Hey All! I’ve just returned from a fantastic week in coastal Rhode Island with my family. We were blessed to spend a few years living in Boston before we had children and I will always love this time of year on the East Coast. Our time away was filled with lots of hours at the beach (yay for a warm early September and non-crowded beaches!) and plenty of good, fresh seafood. I may or may not have eaten my weight in lobster rolls! Now that I’m back to the Midwest and finally unpacked – let’s not mention the laundry – I’m also getting back into my kitchen. One of my favorite travel tricks is to order groceries to be delivered on the day we return from a trip and we supplemented that this time by also having Blue Apron deliver a few days after we returned! I love not having to stress out about getting to the grocery store for essentials and not having to think about meals (even for someone like me who generally finds cooking relaxin) was great. That being said, I’m really ready to get back into it and so for this week’s Good Food Reads, I’m sharing my list of what I’m hoping to make in the next week or so! I’m back in the proverbial saddle and so excited for a good ride. I hope you join us and share some of your recipe favorites from your kitchens or around the internet!…
Good Food Reads: Plant Based Basics!
As many of you know, I’ve long been a fan of Meatless Mondays – one day a week where I try to eat meatless. It’s not usually much of a stretch for me (I’m a former long time vegetarian), but it was an adjustment when I started cooking for my meat eating family. I’ve found, over the years, that the key to really great plant based cooking is not trying to replicate meat based meals (i.e. veggie “bacon” etc) but to celebrate the amazing flavors, textures, and nutrients of the plants themselves. Plant based cooking is a fun, economical, and tasty way to enjoy food! When I became a vegetarian, classic books like Mollie Katzen’s Moosewood Cookbook and Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone were key to learning how to really eat as a vegetarian (and you should still check out those books, by the way, they are classics for a reason). Now, the internet also provides a treasure trove of recipes and techniques to make plant based eating an easy reality for you and yours! This week’s Good Food Reads is a collection of plant based (mostly vegan, all vegetarian) recipes full of flavor and fun!…
Good Food Reads: Back to School
It’s back to school week here in Minnesota and I know for many busy families, it also means back to crazy nights of post-school activities, sports practices, and arts lessons. Trying to get a family fed in the midst of all that activity can be a challenge for even the most prepared and experienced home cooks. This week’s Good Food Reads is a collection of easy, hearty meals perfect for these busy back to school weeks. Most of the recipes are designed for slow cookers or the Instant Pot (or another electric pressure cooker) in an effort to make these hectic days a little less crazy.
50 Tastiest Meal Prep Recipes for Fall from Fit Foodie Finds. I’m especially excited to try some of the breakfast prep recipes, like the Paleo Pumpkin Pancakes or the Vegetarian Black Bean Burritos.
30 Minute Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta from The Butterhalf. Perfect one pot meal for those crazy busy back to school/activities nights!
I love curry and can’t wait to try this Slow Cooker Coconut Curry Chicken from Fit Foodie Finds. It would be great with some fresh green beans and rice!
This Honey Mustard Slow Cooker Pork Loin and Rice from Food, Faith, Fitness is gluten free and adds fresh spinach at the end of cooking!
Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore (Lexi’s Clean Kitchen) is packed with veggies and can easily be served over rice or cauliflower rice for a complete meal.
A fun twist on slow cooker soups: Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup (Foodie Crush).
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken (Two Peas and Their Pod) is an easy slow cooker classic and can be used for tacos, burritos, or quinoa bowls. Such a great recipe for meal prep, too!
And if you’re looking to keep things on the lighter side, check out these recipes from the always genius SkinnyTaste: Unstuffed Cabbage Bowls and One Pot Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce (Pressure Cooker or Slow Cooker).
Here’s hoping your back to school weeks are great ones! Let us know when you’re cooking and as always, we’d love to hear from you with your Good Food Reads.
Good Food Reads: Pinch of Yum Tasty Food Photography Workshop
Day 2: Pancakes and perfecting the “drizzle shot”
You guys. I just need to take a minute to gush about my last week.
Well, those of you who know me well, know that my dad has had some health problems this week, resulting in three hospitalizations and three trips to the cath lab. It’s been a roller coaster to say the least, but in between all of that worry and stress, was a bright, bright light-The Pinch of Yum Tasty Food Photography Workshop.
One word: Ah-mazing!
This week’s Good Food Reads is going to be a little more personal than usual…all about the workshop!
(PS-My dad is all fixed up and is doing great!)
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Good Food Reads: Snack Time!
I’ve been feeling extra snack-y lately. For whatever reason, sit down meals just haven’t been my thing. Snacks though? All over it. It may have something to do with the busy, end of summer, cram-it-all-in-before-it-gets-cold life we are living right now but I’m embracing it, whatever it is. This week’s Good Food Reads is a selfish collection of snack recipes that I’m hoping to try in the coming weeks. Got a favorite snack? Let me know on social media. Or just dive right in and enjoy this week’s Good Food Reads: Snack Time! …
Good Food Reads: This & That
Oh, man. It has been quite the week around here. For a food blogger, I’ve done a dismal amount of cooking. Truth be told, the vast majority of my meals have consisted of whatever quick snack I could grab and run out the door. There was also a whole lot of cold press coffee. No home runs in the nutrition or variety categories, that’s for sure! As we approach the weekend and I finally have a few days off, I’m really looking forward to getting back in the kitchen and eating something more exciting than a protein bar. This week’s Good Food Reads is a selfish one – a collection of recipes that I’m hoping to try in the next week. No theme here friends, just great looking recipes and foodie inspiration. I hope you find something you can’t wait to try! And don’t forget to check out all of the amazing recipes from fellow food bloggers and the Minnesota State Fair Copycat Recipe roundup. …
Good Food Reads: Sauces Edition
Welcome back to Good Food Reads Sauces Edition where we are going to talk about my absolute favorite thing-SAUCES! I have been accused by my husband of ordering food solely for the sauces I can put on top of it! Want to lure me into ordering something at a restaurant? Describe the sauce. Sauces, condiments, salsas…whatever name you prefer. Buckle up, I’m going to bring you some of my favorites… …
Good Food Reads: Get Baking!
