Dream Dinners – 20 Years of Helping Get Dinner on the Table

Posted in review by

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

I often get asked how I manage to dinner every night, and my answer is always the same: Dream Dinners.

I was introduced to Dream Dinners a little more than 5 years ago, just after my daughter was born and they immediately became part of my regular dinner rotation. I love to cook – I am, after all, a food blogger – but the craziness of having a newborn, a two-year-old, and a husband who frequently got stuck at work late absolutely sucked the joy out of dinner.

Dream Dinners gave me a way to get a meal on the table I could feel good about and look forward to without losing my sanity. We’re now out of the baby stage and into the shuttling-kids-around-for-sports stage, but Dream Dinners is still an integral part of our dinner plans.

This month, Dream Dinners is celebrating their 20th birthday – 20 years of helping families like ours tackle dinnertime! – and I couldn’t be more excited to help spread the word.

Continue reading →

One-Pot Mediterranean Pasta

Posted in main dishes, pasta by

This dinner is the ultimate meal for a busy night. With a few pantry staples and less than 30 minutes, you’ll have dinner on the table in no time! And my favorite part? There’s almost no chopping – it’s all just dump-and-go.

This one-pot pasta cooks the spaghetti right in the sauce, so it’s faster and results in fewer dishes. Add in a salad and some bread to complete the meal.

Continue reading →

Classic Spanakopita

Posted in main dishes, vegetarian by

Spanakopita is a classic greek dish. A hearty layer that mixes spinach, feta, and egg is sandwiched between two flaky layers of phyllo. It’s something I’ve loved for years – and made different versions of – but I hesitated to dive into a more traditional recipe.

This is a dish that takes a little time and patience – but it’s definitely worth the effort.

Continue reading →

10 Meatless Meals Kids Love

Posted in recipe roundup by

There’s a good chance that if you’re observing Lent and have kids, Friday dinners are a rotation of pizza, macaroni and cheese, and fish sticks. At the end of a long week, it’s hard to come up with something everyone will eat – so I’ve rounded up ten meatless meals my kids are always happy to see on the table.

These meals are real kid-pleasers! And they’re parent-pleasers too.

From one-pan or pot meals, to easy make-ahead casseroles, you’ll find something here your family will love that you won’t dread making on a Friday night.

Continue reading →

Cranberry Salsa

Posted in sides, snacks by

Need an appetizer for your holiday get together but don’t have the time for anything involved? This is your answer.

Cranberry Salsa is sweet and tart and pairs perfectly with salty tortilla chips. Better yet, it only takes 6 ingredients and 5 minutes to make. Jalapenos add flavor and color, but not a lot of heat so this is perfect for everyone – even those who don’t like spicy salsas.

This red-and-green salsa is perfect for the holiday season! It’s festive and easy – what more could you want?

Continue reading →

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pork Roast

Posted in main dishes, pork, slow cooker by

This comforting meal is perfect for a busy weeknight – with only five minutes of prep, you’ll have a dinner packed with fall flavors thanks to a few simple ingredients and the magic of the slow cooker.

The star of this recipe is the cranberry sauce – which also makes it an ideal use for any cranberry sauce leftover from Thanksgiving dinner!

Continue reading →

Easy, Classic Cranberry Sauce

Posted in sides by

If you think you don’t like cranberry sauce, it’s because you haven’t made it yourself. Homemade cranberry sauce is far superior to it’s canned cousin – and it’s super easy to make.

This cranberry sauce is tangy and sweet and uses just four ingredients.

Adding this to your holiday menu won’t add a lot of work to your plate either – this can be made up to a week in advance and only takes about 15 minutes to pull together.

Continue reading →

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Posted in cookies and bars, dessert by

You know the classic treat muddy buddies or puppy chow? Where you shake cereal in a combo of melted chocolate and peanut butter and then shake them again in powdered sugar? These cookies are and ode to that.

Fudgy chocolate is piped over soft peanut butter cookies and then they’re pressed into powdered sugar to coat. These cookies are absolutely a special treat!

Whether you’re making these as a stand-alone dessert or as part of a holiday cookie tray, they will definitely be a hit.

Continue reading →

Gingerbread Biscotti

Posted in cookies and bars, dessert by

This is the biscotti you want to dunk in your coffee (or hot chocolate!) this holiday season. I promise.

It has all the flavor of your favorite gingerbread cookie, in a thick, chewy bar perfect for sopping up your favorite drink. They are an opportunity to turn every coffee break into a holiday celebration.

Slices of gingerbread biscotti piled in a white mug with snowflakes and the words "warm wishes". More biscotti sit next to the mug.

And if you’re thinking, meh, biscotti isn’t my thing – I’m here to tell you that you need to try making it yourself. These are so, so much better than the dry and crumbly store-bought biscotti you’re imagining!

Continue reading →

Pecan Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted in cookies and bars, dessert by

Chocolate chip cookies are such a classic – but I never think of them as a Christmas cookie. In this recipe, they get some additional mix ins that make them absolutely perfect for the holiday season. These are soft and chewy, with sweet bites from the cherries and chocolate. They’re a great stand-along treat or a beautiful addition to a holiday cookie tray.

These are based on one of my Opa’s cookie recipes from his years working in a bakery, which means they’re foolproof. Because no-one has time for cookies that might not turn out perfectly in a bakery – or during the the holidays.

Continue reading →