Archive for the ‘Meal Plans’ Category

45 Easy Recipes Using Pantry Ingredients

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

Are you looking for quick and easy pantry recipes that your whole family will love? Check out these simple meals to incorporate your canned & dry goods into your recipes. Feel free to pin and bookmark this post to make the most of your budget.

Here is some honest truth, I have never been good about tracking what I have stocked in my pantry. Just like most moms, I am often in survival mode and am just proud if I get our grocery shopping and menu planning done for the week.

With this unique experience of being home more, I have been taking stock of what we have and how we can make the most of it in these upcoming days.

I loved these printable kitchen inventory sheets for helping figure out our meals, as our grocery stores struggle to keep so many items stocked.

Free Spice Label Printables

We also have free printable labels to organize your spice rack. I plan to revisit my spice cabinet this month too!

This is a great time to take inventory of all those items that we seem to forget to purchase (or have multiple items if you are anything like me!). Jot down all those spices, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, salad dressings, and all those other condiments that you might forget to track.

I also am trying to stock items like bottled lemon juice and lime juice, in case we don’t have access to citrus fruit. These can really add another great layer to your recipes.

I wanted to offer some new ways to use those pantry ingredients today so I reached out to my blogging friends to create this fun list of recipes to try.

Click on the image or header to access these incredible recipes!

45 Easy Recipes Using Pantry Ingredients

Pasta Recipes

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Pesto Chicken Pasta from The Toasty Kitchen

Pesto Chicken pasta is an easy, 20 minute meal that’s made with just five shelf-stable ingredients. Bow tie pasta and chicken are coated in a rich and flavorful pesto sauce.

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com One Skillet Baked Ziti from Good Life Eats

One skillet baked ziti with meat sauce is the perfect, easy comforting pasta dish. Baking it in a single skillet makes for quick preparation and very minimal clean up. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Almond Butter Red Curry Noodles from Fried Dandelions

Almond butter red curry noodles come together with pantry staples! The noodles are packed with flavor, and have a gorgeous orange color!  Perfect for an easy weeknight meal.

 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Spinach and White Bean Pasta from Rachael Hartley Nutrition

This garlicky white bean and spinach pasta using a surprise pantry ingredient for a flavor booster!

 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Easy Parmesan Pasta from Neighbor Food

This easy parmesan pasta can be pulled together with whatever canned vegetables you have on hand. Add chicken sausage or make it meatless!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Instant Pot Taco Pasta from Shweta in the Kitchen

Taco pasta is a delicious one-pot meal made using Italian pasta and Mexican flavors. It is a nutritious, delicious crowd pleasing recipe that is perfect for a weeknight dinner.

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Easy Tuna Casserole with Egg Noodles from Unsophisticook

This easy tuna casserole with egg noodles is a definite go-to recipe; it is quick to prep, tasty, and versatile!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Instant Pot Goulash from Posh Journal

This American goulash is delicious, filling, nutritious and very inexpensive to make.

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice Gluten-Free Macaroni & Cheese from MomAdvice

I am SO EXCITED to share that we finally mastered an incredible one pot gluten-free macaroni and cheese recipe after MUCH trial and error in my kitchen. If you are looking for easy, affordable, minimal dishes, and a recipe that yields a lot than I have an incredible recipe for you!

Soups & Stews

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Instant Pot Lentil Soup from Urban Bliss Life

Make a healthy, hearty meal using common pantry ingredients! Instant pot lentil soup is a fast, easy, oh-so delicious vegan dish that will keep you warm and toasty.

Pantry Recipe / MomAdvice Hazelnut Soup from MomAdvice

This is a rustic hazelnut soup made with parsnips and roasted hazelnuts. It is a quick weeknight soup and the recipe can easily be made vegetarian. 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Red Lentil Soup from Simple Bites

Slow-cooker coconut curry lentil soup is an easily adaptable pantry recipe, designed to get a hearty, nourishing meal on the table with minimal effort.

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Gluten Free Instant Pot Taco Soup from Seasonal Cravings

This gluten-free instant pot taco soup is packed with kidney beans, corn, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Make a double batch and have soup to fill your belly all week!

Pantry Recipe / MomAdvice.com Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili from MomAdvice

Once you try this chili, you will never make any other type of chili again. Pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice are the secret ingredients that make this chili a standout recipe!

 

Pantry Staples

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Best Black Bean Burgers from Eat Plant-Based

This black bean burger vegan recipe makes firm patties and can even be cooked on the grill with our falling through!

Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers from MomAdvice.com Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers from MomAdvice

Looking for an easy recipe that is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan? Look no further than these Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers for a fun weeknight meal. You will love these bell peppers for a meatless dish that is packed with protein and very filling with just the right balance of sweetness, from the peppers, and spice from the enchilada sauce.

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Homemade Tuna Sushi Bowl from Run Eat Travel

If you are looking for a hearty, easy, and budget friendly sushi inspired meal, this is the one for you! This healthy homemade tuna sushi bowl is med with canned tuna and the most cooking you’ll do is the rice!

Indian Vegetable Rice Instant Pot Indian Vegetable Rice from MomAdvice

This gluten-free side is so easy to create and happens to be easy on the wallet too! If you prefer your dish spicier, add an additional teaspoon of curry to bring on the heat!

 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Roasted Garlic Hummus from MomAdvice

Once you try homemade hummus, you will never go back. Make this easy dish with canned chickpeas.

