Get Some Inspiration for Family Dinners from Food Blogs

Get inspiration for toddler dinners from food blogs bloomsberries / Flickr

Food and I, we have a long, complicated relationship. It became even more complicated when we found out my son is allergic to corn and eggs. I can spend hours at the store reading labels (there is no bold lettered warning for corn, sadly, like there is for egg) and calling companies to learn more about a specific ingredient contained in their foods. I spend a lot of time thinking about and dealing with food. And still, I frequently find I need inspiration when it comes to getting a weeknight meal on the table that doesn't leave me exhausted or take too much time away from my family.

Often, I turn to food blogs. The food blogs that are my favorites (like the Kitchens, both Steamy and Smitten) lure me with their imagery. I love the macro shots of ingredients and the stunning presentation. But, I often find that most of those recipes are better left for weekends when I have more time, energy and ambition. I still love to gaze at those blogs longingly throughout the week, however, because they inspire me to keep cooking rather than bustin' out the boxed mix.

Most of the food blogs that I find helpful for planning my weeknight meals are those written by other parents who keep it simple and real. Erin Chase at $5 Dinners not only cooks easy meals, but they're easy on the wallet, too. I find a food blog especially helpful when the author talks about the food she's really feeding her family, like over at The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I like it when I can find the best of both worlds in a food blog, like the way Stephanie Gallagher doesn't hesitate to use a pre-made pie crust in this meat pie or quiche, but takes a simple dish like mac and cheese and jazzes it up with some gruyere and asiago cheeses, making it palatable for toddlers and grown-ups alike.

Sometimes I learn a little something while I'm on the hunt for recipes, like when I read the What's Cooking Blog. It covers so many food-related bits from improving school lunches to cooking in ways that can help save the planet. And it looks like I can add another bit of cooking inspiration to my feed reader this morning: The folks at Babble have just introduced a new food blog called The Family Kitchen. I really like what I'm seeing so far. Bring on the pizza fingers!

What are your favorite places to find cooking inspiration? What is it about those places that keeps you going back?