Forget Fanciness: How to Feed a Family Without Tears

Entrepreneur Emily Ley on making cooking easy, the ridiculously cheap beauty product she swears by, and the simple pleasures she can't live without

A few years ago, Emily Ley, the founder of Simplified, an award-winning brand of planners and organizational tools, marshaled her impressive analytical skills to solve a relatable problem: While she loved feeding her family and spending time around the table with them, she did not love cooking.

Hours in the kitchen sauteing, chopping, and mincing filled her with the opposite of joy. And so, she created a cookbook filled with flavor-forward recipes that solve the “how to make home-cooked meals when you really don’t like cooking” problem with (mostly) under six ingredients and less than 15 minutes of prep time, plus tips and tricks to make time in the kitchen more enjoyable. The result is The Simplified Cookbook: Delicious Meals with Effortless Prep, which came out this week and is a reassuring, comprehensive guide for people who don’t identify as cooks.

In addition to running a thriving business and shuttling her three kids to after-school activities, Emily writes a popular weekly newsletter filled with warm, honest advice and has authored 11 other books. She lives in Pensacola, Florida, with her husband, Bryan, and children, Brady, Tyler, and Caroline. Here, she shares 9 things that make her happy, her kitchen essentials, parenting wisdom, and her all-time favorite recipe!

1. Cozy spot. Our kitchen: When we were building our home, the one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted a big kitchen table with banquette seating and windows on three sides. It’s our little nook, and we absolutely love it. Over the years, it’s been home to COVID-era homeschooling, birthday celebration meals, Tuesday dinners after sports practice, family meetings, and, of course, the drop spot for all the things that come with family life.

2. Morning ritual. My morning coffee with a splash of Premier Protein. It’s my little ritual that feels indulgent and energizing all at once. Honestly, it’s the glue holding my mornings together.

3. Restaurant order. I LOVE street tacos: perfectly seasoned meat, fresh toppings, a squeeze of lime, and a warm tortilla? Absolute perfection.

4. View. The sunrise over Pensacola Bay is pure magic. Watching the sky shift from soft pinks to warm golds as it reflects off the water feels like a fresh start every single day. There’s a peacefulness to it that grounds me before the chaos of life begins. It’s like nature’s version of a deep breath.

5. Beauty product. Vaseline! It’s my holy grail for literally everything—dry skin, chapped lips, my nails, you name it. It’s one of those no-frills products that’s been around forever and still does the job better than anything else.

6. Book. I read The Women by Kristin Hannah last year, and it was incredible. It follows Frankie McGrath, a nurse in the Vietnam War, as she navigates heartbreak, resilience, and finding herself in a world that doesn’t quite know what to do with strong, independent women. It’s such a powerful story about courage and the strength women carry—one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished it.

7. Movie. Seeing Wicked in the theater was unforgettable. I sobbed multiple times, especially at the end when Elphaba sweeps her robe across the stage in this incredible display of confidence. It’s so empowering and beautiful.

8. Hobby. Organizing! It’s therapeutic to simplify a space and make it work better. Whether it’s rearranging a closet or labeling pantry bins, it’s my happy place. I love turning chaos into calm.

9. Vacation Destination. Lake Oconee in Georgia. It’s one of our family’s favorite spots. There’s just something about the peaceful vibe, the lake life, and slowing down to soak it all in.

1. I have a love affair with my veggie chopper—it’s my secret weapon for getting dinner prepped quickly without tears (literally, it saves me from onion-induced mascara streaks!).

2. My meat chopper is a close second—breaking up ground beef has never been easier.

3. I constantly use my oil mister, which lets me use my favorite olive oil without the additives of store-bought sprays.

4. Oh, and precut parchment paper? Life-changing.

How to avoid mealtime decision fatigue. Stop reinventing the wheel. Seriously, make a list of your family’s favorite meals—the ones that are always a hit and never require a frantic grocery store run. I also swear by keeping a perpetual grocery list. It saves so much brainpower when your staples are always on hand. Another trick? Give your weekly rotation a structure—Taco Tuesday or Breakfast for Dinner Fridays. The fewer decisions you must make at 5 p.m., the better. And don’t be afraid to lean on assembly meals (you know, the kind you throw together with what’s already in your fridge). They’ve saved me more times than I can count!

Parenting pro-tip. Stop aiming for perfection—it doesn’t exist! A great parenting day isn’t about checking every box; it’s about showing up with love. I’ll never forget the time my kids told me that Bryan and I were equally good cooks. I was mortified because Bryan rarely cooks! When I asked why they thought that, they said, “MOM, he made mac and cheese with cut-up hotdogs once!” And they absolutely loved it. That moment taught me that the fanciness doesn’t matter—it’s the love behind the effort that counts. Oh, and keep wet wipes in every car, bag, and room—they’ve saved me in so many random situations.

It’s hard to choose, but Cowboy Soup is probably my all-time favorite. It’s the first recipe I ever memorized, and every time I make it, I’m transported back to my early days in the kitchen, learning to cook something simple and satisfying. It’s now my #1 go-to on busy days.

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Cowboy Soup

Ingredients

• 5 (15 oz) cans beans (different kinds)

• 1 (15 oz) can corn

• 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (we like Rotel)

• 1 (1 oz) taco seasoning packet

• 1 (1 oz) ranch seasoning packet

• 1/2 to 1 cup water

Directions

1. Drain and rinse all beans. Add them to a large pot over medium-low heat.

2. Stir in corn, tomatoes with chilies, taco seasoning, and ranch seasoning.

3. Add 1/2 to 1 cup water, depending on your desired thickness, and stir.

4. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes to 2 hours. The longer you simmer, the better the flavors will mix.

PRO TIPS: Approach cowboy soup like a chili—the fun is in the toppings! Serve the soup with toppings you have on hand: shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado, jalapeño slices, cilantro, tortilla chips, and lime wedges.

You can do this in the Crock-Pot, too! Just turn it on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4.

Thank you, Emily! Cooking for a family can turn into a grind, and I appreciate every tip that helps lighten the load! If you’d like more of Emily, here’s where you can subscribe to her newsletter.

I have three copies of The Simplified Cookbook to give away! If you’d like to enter, pop into the Comments and tell us your favorite easy meal (sometimes I just make baked potatoes for dinner!) or kitchen or meal-time hack! I’ll draw and notify the winners by 5 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 13.

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❤️ Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you next week! xo Amelia

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