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Breakfast on the Run
I am a busy student, trying to balance classes, work, and an internship, so I am often eating on the go. I was planning out my meals for the week and decided that breakfast sandwiches would be a great option. They’re portable and easily customizable with your choice of protein, toppings, and bun… and the best part? They freeze and reheat beautifully.
Air Fryer Adventures – Part 2
This week I get to share with you about my air fryer adventures. Check out Justine’s blog from last week to hear about her experience making roasted broccoli and fish in her air fryer.
Air Fryer Adventures – Part 1
Over the next few weeks, Jody and I are going to share with you some of our adventures with air fryers and highlight Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipes that we have made successfully using this appliance. An air fryer cooks food by circulating hot air around the food, which gives it a similar taste and texture to frying but with much less oil. Air fryers come in different sizes and types. Mine is a 5.8-quart basket air fryer. It is too big to fit into a kitchen cupboard, but it does fit nicely in a corner of my kitchen counter. To be safe, I always pull it away from the wall when I am cooking with it and then let it cool completely before I slide it back into place. Clean up is a breeze because I just need to wash the basket with hot, soapy water and then let it air dry.
Refreshing Summer Salsa
Now that school is out for the summer, my kids are constantly reaching for snacks during the day. My grocery list has grown quite long over the past several weeks! To stay on top of my grocery budget, I have been trying to buy less pre-packaged snack foods and opt for items that have more fiber and nutrients to keep my kids full while waiting for our next meal.
Recipe Round-Up: Flexible Ways to Use Produce
Vegetables here, vegetables there, vegetables everywhere! Gardens and farmers’ markets are bursting with produce. You may have some tried and true ways you like to use summer vegetables. If you’re looking for some new ideas, here is a round-up of some of our recipes that allow for flexibility in the vegetables that are used.
Chicken BLT Salads
This week I am continuing our summer series on salads with one I have not made in a while. As tomatoes begin to ripen in gardens and become available at the Farmers Market, this is a recipe we can add to our meal plan. One thing I really like about this recipe is that it has great leftover potential. You can both use up leftovers when making this recipe or create leftovers for meals later in the week. Either way, this is a win because no food gets wasted.
Pizza Made Easy
Whenever I get asked what my favorite foods are, pizza is at the top of my list with tacos being a close second. There are so many options for pizza that I could write it into my meal plan several times in one week and not get tired of eating it. When I have a hankering for a slice (or two!), especially for lunch, Pizza Boats are a quick way for me to satisfy that craving.
No Heat Required!
Last week Justine shared a number of recipes that don’t require any chopping. This week I’d like to share some recipes that don’t require any cooking. Sometimes it’s nice to have a recipe that uses minimal equipment and no heat required!
The microwave is singing!
Occasionally I need recipes that require minimal time, effort, and equipment. I love cooking and making big meals for my family. But with both of our kids in activities during the week, sometimes a meal or a snack that can be made in the microwave is the way to go. My kids enjoy that our microwave is low enough in our pantry for them to help. My preschooler can practice her numbers by helping me use it for cooking, and when the timer ends it sings a little jingle which my toddler loves to dance to. Using the microwave throughout the day is a win for everyone at my house!
No Chopping, No Problem!
Last week I shared our April recipe of the month – Coleslaw Pasta Salad. It is a unique salad recipe because it does not have any chopping, so a knife is not needed. This week I would like to share some other Spend Smart. Eat Smart. recipes that do not need a knife to prepare. Since I have already shared a salad, I have chosen recipes from other categories below.
Coleslaw Pasta Salad
Welcome to April! Today is April Fools’ Day and, though I am not very good at coming up with tricks for today, my children played a pretty good one on their dad last year. They made him a tall glass of juice, except it was not juice, it was Jell-O. So, when he tried to take a drink, the juice was stuck in the glass. This does not really have anything to do with our April recipe of the month, Coleslaw Pasta Salad, except that I have been thinking a lot about different ways to involve my children in making meals and snacks at home.
Minestrone Soup
Welcome to December! December is usually a very busy month for me. At work we tend to have some bigger meetings and deadlines. My children have music concerts, indoor sports, and parties to attend. My husband and I have our own social events to add in. Most importantly, we have a very special birthday in December – our youngest turns 8 this year. Just thinking about all this makes me want to forget about planning and making meals.
