Sides
Italian Caprese Pasta Salad
This caprese pasta salad is the perfect lunch for a busy work day, and you can make it the night before! Even though I love eating out, I’ve really grown to enjoy bringing my lunch to work (including leftovers — yum!). Some might say you know you’re getting older when “Leftovers for lunch!” is exciting and something to look forward to. Perhaps. Though, I’d argue those of you who refuse those lunch leftovers are sorely missing out (so long as you have a microwave). In addition to feasting on leftovers, I like to whip together stand-alone lunches, too. Meals that balance protein and flavor with all the goodness of salad.…
Easy Homemade Gravy
It’s easy to make delicious, savory, smooth homemade gravy in only fifteen minutes! Mashed potatoes and gravy can either be like heaven on a plate, or they can go horribly wrong — think college dining hall or hospital lunch plate, wrong. Generally speaking, if you’re able to find a simple recipe for either mashed potatoes or gravy, then your family will thank you profusely (in addition to licking their plates clean) for giving them those homemade gems. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Because, let’s be honest. Homemade, from-scratch mashed potatoes are ridiculously un-difficult to make. Boil and drain potatoes, add…
Whipped Mashed Potatoes
Once you make mashed potatoes from scratch you’ll never resort to the flakes in a box again. Potatoes can be your family’s best friend. Versatile and affordable, potatoes are a part of a wide variety of cuisines, ranging from American, to Irish, to Indian, and on and on. Oddly, despite the general ease of cooking spuds, I’ve heard people say, “There’s just no way I can make mashed potatoes from scratch. It’s too complicated!” That’s. Just. Not. True. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Potatoes from the produce isle, not the flakes in the box, are where it’s at. It’s really very simple to make…
Simple Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PotPiePlease #CollectiveBias As we charge forward into the holiday season, I try to remind myself that holidays are supposed to be enjoyable — not stressful. Easier said than done, right? Well, sometimes. Little things like easy dinners (this post has one of my favorite 5-minute salad dressing recipes), knowing when to say No, and staying well-rested can have a big impact on your attitude. If you enter the season with a mindset of calm, and genuinely try to keep your head in the right place, then chances are you can have a stress-free, enjoyable…
Mashed Potato Pancakes
Mashed potatoes might be the quintessential comfort food. Or, at least, my quintessential comfort food. Mashed potato pancakes? Ahhh … divine. It’s rare that I whip up a batch of mashed potatoes and have leftovers “just because,” so I have to be intentional about it and throw in an extra potato or two to ensure leftover mashed potato goodness. I use a basic mashed potato recipe that’s no fail, and super yummy. It involves whatever potatoes are on sale (though my favorites are red skin OR russet because I believe they make the creamiest mash), whole milk, salted butter, salt, a dash of black pepper, and a hand-held mixer. Some of…
Chicken Fried Rice
Sometimes dinner takes hours to prepare, with meticulous mis en place, fifteen different steps, more pots than burners, and ingredients so expensive you wince at the check-out. Other times, it’s the exact opposite. Like one of our weeknight must haves. A favorite of both my husband and my youngest: homemade chicken fried rice. Its presentation? Messy. Its ingredients? Cheap. Its difficulty level? Easy. Bonus: my chicken fried rice is often made from leftovers. LEFTOVERS. Chicken from a couple nights ago, rice from Sunday dinner, the odd green onion or two left in the crisper drawer. Chicken fried rice is like the “kitchen sink” of dinners, and I love it for that!
Homemade Cheeseburgers with Alexia Onion Rings
Alexia Foods sponsored this conversation about easy weeknight dinners, like this yummy recipe for homemade cheeseburgers alongside crispy Alexia Onion Rings with Panko Breading and Sea Salt. It seems like every year is busier than the last, especially with the kids getting older, and more and more activities getting added into the mix. I don’t expect things to slow down anytime soon (the contrary, actually), so now’s the time to embrace treats like managing to get to bed a half-hour earlier than normal (me, not the kids), a long hot shower in the evening, and easy weeknight meals! Homemade Cheeseburgers with Crispy Alexia Onion Rings Cheeseburgers are a big winner…
Easy Fried Rice for One
This easy fried rice for one is something my daughter loved to eat and make when she was an elementary schooler! Minute® Ready to Serve Rice sponsored this “Easy Fried Rice for One” post, which gives you a quick, on-the-go snack alternative for when life gets busy! Can we all take a deep breath now that the holidays are over? I don’t know about you, but as much as I love the food-filled chaos from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, I definitely appreciate the “back to normal” routines that come with January. Even if it means getting back to busy weekdays with multiple after school activities that encroach on the…
