Microwave Popcorn Popper

Everyone that knows me well knows that I LOVE popcorn. ANY kind of popcorn! When we eat popcorn in our house, everyone gets their own bowl. I’m not talking cereal bowl, I’m talking large mixing bowl. Go big or go home 🙂 To satisfy our popcorn cravings, we searched for the perfect Popcorn Popper, and WE FOUND IT!

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Portobello

I’m a big mushroom fan so when I found this Stuffed Portobello Mushroom recipe, it became a quick addition to our menu. It didn’t disappoint! This meal was filling but still light. While I could have eaten two mushroom caps, one was enough for me to feel satisfied…although Xander ate three!

This healthy meal really is a breeze to throw together. It doesn’t take much time at all to prep and then it bakes for about 20 minutes. You could easily have dinner served in 30 minutes. Great for a busy weeknight when time is a hot commodity.

Air Fryer Fried Oreos

We stumbled upon this recipe for Fried Oreos and Kenxie’s eye immediately lit up. She could not wait to get all the ingredients so she could make these all by herself. The recipe was super simple and easy for her to follow. She did a great job making the Fried Oreos.

Once she had them made, she was ready to place them in the air fryer. No oil needed for this fried treat! I was a little doubtful that the dough would be done in 4 minutes but it was. The bottom stuck slightly to our wire trays in the air fryer but not enough to cause a hole in the bottom of the treat.

Spinach & Artichoke Soup

I ❤️ spinach and I ❤️ artichokes so this Spinach & Artichoke Soup sounded like it was made just for me. I have to say I was a little skeptical as I was making it but it all came together and tasted like the soup version of a very tasty spinach and artichoke dip…you know the kind that is loaded with cheese…a heart attack waiting to happen. Yep, that’s the one!

Shrimp and Black Bean Tacos

Have I mentioned that I LOVE tacos 🌮 I typically like shrimp tacos, but they are usually not my favorite. However, this recipe…THIS RECIPE has changed everything. I seriously inhaled these Shrimp and Black Bean Tacos.

These tacos were light, fresh, and filling all at the same time. The rice and beans gave them some serious substance but the shrimp, pico de gallo, and avocado lighten them up and made for a fresh pop of flavor with each bite.

Bean and Pico Tostadas

When you are in need of a meal that you can prepare in less than 10 minutes, give these Bean and Pico Tostadas a try. They aren’t fancy but any means but they are pretty tasty for the amount of time and effort you have to put into serving dinner.

To make these a little healthier, you could make your own tostadas. If you go this route, it will increase the prep time a bit. Still a super quick meal to prepare but it is an added step. I went the quick and easy route tonight and bought premade tostadas at Aldi.

Venison and Asparagus Stir Fry

This Venison and Asparagus Stir Fry is my all time favorite meal. I remember my dad making it for us as far back as I can remember. That may be why it’s one of my favs…brings back memories and you can’t beat the comfort of home cooking.

I actually don’t know if I’ve ever had this recipe with beef. I always use venison chops or steaks instead. Yet…you could easily sub out the venison for steak if you’d prefer 🙂

Korean Beef Bowl

This Korean Beef Bowl is packed with flavor yet so simple. I served the meat over cauliflower rice with the cucumber slices on the side so the entire dish is loaded with veggies. Quick, easy, and healthy…the perfect winning combination!

I used to be intimidated by making meals with new ingredients but now I look forward to trying new flavors. Gochujang was a little intimidating the first time I tried it. I was not a fan of the brand I bought…it was so spicy that I couldn’t handle even the smallest amount. Then I found bibigo Go-chu-jang hot & sweet sauce and I feel in love with the flavor. As the label says, the perfect balance of hot & sweet!

Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

I think I’d be open to trying ANY kind of taco 🌮 I love fish tacos so thought that I’d give these Salmon Tacos a try. The addition of the pineapple salsa sealed the deal for me…I LOVE the pineapple peach salsa at Target (Good & Gather brand) and was looking forward to using it in this recipe.

I did make a few changes from the original recipe. I put the chili powder and salt on the salmon right away (I didn’t use an oil) and cooked it in the air fryer. Just clicked the fish setting 🙂

Chicken & Veggie Enchiladas

I ❤️ Mexican food and am always up for trying a new enchilada recipe. These Chicken & Veggie Enchiladas are a definite keeper for me. I love the addition of the extra veggies to lighten up the dish a bit.

This enchilada recipe did take a bit longer for me to make but that was because I didn’t have any leftover, precooked chicken. If I were to make this again, I’d add it to the menu when I had some leftover chicken to use or maybe after buying a yummy Costco rotisserie chicken. That would definitely be a time saver.

Shrimp and Grits

The first time I had shrimp and grits, I was on vacation. It was so delicious that I asked the chef for the recipe. What I received was a list of ingredients 🥴 So…I searched the internet and found this recipe which contained nearly an identical list of ingredients. Once I made these shrimp and grits for the first time, my hunt for the perfect recipe was over. THIS IS IT!

