Growing up I remember a handful of foods simmering away in the oven. Typically these dishes were saved for the weekend due to their extended cooking time. Roast, ribs, rotisserie chicken, meatballs. Chicken pot pie was one of those foods that I recall vividly. It torments your nose while it bakes. The buttery crust, gooey center & cozy smells emitting from the kitchen drove me mad! By the time dinner was served I'd been drooling for hours. 

Now that I have a family of my own, I understand the commitment that plays into meal prep & ample cook time. Both of which I don't often have the luxury of experiencing! With two little kids life gets busy! There isn't two hours to spare for dinner prep. So, I've had to learn how to make my favorite classic meals into a version that fits our needs. Because shouldn't we have Chicken Pot Pie on a Tuesday? Yes!

Weeknight meals need to be under 45 minutes, fit our dietary restrictions (gluten free, some dairy free options) & preferably enjoyed by all. I find that making meals "deconstructed" helps encourage kids to try new things. I spoon the chicken & veggies on their plates alongside the puff pastry rounds. The adults eat the Deconstructed Chicken Pot Pie as a soup. If we're in need of a lighter meal we will skip the puff pastry. The soup is delectable on it's own!

Give this 30 minute meal a try. You will not be sorry. Let me take your senses to the smell of simmering savory pie in the oven. . . .

Have you seen the viral TikTok trend for salmon rice? It’s amazing. . .I could eat it every day honestly! It’s a delicious combination of leftover salmon & rice. Combined with mayo, sriracha, coconut aminos (or soy sauce) & lots of toppings (think avocado, sesame snacks, green onions..). After making salmon rice a handful of times I started using the “sesame snacks” more frequently to top fried rice or eat with proteins. My kids will devour them on their own!! They’re the perfect amount of salty & crunchy. Very addicting!! One day for lunch, I pulled out some canned tuna & leftover rice, & came up with these delicious little sesame wraps. Going for sushi doesn’t happen often since going gluten free. I like to make my favorites at home, this way I can control the ingredients. 

The wraps themselves are a bit more involved in the process, but they can still be made quickly! Perfect for leftover rice that’s ready to use. You can find sesame snacks in the international food aisle near soy sauce (in most grocery stores) or look for larger sesame sheets typically used for sushi. Costco & Thrive Market (online) have them as well!

When serving this to picky eaters or kids:
- separate ingredients on the plate to let them build or consume as they wish
- leave out sriracha if they don’t like spice
- make with canned salmon if preferred 

My Classic Burger Bowl will be featured in my upcoming cookbook "Simple. Delish. Healthy." It's so simple & perfect for anyone wanting to eat a bit healthier....so I had to share! Customize using your favorite burger patties, toppings & sauce.

I'm playing around with a few versions of the burger bowl to include in the cookbook as well. Be sure to click the button below to watch how you can make it at home!

*affiliate link: use code JENKINS10 for 10% off your order

I've been loving the freedom to share my health journey with you all through vlogs. I hope they bring you some value, make you question things around you or offer ideas to live a healthier life! In my most recent vlog, I test out some heavy metal filters, share recent food creations/podcast listens & touch on what it's like being parent during COVID times.

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

​

. . . . just in case you need a little encouragement

You might be one of these three people:
1. It's a busy season. You've got _______ after work/school often. You won't be home in time to make dinner. It's either take out or have something already made at home.
2. Your family is picky.... but if a recipe contains pasta & ranch you know you can sell it. 
3. You love BLTs & can't think of anything better than a pasta salad version.

If you happen to be one of these people then I've got the perfect recipe for you!

>> All ingredients can be prepped ahead of time & thrown together in a few minutes.

>> The homemade dressing is super easy to make & uses Greek yogurt as the base.

>> The end result can be modified to fit the needs of your eaters. For the kids I leave out the spinach or add just a little.

>> No need to make a side dish! Just grab a bowl

I made my family eat this two nights last week while I perfected the recipe. They loved every minute of it!! No complaints here.

What could be better than a combination of the two most iconic childhood favorites?!
Pizza.
Mac & Cheese.

This is the recipe you didn't think you needed! I have lightened up (& added some extras) to these surprising handheld bites. The addition of Greek yogurt & butternut squash give a boost of nutrition, while achieving a creamy texture. 

The Pizza Mac Bites combine all of the classic flavors that we love to create the perfect cheesy, crunchy, saucy bite. Find the recipe below!

*This recipe is made with gluten free ingredients. Simply substitute your preferred alternative if you're not gluten free.

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

I wanted to create something that everyone in the family could enjoy. Any guesses as to who was the last one at the table eating seconds??? MOM & DAD!  :)

I have made these chicken tenders for a few years now. They are a favorite in our house. I never wrote down the recipe though. Funny how that works! This time I made a gluten free version that turned out equally well. They can be made with or without gluten based on your family's diet.

Since Chick-fil-A is closed on Sunday you will need a fill-in. ​Am I right?
This recipe is a perfect weekend treat for your whole family. I only say weekend because it requires a little prep & this mama doesn't have time for that during the week! BUT if you planned ahead a little, I know you could make it work for any weeknight as well! Don't let me forget the cranberry saaaaaaaauce. YUM! Which is seriously the best part of the whole thing. Go ahead & double this recipe because you're going to need it.

I have to make these weekly. They are that good!
​A super easy & quick side dish.

I desperately miss {actually} going to local restaurants, trying out new menu items, & delighting over beautiful plating & rich flavor. We still do our share of supporting local businesses through carry-out. BUT a nice meal doesn't taste the same in a plastic container, nor does it hold the same appeal. Once you have exhausted your options for meal delivery & run through your go-to recipes at home there isn't much left! I had to make something beyond my comfort zone. . . because I am bored. Call it an ode to a former life of frequent dining out.

Sometimes new recipes simply pop into my head at odd times. I will have a specific ingredient & {while driving home} I suddenly know how to use it. I can't explain it! Any who. . . . that is how this Creamy Mediterranean Shrimp recipe came about. It all started with a can of coconut milk. Which turned into the most DELIGHTFUL savory dish I have had in months. The flavors all combine into something so spectacular that you will be licking the pan. No shame. There is a perfect balance of creamy {coconut milk} , rich {shrimp} & tarte {lemon}.

Brandon and I wanted more the following night for dinner & the next. Editing the photos of the dish made my mouth water over & over. IT'S THAT GOOD! I certainly feel like it is restaurant quality. What a perfect dish to make for your significant other, family or yourself! Plus it takes about 30 minutes. :)

​If you're not a fan of shrimp you can easily substitute chicken {adjust cooking time}. If you have never used coconut milk before don't be afraid! It is a very mild flavor that melds into whatever other ingredients you add. It gives the dish a nice creaminess without the dairy.

HINT: The secret to tender yet crispy shrimp is high heat with melted butter. Don’t forget to season well. Cook on high for a short amount of time. Perfect shrimp every time!