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Greek Yogurt Coleslaw with Poppyseed Dressing

June 10, 2022 by Lindsay 7 Comments

THE BEST slaw for fish tacos recipe ever! Just 6 ingredients make this creamy, tangy, no mayo coleslaw one that you'll make again and again. I love this over fish tacos with peach salsa and sour cream guacamole, or with a grilled chicken dinner!

white bowl of poppyseed slaw with Greek yogurt on wooden board with floral napkin. — white cabbage slaw on brown board.

Will has started to do this thing where if he is unsatisfied with something I offer for a snack he gives me a texture clue as to what he really wants. So if he wants yogurt it's "I want something smushy," pretzels "I'm thinking of a cwunchy snack," and so on. It's hilarious, and I have no clue where he came up with it.

BUT, what I'm thrilled he's figured out is this: foods need different textures. So if we're talking about a soft fish taco, some crunchy slaw to top it is exactly the key to wake it up a little bit.

This particular slaw goes with just about anything: on top of BBQ sandwiches, in fish tacos, as a side dish to grilled chicken with corn on the cob. It's great with any cabbage you like, and the dressing is also delicious on green salads!

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Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce

March 17, 2022 by Lindsay 11 Comments

The most foolproof Greek meatball recipe! Beef meatballs with just a little bit of filler, tons of flavor from lemon and oregano, with tzatziki for dipping. Make your own tzatziki sauce, or use your favorite storebought brand!

pile of greek meatballs with cucumber slices and fresh mint.

Omg meatballs are just so good, right? Seriously.

I find that when feeding people, meatballs are one of those "easy but a little special but also everyone likes them" recipes that are fun to make, hard to mess up, and can be made in advance. LOTS of good stuff there, right?

(Bonus points for meatballs being a nice kid friendly dinner aka pick it up with your hands, I don't have time to cut up your food 17 times a day.)

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Fresh Peach Jalapeno Salsa

March 11, 2022 by Lindsay 10 Comments

Delicious, refreshing homemade tomato peach salsa! This recipe is made right in the food processor and can be made with fresh or canned peaches. The tomatoes, peaches, and jalapeno combine with lime juice for delicious, bright flavor that is delicious on chips served next to sour cream guacamole for a fun party platter.

peach jalapeno salsa with pale white chips.

Ok, where do we fall on fruit in our salsa? I am team YES to pineapple pizza, YES to fruit in salsa, all the sweet/savory combos in the world.

This peach salsa is super simple because we make it right in the food processor, aka NO CHOPPING. The end result is somewhere between a salsa and a peach pico de gallo - fresh, light, with TONS of flavor.

I make this all the time to have as a snack with a cookout or pool party situation, but it's also a really great topping for fish tacos or weeknight seared salmon - a little fresh, islandy vibe even in colder months.

(PS, you can definitely make this with canned peaches year round!)

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Easy Meatloaf with Onion Soup Mix

January 11, 2022 by Lindsay 7 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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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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Vidalia Onion Casserole

November 15, 2021 by Lindsay 13 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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Smoked Turkey Breast

October 14, 2021 by Lindsay 13 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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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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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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Spicy Grilled Firecracker Shrimp

June 29, 2021 by Lindsay 15 Comments

Spicy grilled shrimp at its finest with TWO kinds of hot sauce! Just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes are all you need for this spicy, buttery take on firecracker shrimp.

cooked grilled shrimp on grill pan with lemon slices

Hello and welcome to our favorite 15 minute appetizer! When we're having grilling parties I'm always into a little snack right at the beginning - something delicious that can be thrown on the grill or in the oven while we wait for the main event, you know?

Fake-out focaccia is an example of this.

Now, don't confuse this Firecracker Shrimp with the dish by the same name from Panda Express. This is not that, although I'm sure that's delicious too. I've called this spicy grilled shrimp Firecracker Shrimp for YEARS, mainly because it is a very fun summery nibble to add to a grilling party at one of the American summer holidays. Hence, Firecracker Shrimp.

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Easy Shrimp Curry

June 14, 2021 by Lindsay 2 Comments

This delicious shrimp curry features coconut milk, fish sauce, and lots of lime juice for brightness. This is a curry shrimp recipe that's done in just 30 minutes, aka the perfect weeknight seafood dinner! Pair this with plain white rice or naan for dipping and sopping up all the creamy curry sauce.

large skillet of shrimp with creamy curry sauce, napkin, and cilantro

Ohhhh curry, how I love you. It's no secret that we are highly obsessed with all kinds of curry, and a yellow curry with coconut milk appears a few times per month on our dinner rotation.

I often see curry recipes with a bunch of chopping, starting with garlic, ginger, jalapeno, and green onion. I LOVE starting curries with that flavor combination, but wanted to do a quick version using dried and jarred flavors to save time and effort.

This shrimp curry recipe is super easy thanks to coconut milk and yellow curry, and the result is a 15-20 minute curry that tastes like tons of effort without any actual effort. Shrimp cooks in 3 minutes or less, and with some storebought naan this can truly be dinner in under half an hour.

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs

April 28, 2021 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Favorite chicken cordon bleu flavors in these utterly delicious and simple Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs! Lean ground chicken and a little Swiss cheese get blended quickly with some ham (leftover glazed ham or deli ham!) and easy pantry spices for major flavor in this tender ground chicken meatball. There's an easy sour cream dip with mustard for dipping + extra credit.

low carb ground chicken meatballs healthy with dipping sauce

These are chicken balls with ham and cheese.

They were, as all good ideas on this blog are, Jay's idea, and they were a fantastic one. I love the nostalgic flavors of chicken cordon bleu, crispy exterior, gooey interior, but the process is pretty arduous and a meatball is just so friendly and celebratory, right?

