THE RECIPES

Cook Once, Eat Twice: 6 Recipes That Pull Double Duty

Some nights you have the energy to cook. Others…not so much. Our favourite mealtime solution for this particular problem is to lean into meals that stretch. There’s something deeply satisfying about a dinner that pulls double duty—think an easy, from-scratch meal one night that turns into a major head start for the next. And the key here isn’t just leftovers—it’s reinvention. A pot of chili becomes chili cheese dogs. Roasted chicken turns into quesadillas. Both meals will feel intentional but you’ll spend less time in the kitchen.

Not sold yet? Read on for six recipes that will make you a cook once, eat twice convert.

Pulled Beef 
Start with basic pulled beef as your base—it’s super easy, rich, tender and so versatile.
Night one: Pile it high over fries with gravy and cheese curds for classic poutine. (Yes, you can just use a storebought gravy packet to get there.)
Night two: Tuck leftovers into soft, fresh buns with coleslaw for crowd-pleasing pulled beef sammies.

Turkey Chili
A big pot of chili is the definition of a two-for-one dinner.
Night one: Serve it straight up with all the toppings—cheese, sour cream, green onions, chips, whatever your family likes.
Night two: Spoon it over hot dogs, top with cheese and broil for quick chili cheese dogs.

Quick Butter Chicken 
This one’s basically built for a sequel, though you may not have considered it before.
Night one: Serve butter chicken with rice, naan and a side salad.
Night two: Load it onto baked potatoes and serve with cheese and sour cream for a hearty dinner with a totally different vibe.

Buddy Oliver’s Bolognese
This classic sauce from Jamie Oliver’s son only gets better overnight.
Night one: Toss with pasta and Parmesan for a traditional take.
Night two: Serve over creamy polenta or roasted squash for a twist. (No need to make polenta from scratch, either. Grab a tube of the ready-made stuff, slice it up and pan-fry it before topping with sauce.)

Saucy Meatballs 
Make a batch (or two!) of meatballs and you’re halfway to tomorrow’s dinner.
Night one: Make whichever version of our recipe you like best. Serve with spaghetti or rice to soak up all that sauce.
Night two: Skewer leftovers with veggies and chunks of cheese for a quick, kid-friendly supper.

Roasted Chicken 
This is the ultimate cook-once staple that will never let you down.
Night one: Serve roasted chicken with veggies and potatoes (you can roast everything in the same pan!).
Night two: Shred the leftovers for quesadillas—layer between tortillas with cheese and veggies or salsa, then crisp them up in a pan.

THE PRODUCT PICK

Why We Love Easy Peasy Tees

Created by a mom who’s navigated the scramble of last-minute awareness days, Easy Peasy Tees helps busy parents show up for every moment with ease, heart and purpose—taking the pressure off so you can focus on having meaningful conversations and making real connections surrounding these important events. Because it’s not just about T-shirts. It’s about raising kind, aware humans.

💗 We’ve teamed up with Easy Peasy Tees to gift one lucky winner a year’s worth of awareness-day tees! From Run Day, Every Child Matters™ and Neurodiversity Awareness, to Pink Kindness, Earth Day, Pride and more. Go to instagram.com/parentscanada to enter!

THE WINNER (+ THE NEW CONTEST!)

And Our $500 Contest Winner Is…Dylan from Saskatchewan!

Big congrats to Dylan, who just scored $500 in our latest giveaway. Didn’t win this time? Don’t worry—our next contest is a good one. It’s our $3500 Baby Gear Giveaway!

ParentsCanada Was At The Baby Show

ParentsCanada was thrilled to be part of Canada’s largest Baby Show, also called The Baby Show, at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, where everything pregnancy, baby and toddler comes together under one roof. Thousands of expectant and new parents stopped by our buzzing booth to enter our baby gear contest, scoop up the latest edition of The Annual Guide for New Parents and pick up our Grandparents Canada magazine. The energy was incredible, the conversations were inspiring and we loved meeting so many families who are now joining our ParentsCanada community.

THE POLL

Have You Ever Told Your Kids a Little White Lie?

ParentsCanada editor Katie here. When I was a kid, I refused to eat red peppers. I hated them with every fibre of my being. But apparently, in addition to hating peppers, I was also extremely gullible, because one night—complaining about the roasted red peppers on my dinner plate—my dad said, “Those are special carrots.” And I loved carrots, so of course I’d love special carrots even more.

And thus, I ate “special carrots” for months after.

Until my aunt came for dinner one night and I said, “Aunt Pat, can you please pass me the special carrots?” She looked at me like I had three heads and said, “Katie. Those are red peppers.” Horror-stricken, I whipped around to look at my dad who couldn’t keep the laughter at bay well enough to perpetuate the lie.

Nearly 40 years later, it still comes up often and everyone in my family still laughs about it. And I still don’t love red peppers. But special carrots? Sign me up.

I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve taken a page out of my dad’s book a time or two as a parent. Have you? What’s the best fib you’ve ever told your kids?

TODAY’S POLL

THE RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK’S POLL

Be honest—do you give yourself enough credit as a parent?

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Yes, I try to. (23.3%)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Sometimes. (27.9%)
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ Not nearly enough. (25.6%)
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ No, I'm my own worst critic. (23.3%)

THE QUESTION BOX

What Is a Motherline—and How Do I Find Mine?

If the “motherline” is a new concept for you, you’re going to love this.

The motherline is the thread of stories, experiences and inherited wisdom passed down through generations of women, shaping how we see ourselves and move through the world. It’s more than a traditional family tree: It’s a fascinating look at how previous generations of women have helped to shape us all, regardless of gender.

In her latest column for The Thinking Parent, Tina Powell explores how that lineage can include not only mothers and grandmothers, but also mentors, chosen family and even imagined connections when those ties are missing or complicated.

For some, that connection feels strong and well-documented. For others, it’s distant, fractured or entirely unknown. From genealogical research and storytelling to creative practices and building your own circle of influence, there are many ways to reconnect—or redefine—what your motherline means. It’s a powerful shift in perspective that invites you to look beyond one relationship and consider the broader network of women who have shaped you.

This article is a can’t-miss—tap the button below to read more.