My life is busy. I have two jobs,
I try to get in exercise and keep the house tidy and I really do like
to cook...But honestly, things are too hectic for fancy meals. My
husband and I get off work at different times and I don't want to
prepare something nice that he's not going to eat until several hours
later. I'm sure a lot of women struggle to find recipes that are quick,
easy, and convenient. Deciding what's for dinner is often the most
laborious part of the whole thing! Over the next few weeks I'm going to
start posting a few of my favorite FAST AND EASY recipes that I KNOW you
will love! :-)CHILI
-1lb ground turkey
-1lb ground turkey sausage
-1 sweet potato (chopped) --optional
-1 onion (chopped)
-1 can diced tomatoes
-1 can kidney beans
-2 tbsp Chili Powder
-1 1/2 tsp Cumin
-Salt and Pepper to taste
Brown the meat and throw it and the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot. Stir and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve with some cheese and sour cream if you like. Easy!!
CHICKEN THIGHS
Out of one large package of chicken thighs, divide up into 3 equal portions. Put the 3 portions of thighs into separate ziplock bags. Marinate 1 in Maple Syrup and Dijon Mustard (plus a little minced garlic, salt and pepper if you like), Marinate 1 in BBQ Sauce, and Marinate the last one in Teriyaki. Toss in the freezer for quick meals you can pull out and eat whenever you want!
To cook--thaw and then bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Easy!!
SALSA CHICKEN
-2 frozen chicken breasts
-1 cup of salsa
-1 cup of cream of mushroom soup (make this from scratch using chicken broth, butter, and flour--find recipe here.)
-1 taco OR fajita seasoning packet
Throw all the ingredients in the crockpot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred the chicken and then add shredded cheese and serve in burrito shells, taco shells, or even just naked with your favorite toppings! EASY!!
LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN
-2 Thawed Chicken Breasts, sliced in half to make 4 thin chicken breasts
-1 lemon
-2 tablespoons minced garlic
-Italian season, salt, and pepper to preference
-1 tablespoon olive oil
-1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
In a glass baking dish, line up the four pieces of chicken. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning on both sides. Then squeeze 1 half of the lemon over the top. Spread the minced garlic over each piece of chicken and then drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Slice the other half of the lemon and place the slices on top of the chicken. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Easy.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH
-1 Spaghetti squash (cut in half and seeds removed)
-1lb ground turkey
-1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
-1tbsp minced garlic
-1 onion
-1/2 package of mushrooms
-1tbsp honey
-1tbsp red wine
-1 tbsp Italian seasoning
-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
-Salt and pepper to taste
Put spaghetti squash cut side down on a microwave safe dish. Put water in the bottom of the dish and then place in microwave on high for 10 minutes. While microwaving, brown and strain the meat. Add in onions, mushrooms, and garlic until vegetables are tender. Add in the sauce. Stir well. Add in the honey, the red wine, the Italian seasoning. Stir and then taste. If you think it needs a little kick, add in the cayenne pepper. If it needs salt and pepper, add it to taste. Then simmer on low. Remove the squash from the microwave and use a fork to shred the squash into "noodles." It helps to hold the squash in one hand with a hot pad and scrape out the insides. Put the noodles into a strainer to help drain excess water. Serve on a plate and top with sauce. Super yummy!! And easy! :-)
SIDES
All of these basic dinner recipes can be served with yummy sides like a salad or you can cook asparagus, beans, or broccoli. My current favorite way of cooking the veggies is to put them on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Really easy, delicious, and healthy.
I hope these make life a little easier for you! Stay tuned for more recipes in the weeks to come!
--Kayla