How to Make Quinoa in the Rice Cooker from MomAdvice.com Quinoa in the Rice Cooker from MomAdvice

You will never have to babysit a pot again if you use this simple technique for cooking quinoa in your rice cooker. This set-it-and-forget-it recipe is the most pinned item on our site and we can see why. Not only am I sharing this easy rice cooker technique, but I’m also sharing loads of recipes- from quinoa main dishes to quinoa salads. 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com High Protein Spicy Chickpea Bowl from All Nutritious

This spicy chickpea meal prep is loaded with protein and fats! Full of flavors and will last in the fridge for days.

How to Make Perfect Brown Rice in Your Rice Cooker from MomAdvice.com Perfect Brown Rice in the Rice Cooker from MomAdvice

Brown rice is something I really rely upon to round out my meals because I am gluten-free.  I use it to make taco bowls. In lieu of making gluten-free pastas, and I toss veggies and meat with it to make hearty bowls for filling lunches. Try this super simple cooking method for perfect rice every time!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Gluten-Free Meatloaf from MomAdvice

A perfectly light meatloaf with the most surprising binding agent! Try substituting the sweet sauce with tomato sauce for an Italian kick!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Instant Pot Rice & Beans from The Belly Rules

Loaded with bold flavor os salsa and spices, this hearty dish is a delicious addition to taco night. This Mexican instant pot rice and beans recipe would also be the perfect base for a burrito or burrito bowl.

 

 

slow_cooker_black_beans Slow-Cooker Mexican Black Beans from MomAdvice

Beans in the slow cooker though are surprisingly easy and frugal to create in large batches for your family.Here’s a foolproof and delicious recipe for Slow Cooker Mexican Black Beans. This cooking tutorial is going to take you through the in’s and out’s of how to cook beans and how to freeze them. 

The Best Instant Pot Risotto Step-by-Step Best Instant Pot Risotto from MomAdvice

Risotto can be a very labor-intensive dish, but it doesn’t have to be with a pressure cooker. Here is my step-by-step tutorial for creamy gluten-free risotto, made in your Instant Pot. Ditch the boxed mac and cheese for this easy weeknight dish.

Sugar & Spice Candied Nut Mix Poured On Cookie Sheet Sugar & Spice Candied Nut Mix from MomAdvice

Need a snack with lots of protein? You can make this sugar & spice candied nut mix to satisfy both your sweet and savory snack cravings.

Breakfast

Overnight Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal With Sliced Apples On Top Slow-Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal from MomAdvice

Try this slow-cooked apple oatmeal that you are going to love for a warm and satisfying breakfast on a cozy morning. The best part about this is my incredible tip for getting creamy oats that won’t burn or stick to your slow-cooker!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Gluten-Free Orange Creamsicle Pancakes from MomAdvice

A delicious gluten-free Orange Creamsicle Pancake recipe for a fun breakfast treat! What makes these special is that we are replacing the milk in these with Florida Orange Juice. I love how small switches like these can yield a completely different pancake flavor, don’t you?

 

 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Gluten-Free Overnight Waffles from MomAdvice

A light, fluffy, and super delicious overnight waffle recipe that is also gluten-free!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com No-Bake Gluten-Free Granola Bars from MomAdvice

An easy no-bake gluten-free treat that makes the perfect snack. Full of oats, peanut butter and chocolate chips!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Trail Mix Energy Bites from MomAdvice

Fuel your brain with these delicious energy bites that provide vital nutrients and vitamins. Packed with quinoa, these gluten-free treats are satisfying and filling!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Slow Cooker Creamy Coconut Oatmeal from MomAdvice

Dairy-free? No problem! This easy slow cooker oatmeal is made with canned pumpkin milk!

How to Make a Pumpkin Spice Latte Pumpkin Spiced Latte from MomAdvice

It is so easy to make your pumpkin spice lattes at home. Today’s coffee drink is made with real pumpkin purée, your favorite milk, with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, and coffee. You won’t believe how easy it is to diy this expensive treat at home. Pumpkin spice lattes aren’t just for October anymore!

homemade vanilla chai mix recipe Homemade Vanilla Chai Tea Mix from MomAdvice

Mixing up a batch of this DIY Vanilla Chai mix for yourself can help to keep your pockets nice and warm with a little extra money. Most of the spices, dry creamer, and dry milk are already stocked in your pantry.

Bread

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com 5-Ingredient Gluten-Free Pizza Crust from MomAdvice

I am SO excited to share with you a foolproof gluten-free pizza crust recipe that is as easy to put together as your standard crust. These results for the perfect airy crust rival any pizzeria you have been to.

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Dutch Oven No Knead Bread from Joy Food Sunshine

Easy Dutch oven no-knead bread recipe is made with only 4 ingredients and takes 5 minutes of prep time! If you want to make delicious homemade bread that looks and tastes like it came from a fancy bakery, but actually takes very little effort, this Dutch oven bread recipe is for you!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Buttery Dinner Rolls from MomAdvice

You won’t believe how easy it is to make these buttery rolls in your bread machine. This is our favorite roll, served up with melted butter and garnished with dried herbs. 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Homemade Bagels in 5 Steps from Spices N Flavors

The only 5 simple steps you need to know to make the best homemade bagel recipe that is dense, soft, and chewy on the inside and crusty on the top. Make in the comfort of your kitchen in just one hour.

 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread from MomAdvice

Did you find a can of pumpkin in your pantry? It’s not just for Fall!  Add this yummy spiced pumpkin bread to your agenda today! 

 

Desserts & Sweets

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Chocolate Hummus from Joy Food Sunshine

This healthy chocolate hummus recipe is easy to make and ready in 5 minutes! It is a nutritious dip, appetizer, dessert, snack, or spread that everyone will love.  This dessert hummus recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, has no refined sugar, and is vegan!

Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookies Recipe from MomAdvice.com Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookie Recipe from MomAdvice

This Gluten-Free Cake Mix Sugar Cookie recipe can be made into beautiful sugar cookie rolls with just a few simple ingredients. This easy freezer recipe for gluten-free cookies is such a great item to keep stocked in your fridge or freezer!

 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Microwave Molten Chocolate Cake in a Mug from Cupcake Project

These mug cakes taste like the best molten chocolate cake that you would get at a restaurant, but you can make them at home in minutes using your microwave! This mug cake recipe uses both melted chocolate and cocoa powder so it is extra chocolatey!

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Cake Without Eggs from Dessert for Two

Out of eggs, but still want cake? Check out this cake without eggs recipe collection including chocolate and vanilla cakes, brownies, and cupcakes all made egg-free!

 

Pantry Recipes / MomAdvice.com Chocolate Wacky Cake from The Good Hearted Woman

Chocolate wacky cake is the easiest scratch cake you will ever make! No eggs, no milk, no butter and no clean-up. Made exclusively with pantry staples, this surprisingly moist, delicious snack cake mixes up in a jiffy, right in the pan!

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Here are some other great recipes from MomAdvice.com:

A Lentil Stew - Anyway You Want It | momadvice.com Lentil Stew

 

Presto Pasta Presto Pesto Pasta Con Pollo

Slow Cooker Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Slow Cooker Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Honey Sweetened, Applesauce Cinnamon Breakfast Muffins #recipe via momadvice.com Honey Sweetened, Applesauce Cinnamon Breakfast Muffins

Happy cooking!

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Make-Ahead & Freeze Your Thanksgiving Meal

Wednesday, November 14th, 2018

Make-Ahead & Freeze Your Thanksgiving Meal from MomAdvice.com

These make-ahead holiday dishes are my favorites & I love that I can have our holiday feast prepped in our freezer. These recipes, decorating ideas, and hostess gift ideas are the perfect things you need in your arsenal for a perfect day!

It’s that time of year again where I show you how incredibly awesome it is to prepare your Thanksgiving meal ahead and pack it away in your freezer for the big upcoming feast.

Over the years I have tried so many recipes to share with you and today I want to show you my foolproof technique meal for creating a delicious meal right from your freezer and to your table that will taste like you cooked it that very day.

Before we dive into all the recipes, here are a few items I recommend having in your arsenal to make your meal preparation day easier and to actually create room for all of these delicious dishes.

Make-Ahead & Freeze Your Thanksgiving Meal from MomAdvice.com

Ninja Cooker For Preparation & Buffet

This item is definitely a splurge item, but has paid for itself over and over again for me. The Ninja Cooker has two functions on it (Stovetop & Slow Cooker) that allow you to brown meat inside of it and then switch to slow cooking. It also has a Buffet setting that is perfect for using on Thanksgiving Day to keep your dishes warm.

I can’t recommend this gadget enough and consider it to be a smart holiday investment.

Did I mention it is nonstick?

DREAMY!

Ziploc Freezer Bags For Food Storage for the Big Day

I love, love, love Ziploc Freezer Bags for their stackability for storing our food for the big day.

I use these to package up my stuffing and casseroles to help me pack more in my freezer without taking up so much space like a disposable pan would.

Make sure you reach for the freezer bags and not the regular ones though to prevent freezer burn.

When in doubt if something will hold, always double bag!

Chinet Bakeware For An Elegant Freezer Meal Spread

Since I freeze my feast for Thanksgiving Day, I love the ease of stacking (and clean-up) when it comes to disposable pans.

Chinet makes ones that are nonstick and I have found them to be a bit more durable for transporting from oven to table.

Since they are made of paper, the first time I used them I was a little scared how my food would turn out, but I have had great success with these and find them to be an affordable alternative to foil pans for Thanksgiving Day.

If you want to keep things looking nice, these casserole baskets (less than $10 each) are a clever trick I use to disguise a disposable pan.

Make-Ahead & Freeze Your Thanksgiving Meal from MomAdvice.com

Pie Cutters For Glamming Up Store-Bought Pies

If baking pies isn’t your thing, consider buying a little pie dough and adding a personalized touch with an inexpensive set of decorative pie cutters.

You simply roll out the pre-packaged dough, cut out a piece with the pie cutter and press to make a detailed impression on the top.

Transfer these delicate details to a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake as directed.

Add a glossy shine with a little egg or sprinkle sugar & cinnamon on top to add a little flavor.

Between this and a glammed up whip cream or quick topping, your store-bought pies will be a fabulous addition to the dinner table.

Carry-Out Dishes For Packing Leftovers

Sharing the leftovers is not only a nice gesture for your guests, but it makes sure that all the dishes get eaten.

I use my takeout pho containers when packaging food up for myself, but these Fitpacker containers would be lovely to share and let your guests take home food or to prepare a few lunches/dinners for your own family for the week so you can really put your feet up!

Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes To Try

Cheddar Apple Pie Dip from MomAdvice.com

Appetizers

Bacon Ranch Cheeseball– Need I say more?

Spunky Spinach Dip– A delicious combination of spinach, salsa, & cream cheese. Serve with carrots and tortilla chips for dipping

Cheddar Apple Pie Dip– Prepare until the point of baking. Freeze for the big day.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip– AKA Crack Dip, as it is so lovingly referred to in our house.

Slow Cooker Chex Mix

Gluten-Free Meatball Sub Appetizer

Gluten-Free Meatballs– Bake & prepare sauce. Freeze separately for the big day. Warm up on the stove top and then skewer with baby mozzarella balls.

