DinnerThis chicken and penne recipe can be prepared on the stove in 40 minutes and is perfect for weeknight meals when you crave a pasta dish but don't have time to cook more than one dish. Shredded chicken and bacon are added to a cheddar and ranch sauce, and the penne is cooked but not soft, which I like for pasta served with sauce.
DinnerMarry me chickpeas is a 30-minute skillet dinner that I prepare when I don't feel like cooking dinner. Ingredients include chickpeas and sun-dried tomato sauce, with spinach mixed in at the last minute. I prepare the entire dish on one large skillet that I'm happy to wash.
BreakfastThis apple puffy tart can be prepared in around 45 minutes with store-bought frozen puff pastry sheets and other small amounts of apple filling. I prepare this tart for dinner on weeknight nights when I crave warm apples and vanilla custard in a flaky pastry crust with a cinnamon topping. I prefer not to make my own puff pastry.
LunchI make quesadillas for meal prep and have jalapeno sauce on hand to serve. I make chicken with an orange-red glaze. The tortillas will be browned and have areas where the cheese has melted (I like to serve cold sauce over warm tortillas).
BreakfastChoose fresh, undamaged blueberries for these no-baked lemon-blueberry protein balls. Blueberries won't break apart when added to the batter and will offer intact berry skins and flavorful juices in every bite. Lemon zest gives the protein balls a lemon flavor, I like to add it by grating lemon zest directly into the bowl.
LunchThese Greek chicken pita sandwiches are one of four prepared items in a 35-minute meal plan. Some items are served warm, and some are family style. I like to serve warm chicken and cold tzatziki sauce with pitas that have a crunchy exterior and soft interior, the soft part of the pitas is my favorite.
DinnerSmoked kielbasa is my favorite type of sausage to use in this casserole recipe. Slicing the sausage diagonally helps the sauce and other ingredients brown around the sausage and pierogis. This easy crockpot casserole recipe serves six and features pierogis coated in sauce after a long, low cook.
Snacks & AppetizersThese crab cake egg rolls can be made in 35 minutes using any of three preparation methods. The egg rolls contain generous amounts of crab meat and cream cheese seasoned with Old Bay. The egg rolls have a crisp wrapper. Sweet chili aioli is provided on the side for dipping.
Snacks & AppetizersSix eggs make 12 deviled eggs, and you cover and cook eggs for 12 minutes once the water comes to a boil. I make deviled eggs for events and other holiday meals when I want to have an appetizer prepared in advance. Other ingredients in my deviled eggs include sweet pickle relish and Dijon mustard for some acidity, I particularly enjoy the sweet pickle relish in deviled eggs.
Snacks & AppetizersBuy a solid block of brined feta cheese to make this feta and green olive dip. Mix crumbled block feta and pitted green olives with cream cheese, Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and dill to make this dip in 5 minutes. The dip has a salty, briny flavor when eaten.
Snacks & AppetizersFrozen chopped spinach is the best fit for this recipe. You'll need to thaw and squeeze the spinach well before using it to ensure the dip is thick enough to serve as a dip (this will take some effort). Chopped artichoke hearts and fresh garlic provide the flavors I associate with this type of dip.
Snacks & AppetizersSuperfine blanched almond flour adds crunch to keto crackers. Almond meal is another option, but it doesn't add as much crunch to crackers. I recommend adding mozzarella and parmesan cheese to crackers. These crackers are crunchy and hold their shape when baked. I enjoy the salty, crispy edges that brown well more than the rest of the cracker.
