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May 26, 2025 32 mins

In this week’s episode, I’m diving into one of the most requested topics—meal planning and prep—and I brought in a total pro to help us out! I'm joined by Melissa Knific, a busy mom, recipe developer, and cookbook author whose work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times to HelloFresh to Rachael Ray In Season. She knows firsthand the struggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day and is full of smart, doable tips to help us save time in the kitchen without sacrificing nutrition or flavor.

We talk about:

  • How Melissa expanded her career in  journalism into the culinary world

  • What she looks for when meal planning

  • Time- and money-saving grocery tips

  • Hacks for packing in flavor (without spending hours in the kitchen)

  • The difference between just “winging it” vs. having a flexible plan

  • And her cookbook with National Geographic: The National Parks Cookbook 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by meal prep or stuck in a dinner rut, this episode will absolutely inspire you and give you some fresh ideas to make things easier on yourself, without giving up the joy of cooking!

Resources & Links:

📚 Pre-Order The National Parks Cookbook – https://amzn.to/3FekCCq  🧈 Challenge Butter “Where to Buy” Locator – challengedairy.com/where-to-buy/  📱 Follow Melissa on Instagram – @melissaknific 🌐 Visit Melissa’s Website – www.melissaknific.com

Thanks so much for tuning in today! If you loved this conversation, please share it with a friend, and don’t forget to leave a review—it helps so much in getting this show into more ears. Until next time… Support the podcast and explore memberships: https://buymeacoffee.com/utpod 

✨ Happy homemaking, everybody! — Brittany

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