So, I know the height of summer isn’t really considered prime baking season but sometimes a girl just really needs a cookie, am I right? Don’t get me wrong – I love, love, love all of the easy, fresh, summertime recipes in abundance right now. I do. It’s just that yesterday, I also really needed a cookie. A fresh chocolate chip cookie. So I baked some. And now all I want to do is bake some more. I want butter. I want chocolate. I want frosting! And because I have cookies, brownies, and pies on the brain, my recipe research for this week’s Good Food Reads ended up a little, uh, lopsided. So I’m embracing it! Bust out your measuring cups, dust off your apron, and preheat your ovens. We’re about to get down with some serious baking deliciousness. It’s time for Good Food Reads: Get Baking!…
Good Food Reads: Cooking for Kids
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve commiserated with friends about the challenges of cooking for kids. I’m not talking about technical cooking skills here – most of us can manage the ins and outs of classic kid foods. Rather, I’m interested in how to balance making healthy, tasty food that kids and adults will want to eat. I don’t want to be a short order cook and I want my kids to eat food that pushes beyond macaroni and cheese and pizza. Lane and I are both busy working moms and our kids range in age from 9 months to high school so our kid culinary needs are widely varied. In putting together this week’s Good Food Reads, I wanted to find a collection of recipes that would be useful for moms with kids of all ages. To make it a little easier, I’ve broken down the recipes by (loose) age groups. There are recipes for young kids, families, and recipes to cook with your kids! Do you have a favorite recipe that is a surefire hit with kids? Let us know! We’d love to share it here.
For Babies and Toddlers:
Pregnancy Smoothie (and the whole Smoothie Project) from Weelicious. Are you guys familiar with the Smoothie Project? Catherine, the genius behind the go-to cooking with kids site Weelicious, features a daily smoothie on her Instagram and has a cool PDF with mix and match options for healthy smoothies the whole family will love. I loved this pregnancy smoothie – and it’s perfect for the whole family.
An easy finger food for older babies, Barley Banana Protein Pancakes have only four simple ingredients and are quickly whipped up in a blender. Yum!
My oldest child was a bit of a picky eater when first starting table foods. These Toddler Muffins were a lifesaver and he always devoured them. They are so easy to make and freeze well. Highly recommend!
I’m hoping to try these Sweet Potato, Spinach and Chick Pea Patties from Annabel Karmel. I love that it doesn’t shy away from big flavors and packs in plenty of nutrition!
My youngest is proving to be an adventurous eater and I’m excited to try these Mini Chicken and Carrot Meatballs for Baby this weekend. They should be perfect for the freezer, too.
Sweet Potato, Lentil, and Cheddar Croquettes are a great option for baby led weaning and are full of nutrients. Make a double batch and pop the extras in the freezer for later!
My son refused to eat eggs until just a few months ago but my daughter is absolutely in love with scrambled eggs. This Veggie Eggy Orzo is next on my list of finger foods to try for her! I love the simple ingredients and whole wheat orzo.
Older Kids:
There’s no easier way to get veggies into picky kids than with pasta sauce! I love this recipe for 5 Vegetable Pasta Bolognese.
These dumplings would be great for older kids and families alike: Ricotta Spinach Dumplings.
Ok, so these are not the healthiest option, but they are an easy treat you can absolutely make with younger kids! We all need dessert sometimes, right? Check out our very own Peanut Butter Cup Bars.
Good For the Whole Family:
Cooking for Kids doesn’t have to mean making separate meals. I love these simple Mashed Sweet Potato Bowls, Two Ways for a quick and easy way to make a healthy meal for all ages.
And because I can’t do a Good Food Reads without a good one pot dish: One Pan Pesto Chicken and Brown Rice. Perfect for cooking for kids and adults!
Finally, what kid (or grownup?) doesn’t love crispy chicken? Check out these Panko Crusted Chicken Drumsticks. They’ve got tons of flavor and crunch and a honey mustard dipping sauce sure to please the pickiest eater.
Well friends, that’s it for this week’s Good Food Reads: Cooking with Kids. How’d we do? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
Happy Cooking.
xoxo
Good Food Reads: Grilling
Hi y’all! Holly and I recently discovered the grill. I know, I know, I’m sure many of you are sighing, I mean really, why in the world have two avid home cooks NOT been using the grill? I will tell you though, for both of us, the grill has previously been the baby of our husbands, and you know how those guys can get…territorial. Plus both of us are super busy moms (with four kids between us), run this blog, run bookclubs (hi ladies!), and work FULL TIME! Far be it for us to look a gift horse…or whatever that crazy cliche is! Someone was going to feed the kids and give us a night off-we ACCEPT!
Alas…there was a day recently that there was no husband around (yep, they work too) and therefore we had to figure it out. Turns out all of that fancy schooling we did paid off…the gas grill was conquered! To be honest, all we had to do was grill some bread for an appetizer, so not rocket science, but hey, we have to start somewhere! So for this episode of Good Food Reads we wanted to pay homage to the grill. And because Minnesota summer is so beautiful for grilling we also wanted to introduce you to some local Minnesota bloggers. Ready? Read on…
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