How many are eating?
Every quantity scales to this number.
How long have you got?
Standing at the counter to sitting at the table.
What can you use tonight?
Pick a main ingredient — or choose “I need ideas.”
How much do you feel like cooking?
Be honest. It's Tuesday.
Anything to steer around?
These are hard rules. Nothing with them will show up.
Is someone going to complain?
Crockpot on the counter?
Slow-cooker dinners want ten minutes in the morning and then leave you alone all day. The time question above measures hands-on minutes for these, not the hours they sit there.