With one of our two kids back to college we are going back to our routine of simple dinners and appetizers. I love appetizers for dinner. Serve them with a nice green salad and I almost feel okay about have a delicious bite or two instead of a whole meal. These are also great for…
Tag: Simple Meals
Slow Cooker Taco Soup
I had everything ready to go for the new year but there is a saying by Michael Chabon, “Man makes plans… and God laughs.” I ended up going to North Carolina rather quickly to see my parents. My father was not doing well and he ended up in the Emergency Room. We thought for sure…
Air Fryer Ravioli
Happy first day of Winter! My favorite day of the year. Each day from now until June the days will get slowly longer. Ah…. I have hope. Now that both kids are home our eating and cooking has changed. I don’t think my grocery budget doubles but rather triples when every one is home. We…
Onion Garlic Chicken
I love caramelized onions. To me the best smell is a huge pan of onions caramelizing in butter. Seriously, I think onions go with just about any dinner. This is one of my favorites with garlic and onions. Verdict: This is a perfect simple dinner that packs a punch of flavor. The onions and garlic…
Leftover Mashed Potatoes: Cheesy Shepherd’s Pie
With the leftover 4 lbs of mashed potatoes I made Ham & Cheese Croquettes (click here for link to recipe) and I still had enough for this recipe. If you have pre-made leftover mashed potatoes with really is simple even though the ingredient list looks long. Doctor up your mashed potatoes with a bit of…
Slow Cooker Beef Ragu
When I mention making ragu to my kids they think of the red jarred tomato sauce. A ragu is actually a meat based dish with lots of diced vegetables with some tomato. It is thicker and richer tasting than a tomato sauce. Similar in premise to a bolognese but made with red wine instead of…
Cook Once, Eat Twice: Spaghetti and Meatballs
We are starting to settle into winter weather here. The first snow has passed and we are starting to get the 20-25 degree nights. I love Italian food on a cold, dark night. Add a glass of wine and it seems luxurious and comforting. This weather has us looking ahead though. Last week we made…
Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
Lots of soups here lately. I love how easy they are to make, I usually do a big pot on Sunday, and reheat and serve during the week. My wife is heading back to the office tomorrow with EVERY one in her company for the first time since March 2020. So having simple leftovers to…
Roasted Butternut Soup
Thank you all for the kind words about my son the other day. He has returned to school and seems to be happy. We are pleased with how the school responded and continues to support him as he learns to navigate college. Thank you, all! The leaves are finally changing here. The warm weather held…
Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf
We are excited the kids are both coming home this weekend! My daughter has not been home in two months and my son in 5 weeks. They will only be home together for one night as my daughter and I are going to an Irish dance competition (Feis) in Chicago over the weekend. My son…
Spaghetti Squash with Italian Sausage Onions and Peppers
Our Community Support Agriculture (CSA) farm share is ending in a few weeks. We are mostly getting apples, pears, peppers, and squashes from local farms. We had a spaghetti squash this week and I remember the last time I made a spaghetti squash parmigiana my family almost revolted. They wanted meat with the dinner. Being…
What's for Dinner Moms? 