Side DishesGreek-style roast potatoes take 1 hour 20 minutes total, with 10 minutes of prep. Greek roast potatoes are mostly a set-it-and-forget-it meal. I cook potatoes that have been peeled and trimmed in a stock and lemon juice mixture before roasting them. Add whipped feta cheese to serve potatoes with crisped skin and soft insides.
Snacks & AppetizersThis cranberry pecan cheese log is a recipe I like to use when hosting guests with short notice. Sharp cheddar cheese works well with cream cheese. Cranberries and pecans provide sweet and crunchy additions. Slices of the cheese log will show the chopped ingredients. I like that aspect of this recipe.
LunchUse a pound of ground beef to make four large burritos. Cook the beef in a pan in small pieces. Include sliced bell peppers and taco seasoning. Place a mixture of cooked beef and melted cheese in warm tortillas. Top with sour cream or chipotle sauce. I prefer chipotle sauce.
DinnerThis Boursin chicken recipe is a 25-minute meal that requires just a handful of ingredients and one pan. Coat the chicken with flour and simmer in a garlic and herb cream sauce until the chicken pieces are coated. This recipe is a good choice for a quick weeknight dinner.
DinnerStreaked bacon provides flavor and fat to this tomato and bacon orzo with spinach dish. This is my favorite single-skillet recipe. Look for bacon slices with streaks of fat. This recipe features a tomato-based sauce and sautéed spinach with a creamy, risotto-like consistency.
LunchUse 95% lean hamburger to make bacon cheeseburger wraps. Cooking 95% lean hamburger creates a non-soggy wrap filling. Add bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese with ketchup and mustard to the wrap. Add cold shredded lettuce and tomato slices to the wrap.
DinnerThese cheeseburger quesadillas take 10 minutes from start to finish and are one of my favorite recipes to prepare at home using ground beef. Ten-inch tortillas are pan-fried with butter, ground beef, and sharp cheddar cheese. Burger sauce is provided on the side. I suggest enjoying the crispy parts of the tortilla with the burger sauce.
DinnerThese Big Mac wraps take 25 minutes or less to prepare and feature seasoned ground beef tucked into flour tortillas with burger toppings and a quick sauce. I prepare these Big Mac wraps rather than burgers on days when I crave a Big Mac but don't want to prepare beef patties. Beef stays in small, browned pieces.
LunchLean ground beef is the main ingredient in these grilled cheeseburger wraps. Lean ground beef replaces other fatty ingredients to give the tortillas a cheeseburger flavor. Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and onion powder give the ground beef mixture additional flavors. Cheddar cheese adds a melt-in-your-mouth element to the wrap.
DinnerThinly sliced beef sirloin is my favorite meat to use in stroganoff. It takes 2 to 3 minutes to sear and stays a little pink inside. It's served over egg noodles in a paprika and mushroom sauce with Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard. The egg noodles soak up the sauce. It's a tasty dish.
DinnerPasta alla vodka is a meal for six people that I make using homemade tomato sauce. A quart of tomato sauce goes into this meal; I freeze the rest of the tomato sauce for another night. I puree the tomato sauce before adding vodka. I make Paccheri pasta with cream and Parmesan cheese. Some of the Parmesan cheese is inside the hollow noodles. This is my favorite part.
DinnerThese shrimp bowls are great options for meal prep and weeknight dinner. Minimal extra cooking is needed for these shrimp bowls on weeknights or other busy days when you don't have time to cook. The avocado mixture has a thick but spoonable consistency. Corn salsa is crisp. Shrimp have grill marks.
