This may or may not come as a surprise to you, but we cook at home almost every single night of the week. In fact, eating out is almost a sacred ritual reserved for various celebrations throughout the year - the birthday's and anniversaries. Don't get us wrong, when we do go out for dinner we absolutely enjoy it. And we certainly love a good cocktail after a long day of work or meeting up with a group of friends to catch up over the weekend.. but we just rarely do it over dinner out.

Trust us, we get it. Coming up with the daily menu for dinner can seem like a daunting task and adding picky little eaters into that mix can create nothing short of a living nightmare. But the secret to cooking at home, really becomes about organization, preparations and having high quality materials to do your 'work' - because, at the end of the day it is just that! Work, work, work!!

Now, you may have guessed it - we'll leave the organizing and preparation part to some other expert (although, we hear lists help!) and we'll focus on our favorite of the three.. high quality cooking material. Our no brainer, hands down favorite here is Staub cookware.

Let us do a formal introduction here -

Staub, like many of our favorite things (..rosé) originates from France. The first piece, a Cocotte (in other words, a Dutch oven), was designed by Francis Staub in 1974. Staub cookware's most identifying characteristic is that it is made from cast iron - and almost always, the first question that comes up is, why cast iron? Cast iron is commonly used by both beginners and professionals because it retains and evenly distributes heat for a long period of time (as in.. you can't mess that dinner up!) It is perfectly suited for slow braised dishes and the material itself is reusable. Who doesn't love a sustainable company?!

The wonderful thing about Staub cookware is that they very much become an investment in your kitchen and for your family. They are incredibly long-lasting and do not discolor with use. And perhaps one of our very favorite things about this cookware is that the longer the Cocotte is in use, the tastier the dishes become! What a win, win!! This occurs because the fat you use during cooking penetrates into the pores of the matte enamel finish creating a natural and smooth non-stick coating (that is of course, chemical free!) unlike many other products that are marketed as such.

Now, regardless of if you become a cast iron believer or shall we say addict.. because we promise that is how it works once you try it - the real message here is to take the time for yourself and your family. We all have those nights where it is easier to stop by and pick up food to go and call it a night. But if you really are committed to those New Year's resolutions of a healthier and happier you.. it all really starts here, with a happy gut. And you'll see that the time you spend cooking in the kitchen each evening will make your home a warmer and more inviting place. All of a sudden, all those kids of yours will be gathering around the counter wondering what smells so good and telling you about their day at school. And really, at the end of the day - that is exactly the point. More quality time with the people you love surrounding by things or dishes that warm your belly and heart!