Food

Easy Meatloaf with Onion Soup Mix

January 11, 2022 by Lindsay 5 Comments

DELICIOUS, savory homemade meatloaf with Lipton onion soup mix! Simple ingredients and some time in the oven make this one of the most foolproof homemade meatloaf recipes out there. The almighty packet of onion soup gives us another winning recipe!

close up image of plate with meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Ok, let's talk about shortcut ingredients.

Seasoning packets, canned cream-of-xx soups, bottled sauces for slow cooker meals? THEY ARE ALL AMAZING.

And yet, there's a little pocket of humanity that's all "I prefer to make my own, use natural ingredients, shit all over your shortcuts in the name of my clean-eating ego."

Well, no offense to those folks, but pre-made ingredients are AMAZING and can coax some really yummy flavors out of very regular foods.

Example: ranch dip seasoning sprinkled all over chicken before grilling. Definitely do that.

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Creamy Spaghetti with Mushrooms and Bacon

December 30, 2021 by Lindsay 9 Comments

A 10-ingredient pasta dinner that is done in about 30 minutes! This DELICIOUS creamy bacon pasta is so simple to make and has delicious seared mushrooms in a creamy bacon-laced tomato sauce. Delicious for a weeknight, weekend entertaining, or an easy holiday meal! I like this with an easy green salad and focaccia for dipping in extra sauce.

You know how bacon is good on, like, everything?

It's true. Adding even just a little salty, crispy bacon to spaghetti with mushrooms is juuuuust the little nudge into winter dinners we need to get us through the next few cold weeks (or months depending on where you live!)

I love this spaghetti, and I make it all the time. It's a really simple base of seared bacon bits (buy the thick cut kind if you can!), mushrooms browned in the bacon fat (hello), and a creamy tomato sauce that comes together really quickly. The sauce itself is done in just about the time it takes to boil water for pasta, giving us a 30-45 minutes to dinnertime situation.

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Chocolate Chess Pie

December 21, 2021 by Lindsay 4 Comments

Delicious, super easy creamy chocolate chess pie in under an hour! This recipe has just 7 ingredients and is so simple to make with the help of a storebought crust! PS, if you have extra evaporated milk, it can be used in slow cooker butter chicken or other creamy savory recipes!

chocolate chess pie slice on white plate with fork.

Tis the season to make a pie so delicious you may or may not consume 2 pieces in twelve hours just to be sure it was that good.

It was, promise.

Ok so this pie. Vague origin story. I actually didn't know what a chocolate chess pie WAS, but this local grocery/bakery that we frequent makes them around the holidays and they always looked really enticing in pretty bakery boxes. Then I ended up with a few extra pie crusts after Thanksgiving (my apple pies didn't require a top crust because I didn't have as many apples as I thought, long story), and I knew I needed a new Christmas pie. Enter: Chocolate Chess.

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Jalapeno Corn Dip with Cream Cheese

December 9, 2021 by Lindsay 10 Comments

Delicious, easy hot corn dip with cream cheese and jalapenos with just 7 ingredients. Vegetarian, gluten free, and PERFECT for any party or appetizer need! I serve this with Fritos scoops because FRITOS SCOOPS, but it's also really delicious scooped onto tortilla chips or no-knead bread if you're feeling fancy.

oval baking diwh with cheesy corn dip topped with pickled jalapenos.

...with only 7 ingredients! A few basic things, mix, bake, scoop into your open trap.

This corn dip is one of those creamy, super simple classic hot dips that is so perfect for almost any occasion.

I've made this twice in the past 2 weeks, for different crowds, and both times it's been met with massive acclaim and very few leftovers, which is my main measure for success. It's a little sweet, a little spicy, a lot creamy, and the easiest of all the easy dips.

I use frozen corn and jarred jalapenos, BUT I've also added a chopped fresh jalapeno on instances where I wanted more spice. So, feel free to upgrade your ingredients if that sounds fun to you!

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Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic

December 1, 2021 by Lindsay 8 Comments

Creamy, luscious 5-ingredient Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes! These come together in under an hour, but the roasted garlic can be made in advance for even more hurried nights. These are very delicious with a cast iron skillet steak and some 5 Minute Asparagus, just saying.

bowl of mashed potatoes with butter swirl on blue napkin surrounded by Thanksgiving foods.

Oh, hello 5 ingredient steakhouse-worthy side dish that is the absolute love of my life.

