An Atlanta hospitality professional, Georgia Van became a stay-at-home mom during the pandemic. With a husband and three young children, including a 5-month-old son, she’s been staying busy — and spending a lot more time in the kitchen.
“I’ve always enjoyed cooking,” Van said. “And, I cooked a lot before the kids, because I had more time. But, as we’ve added to our family, I’ve definitely simplified my cooking. Before the pandemic, I was working full-time, and really had to manage my time well. I would cook on the weekends, and make enough to carry us into the next week. And, I would sometimes use meal delivery services.”
Van said that changed during the pandemic, for personal and practical reasons.
Credit: Melissa Bugg
Credit: Melissa Bugg
“Now that I’ve been home so much more, and trying to be fiscally conservative, too, we really haven’t been eating out as much, or even ordering food in,” she said. “I’ve been trying to make do with what I have in my pantry, and maybe just getting a couple of things at the grocery store to make a meal.”
And, since she’s been cooking more, Van said she’s rediscovered the joy it can bring.
“I do think that the pandemic has brought me back to the roots of what I love about cooking, and just feeding my family,” she said. “I’ve always been a simple cook, but, being home more, I think I’ve gotten more creative.”
A current favorite recipe is one she simply named Corn Dip. The original recipe called for brushing ears of corn with vegetable oil and grilling. Her easier version calls for wrapping the ears in wax paper and microwaving them.
As a bonus, she’s often able to use the dip for two different meals.
“The first night, I serve it with tortilla chips as an appetizer or side dish,” Van said. “The second night, I spread the dip inside tortillas, add rice, beans and rotisserie chicken, roll up each tortilla, and place it seam-side down in a baking pan. Then, I pour red or green salsa over the top, sprinkle with cheese, and bake until warm and golden.”
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