Sugar & Spice Nut Mix– Would also make a great hostess gift if you aren’t making the meal!

Cranberry Spread– Tangy and a delicious dip to pair with crackers.

Make-Ahead Green Bean Casserole

Sides

Green Bean Casserole– Panko with homemade mushroom cream sauce- it’s divine!

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes– I always double batch this recipe because these are the best mashed potatoes you will ever eat.

Brandied Orange & Cranberry Sauce– This is the best cranberry sauce I have ever eaten- truly!

Buttery Bread Machine Rolls– This foolproof recipe makes storing a bread machine worth it! Be sure to read this article for lots of bread machine tips!


Make-Ahead Gravy

Make-Ahead Gravy Recipe– Finding out I could make this early last year saved me so much time in the kitchen on Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Cranberry Cornbread– Bake & freeze for the big day!

Make-Ahead Apple, Sausage, & Sage Sourdough Stuffing

Gluten-Free Bacon, Apple, & Cornbread Stuffing follow these directions for freezing!!

Slow Cooker Turkey for Thanksgiving Turkey

This turkey isn’t a make-ahead recipe BUT did you know you can cook it in your slow cooker?? Follow these instructions to save some space in your oven for the big day!

Not having a lot of guests? Give this easy method a spin. If you only like white meat, you can double or triple one of these for about the same price (and save the hassle of carving- boom!)

Not up for cooking the turkey? Check out this easy option you can have delivered to your doorstep from Amazon Prime!!

Fancy Up Store-Bought Pies

Desserts

Store-Bought Pie Tricks– Wow, your guests with a few easy details

Homemade Pumpkin Pie

All-Butter Pie Crust– Prepare and freeze discs of dough

Cranberry Crunch Pie Topping

Cranberry Crunch Pie Topping– Store wet and dry ingredients separately for the big day

Spiced Whipped Cream– Make-ahead and store in the fridge for the big day

No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecakes

No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecakes– A promise of all the good treats to come this holiday season

Not cooking? Here are a few of my favorite hostess gifts

DIY Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Candles

DIY Slow Cooker Pumpkin Candles

Mini Pie Hostess Favor

Mini Pie Gifts

diy trophy toppers (free gift tag printables)

Microwave Peanut Brittle

Easy Microwave Peanut Brittle

diy vanilla chai tea mix

succulent terrariums (even a sweet small one in a thrifted tea cup!)

Sugar & Spice Nuts Mix

Sugar & Spice Nuts

Knitted Sweater Cozies

Knitted Sweater Coffee Cozies

Wine Hats & Scarves

Wine Hats & Scarves

Neon Paint Dipped Spoon Set

Paint-Dipped Spoon Sets

Free Thanksgiving Printable

Thanksgiving Decor, Crafts & Entertaining

Woodland Thanksgiving Table + Free Printables

DIY Thanksgiving Centerpiece

DIY Table Runner for All Seasons

Decorating & Food Advice for the Perfect Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving Feast

Host a Friendsgiving Feast

How to Entertain the Kids on Thanksgiving Day

How to Set the Perfect Thanksgiving Table

DIY Chalkboard Food Label Frames

I hope these ideas inspire you! If you are looking for a great turkey recipe, be sure to check out this Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast or just use this simple technique for a small crowd to prepare a boneless breast! Happy holidays, friends! xo

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though! 

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Simplifying Your Holiday Gatherings

Thursday, November 1st, 2018

You will love these strategies for hosting memorable gatherings without the stress.

I’ve got everything from cooking shortcuts to decorations that transition through the seasons to your perfect playlist! 

This post is sponsored by Honeysuckle White. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 

Now that Halloween is behind us, it is time to start thinking about all of those upcoming holiday gatherings. Hostess duties can often feel stressful and overwhelming, don’t they? That is why I’m excited to be partnering today with Honeysuckle White to share some fresh ideas for hosting your next gathering without the stress.

I learned that if I wanted to connect with my friends and family that I often had to be the one to step up to bat and offer to host. I have discovered, over the years, that so many people feel intimidated by hosting and are often self-conscious of things like undone house projects, their limited cooking abilities, or not feeling like they have that perfectly sized space for the ideal gathering.

The thing is, our own intimidations rob us of precious moments with those we love and the people that REALLY and GENUINELY love us will always, always be thankful to you for creating space in your home and day for them.

That is, truly, why I am excited to share that Honeysuckle White recognizes how precious our time is and wanted to take out that intimidation factor by providing a brilliantly easy turkey product that will make gatherings so much easier on busy moms.

Even better?

You can order it right through Amazon.

And, ladies, I KNOW we all have Amazon ordering down pat! (*ahem*)

Say hello to the world’s easiest holiday dish, the NEWS Honeysuckle White Bacon Wrapped Turkey Breast “Turketta”, inspired by the flavor profile of porchetta!

I gave ordering one of these a spin and really was surprised how well-seasoned and easy this was to execute for my Friendsgiving gathering this week.

In your package (that arrives right on your doorstep!)  you will get one of these beautiful roasts that serve approximately 4-6 people.  The packages arrive frozen and you can thaw it for an ASAP gathering or you can tuck this in the freezer for a future meal.

The bird is perfectly seasoned, boneless (no carving- woot, woot!), and requires just a simple quick sear on the bottom and baking.

This isn’t the only option you can have delivered. They also are offering Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast, a Honeysuckle White Fresh Traceable Whole Bird Turkey, & the Honest Turkey Whole Turkey.

Even better, for a limited time offer, MomAdvice readers can get 15% off using my coupon code 15MOMADVICE.

I can really get behind this company and the work they do with farmers, especially after having the opportunity to tour one of the farms.

