I know that lately I've written a lot about Online Menu Planning Services.  I STILL think that they ARE great solution for busy moms.  However, some ladies just can't get into them...so I keep searching for solutions to simplify dinner time -- and I've got a great one for you today.

I have fallen IN LOVE with Elizabeth Yarnell's Glorious One Pot Meal method. You can make a FULL meal (starch/grain, animal or vegetarian protein & lots of veggies) in one pot! But the great thing about her technique is that it DOES NOT come out like a traditional casserole or crockpot meal - where the ingredients break down an become mushy  and soupy and the flavors blend together.  With the Glorious One Pot Meal Method, EVERY SINGLE ITEM retains its own unique texture, shape and flavor. NO MUSH. It's great when your kids like the parts of their dinner served separately, like mine do.

So...what's the secret of her method?  Well...there are several secrets, and I can't give them all away, of course, however, I can tell you this -- for this method to work -- you MUST have a cast iron dutch oven. Elizabeth tested this method with all kinds of cookware, and a cast iron dutch oven is the ONLY one that works.  I always thought that enamel-coated cast iron dutch ovens were VERY expensive ($150+), but since I've started using Elizabeth's method, I have seen inexpensive ones everywhere. I got a red one, on clearance at ikea for $30 and I saw that Walmart has the StarFrit brand for about $40 or $50. (Worth EVERY PENNY when you consider the ease of this method!)

The other secret to her method is in the layering and the amount of water you need to cook certain foods.  The great thing is that you can cook any kind of grain - even pasta - together with any kind of protein (fish, meat, poultry, tofu, cheese etc. and any kind of vegetables) You just put them in, add water if appropriate, season to taste,  and stick the whole thing into a 450 degree oven for 45 minutes to one hour -- and that's it. A complete, healthy, whole foods dinner is DONE!! You can even prepare the ingredients in the pot in the night before, or in the morning and put it in your fridge (add water if necessary before cooking) and pop it in the oven before dinnertime.

I have really enjoyed making recipes from the Glorious One Pot Meal Cookbook -- and my whole family has enjoyed them too! Yes -- even my picky eater!

In short, this is a GREAT solution for busy moms. So..let me tell you where you can find out more...

Of course, you can go to her website at http://www.gloriouspotmeal.com, look around and order her fabulous cookbook.

(FYI, for my Jewish readers, most of the recipes are kosher friendly - don't let the shrimp on the front cover scare you off! NONE of the recipes mix milk and meat and there are just a few recipes with shellfish, which you substitute with any other kind of protein.)

I also want you to know that you can see Elizabeth do a short demo of her method here, it's worth watching.

Finally,  you might want to check out her Glorious One Pot Kids Meal Ebook!  It's a great way to see if this method is right for you and your family.

Seriously moms, check this one out. It's a real winner!