This dish is sooo good but sooo not healthy. We all deserve a splurge every once in a while. Tonight was my night! Each time I make this dish, I contemplate changing a few things to make it a bit healthier but it’s so good the way it is that I just can’t bring myself to make any additional changes. I just savor every single bite…it’s seriously that good 😋

Harper's Trail Mix

Today’s recipe is a special one! Harper is a student in my 3rd grade class. We made a deal…she’d try one of my recipes, I’d try one of hers 🙂 She made and enjoyed my Chickpea Soup so…I’m excited to share Harper’s Trail Mix with you.

Chicken with Creamy Pesto

I kid you not, Xander told me that this Chicken with Creamy Pesto Sauce was so good at least 4 times as he took his first few bites of dinner. It really is quite tasty! Combine that with being super quick and easy and we have a real winner here.

His only request was to have it with real noodles next time instead of Zoodles. I do believe I will veto that request because it is delicious served with Zoodles and a whole lot healthier. Unless of course he’s offering to make dinner for the night. Then by all means, he can go for the noodles!

Chili Lime Fish Tacos

Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of fish tacos. I have a number of recipes that I love but these Chili Lime Fish Tacos offer a unique twist to fish tacos that gives you an amazing pop of flavor. Thank you Tajin!

If you haven’t experienced Tajin, you’re missing out! This wonderfully delicious chili lime seasoning is to die for. I keep a bottle in my desk drawer at work just to have on hand whenever needed. I LOVE it on fruit so when Friday breakfasts roll around, you know I’ll be at my desk sprinkling some Tajin on top of my fruit plate. Then I savor the flavor of the chili lime in combination with the ripe fruit. My fav combo would have to be Tajin with watermelon or mango…guess it’s a tie! My mouth is seriously watering 😋 It’s also the perfect way to rim a Bloody Mary! Oh my YUM!

White Bean & Kielbasa Soup

This White Bean & Kielbasa Soup was soooo quick and easy. It was ready to serve in less than 20 minutes!

There are quite a few spices in this recipe that come together beautifully to make a perfectly seasoned soup. I’ve always loved smoked paprika so was really excited to see that listed as one of the ingredients. And yes…I am a kale lover so this soup was right up my alley. My kids, however, are not as big of fans although they do tolerate it as they know it is really good for them. They pointed out that it was really kaley 🙂 but they also said the broth was really good and ate it. So…👍

Lemon Sourdough Cake

Super simple and delicious Lemon Sourdough Cake. I love that this cake isn’t overly sweet. It has a bit of a doughy texture yet it’s light and airy. Our whole family likes it and struggles with stopping after just one piece. It makes a 9×13 pan but it doesn’t last long in our house…a few days max and it’s already devoured.

Quick and Easy Steak Fajitas

These Steak Fajitas are so quick and easy that I’m not even sure it qualifies as a recipe! If you’re short on time but wanting to throw together a healthy meal, add this to your stash of go to recipes. You seriously can not get any easier than these Quick and Easy Steak Fajitas.

These are a go to in our house. I typically have extra tortillas on hand and I have a freezer full of venison so the steak is a quick grab. Onions are a pantry staple so the only thing I need to buy are colored peppers. I typically buy the three pack from Aldi or 6 pack from Costco. If I need a pepper for a recipe, I’ll have some leftover so…Quick and Easy Steak Fajitas gets added to the menu 🙂

Chicken with Tomato Cream Sauce

This recipe surprised me! I thought it would be just another chicken recipe that was ok but it was packed with flavor. This chicken with tomato cream sauce is a definite keeper for our family!

I chose to serve this dish over pasta. The sauce was a lot thicker than I expected so I thinned it with some pasta water…worked perfectly! The consistency was exactly what I was looking for and it still had a ton of flavor.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Quick, easy, healthy and filling…these stuffed sweet potatoes check all the boxes! Dinner can be on the table in 15 minutes and you only need 4 ingredients. That’s definitely a win in my kitchen!

I chose to use my air fryer to cook the potatoes to get that fluffy inside and crispy skin. Xander was recruited to put them in the air fryer so they would be done when I returned home from the girls’ practices. I prefer the air fryer over the microwave but when in a time crunch, the microwave works just fine.

Chickpea Pasta with Beef Ragu

For dinner tonight, I served a delicious, quick and easy Moroccan spiced pasta with beef ragu recipe. The recipe called for beef ragu but I substituted venison instead to make it a bit healthier. The pasta was a hit and Xander went back for seconds 🙂

My girls do not like raisins so I didn’t broadcast their addition to this recipe. They didn’t even know there were any in this pasta until they had nearly cleaned their plates. Lexie was on her last bite and noticed one on her plate. They added a nice texture and sweetness to the dish and after she noticed it, she actually continued to eat it with her last bite. The raisins really fit in well with the flavor profile so I would keep them in this recipe even if you’re feeding someone that typically doesn’t care for raisins by themselves. Just my two sense 🙂