It's the best ever mashed potatoes (with skins!), it's roasted garlic, it's buttery, creamy, comforting goodness.

There are a gazillion ways to make mashed potatoes, and IMO almost all of them are great. I love a super silky mashed potato (why does it remind of me of kind of a janky cruise?), but I also love a little bit of texture from potato skin and potato chunks.

Mashed potatoes are wonderful because gluten free potato recipes are easy to come by and almost universally adored, which means that lots of eaters can enjoy mashed potatoes. Also they're just supremely yummy, so there's that.

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Vidalia Onion Casserole

November 15, 2021 by Lindsay 6 Comments

Make onions the STAR of the show with this classic Southern onion casserole! This version uses sweet onions, has 9 ingredients, and can be made in advance for a yummy weeknight side dish with grilled chicken or as part of a Thanksgiving or Easter dinner. Bonus points for this being a Ritz Cracker topped casserole! (aka the best kind)

close up of ritz cracker topping on onion casserole.

Onion casserole. Heard of it? Had it? It's new-ish to me; my MIL brought us a version she made earlier this summer with just "I'm bringing onion casserole" and I just immediately knew I had found my new favorite veggie side dish.

I love a casserole, as we well know. I also really like onions, and sweet onions + cheesy stuff + Ritz cracker topping? Count.Me.In.

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BEST Easy Asparagus Casserole

November 1, 2021 by Lindsay 56 Comments

Super easy and healthy asparagus casserole that comes together in just a few steps. This is perfect for Thanksgiving, Easter, or any meal that needs a yummy low carb side dish! This is one of my most popular recipes with over 200k clicks, likes, shares, and saves!

white plate with serving of cheesy baked asparagus on a blue napkin.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, there's a balance of "we always have that," and "let's try something new," you know?

This is the BEST asparagus casserole ever, but I'd also venture that it's the best Thanksgiving side dish ever. It's the perfect line between "super classic" and "a little updated," and let's just take a moment to bow to the Casserole Gods of Thanksgiving. They love us, and we love them.

So. Easy asparagus casserole! The fancy feeling of a veg that isn't green beans with the comfort of cheese and Ritz crackers.

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Crock Pot Stuffing with Sausage and Apples

October 20, 2021 by Lindsay 11 Comments

One of the most delicious versions of classic Thanksgiving stuffing made in a slow cooker! Just 10 delicious ingredients cooked for a few hours while you make the rest of your Thanksgiving dinner. This is a great dish to prep in advance and take to a friendsgiving, too!

top view of slow cooker sausage stuffing with apples and celery.

We've definitely talked about this before, but where do we fall on turkey vs sides at Thanksgiving? I am Team Side Dishes all the way - I like turkey OK, but honestly side dishes are my favorite thing about Thanksgiving, hands down.

I've worked on stuffing recipes for years, and I think for me the key is a good ratio of crusty bread to buttery drizzle - no mushy bread, no mealy texture, actual delicious, buttery bread cubes with flavorful ingredients mixed in.

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Smoked Turkey Breast

October 14, 2021 by Lindsay 9 Comments

Delicious, easy whole smoked turkey breast with just a few simple steps! This is a smoked turkey WITHOUT BRINE for no mess or extra planning. An overnight dry rub and a few hours in the smoker produce the most delicious, juicy turkey breast ever!

plate of sliced smoked turkey with rosemary garnish on navy blue napkin.

One thing about turkey: people either love it or "meh" it and really love sides. I fall on the "sides are preferable" side (lol) of things generally, unless the turkey is really freaking good.

And let me say this: smoked turkey is really freaking good.

(although, if you don't have a smoker, I have a roasted turkey breast and foolproof whole roast turkey that are also really, really good!)

I LOVE smoking turkeys for Thanksgiving or Christmas. The benefits are endless: the oven is free for side dishes to bake, and the low + slow way the smoker works means that the turkey stays super flavorful and juicy.

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Vegan Marinated Mushrooms

September 30, 2021 by Lindsay 7 Comments

One of our favorite vegan mushrooms, these vegan marinated mushrooms are SO YUMMY and the perfect vegan appetizer to add to a party spread! They have just a few pantry ingredients and are done in 30 minutes, but last for weeks in the fridge!

hand holding a marinated mushroom on a toothpick over open jar of mushrooms.

