Woops, sorry if I've contributed to this perception. Here's some solid
info for a working parent/cook:

Get "How to Cook Without a Book" by Pamela Anderson. No, not the Bay
Watch babe, a different lady, long time cooking writer and editor.

The premise of her book is to provide a bunch of recipes, structured as
formulas, all of which can be prepared in 30 minutes or less (ok, the
roast chicken takes a little longer). Further, she sets up the recipes
as formulas, with little corn ball rhymes to help you remember them,
and rules of thumb for variations. Most recipes are laid out the
traditional way, but they all are also infinitely variable, and she
tells you how to do it. She teaches you how to cook out of your pantry
and fridge.

The idea is, you get the formula memorized for say, pasta and sauces,
and you just look in your cupboards to see what to make for dinner
tonight. This is the way I cook half the time, anyway.

She covers frittatas, pasta, sauteed proteins (meat, chicken and fish),
roasted chicken, vegetables, salads, and "supper soups." I especially
like the supper soup concept - A quart of chicken broth, pound of meat
or other protein, an onion, a pound of veg, a small amount of a starch,
different aromatics and seasonings depending on the ingredients. I
havent' looked at the book for a year, but I make kale and white bean
soup with sausages (a fave), pork and hominy soup, chicken and veg
soup, etc. All without checking the book.

I've also adapted her vegetable methods - she taught me to "steam
sautee" - add a pound of cut veg to a sauce pot, a couple of spoons of
water, a couple of spoons of butter or olive oil, salt. Cook covered
for four minutes, then uncover when the water has boiled off and sautee
the veg in the fat for another few minutes; add appropriate
seasoning/herb, stir, and serve. This is a great way to cook butternut
squash (use butter for the fat, add cinnamon at the end, and maybe
maple syrup if you're feeling decadent). More work to peel and cube it
at the front end, but it takes a tenth of the time I used to spend
baking the halves in the oven, and less butter goes a longer way to
flavor the cubes.

Every working parent (including those who work at home caring for
children and the house) ought to have a copy of this book.
Hope this helps

Leila