Welcome to 502 Food!

Cooking for me is both a creative outlet and a way to nourish my family and friends. 

What you'll see here are recipes that have become part of my family's life, with the occasional new recipe that is worthy of making again and again.  I believe in real food (with the exception of Diet Coke) with a focus on eating organically, seasonally and locally within reason.  You will also see recommendations for products and restaurants that I use and frequent.

I worked full time in banking for 37 years while also being a full time wife and mother. Having family dinners as often as possible was an important priority for me, as was being able to entertain my friends. I have some general suggestions below for those of you juggling multiple roles who want to eat well.  

• Accept the fact that there will be times when just feeding yourself and your family is enough, even if its a frozen dinner or fast food.  Everyone has those days.  Delivery pizza, Stouffers, and the occasional McDonald's got us through many a hectic day.  
• Breakfast dinner is fast and easy, and my kids always loved it.
• Planning ahead is key.  Sunday was meal planning and grocery day.  Minimizing stops to grocery shop during the week after a long day of work and school helped keep everyone sane and happy.
• Invest in a deep freezer.  When you are making soup, or pasta sauce, or stew, or baking cakes or cookies, make extra and stash it in your freezer for dinner or dessert another night. Cook once, eat twice.  This works for entertaining as well.  For example, a big batch of short ribs can be made ahead and kept in the freezer so that the main dish is already done long before the day of your party.  Also keep frozen veggies, boneless chicken breasts and any other frozen convenience food that your family enjoys stocked in the freezer.
• Keep a well stocked pantry with rice, pasta, canned tomatoes, canned beans, chicken stock, and baking supplies.  Having a well stocked pantry and freezer gives you the flexibility to put together a meal on the fly.  

I hope you enjoy the recipes. Leave any recipe questions in the comments section of the post.