people use to avoid cooking, such as the complexity of meal planning or the hassle of cleaning up. Ali breaks down cooking into manageable steps and encourages experimenting with different methods to find what works best for each individual.

Notable Quote:

“There are many moments where you can make a decision of how that step works best for you.”
— Ali Slagle [08:16]

Streamlining Kitchen Essentials

The conversation shifts to practical advice on what ingredients and kitchen tools are essential for efficient cooking. Ali emphasizes having a well-stocked kitchen with versatile ingredients and minimal but effective tools.

Key Points:

• Flexible Ingredients:
  Ali lists proteins and vegetables as staples, focusing on texture and flavor to enhance meals.

  “Everything kind of is fungible at a certain point.”
  — Ali Slagle [06:15]

• Essential Kitchen Tools:
  Ali highlights the importance of having a large skillet, a good knife, a cutting board, and a spoon, advocating for simplicity over an abundance of gadgets.

Favorite Recipes and Practical Demonstrations

Ali shares some of her most beloved recipes, illustrating how a limited number of ingredients can produce delicious and satisfying meals. She provides a detailed walkthrough of her Crispy Lamb and Lemon Rice recipe, showcasing versatility and ease.

Notable Quote:

“I think it might be hard for a lot of people to put together on their own, but I think if you start with a recipe that looks good to you and you learn how to adapt it to what you need, cooking might be more enjoyable.”
— Ali Slagle [11:31]

Maximizing Grocery Budgets and Reducing Waste

Jean and Ali discuss strategies to manage rising food prices and minimize waste. Ali suggests tracking eating habits to identify frequently used items and adjusting shopping lists accordingly. They also explore the benefits of bulk buying and portioning to save money.

Key Points:

• Meal Planning:
  Ali recommends writing down what you eat regularly to focus purchases on those items and reduce unnecessary spending.

  “It's just really about trying a lot of different ways of cooking and seeing what works well for you.”
  — Ali Slagle [07:56]

• Cost-Saving Tips:
  Suggestions include freezing sale items, portioning bulk purchases, and sharing cooking responsibilities with friends to cut down on individual expenses.

Adapting to Changing Household Needs

Jean relates her personal experience of adjusting cooking habits after her children moved out, resulting in changes to meal quantities and reducing waste. They discuss the importance of scaling recipes and being flexible with portion sizes to match current household sizes.

Notable Quote:

“I ended up with significantly more in leftovers. And sometimes those leftovers got eaten and sometimes those leftovers did not get eaten.”
— Jean Chatzky [37:56]

Encouraging Cooking as a Social and Enjoyable Activity

Ali shares innovative ideas to make cooking less of a chore by turning it into a social activity. Hosting dinners and sharing cooking duties with friends not only reduces the individual burden but also transforms meal preparation into a pleasurable experience.

Notable Quote:

“Breaking it up with your friends is a really nice way to make it enjoyable.”
— Ali Slagle [24:56]

Practical Advice for Beginners and Minimalist Cooks

For those intimidated by cooking, Ali advises starting small with simple recipes and gradually building confidence. She recommends clear, beginner-friendly recipe writers like Sola Al Wayli, who provide structured guidance for cooks at all levels.

Key Points:

• Start with Simple Recipes:
  Begin with dishes you love and gradually introduce variations to build skills and confidence.

• Minimal Appliances Needed:
  Emphasizing that a few essential tools can suffice for a wide range of recipes, reducing the need for expensive kitchen gadgets.

Listener Mailbag and Practical Solutions

In the closing segment, Jean addresses listener questions related to grocery budgeting and cooking strategies. She offers actionable advice on adjusting shopping habits, portion control, and utilizing bulk purchases effectively.

Notable Interaction:

Listener Question:
"How can I reduce my grocery bill from $200 a week to $150 without sacrificing what my husband loves to cook?"

Jean's Response:
She suggests meal planning around sales, adjusting portion sizes, freezing leftovers, and leveraging bulk purchases to manage costs without diminishing the quality of meals.

Conclusion and Further Resources

Jean wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to explore Ali Slagle's 40 Ingredients Forever Substack for more recipes and substitution ideas. She also promotes HerMoney’s programs, Finance Fix and Investing Fix, aimed at empowering women’s financial confidence.

Notable Quote:

“If you want in, join us at investingfix.com we spell Fix with two X's.”
— Jean Chatzky [01:48]

This episode provides a wealth of practical insights for women looking to streamline their cooking routines, manage rising food costs, and transform meal preparation into an enjoyable and cost-effective activity. Ali Slagle's expertise offers valuable tools for reducing kitchen stress and embracing a more flexible, ingredient-focused approach to everyday cooking.