Each week I enjoy making something special for my family. A sweet bite they can enjoy during the week when things get busy. This is typically some sort of banana bread, energy bite, muffin or any other fun recipe I find on Pinterest. I always keep it simple because I'm NOT a baker. Now you know, any baked good I post will be on the easier side. :)

Lately, I've been adding baked oatmeal into the mix. Baked oatmeal is an easy thing to prep & serve for breakfast throughout the week. I like to bake it the night before & store in the fridge. In the morning, slices can be reheated quickly or taken on-the-go. Toppings like honey, apple butter, nut butter or maple syrup make it extra tasty! The base of the baked oatmeal makes it easy to switch out the flavors based on the ingredients you have on hand. This version adds a few (shelf-stable) apple ingredients that give it a cozy fall vibe.

A few tips for making this recipe:
- Purchase "baked apple chips" that have no sugar added: the dried chips soften in the oven & prevent the oatmeal from becoming soggy.
- Use unsweetened applesauce: the sweetness from the maple syrup & apple chips really do the trick!
- The vanilla protein powder adds a nice subtle flavor (& obviously added protein!). If you prefer to leave out the protein powder add two extra tablespoons of gluten free oats.
- Store in the fridge. Eat within 4-5 days!
- Serve with some nut butter & maple syrup for an extra tasty morning treat!

Your house is going to smell like you baked a lovely apple pie. Yet you only spent 15 minutes mixing up this yummy baked oatmeal. I'd call that a win!

Click the link below to download the recipe!

Instagram Reel showing this recipe: Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
​Enjoy :)

Over the last few months I have naturally been cooking at home for a majority of the week. This has always been a priority but lately it hasn't been such a struggle. For me, this really takes the guesswork out of what to eat....it has to be something in the house!

But honestly, eating out can be a challenge.
Figuring out where to eat.
Parking. 
Mask or no mask?
What kind of mood are my kids in today?
Deciding what to eat off the menu.
Asking about food allergies.
Making any modifications to the menu item.
Paying. Tipping. Remembering leftovers. Finding the car.

Is you order online there's a whole other set of complications! You get the gist!

Eating at home also provides me with control over what my family is eating. The ingredients, quality & portions. Feeding my family nutritious meals is really important to me. So, I strive for a majority of the week to make dinner at home. Does that mean we are eating kale salads & scratch-made meals every night? NO.

It looks like this:
- Recipes that take around 30-45 minutes.
- A handful of simple ingredients.
- A variety of fresh, frozen & pantry items.
- Family favorites, new combinations & recipes to try.
 

This might sound scary but I promise it isn't! As a full-time working mom I know how valuable time is in the evening. I have put together 5 weeks of meals that won't have you pulling your hair out! LOTS of low-carb options, a few plant based meals, express meals & slow cooker recipes. + A few days throughout the month where you can take a break & order out! Adjust as you go: switch recipes around, make substitutions, or sub in your own recipe.


GRAB YOUR FREE DOWNLOAD BELOW - A FULL MONTH OF RECIPES TO KEEP YOUR JANUARY GOALS ON TRACK!

*Click the links below for recipe planner.

January - Eat 6 Challenge (slideshow) or (PDF download)

*You can bookmark the slideshow URL for easy recipe access from your computer, phone or tablet.
* PDF will have active links when downloaded. When printing the PDF use "landscape orientation" for best results. 

Need visuals or inspiration? ​Pinterest Inspiration Board

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Lemon
Feta
Olives
Peppers
Oregano
Red onion
Olive oil

Ingredients that speak to me! I have recently played around with these flavors in lots of different dishes. The light & bright flavors that emerge from these ingredients scream summer to me!! I never walk away from a meal like this with that heavy feeling in my stomach. My taste buds are always singing though. :)

Below are two of my recent creations that I think you'll love! High protein meals that can easily be paired with a fresh salad or your favorite vegetable side.

Grain free & low carb!

Both can be made in about 30 minutes & appeal to all sorts of taste buds. 

For our family this is a usual trap we fall into. Always trying to improve!! I have worked REALLY hard the last few weeks to not just give into what's easy to grab on the way home. We still get to-go food & eat out but it's more thoughtful when we do. Planning is key!

When I have a pantry & freezer stocked with "meal helpers" it's much easier to whip up a quick meal! These are meals that I can feel good about serving over & over. A meal helper is anything that is already prepped, chopped, seasoned or partly cooked. For more tips on Meal Helpers CLICK HERE.