I. Love. Mushrooms. Like, a lot a lot.

These mushrooms in particular will always and forever remind me of Christmas, even though my family never had them. I think this is a total throwback recipe, 80's or 90's or something - did you eat these as a kid? My next door neighbors in Japan made these for almost every holiday, and I LOVED them. I think they used Italian dressing and canned mushrooms, no shame in that game, and the chewy mushroom in the tangy vinaigrette was just my favorite thing ever.

I'm all about anything tangy or pickled, and I think these are such a great addition to a holiday party. They're so light and bright and a perfect complement to the heavier dishes that we have this time of year. I like having them as part of an appetizer spread with some pimento cheese or buffalo chicken dip; they're vegan and gluten free so everyone can enjoy them.

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Whole30 Beef Stew

September 27, 2021 by Lindsay 8 Comments

This easy beef stew is whole30 compliant, gluten free, and DELICIOUS. One of the most delicious beef recipes for dinner, make a big batch of this and serve it all week for a delicious meal prep dinner! If you AREN'T avoiding gluten, a batch of no-knead Dutch oven bread should be in the plans as well!

white bowl with beef stew, potatoes, and carrots in front of a yellow dutch oven.

OK, here's your plan for the next snow day, sick day, chilly day, comfort-needing day:

This beef stew works with all of those situations and then some, why don't we have more beef stew on Christmas Eve? For Halloween dinner right before or right after trick-or-treating? I adore it; the simplicity of the flavors with the "well, yeah, I simmered it for awhile" satisfaction that makes it feel slightly fancy but totally unpretentious.

The method is simple: sear a bunch of beef chunks until they're really crispy on the outside. Toss some veggies in those drippings, then everything goes back into the pot together with tomato paste, garlic, spices. Broth makes it soupy, then it simmers covered for a bit, then uncovered to finish the dish and thicken the sauce.

The potato here breaks down a bit to thicken the sauce (so we don't need flour), and the end result is just SO delicious. I adore super soft cooked veggies in dishes like this, soaked in the broth mixture and just YES. Someone please make this for me asap, I think I feel a sore throat coming on (not really just want food brought to me).

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Greek Chicken Thighs

September 16, 2021 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Delicious broiled chicken thighs with Greek chicken marinade! This version of honey lemon chicken has a quick and easy marinade and is done in under half an hour because the chicken is broiled quickly. Serve these on their own, in pita for chicken gyros, or as part of a Mediterranean charcuterie board!

crowded board with plate of chicken, lemon halves, tzatziki, pita, and lettuce leaves.

This has recently become one of my favorite ways to serve chicken, especially in the summer - Greek-style with tangy tzatziki sauce, broiled in the oven for a quick and easy weeknight dinner situation.

Greek flavors are some of my favorites, and I love a whole meal that is lemony, oregano-y, and honey-esque. Lemon, honey, olive oil, garlic, and oregano are cornerstone flavors of Greek food and can be mixed and matched in a thousand ways to create different dishes!

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Tzatziki Sauce

September 13, 2021 by Lindsay 16 Comments

This easy homemade tzatziki sauce has just 6 ingredients and can be made in half an hour or less. It's a delicious condiment for crispy chicken cutlets or served as a ranch dressing alternative for dipping veggies! I love having a batch of this in the fridge for parties or quick snacks (or to go nuts with a Mediterranean charcuterie board!).

side view of greek yogurt tzatziki sauce with pita on the side and fresh mint leaves.

Tzatziki sauce is delicious and amazing and versatile. Tzatziki is a traditional Greek/Turkish condiment, and this version uses Greek yogurt as the base. I've had variations with sour cream and even feta cheese, but this is my favorite way to eat it.

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What to Cook for Labor Day

September 1, 2021 by Lindsay 1 Comment

We all know that Labor Day is in September, right? The year is flying. We say it every year.

But! It's almost the start of a long weekend, and I feel like no long weekend is complete without some great food plans.

Whether you're going to a big gathering or staying home, here are some ideas for what to cook this weekend! Some are for sunny, hot days, some are for chillier evenings, some are for if you're already planted on the couch obsessing over football and your Fantasy stats. Labor Day Recipes for all activities!

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Pesto Rice

August 25, 2021 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Easy pesto rice is the perfect weeknight side dish for summer! Gluten free, buttery, and absolutely delicious. I love making this with store-bought or homemade pesto for a fun addition to plain white rice that is delicious with cast iron skillet salmon and broiled asparagus!

side view pesto rice with basil leave and pine nuts in blue bowl

Let us say hello to our favorite 30 minute summer side dish for dinner! Pesto rice. Which is, in fact, exactly what it sounds like: steamy white rice flavored with basil pesto, aka SUMMER RICE.