For the sake of holidays or parties, you can totally make these in advance, bake them, then reheat them in the oven until the cheese melts again so all the mess + raw meat nonsense can happen well in advance of serving these.

The ingredients are simple, and you can use deli ham or leftover holiday ham from Easter or Thanksgiving if you ever have any lying around.

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Easy Mexican Ground Beef

April 26, 2021 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Delicious Mexican ground beef that can be used in tacos, burritos, or over nachos! This is one of those foolproof recipes that is delicious, and features your own homemade taco seasoning, hard shell tacos with no seasoning packet! This ground beef is extra delicious with sour cream guacamole.

For Taco Tuesday hard-shell tacos, DUH.

We are a week away from Cinco de Mayo! This is excellent news because MEXICAN FOOD OBVS. Mexican and Indian are my true all the time, tried and true, even love the leftovers, favorite cuisines of all time. We eat a variation of each at least once per week, and I love that Mexican food specifically lends itself to so many different types of foods, uses for extra veggies, all of the good stuff. Plus: flavor. condiments. cilantro.

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Sour Cream Guacamole

April 21, 2021 by Lindsay 4 Comments

This sour cream guacamole features grated onion and garlic for tons of flavor + no chunks, and lime juice and fresh tomatoes for delicious pico + guac flavor mixed into one. If you love guacamole, you will LOVE this version.

sour cream guacamole bowl topped with tomatoes

My friend Heather and I have had some pretty extensive happy hours, and over the years we have expanded our "let's just set out some cheese and crackers" offerings to tons of different appetizers, snacks, and spreads. We do breads, cheeses, these tomatoes, fruits and veggies, all in the name of "absorbing the wine." It works for us.

Once we were having one such important business meeting and she said "I made guacamole! But with lots of sour cream." And BOY did she mean it. This was a recipe invented out of necessity, she had half an avocado and other flavorful things that didn't quiiiiite make more than a few chipfulls of regular guac, so this dip came about.

Mostly sour cream, some avocado, flavors for eons. We've both been making it for various other people ever since, and it's been a massive hit with everyone who has tried it. So, while I can't take all the credit for this recipe, it needed to be one that you started making right. this. moment. If you hate guacamole you'll LOVE this. And if you love guacamole you're probably already drooling.

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Easy Chili Lime Salmon

April 19, 2021 by Lindsay 2 Comments

Chili lime salmon with honey is a DELICIOUS version of my best ever cast iron skillet salmon. Just 6 ingredients, 15 minutes, and gluten free, dairy free salmon dinner can be yours!

It's 6 ingredients of love, basically. How are we feeling about a 20 minute salmon dinner that feels slightly Mexican, slightly fine for any side dish you like, slightly practically perfect in every way?

We feel great about it, right?

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Seriously Good Pimento Cheese (without cream cheese!)

April 6, 2021 by Lindsay 1 Comment

This classic Southern, slightly spicy pimento cheese recipe is absolutely perfect! I love to have pimento cheese homemade with lots of storebought ingredients (crackers, cheese, pickles, etc) for an easy cheese board at a party or for a snack plate dinner! This is extra delicious paired with some homemade focaccia for dunking.

Table Of Contents

Ingredients
Recipe Notes and Ingredient Notes
Step By Step Instructions
Serving and Storage
Other Easy Appetizer Recipes

OK SO.

Let us discuss the glory that is pimento cheese, since even if it's not Master's Weekend, we live in the South and love this dip for any and all snacking occasions. Since I started this blog I've made a LOT of pimento cheese, and have tweaked the recipe over the years to a combination that I absolutely adore.

Other people adore it too, and that's not something I say about a lot of the food I make, because I'm insecure. Pimento cheese homemade, though, is something that people of all walks of life really enjoy when it is good. Back when we used to cater large parties this was one of our most-ordered recipes, hands down.

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Spring Salad with Asparagus

March 30, 2021 by Lindsay 3 Comments

This raw bok choy salad with asparagus and peas is the most delicious easy salad! A no-dressing dressing with lemon juice and olive oil + some fresh parmesan rounds out this gluten free side or main dish. Round this spring salad out with some favorite grilled chicken and shortcut focaccia, or serve this as a cold vegetable side dish!

It's another non-dressing salad, aka my favorite way to throw together a super quick and fresh meal.

Farmer's markets are finally coming back, which means we are in Spring Greens heaven, and so many of these ingredients are able to be found locally right now.

The gist is this: raw greens, fresh herbs, and a few choice veggies blanched super quickly in salted water that get cooled and served on top. Salt, pepper, lemon juice, olive oil, and parmesan top the dish for flavor, so we don't need to mess with making a dressing.

I LOVE salads like this this time of year, because you can customize them based on what you like or have in your fridge that needs to be used up. Literally any veggie, herb, or cheese can be swapped out here, this is just a combination that I love.

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Lentil Bowls with Cauliflower and Tahini

March 22, 2021 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

The best buddha bowls with cauliflower and tahini sauce! These are so delicious for a make ahead lunch, and the pickled onions and tahini sauce can be made in advance for a quick throw-together meal. These bowls are vegetarian, gluten free, and can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature.

lentil bowl topped with pickled red onions

When it comes to "healthy" food, I'm careful to not use words like "cheat, guilt, good, bad," and so on. I think that thought pattern surrounding food can be so damaging, but also I agree that in terms of physical health there are foods that are better for our bodies than others, if we're talking lentils vs cheetos.

I love lentils for the cheap + toothsome + nutrition-packed punch they pack in a bowl like this. They are SO flavorful (because salt) and honestly I could eat a bowl of them on their own.

We made this into a fun bowl with bright pink pickled onions, a shortcut gremolata, and toasty roasty cauliflower, one of my favorite substitutes for meat because when roasted it has just the best texture.

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