Hi, I’m Pam and I’m glad you’re here.

Each week I provide a curated dinner menu plan with 4 recipes that anyone can make. Subscribing will save you time because you won’t have to think about what to cook every day. It will also save you money if you typically eat out or eat prepared food.

Who I am:

I’ve lived in Southern California for more than 20 years but grew up in western South Dakota and went to college in northern Colorado. I’ve been happily unmarried to my boyfriend, CK, for over 15 years. We have no children, by choice, and I usually just cook for the two of us. CK will eat almost anything I put in front of him. I feel lucky and grateful for that. He feels lucky and grateful that I like to cook.

I’m a marketing consultant, a typical Virgo (organized, bossy, but loving), and a homebody. I spend my free time cooking, working out (weights, walking, rowing), and watching sports (F1, football, the other football) with CK.

I also love learning and can frequently be found listening to a podcast about health, psychology, or weird things that make us human, reading a non-fiction book, or asking people probing questions.

I also co-host a podcast called A Little Bit Easier with my former performance coach, Sarah. We cover any topic that we think will help you feel happier, calmer, and more confident. It’s available wherever you get your podcasts, with video on Spotify and YouTube.

What Making It Easy is:

Right now, Making It Easy is a weekly meal plan newsletter with 4 dinner recipes that anyone can cook. I will include tips for making the recipes even easier or faster when possible.

Dinner menus for the week will posted by Friday so you can grocery shop over the weekend. If your schedule doesn’t let you shop on the weekend, just do it on the day that works for you.

In the near future, Making It Easy will also include personal essays and advice that will help you make other necessary life things easier including managing finances, effective communication, and making helpful mindset shifts.

What Making It Easy isn’t:

A diet plan or weight loss plan.

A prescription for what you should eat or judgment about what you do eat.

Gourmet, labor intensive meals. The meal plan will include recipes that anyone can make in 45 (usually 30) minutes or less.

You should subscribe if:

You want the benefit of planning meals but don’t have the time or desire to actually do it.

You want to feel in control, organized, and healthy but need help.

You like the idea of having more structure to make life feel easier.

You want encouragement and community with like-minded people.

You’re interested in processes that make you healthier and make life easier, even if they’re a bit more work upfront.

You eat an omnivore diet or are comfortable with substituting proteins on your own.

You’re able to cook reasonably well and are willing to do it. You don’t have to have any skills beyond the basics but to take full advantage of the meal plans you will need to spend 30-45 minutes per day preparing dinner.

You’re willing to try new ingredients. We eat a varied diet and try recipes from many cuisines. Sometimes there will be ingredients that you have to order online if you don’t have an Asian market or well stocked “international” section in your grocery store. I will link to or give brand names for ingredients that aren’t in the average pantry. When possible I will suggest alternatives in case you can’t get the ingredient.

Is Making It Easy free?

Free subscribers will receive one recipe each week. If you aren’t in a position to pay the low monthly cost for this service, please consider supporting my work by sharing Making It Easy with friends, restacking my posts, and commenting. The more people that I reach, the more I can offer all of my subscribers - paid or not.

Paid subscribers will receive 4 recipes each week plus access to a private chat where you can connect with like-minded people, ask me questions, get advice, give feedback on recipes, swap tips, and more.

How will I get my recipes?

Every new post will be sent directly to your email inbox. Make sure to add me to your contacts or reply to the email to say hello so my emails never end up in spam.

You can also always go directly to Making It Easy on Substack in your browser or Substack app. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.