Below are a few of the recent meals I've made in under 30 minutes. A few things are clear while I am writing this blog post: I use a lot of broccoli, rice & Tex-Mex flavors :) :)

- Boil pasta, rinse & toss with gourmet butter (like truffle or garlic, optional)
- Meanwhile sauté broccoli, shallot & mushrooms in avocado oil. Add a pinch of salt. After 8-10 minutes add in 1/2-3/4 jar of marinara sauce to vegetables.
- Add in cooked pasta. Top with parmesan.

I like to use this pre-seasoned salmon from Aldi, similar can be found at other grocery stores. It saves me some time prepping it!
- Cook salmon 425 degrees (convection or air fryer) for 12ish minutes.
- Meanwhile heat up pre-cooked rice in a pan with 1/4 teas. minced garlic & basil paste (or dried), 1 cup frozen broccoli, & 1/4 cup broth or water. Combine in pan for about 5 minutes. Add fresh lemon juice before serving.

In the morning I prep the sweet potatoes by washing, poking holes in the skin, drizzling with oil & sprinkling with salt. Then wrap in foil. Add to the slow cooker for 8 hours on low with 1/3 cup of water at the bottom.

Once cooked, you can layer on any toppings that you like! Get creative!

This time I added:
Butter
Shredded cheese
Refried black beans
Chopped cooked broccoli (or cauli rice)
Pre-made guacamole 
Ranch dressing (or sour cream)
Diced red onion & bell pepper
Taco seasoning

This stuffed sweet potato is a stand-alone meal that will leave you full & satisfied! 

- Brown 1lb of ground turkey. 
- Add 1 package of Spanish rice, 1/2 cup chicken stock & 1/2 can petite diced tomatoes. Cover & cook for 7-10 minutes on low.
- Add 1/2 cup of cheese & cover for two more minutes. 
- Top with green onions & serve with your favorite roasted vegetable.

I personally make cooking & eating at home a priority in our home. That doesn't mean everything is from scratch! I am a busy working mom . . . after 4:00 pm on most days you can find me running this way & that trying to fit everything in. So taking a few shortcuts is a necessity for me!

I wanted to create somewhat of a classic "dump & bake" type casserole. Is there a better term for it? I don't know! Something that I could prep ahead of time if necessary or mix together & throw in the oven. Adding meals like this to our week helps me get other tasks done simultaneously. The trick was to make it gluten free & add some nutritional value. I grew up eating chicken & rice or chicken & noodle casseroles. . . .this is somewhat reminiscent of those flavors with a few 2021 twists!

The Chicken & Quinoa Bake takes about fifteen minutes to prep then into the oven. Prep can be done the night before (see note on recipe). Once it's in the oven you are free to get your million other things done while it bakes! I personally gave the kids a bath & felt like super mom. Clean kids & a healthy warm dinner on the table. Winning!

*The kids liked this recipe! Anything with cheese & chicken they love! I would leave out the chives if your children don't care for onion flavors though. You can sprinkle them over your serving at the end.

Meal Planning in a Flash

Quick Weeknight Meal 

Chicken Taco Bowls

Weekday Meals Happen

Who else is tired of cooking? SO TIRED OF COOKING!
This recipe is perfect for when you don't want to cook but you want something tasty. It comes together in about five minutes....what could be better? Let's face it a cheese plate and a good dip are considered a meal in the summer. This bruschetta is basically a form of dip in our house and can be transformed into a variety of other versions. I have included the original recipe and a tex-mex take on it.
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Corn & Tomato Bruschetta Recipe    (click to download the recipe)

​I'm just a girl making the same recipes in ten different ways! Hope you enjoy!!

Confession....
I'm not sure this is really a recipe haha! It's soooooo easy! This is the perfect meal for when you don't feel like cooking. Very little prep!
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This is my latest take on tacos and DANG is it good. It has an amazing balance of flavors and textures. Plus I don't need a reason to eat a taco bowl......ever. 

The "recipe" itself can be customized based on what you have on hand, can find in the store, or your preference. A few of the items in this recipe I found at SAMs Club. This salsa is always on my list but it is HUGE and hard to eat before it goes bad. So this is a great way to use up part of the container without missing any of the flavor. If you can't find this salsa or something similar just add in your favorite! I also used a frozen Mexican Style Street Corn from the freezer section. What a great staple to have on hand for taco nights! I can't wait to go back and get more! Any charred corn or frozen corn will work though (just add lime to plain corn). 
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​Click on the button below to download the recipe

Hope you enjoy!!
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