The company is committed to raising their turkeys without growth-promoting antibiotics and no added hormones or steroids.

They also are committed to supporting independent family farmers to provide family farm-raised turkeys.

I don’t know if you know this, but my great-grandpa was a farmer and that is why that commitment and their true love for these families really warms my heart.

Now that you have the turkey covered, here are a few other ideas for a simple gathering of great friends and great food!

Send Out a Small Invite

I have done loads of large gatherings, but I find the best gatherings are often the intimate ones with just a couple of close friends so you can really catch up.

A friendsgiving need not be a large gathering and the invitation does not need to be a formal one.

Text invitations are perfectly acceptable, especially during such a busy season.

Also, allowing mamas to bring kids is a blessing to the mom (who won’t have to cook) and to you (to get to love on your friend’s beautiful kiddos especially since your kids are tweens/teens and you now have to FORCE YOUR LOVE on them).

 

Keep the Sides Simple

Roasted vegetables are an easy side that can be prepared a day in advance.

In fact, storing your carrots and potatoes in water overnight will yield a much crisper roast than if you cut them up immediately.

Toss your prepared vegetables in olive oil, kosher salt, and your favorite dried seasoning (I’m a thyme girl!) and roast them at 450 degrees for 25 minutes.

Love perfectly roasted potatoes?

Cut baby potatoes in half and put the cut side down on a cookie sheet that’s been lined with aluminum foil and is lightly greased. You will get a perfect roast every time AND they are so good that my kids call them mom’s french fries.

It goes without saying, but lining the cookie sheets with tin foil or parchment paper squares is also an excellent way to cut down on dishes!

Skip the Baking

Thankfully, there is no need to bake since we have so many delicious options for desserts that are already made and available for purchase at our local markets.

You can still make these purchased desserts feel really special though with quick homemade touches.

Spicing up your whipped cream, adding crunchy toppings, or adding details with pie cutters or an embossing rolling pin (made from refrigerated pie dough) are all fun ways to make pies feel special and more homemade.

This post offers 5 strategies for making store-bought pies feel special that I think you will find REALLY helpful for the holidays and even an idea for packaging up mini pies as a parting gift at the end of the night.

replicate my table with this easy tutorial

Think Evergreen When It Comes to Home Decorating

In the blog world, evergreen content is king. It means that we really focus on creating timeless pieces that can be shared over and over again and always feel relevant.

This is the SAME WAY we can approach our decorating. Purchase or DIY things that are neutral and can be used over and over again throughout the seasons. A bit of faux greenery, a roll of kraft paper (DO buy this– it’s such a affordable investment for decorating and gift wrapping), white plates, and loads of candles are perfect for ANY occasion.

Adding simple seasonal touches, like the small bundles of sage I gathered with cotton twine feel very Martha-y, but cost only a couple of bucks to pull off.

Stop pulling out and storing seasonal bins and buy a few items that you can use over and over and over again.

You can’t imagine the stress you will relieve yourself of!

Set the Mood

Before I go, I have one more fun fact for you…I used to be a glorified D.J. for my college’s radio station.

Music is essential to me like breathing and food.

Growing up, I played the violin, sang in the choir, did musical theater, and had parents who were crazy about music too.

I am also the one that hogs the microphone if you karaoke with me.

To me, a solid playlist for special occasions is oh-so-necessary.

Don’t have time to make one?

How about if I shared mine with you!

Also, as a thoughtful introvert, I have included three goodbye songs at the end that you can feel free to boot those up after the meal when you just need to retreat to your Snuggie and Netflix.

Hopefully they catch on..I know, “CLOSING TIME,” is a very, very subtle exit song!

I have embedded it here for you so be sure to bookmark this awesome post and give me a follow for more fabulous dinner music.

Now hurry on over to order your turkey and don’t forget to use my coupon code 15MOMADVICE to snag your 15% off!

this post contains affiliate links

This post is sponsored by Honeysuckle White. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 6)

Monday, October 26th, 2015

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 6)

It’s another delicious week thanks to a day of preparations. I’ve discovered audiobooks are so great for these days because I feel like I am accomplishing two things I want to do at once! Thanks to our library partnering with hoopla, I have been able to really take advantage of this freely through my library card.

I hope these meal ideas have been inspiring to you and your family!

Approximate Time for Preparation- 3 hours plus clean-up! 

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 6- see previous weeks here)

Roasted Turkey Breast (for sandwiches)- I roasted this while I chopped the other food!

Homemade Pizza Sauce (I stole one from our freezer this week!)

Pizza Dough (I bagged the dry ingredients for my homemade pizza)

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup (soup base prepared minus the noodles)

Grapes (removed from the vine, but I didn’t rinse so they don’t get moldy!)

Brown Rice (four cups)- (NEW TUTORIAL!!)

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Italiano (prepped & bagged)

Chopped Romaine Hearts (for salads & turkey sandwich topping)

Spaghetti Sauce

Pumpkin Pancakes (mixed dry ingredients & jotted down wet ingredients needed on packaging)

Chicken Lo Mein (ingredients chopped and bagged separately & sauce prepared in a separate container)

Green Beans (trimmed) & Mushrooms in separate bags- planning to roast them like this

Chopped Carrots & Celery (I store these in water)

Green Smoothie Packets (I use this recipe and froze the strawberries, bananas, and fresh spinach in packets for the morning.)

