AMERICAS NEW COOKING NOVICE

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America's New Cooking Novice Could Change Dinner Forever

February 2004 (Newstream) -- Most would find a scoop of cottage cheese, apple slices, chicken nuggets and a piece of toast a peculiar dinner menu. Jan Thomas of Mission Viejo, Calif., agrees and that's why she submitted this "piece meal" style dinner as her biggest cooking dilemma in the national Betty Crocker Novice Search. Today she is named the winning novice to join Team Betty Crocker, assembled to solve America's cooking and entertaining challenges.

Last fall, the current members of Team Betty Crocker - team leader and culinary expert from the Betty Crocker Kitchens Maggie Gilbert, comedian Colin Mochrie and lifestyle expert Susie Coehlo - set out to find a novice to join the team to help solve kitchen challenges in homes across the country. Thomas, a wife and mother of two, begins her yearlong role as the novice who will help bring solutions to America's busy households through media appearances.

"When I read the description of the person they were searching for, I said 'that's me - a real novice, someone with a cooking dilemma who is ready and willing to learn,'" said Thomas. "I'm excited to work with my teammates and share what I discover with other moms who find themselves wanting to prepare quick and easy, but at the same time, warm and delicious meals for their families to enjoy together at the table."

With the mission to "make every day homemade" for households across the country, each member of Team Betty Crocker provides a unique perspective on how to quickly and easily implement this philosophy. As the manager of the Betty Crocker Kitchens, Gilbert provides the insight on how to move a delicious homemade meal from the kitchen counter to the table in minutes. Along with his passion for cooking and dream of being a professional chef, Mochrie brings a sense of fun to the kitchen, one many families have come to love through his improv skits on ABC's "Whose Line Is it Anyway?". Coelho, host of HGTV's "Outer Spaces," arms Team Betty Crocker with a stylish, do-it-yourself mentality and the knowledge of how to easily turn an ordinary table into a inspiring spread with personality and seasonal touches.

Thomas already has begun working and learning alongside the experts in the Betty Crocker Kitchens to solve her kitchen challenge and has four simple tips to share that could change dinnertime forever in many homes. It all starts with planning:

• Identify four to five recipes your whole family likes and have them at the ready when pondering, "what's for dinner?"
• Stock your pantry, refrigerator and freezer with ingredients from your family's favorite meals. For Thomas, this includes seasoned breadcrumbs, boneless-skinless chicken breasts, a rice side dish, bag of salad greens and a bottle of creamy Caesar dressing.
• Apply some easy do-ahead tricks. Cut uncooked pork tenderloin or beef steak into strips and freeze for stir-fry and easy skillet meals. Cook extra pasta or rice, drain, toss with oil and refrigerate or freeze in family-size portions. These ingredients can quickly be reheated to cut down on preparation time for your next meal.
• Anchor your meals by starting with the center of the dinner plate and then planning around it. For example, if pork chops are the anchor, find complimentary side dishes in your pantry or freezer (i.e., a can of green beans and a seasoned rice dish). Assign an "anchor" to each day (e.g., Monday is chicken) and keep it the same from week to week.

In addition to her role as the team novice, Thomas won a $15,000 kitchen makeover from The Home Depot, a partner in building the new Betty Crocker Kitchens last fall. Thomas will work closely with a kitchen design expert from The Home Depot to create a Cook-Friendly Kitchen - a key design element in the new General Mills facility.

"We're delighted to welcome Jan to the team," said Gilbert. "Her dilemma is one many households face - trying to get a delicious meal from the kitchen counter to the table in minutes, leaving more time to enjoy it with the family instead of in the kitchen preparing it. We're excited to help Jan and families across the country find ways to do just that."