I have to admit, I’m not the most domestic mother on the block. I’m usually the one that rushes into the school bake sale at the last minute, hair dishevelled, cell phone ringing, with (gasp) store bought cookies, whilst the other parents give me pitying looks. I know. My poor child. Please don’t judge.

The sacrifice I make for being a working mom is often that of control over the kitchen. And for me, that’s a pretty easy trade-off. I’m much better at working than I am at cooking. My mother passed down to me a love of “cereal for dinner” (she worked as well), and dexterity with a microwave to rival the laziest college student. Let’s face it though this kind of attitude only gets one so far in life.

It’s not that I don’t like the idea of cooking. My bookshelf is ripe with gorgeous cook books that I read…while eating my cereal. It’s really a matter of time—a definite lack thereof. Over the holidays, I was able to indulge my maternal yearnings for home cooking. I created meals—woman versus kitchen—and without a microwave. I have to admit, I enjoyed it. I felt domestic. I felt like Nigella.

As liberating as this experience was, I kept wondering how I could keep it up. It felt like the kind of resolution that sounds good at the time, but doesn’t really translate past the first two weeks of January—like going to the gym, or giving up my Adam Lambert obsession. What?! You can judge me on that one, I don’t mind.

So being the tech savvy, modern, working mother that I am, I immediately thought, “There must an app for this,” and sure enough, there is.

People look at me strangely when I start talking about my iPhone, and they realize it’s not a real person. I can’t help it. This phone has made my life better. It just has. As a result it has my undying affection. The Jamie Oliver 20 Minute Meals app was literally the answer to my New Year’s prayer. Jamie Oliver also holds a place very dear to my heart, somewhere between the iPhone and chocolate cake. Bringing all three of these things together has made me a very, very happy woman.

For working mothers, and let’s face it, for any mother/father/caretaker of child(ren), mealtime can be a dilemma. Fussy eaters, lacklustre meal plans, and general busyness often take a toll on what we eat, and how we eat.

During the fall I participated in a 100 Mile Diet experiment that forced me and my coworkers to eat locally (within a 100 mile radius of where we live). The whole experience left me with an acute awareness of the implications of what food my family consumes, and where they come from. For about two weeks I managed to remain resolute in my determination to never eat sugar or drink coffee again, but much like Adam Lambert, it’s the guilty pleasures that make life worth living.

But thank goodness for technology. With the 20 Minute Meals app, all I need to create delicious, quick meals is a touch away. It’s genius. With video tutorials, built in grocery lists, pictures (the best part), and step-by-step recipes, I never have to forget another grocery list at home again. It’s made my life easier, and made me a better person. Well, maybe that’s taking it a bit far, but you get the idea. I did make a mind-blowing vegetable jalfrezi, so at least it’s made me a better chef. And soon enough I’ll be showing up at school bake sales with fresh baked cookies, my son beaming with pride, other parent’s green with envy…One can dream.

I’m still far from being a pro. I’m no Julia Child, but now I’m on a mission. How do you balance the work-kitchen dilemma? Any online tools or tips?

Bryna is a mother, blogger, public relations professional and humanitarian relief worker. She currently works as Communications Specialist for Engine Communications in Belleville, Ontario.

Tags: apps, dining, family, iPhone, meals, microwave, mother