As school vacations roll around, many adults head off on holiday while kids are happily sent to camps to enjoy time with their peers. However, sometimes parents take their vacations at different times, leaving teenagers home alone. The first few days of solitude are often met with enthusiasm, which quickly fades once the fridge runs dry. After all, cafeteria lunches just don’t compare to home-cooked meals. To enjoy lunch at home, though, one must know how to cook.
So, we recommend that teenagers left alone at home dedicate two minutes each morning, before breakfast, to household management. Grab a pencil and a piece of paper to jot down what and how much to buy for dinner, as well as for breakfast and lunch the following day, along with any household tasks that need attention. The grocery list will likely include fresh bread, butter, fruits, and other essentials like cauliflower and tomatoes, which can easily be turned into a salad or added to scrambled eggs.
Not all groceries need to be bought daily. Your fridge is your reliable friend for storing them. Keeping 2-3 liters of boiled milk on hand can be a lifesaver. You can use it to make rice porridge, omelets, or coffee.
Milk that hasn’t been boiled can simply be poured into cups and left on the windowsill, then moved to the fridge the next morning. Sour milk (простокваша) makes a tasty addition to dinner when paired with a slice of buttered bread and radishes.
Vegetables (like dill, radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers) are best bought daily for breakfast and the next day’s meals. After washing, wrap them in foil and store them in the fridge.
Convenience foods and ready-to-eat products available at culinary shops offer great flexibility in meal preparation, requiring only reheating.