Meal Plan

Breakfasts- Green Smoothies

Lunches- Leftovers , Turkey Sandwiches, Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Dinners-

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 6)

Weeknight Roasted Turkey Sandwiches With Shoestring Oven Fries, Carrots, & Celery

weeknight_chicken_lo_mein_1

Weeknight Chicken Lo Mein, Brown Rice, With Steamed Edamame

greek soup finish 1

Greek Lemon Chicken Soup, Salad (tossed with red wine vinegar, olive oil, & oregano),  & Grapes

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Pot Roast Italiano, Balsamic Roasted Green Beans & Mushrooms, With Roasted Potatoes

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Pumpkin Pancakes, Chicken Sausages, & Orange Juice

Pizza

Homemade Pizza Night

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I hope you enjoy this make-ahead feast inspiration! Happy Monday, friends!! xo

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 5)

Monday, October 19th, 2015

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 5)

They say it takes 30 days to make something a habit. If that is the case, I am so proud to have made it through my first month of make-ahead meals. Our activities schedule has slowed down considerably, but I still saw the value in it this week. I am able to put in more work on the site and I also am squeezing in more time to read thanks to the preparations that I have made for the week. Overall, I still am finding lots of value in it, especially in our family’s dining out budget.

Have you used Mint before to track your spending? If you aren’t sure how much you are spending on the different categories in your life, you can link your bank account to it and it will compartmentalize all of the areas of your spending for free. You can look at little pie charts at where you money is going and it can be incredibly enlightening especially when it comes to your food budget. It is through this program that I am able to see what a benefit these preparations have been for us and managing my other spending in the process. I’m a big fan especially of the email alerts when spending is out of hand. Especially when you are on vacation (GULP!) and the alerts are flying- ha!

Let’s get cooking!

Approximate Time for Preparation- 3 hours plus clean-up! 

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 5- see previous weeks here)

Carnita Meat (prepped the seasoning mix ahead in a container to pour over the pork in the morning)

Homemade Pizza Sauce (I stole one from our freezer this week!)

Pizza Dough (I bagged the dry ingredients for my homemade pizza)

Roasted Chicken (NEW TUTORIAL!! for salads & wraps)

Grapes (removed from the vine, but I didn’t rinse so they don’t get moldy!)

Brown Rice (four cups)- (NEW TUTORIAL!!)

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili (had this simmering away while I prepped)

Chopped Romaine Hearts (for tacos and side salads)

Spaghetti Sauce

Brussels Sprouts (trimmed)- to be made into Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Broccoli (chopped and bagged)

Cracker Barrel Chicken Tenders (triple-batched the tenders and put in a bag to marinade)

Chopped Carrots & Celery (I store these in water)

Chopped Bell Peppers

Green Smoothie Packets (I use this recipe and froze the strawberries, bananas, and fresh spinach in packets for the morning.)

Meal Plan

Breakfasts- Green Smoothies

Lunches- Leftovers , Chicken Wraps or Salads, Pumpkin Chili

Dinners-

Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Carnitas

Monday- Gluten-Free Carnitas with Tortilla Chips (we also created rice bowls from our prepared rice)

Grilled Chicken Tenders

Tuesday- Cracker Barrel Style Chicken Tenders, Brown Rice, & Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Wednesday- Spaghetti Night, Steamed Broccoli, & Grapes

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili

Thursday- Homemade Pumpkin Chili & Grilled Cheese

Spinach, Tomato, & Mushroom Pizza

Friday: Homemade Pizza Night

Saturday- SAYSFN (Seek and Ye Shall Find Night)

Sunday- SAYSFN (Seek and Ye Shall Find Night)

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 5)

I hope you enjoy this make-ahead feast inspiration! Happy Monday, friends!! xo

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 4)

Monday, October 12th, 2015

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I hope you all had a great weekend! Since we had a wedding to attend last weekend and my daughter is starting her Nutcracker rehearsals, weekends are no longer working for me to get these meals ready for our week.

My make-ahead day has now moved to Wednesday (with a grocery day on Tuesday). Since I got started so late though, I had a hard time capturing a picture so I apologize for this week’s blurry image, but I hope you will find these make-ahead ideas inspiring!

Once again, we still have not dined out as a family and my husband & I only logged in one meal last week out so I am really thrilled how much this has improved our entertainment budget. Thanks to this great audiobook this week, I didn’t dread this task as much as other weeks, and moving this to a day while the kids are at school also helped it not feel so chaotic in the kitchen. Is it easy? No. Am I thankful all week long? You bet.

Approximate Time for Preparation- 4 hours plus clean-up! 

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead

Pulled Pork (had this in the slow cooker while I made the rest of the dishes)

Homemade Pizza Sauce (I stole one from our freezer this week!)

Pizza Dough (I bagged the dry ingredients for my homemade pizza)

Roasted Chicken (NEW TUTORIAL!! for salads & wraps)

Grapes (removed from the vine, but I didn’t rinse so they don’t get moldy!)

Brown Rice (four cups)- (NEW TUTORIAL!!)

Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup

Italian Meatloaf (minus breadcrumbs for a gluten-free loaf, pulled this one from the freezer!)

Gluten-Free Meatballs

Caprese Pork Chops (marinated in pesto and sliced the mozzarella for topping)

Baked Hard Boiled Eggs

Brussels Sprouts (trimmed)- to be made into Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Sliced Mushrooms & Green Beans (trimmed & stored in separate bags)- planning to roast them like this

Slow Cooker Chicken Italiano

Chopped Carrots & Celery (I store these in water)

Green Smoothie Packets (I use this recipe and froze the strawberries, bananas, and spinach in packets for the morning. This week I added some blueberries that were on sale!)

