Our editors and readers have a lot of fun in the kitchen. (We wouldn't cook and bake so much if we didn't!) But it never hurts to have a little more fun, right? We came up with all sorts of ways to have an even better time in the kitchen this year.

Here are all the ways to have more fun while ...

Meal planning

Meal planning is kind of like the dreaded B word: budgeting! It sounds like a lot of work and not enough fun, but you know it's a good thing to do! Here's how to add a little bit of that second thing.

Read more: 5 Ways to Make Meal Planning More Fun

Cooking

During the weekday crazies, getting dinner cooked and onto the table can feel chaotic and chore-like. It's actually pretty special when you think about it, though, and there are plenty of things you can do to make it so much more enjoyable.

Read more: 10 Ways to Find Joy in Cooking for the Family

Eating dinner

The time we get to spend together as a family is precious. We can never seem to get enough of it — especially when it comes to busy weeknights.

Whether your family consists of you and four kids, or it's just you and your roommate, there are a few things you can do to make your weeknight dinners better than ever.

Washing dishes

We're serious! Washing dishes doesn't have to be such a terrible chore. These tips might help you half-like dish duty. (They'll also help with finger pruning, the boredom, and more.)

Read more: 12 Ways to Make Washing Dishes Better, Faster, and More Fun

Cleaning the kitchen

We're still serious! Stop laughing! Cleaning the kitchen can actually be a fun thing to do — even if you hate cleaning. Allow us to explain.

Read more: 11 Ways to Find Joy in Cleaning the Kitchen

What are some things you've started doing this year in order to have even more fun in the kitchen?