Let's make summer rice a thing. With butter.

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Pan Seared NY Strip Steak

August 16, 2021 by Lindsay 9 Comments

The easiest way to make steak in a cast iron skillet! NY Strip Steak with easy, buttery shallot sauce is the most delicious date night at home steak method. Pair this with your favorite sides for a delicious, easy steakhouse dinner at home!

close up cast iron skillet with cooked sliced steak and shallot sauce over steak

Hi! How is your week going? I think the older we get the more we say it, but what a week. We're struggling to stay afloat in a very busy season, and with a lot of in and out, dinners together to reconnect are definitely part of that plan.

I love a Nice But Very Easy mid-week meal when we're super busy, and this is by far our favorite way to eat steak. We eat it with some kind of roasted veggie that can cook while the steak works, and dinner is DONE in 30 minutes, maybe less.

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14 Back-To-School Dinner Ideas (with meal prep tips)

August 5, 2021 by Lindsay 11 Comments

How are we feeling this week? Or whenever you and yours start back to school (if you do)?

Our district starts in just two weeks, but we're deep in prep for the big day. Beck has asked weekly when school is starting back since it let OUT in May, and now is up to asking about three times per day if tomorrow is the first day of school. She can't wait to start in her new class with new friends, and I'm SO excited for her.

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Vegan Potato Salad

July 27, 2021 by Lindsay 1 Comment

This vegan potato salad with no mayo is a super easy summer side dish that comes together with just a few ingredients! It tastes just like salt and vinegar potato chips, has tons of fresh herbs, and can be served warm or at room temp. I love it with cast iron skillet salmon for a delicious weeknight dinner, or as a summer potluck side dish offering.

Hello, hello flavors of middle school chip dreams wrapped up in some adult ingredients.

LOOK! It's a no mayo potato salad!

Listen, I love super fatty, carby side dishes in the summer. Seriously. A lot. BUT, I'm also into dishes that can feed a variety of dishes and are light enough that we can Eat All The Things and not feel uncomfortably full.

Like this vegan potato salad! This is one of those side dishes that goes with ANYTHING all summer, and the flavor combo is riiiight in the middle of salt and vinegar and sour cream and onion potato chips, aka heaven.

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Corn Risotto with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes

July 14, 2021 by Lindsay 1 Comment

Super easy corn risotto recipe that is perfect for using up summer produce! This version features roasted cherry tomatoes that get a little charred, a lot sweet, and are the perfect topping. This is a vegetarian and gluten free main dish or side option. Pair it with some cast iron skillet salmon for a yummy gluten free pescatarian dinner.

bowl of corn risotto topped with tomatoes on blue napkin

Because everything should have corn and tomatoes in it right now, you know? It's true.

Where we are, produce is so perfect this time of year, zucchini and squash and herbs and corn just everywhere. This corn risotto cozy from the creamy rice and fresh with corn and tomatoes that are amazing right now.

I love this recipe for summer, but it's for sure delicious year round with frozen corn and storebought cherry tomatoes. It's also really nice for late summer when the produce is still there but the temperatures mercifully dip a little bit.

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Vegan Tabouli Salad

July 6, 2021 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Delicious, easy vegan tabouli salad with marinated chickpeas that is the perfect light lunch! We serve this often as a side dish for grilled chicken or baked tofu, or take it to summer potlucks for a yummy vegan side dish.

gray pottery bowl of vegan tabouli salad topped with parsley and marinated garbanzo beans with blue napkins

I. Love. Summer.

I love the feeling of school being out. I love the heat and humidity, even when I bitch about it. I love the longer days, the smell of gardenias, going to hear music downtown, the whole cliché shebang.

I especially LOVE summer-feeling food. Grilled meat with fresh or raw side dishes, that great mix of healthy and decadent, salads so fresh and crisp that they somehow quench your thirst, you know?

This tabouli is one of those salads for our family, and I can't get enough. My mom used to make picnics of hummus and tabouli and pita long before those things were cool, and bring them to the pool late swim practices in the summer. She made both with a heavy hand of lemon, one of my favorite flavors for dishes like this.

This version of tabouli is a teensy bit jazzed up with marinating the chick peas, but that's super hands off and can be done way in advance - the longer in advance the better, actually. The garbanzos end up creamy but still with texture and so much flavor from the lemon juice, garlic, and crushed red pepper. I honestly can't even.

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