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My Top 3 Reasons to Roast a Chicken
Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite meal to cook. I love the smell of a roasting turkey and making multiple meals with the leftovers is the best. One downside to roasting a turkey is that it takes several hours, and whole turkeys are harder to find at the store after the holidays. Having two young kids, I need quick meals that don’t require many ingredients yet provide me with leftovers to use throughout the week. Cue roasted chicken! Roasting a whole chicken is easy and helps me create several meals from one dish. The aroma while it cooks is a bonus 😊.
Chicken with Mushrooms
Are you a mushroom lover? In my home, we are divided. Three people love mushrooms and two people hate mushrooms. Our February recipe of the month is Chicken with Mushrooms. This recipe is a pan fried chicken topped with mushroom gravy. Since the chicken and gravy are prepared separately, the mushroom haters can breathe a sigh of relief. They can have their chicken plain. And, for us mushroom lovers, we get extra mushroom gravy.
Late Night Meal Planning
Have you heard the saying “New Year, New Me”? Once the calendar shifted to January, my personal email was flooded with ways to create new fitness and eating habits, new wardrobe suggestions, tips on how to become a better parent, and the list went on and on. The start of a new year tends to get people thinking about New Year’s resolutions and setting goals for themselves. I have never been one to set a New Year’s resolution but having a 5-month-old and a 4-year-old at home, I have decided this is a great year to set some intentionality for my late-night habit!
Roasted Chickpeas
Happy New Year from the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. team! I am excited to kick off the new year with our first recipe of the month for 2023 – Roasted Chickpeas. I am not a person to set resolutions each year, but I do try to grow and learn by reminding myself to stay curious and try new things. When I started testing and writing up this recipe for the website, I had to remind myself many times to be willing to try new things.
All in One Pot
As I thought about our theme of comfort food favorites, I struggled to pick just one thing. I even asked my mom what she thought I should write about. She would know, right? She suggested anything that involves mashed potatoes and she’s probably right on target there 🙂 . However, as I thought about it more, my go to foods when I’m feeling run down and just need a good meal are one-pot meals.
The Comfort in Homemade Bread
Last week Katy shared about the comfort homemade soup brings to her and her family. As I thought about one of my comfort foods I thought of homemade bread. I come from a long line of bread bakers. Growing up I have memories of making whole wheat bread with one grandma and oatmeal bread with another grandma. And my kids know my mom almost always has some sort of quick bread made when we go to visit. Banana bread is a favorite. I find comfort in making homemade bread, smelling it bake in the oven, and eating it warm out of the oven with butter or peanut butter.
Beef Stew
Welcome to December! This time of year is busy, but I hope you can find a couple of hours to make our recipe of the month – Beef Stew. This recipe is hearty and it fills your home with a wonderful smell. Below I have some tips from my family on making this recipe.
Homemade vs Bought: Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
As colder weather arrives, I find myself drawn to a warm bowl of soup. My boyfriend’s favorite soup is broccoli cheddar, and we find ourselves craving it this time of year. The question becomes, do we go to the nearest restaurant and try theirs, grab a can from the store, or make from scratch? I recently tried all three and am here to share my thoughts!
Flipping for Pancakes!
Pancakes, or as my preschooler used to call them ‘pam-papes’, are a fan favorite at our house. Below are the top 5 reasons why I am always on board when pancakes are requested for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Pumpkin Recipe Roundup
Pumpkin is a classic flavor that reminds me of the fall season. One 15 ounce can holds about 2 cups of pumpkin. Some pumpkin recipes on Spend Smart. Eat Smart. use the full can while others may use a smaller amount. What do you do with any leftover pumpkin?
Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes
Fall baking season is in full swing! If you are anything like me, you spend summer counting down the days until there’s a chill in the air and you can break out those sweatshirts. Whether you like it warm or cold, we can all agree that fall brings wonderful flavors with it. One of my favorite fall memories is cooking in the kitchen with my dad.
Soup…What’s Saving My Life Right Now
A co-worker asked on a recent meeting as an icebreaker question ‘what’s saving your life right now?’ My response was a good book. The more I thought about it though, soup should have been my answer. I’m in a real rut of meal planning right now. The thought of having to think about what to cook my family for supper makes my head hurt. Soup to the rescue! My family loves soup and I’m grateful for that. Here’s what I love about soup.