By Lisa Crockett

In January, I typically inventory the kitchen and clean out all the goodies that have become fixtures in our home. Gone are the chocolate chips, butter, and colored sprinkles, replaced with lots of produce, bottled water and the resolve to get rid of those unwanted holiday pounds.

But it’s not just healthy eating that is on my list of resolutions each year, it’s also a commitment to eating at home more and creating time for family meals around the table together. In order to keep these ideals strong, I spend a lot of time looking for ways to keep mealtimes interesting – for me, and for the people I’m cooking for.

I have a few trusted cookbooks that are dog-eared and spattered, but I’m increasingly reliant on my computer as a tool every bit as important as a saucepan or a whisk. You can Google just about any combination of ingredients or parameters – say, “chicken breasts, low fat” or “vegetarian, budget friendly” for dinner tonight and get nearly unlimited results. But only trial and error will tell you whether the person writing the recipe knows what they’re talking about. Here are a few cooking sites I return to again and again when I need to find a recipe fast and trust that the results will be just what I’m looking for. They appear in the order that I find them in my “bookmarks” on my web browser.

For the Love of Cooking: www.fortheloveofcooking.net; This site has lots of great ideas for quick and yummy dinners you can get on the table in a reasonable amount of time. The author’s “my pantry” tab has great information on how to stock your kitchen so you aren’t constantly running to the store to get a random missing ingredient.

I have a few trusted cookbooks that are dog-eared and spattered, but I’m increasingly reliant on my computer as a tool every bit as important as a saucepan or a whisk.  You can Google just about any combination of ingredients or parameters – say, “chicken breasts, low fat” or “vegetarian, budget friendly” for dinner tonight and get nearly unlimited results.  But only trial and error will tell you whether the person writing the recipe knows what they’re talking about.  Here are a few cooking sites I return to again and again when I need to find a recipe fast and trust that the results will be just what I’m looking for.  They appear in the order that I find them in my “bookmarks” on my web browser.

The Wednesday Chef: www.thewednesdaychef.com; This is without a doubt the most exotic food site I visit on a regular basis. It’s hosted and written by cookbook author Luisa Weiss, who has lived in New York, but is currently living in Berlin, Germany. Cooking from this site may take a little more shopping than you’re used to, but I get consistently good results following her concise instructions.

Mel’s Kitchen Café: www.melskitchencafe.com; Mom of five kids, Mel typically cooks and bakes what I would cook and bake, only she never seems to run out of inspiration like I sometimes do. Her site is especially helpful if I’m in charge of treats for a school class or a scout troop.

Picky Palate: www.picky-palate.com; As the name implies, this site specializes in food that will please picky eaters (also known as most children.) These recipes are nearly always quick and easy to prepare, and while they are kid-friendly, adults will find them tasty too.

Cheeky Kitchen: www.cheekykitchen.com; I read this blog as much for the writing as I do for the food. Both have a wit and a real point of view. Several of the recipes are vegan or Paleo, and every one of them I’ve tried has been delicious. The site’s author, Brooke, lives and works at high altitude just like we do here in Castle Pines, so I trust her baked goods to turn out without adjustments.

Everyday Paleo: www.everydaypaleo.com; For the uninitiated, “Paleo” refers to a way of eating that is supposed to approximate the way our Paleolithic ancestors ate – lots of fruits and veggies and lean protein, little or no grains, dairy or sugar. Even if you’re not looking to change your eating habits, though, this site has great recipe ideas for how to incorporate more vegetables and protein into your family meals.

Do you have a favorite website you use when you’re cooking? E-mail us about it, editor@castlepinesconnection.com.