Where You Finally Stop Wondering “What’s For Dinner?”… Every Night
Whip up simple meals you actually look forward to—not another night of takeout, cereal, or staring into an empty fridge at 5:55pm
“Allene helped me to realize that meal planning isn’t about spending my Sundays cooking and meal prepping, but it was about finding moments to prep AND allow time to go out AND still have a plan for what I already purchased” – Stephanie
“I realized that my family does like to eat better foods than I originally thought. I was getting take-out and making nuggets, but my children were older and still eating what I fed them as little children. I was stuck to that meal plan because it worked, but I was so tired of eating the same thing every night; Allene helped me to finally eat what I really wanted to eat, and surprisingly my family loved it too” – Sara
“I really didn’t like to cook and my husband was extremely picky. Allene helped me to figure out exactly what works best for me and our family without having to cook every meal or make my food choices based on my my family’s picky-ness” – Delle
This is why you open the fridge and say “good luck” while staring at a mix of leftovers and random vegetables that may or may not still be edible.
- Or when you sit down for another of the same bland chicken and soggy broccoli, you only eat half and ready to dive into a bag of your favorite “protein popcorn” once everyone has dispersed to their corner of the house
- Or how you spend hours prepping on a Sunday afternoon, then still have to cook for an hour on Wednesday, only to be too tired and order take-out instead while feeling guilty for wasting time, money and food…eek.
Psst…it’s because you were taught how to meal plan and cook with detailed recipes, rigid plans or this all-or-nothing gym-bro mindset…
It’s time to meal plan like the efficient, career-driven, wise woman you are.
Get 3-4 hours back each week, create easy, repeatable, craveable recipes that make sense, and feel nourished and joyful about your food
Hey there…I’m Allene and I love food…not just any food, real, delicious food that makes me feel nourished…in all the ways (you know, the lame mind, body soul thing) – yep, it’s true.
As an overly worked stress-out chef turned recipe developer and foodstylist who was grossed out by creating another casserole at work, I wanted nothing less than to cook another dinner, and honestly started to hate cooking for myself for a time…
I lived off of charcuterie boards, popcorn and occasionally following my gym’s “Transformation Challenge” meal plans just to pretend I was being healthy with those meh dinners…
I can help you…
To stop feeling like you’ve wasted money on an ingredient you’ll never use in another recipe…
Create a meal plan that actually fits your life and your schedule, so that you never dread making a last minute dinner decision again.
And finally find that moment when you look forward to cooking again, not because you have to check some box…
We’re Like a chilled glass of Sancerre and creamy Brie if…
You really do love good food and eating well…but decision fatigue creeps in every evening before even walking through your front door
You’re juggling work, family, friends, aging parents, changing hormones, or simply a full calendar – no wonder you struggle to find the energy and brainpower at the end of the day, when all you want is cooking to feel easier and food that tastes better than bland and dry chicken.
You’ve stopped feeling guilty about that DoorDash order, but you’re also so over eating mediocre take-out and “girl dinners” just to get you through the week (this is the single woman’s go-to, and you’re ready for an upgrade)
All-or-nothing isn’t your game (you look forward to the spontaneous girls Margarita and Chips night), but you don’t know of any other way when it comes to meal planning and dinner. You’re just looking for a plan that goes along with your actual, real, in-action life that actually makes sense for you.
How I Help You Get Back To Cooking For Your Everyday, Full Life
(and Stop Regretting Your Last Minute Dinner Decisions)
A Substack publication featuring good food that fits your real life. Inside you’ll find a chef’s thoughts on making dinner easier, meal planning realistic and how to create a richer life through delicious moments.
+ Upgrade to VIP to receive the unediting thoughts, detailed how-tos, exclusive travel content, behind the scenes and monthly Q&As so that you can ask all your food, meal planning and cooking questions…and really anything you find in the articles you want more in depth thoughts on.
Go Deeper and get a true plan you created, you’re the expert of your own life and only you know what truly works with this guided course that helps you to create your own “Capsule Wardrobe” of dinners you and your family love.
+ the VIP 1:1 Upgrade Option – get personalized feedback and guidance as you go through the course, so you’re never staring blankly into your fridge ever again! Plus personalized meal plans, light nutrition insights and more. Let’s get you fully enjoying every morsel you eat again without the stress of asking what’s for dinner.
P.S. Besides cooking dinner most nights, helping my clients to do the same, here are a few weird and fun facts about me…
- A 13-year-old Norwegian Forest Cat determines my life: what time I get up, when I go to bed and whether or not I’ll work at home or at the local coffee shop that day.
- Summer Camp Kid: Always & Forever. Literally, I love that place…I spent my summers swinging from trees on the ropes, climbing rocks and canoeing down the river and counted down days until I returned, So much so, that my first job out of college was assistant director of the camp and I am still on the Foundation Board giving out scholarships to campers who are financially unable to pay for camp.
- Yes, I was on Iron Chef America: That’s me on Iron Chef America on Bobby Flay’s team for “Battle Iberico” against Michael Voltaggio. I have also worked on several films like teaching Skeet Ulrich how to use a knife on set of “Devoted” in Mountain Brook, AL https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2991086/
- I got married at 44 for the first time…which means I spent a lot of time single and if you’re single and struggling with meal planning…I’ve got you. Really! My meal planning system and all my culinary expertise came BEFORE getting married…and I’ve updated since to really focus on singles, families with older kids and empty-nesters – because that’s who will find the most value out of my future cookbooks, the Flexible Meal Planning Playbook and the Substack articles.
- Top Chef and and now the Culinary Cup are the only cooking shows I watch The competition between the best of the best chefs inspire me to create recipes that are cheffy – but less ingredients, fussy and take less time. And you’ll never see me competing again…way too stressful!
- Travelling specifically for food is my jam. What’s your favorite place to travel for food experiences, scenery and luxury hotels?
THE FOOD PHILOSOPHY:
Life is meant to be lived, not spent deciding what you’ll eat next. Ditch the 20-ingredient, 12-step recipes and the 4-hour Sunday meal prep sesssion. Find joy in your evenings whether that’s a beautiful dinner at home, a quick take-out meal , going out with friends, or finding the perfect pasta in Italy
If that’s you, start here:
