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. . . .

. . . . 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.

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. 

​I often find myself trying to do a million things at once. As a former waitress, I learned the skill of never being empty handed. Always look for something to do!


This can't be more true at dinner time. Whether it's prepping dinner, convincing baby girl to eat fruit, doing a load of laundry, or trying to get brother in the bath before eating. I feel like the hour between 5-6 pm is a black hole!!! 

I simply love sheet pan meals for all of these reasons . . . I can prep them somewhat ahead of time & do other things while it bakes! This recipe is ultra low maintenance once everything is chopped up. The seven ingredients are most likely things you already have on-hand. 

​Put it in the oven & get your multitask on! You are going to love this slightly sweet & definitely savory one pan dish!

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.
​

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!
​
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). 
​

​Click on the button below to download the recipe

Hope you enjoy!!
​