Meal Plan

Breakfasts- Green Smoothies or Hard Boiled Eggs & Fresh Fruit

Lunches- Leftovers or Hard Boiled Eggs, Chicken Wraps or Salads, Chicken Noodle Soup

Dinners-

Pulled_Pork_Stuffed_Sweet_Potatoes-1

Monday- Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Fresh Fruit & Chopped Veggies

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Tuesday- Caprese Pork Chops with Balsamic Roasted Green Beans & Mushrooms, and Brown Rice

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Wednesday- Chicken Noodle Soup with Big Batch Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Pizza

Thursday- Homemade Pizza Night

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Friday- Italian Meatloaf With Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Saturday- SAYSFN (Seek and Ye Shall Find Night)

Sunday- SAYSFN (Seek and Ye Shall Find Night)

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I hope you enjoy this make-ahead feast inspiration! Happy Monday, friends!! xo

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The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 3)

Monday, September 28th, 2015

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead (Week 3)

When grocery day used to come, it would be the day of trashing perfectly good food that would have been perfectly delicious if I ever would have gotten around to cooking it. This week we threw away a little celery and some hard boiled eggs for the entire week of wasted food. If I questioned if making the food ahead was worth the effort, this helped me understand LOUD AND CLEAR that this family needs this to save money and waste less.

We also did not eat out this week (other than a work engagement my husband had) so that is two weeks in a row that I have felt more in control of our family finances.

That is NOT to say that I did not drag my feet this week. This takes a ton of effort and I started this incredible book and it pained me every minute I was away from it. The reward though is that I will have loads more time to read this week with ZERO guilt because I am ahead of the game this week.

I’d love to hear if you tried anything from our make-ahead ideas or what your favorite make-ahead dish is. I am sure I am going to be needing some new recipes soon!

Approximate Time for Preparation- 4 hours plus clean-up! 

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead

Homemade Pizza Sauce (double batched- popped one in the freezer)

Pizza Dough (I bagged the dry ingredients for my homemade pizza)

Roasted Chicken (NEW TUTORIAL!! for salads & wraps)

Blueberries & Strawberries

Brown Rice (four cups)

Slow Cooker Stuffed Green Pepper Soup

Cantaloupe

Baked Hard Boiled Eggs

Chicken Enchiladas (stored sauce in a separate container)

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Brussels Sprouts (trimmed)- to be made into Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Sliced Mushrooms & Green Beans (trimmed & stored in separate bags)- planning to roast them like this

Broccoli- to make into Microwave Lemony Broccoli

Slow Cooker Chicken Italiano

Chopped Carrots & Celery (I store these in water)

Green Smoothie Packets (I use this recipe and froze the strawberries, bananas, and spinach in packets for the morning. This week I added some blueberries that were on sale!)

Meal Plan

Breakfasts- Green Smoothies or Hard Boiled Eggs & Fresh Fruit

Lunches- Leftovers or Hard Boiled Eggs, Veggies, & Fresh Fruit, or Stuffed Green Pepper Soup with Salads

Dinners-

Monday- Roasted Chicken Wraps With Broccoli or Salads (Topped With Berries, Balsamic Dressing, Slivered Almonds, & Chicken)

Tuesday- Chicken Enchiladas, Brown Rice, & Tortilla Chips with Salsa

Wednesday- Italian Beef Sandwiches on Hoagie Rolls with Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Fresh Fruit

Thursday- Chicken Italiano served over Brown Rice Pasta with Balsamic Roasted Green Beans & Mushrooms & Fresh Fruit

Friday- Homemade Pizza Night

Saturday- SAYSFN (Seek and Ye Shall Find Night)

Sunday- SAYSFN (Seek and Ye Shall Find Night)

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No more cooking for this girl ALL WEEK- YAY!! Happy Monday, friends!! xo

 

 

 

 

 

The MomAdvice Make Ahead (Week 2)

Monday, September 21st, 2015

The MomAdvice Make Ahead Meal Ideas

The first week of my make-ahead feasting went so well that we didn’t even eat out once last week despite a grueling activity schedule! I will be sharing make-ahead tutorials as I have lots of techniques to share with you about how we are accomplishing our make-ahead feasts! Today you can catch my tips for hard boiled eggs in the oven!

Since we have another crazy week (who doesn’t it?), I wanted to share what is in our fridge this week.  I hope this can help inspire you for making ahead a few dishes for your week too.

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead

Fresh Berries (Strawberries & Blueberries)

Chopped Broccoli (to be made into this easy Microwave Lemon Broccoli  for a side)

2 Pounds Taco Meat

4 Cups Brown Rice (for taco bowls)

Chopped Lettuce (for tacos/taco bowls)

2 Italian Meatloaves (Prepared minus the breadcrumbs to make it gluten free. I popped one in the freezer for another week!)

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken (I cooked the chicken and have the sauce set aside in a separate container for warming)

3 pounds Roasted Chicken, sliced (for wraps & salads this week)

2 dozen Hard-Boiled Eggs Prepared in the Oven

Chopped Carrots & Celery (I store these in water)

Green Smoothie Packets (I use this recipe and froze the strawberries, bananas, and spinach in packets for the morning)

The MomAdvice Make Ahead Meal Ideas

No more cooking for this girl ALL WEEK- YAY!! Happy Monday, friends!! xo

The MomAdvice Make Ahead

Monday, September 14th, 2015

The MomAdvice Make Ahead

Wow, I can’t believe our family’s Choose Your Own Adventure trip has finally been fulfilled! It was such an incredible vacation (equal parts busy and equal parts R&R)  that I’m looking forward to sharing more about it with you this week! In the meantime, I have been knee deep in laundry, grocery shopping to replenish the very empty fridge, and I have been doing some food prep this week to try to get ahead.

