These are the recipes and items that I make/use on repeat. They are crowd-pleasers!
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Recipes
Enchiladas – This recipe is the best! It is most certainly a weekend meal as it takes a while to prep, but it is easy to double so that you can enjoy it on a weeknight later. I like to swap ground beef for poached chicken; a shredded rotisserie could also work in a pinch.
Big Mac Salad – You can find this recipe in our beach vacation meal plan and boat food, and for a good reason. It’s easy to make a big crowd-pleaser. Half the meat will do. I use the other half to make burgers in the same pan for my boys. If you aren’t on the Keto diet, use regular sugar and taste as you go, I find that about half the amount works for my family.
Chimichurri Fish, Chicken, Whatever! – This South American herb-based sauce is ready in minutes and is good on many things. I’ve tried it on fish, shrimp, steak, chicken, and pork, and it works on them all. It’s a flexible recipe, so don’t worry too much about the measurements. Make it on a Sunday, and you will reach for it all week.
Cheeseburger Helper – You won’t find any preservatives in this homemade version of Hamburger Helper. It’s easy to double, uses ingredients you may have, and everyone in the family will love it.
Penne Ala Vodka – This recipe from Serious Eats comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Granola Bars – Are you looking for a kid-friendly snack? Look no further. Granola bars are so easy to make and delicious. To make them nut-free, omit the almonds and replace them with equal parts Rice Krispies.
Fancy Pants Chicken – This is THE recipe to impress guests. No one will know that it came together in MINUTES. I’m not exaggerating. It’s that easy. If you can’t find the garlic and herb seasoning, substitute an Italian dressing mix.
Creamy Italian Salad Dressing I have tried so many creamy Italian dressings, and this is my favorite. I almost always have the ingredients on hand plus, it’s easy to make and delicious! Be sure to use Duke’s Mayo.
Potato Salad – Bring this to any potluck, and it will be gone in an instant. The secret is in marinating the potatoes while they are hot. Don’t worry about the overpowering pickle juice; it adds a tang.
Arugula Salad – If you want a simple salad, look no further. This one consists of arugula, parmesan, and an easy lemon vinaigrette. It’s a great complement to Italian dishes.
Butternut Squash Soup – This creamy soup has no cream in it! The texture comes from the squash. It’s great for a fall dinner and lunch the next day. The crostini is nice, but we prefer to serve it with BLTs or a side salad.
Pasta With Sausage And Broccoli – If you need a hearty no-brainer for dinner, this is it. It’s easily adaptable. You can substitute almost any green vegetable for broccoli. Orecchiette can be hard to find, so sub fusilli, farfalle, or penne.
Kitchen Tools And Cookbooks
Tweezers — You will find yourself reaching for these constantly. To test pasta, grab steaks in place of tongs. They are affordable and fantastic to have around.
Cookbook — We LOVE “The Everlasting Meal” by Tamar Adler. Organized by what food you have to use, the book has many listings for ideas on how to use it. We find ourselves reaching for it time and again.
Pans — We love these Carote pans from Amazon. The granite coating makes them non-stick; we’ve used them daily for years. Check out our full review of granite cookware for more information.
Misfit Market — We’ve tried many vegetable delivery services, and Misfit Market is our favorite. It’s cheaper than the grocery store and you are rescuing food.