I hope to try and doing a little making ahead each week since our family life has gotten quite busy between dance lessons, cross country meets/practice, and instrument lessons.  I shared this photo on Instagram and had a few people ask me how I made certain things for the week so I thought maybe sharing it here so you could not only hold me accountable (something I can always use), but I hope it might inspire you to get a little ahead during your busy weeks!  I must say that Shutterbean has been such an inspiration to me in this department-have you read this post on make-ahead planning? I also love to follow along with her hashtag to think of new ideas that I can do ahead in my kitchen!

The biggest thing for me is my desire to decrease the amount of food waste we have in our house. If things are pulled together, frozen, and incorporated into our dishes, there is less chance of those items going to waste in our home.

For me, it’s also less about menu-planning and more about thoughtful preparations that can be pulled together for the week ahead whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For menu-planning advice, I’m An Organizing Junkie is a pioneer for Menu Planning Mondays where you can gather so much good stuff each week and you can start brainstorming what you can make ahead for your meals each week.

Here is what I got ready for our crazy activities week!

The MomAdvice Make-Ahead

Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup (Prepared minus the noodles- I like to make them fresh so they maintain their consistency)

Spaghetti Sauce (double batched)

Chopped Broccoli (to be made into this easy Microwave Lemon Broccoli for a side)

Roasted Green Beans (prepped and thrown in a bag for the week)

3 pounds Roasted Chicken, sliced (for wraps & salads this week)

1 dozen Hard-Boiled Eggs (I used this oven baking method with really good success. I also kept the shells on the eggs for storage because they keep for one week like this and it keeps bacteria away!)

Chopped Carrots & Celery (I just chopped these up while chopping up the celery and carrots for my soup)

Pot Roast Italiano (prepped and thrown in a bag for the week)

Green Smoothie Packets (I use this recipe and froze the strawberries, bananas, and spinach in packets for the morning)

For a couple of hours of cooking and prepping, I’m hoping we can stay on track with our family’s eating this week!

Let me know if this helps you and if you would like me to continue sharing these ideas with you! xo

 

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5 Quick Fix Dinner Ideas with Jessica Fisher

Monday, August 31st, 2015

Jessica Fisher is the force behind both Life As Mom and Good Cheap Eats, where she shares budget-friendly, family-centered recipes and ideas. She has been a friend of mine for many years and I so admire all the work she does to create family meals on a budget! I’m so excited to have her contribute to our Meal Planning M Challenge with some great dinner ideas straight from her new cookbook!

5 Quick Fix Dinner Ideas from Jessica Fisher on MomAdvice.com

What to Do When You Don’t Know What’s for Dinner?

It’s happened to all of us: 5 pm rolls around, tummies start to rumble, and you find yourself staring into the vast cavern of your refrigerator, wondering what’s for dinner. Your impulse might be to say, “There’s nothing to eat. Let’s go out.”

For most of us, this isn’t entirely true. There’s nothing easy to make to eat, but there’s probably actual food in the house. So, what do you do? Do you give in to the impulse and pay for overpriced burgers and fries? Or do you exert yourself, as Jane Austen would say, and cook something up?

I’m going to make the case for the latter and go so far as to say, “Suck it up, Buttercup. You can do this in 30 minutes or less.”

Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated — or longer than your favorite TV show. If Agent Coulson and his team can catch the bad guys and acquire major super powers in 60 minutes, you can make dinner in half that time.

Consider these 5 quick fix dinner ideas that taste great and won’t break the bank:

Beans and rice – A rice cooker can produce perfect rice in 20 minutes. Opening a couple cans of beans, shredding cheese, and mixing up some salsa might take you another ten. Between the two of you, you’ve got the makings for a great supper that’s filling as well as economical. This Chicken-Cilantro mixture will be the piece de resistance.

Lotsa pasta – Pasta is the go-to choice at my house. My kids can smell boiling noodles from a mile away. They’d be satisfied with butter and parmesan, but in just a few minutes, I can whip up a broccoli cream sauce that they gobble down with gusto.

French Bread Pizza from Good Cheap Eats

Piece’a pizza – It might take an hour or two to proof traditional pizza dough, but we can have a great pizza dinner without the wait. Using French bread, pita bread, lavash, or tortillas for the base, I can create custom pies in just a few minutes.

Wrap it up – Keep tortillas on hand for quick sandwiches and burritos. Frozen chicken tenders cook quickly; just pull as many as you need from the bag. Throw on some shredded cheese and vegetables, and drizzle with your favorite sauces. Or go meatless with something like these Green Chile Burritos.

Cobb Salad from Good Cheap Eats

Salad’s on – I’ve got an 11-year old boy who will eat Caesar Salad until the cows come home. If I keep those ingredients on hand, I’ve always got a dinner he loves. Explore the world of salads and find those that really make your heart happy. Cobb? Tostada? Pasta? Cole slaw? Use those as your go-to’s, stocking those ingredients as pantry staples. Add a cooked meat for the carnivores in your midst. You’ll eat fresh in no time at all.

Need more inspiration for a quick fix?

Good Cheap Eats by Jessica Fisher

I spent a year researching how to make dinner quick, easy, and healthy. My findings are stuffed into Good Cheap Eats Dinner in 30 Minutes (or Less!).

My new cookbook provides over 200 recipes that feature real food, real quick. With over 100 time-saving tips, you’ll eat for a day (or a month), as well as learn how to adapt your own kitchen skills to economizing time and money.

Dinner time doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or stressful. You’ve got the skills; you just need to know how to use them to your advantage. You can totally do this!

What’s YOUR favorite quick fix?

 

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though.

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