Summer is filled with backyard barbecues and potluck Sundays. The next time you get invited to a summer shindig, think about bringing this easy dish that will take less than 30 minutes to throw together.I love how the arugula brings a lightness to the potatoes and cherry tomatoes add a pop of color. Chicken versus pork sausage will also summer-ize this recipe.The vegetables and sausage bake to crispiness so they can add a savory oil to the lemony arugula salad. Get ready to share the … [Read more...]
5 Full Weeks of Family-Friendly Meal Plans (for Free)!
Who's up for a totally free meal plan just in time for summer?!I realized recently that a lot of you don't know about one of our coolest freebies here on MPMK.It's a deluxe 5 week meal plan that includes:5 weeks with seven dinner recipes each - no repeats! 5 shopping lists (one for each week), categorized for convenienceAnd the best part is the meals are kid-friendly, nutritious and not-overly complicated... It's just what you need for an easy breezy … [Read more...]
30 Dinner Ideas for Preschoolers
We've covered making your own baby food. And also meal ideas for a 1-year-old.But what happens when that cute little chubby toddler turns into an opinionated preschooler who refuses to eat anything but grilled cheese sandwiches? (Replace grilled cheese sandwiches with buttered noodles, or whatever your little one deems the food of the month.)Even the best of eaters has been known to turn super picky during the preschool years, and the vegetables that they used to gobble up are now fodder … [Read more...]
20 Cook Once, Eat Twice Dinner Ideas
I recently took to our facebook page and asked what type of recipe posts you'd most like to see here. MPMK reader Rebecca suggested a roundup of "cook once, eat twice kind of meals". I replied, "I want those too!" because how brilliant is it to have dinner ready with no cooking on the second night?!I put our resident food contributor, Natalie, on it and she didn't disappoint... Looking to save some time in the kitchen?Double-duty dinners are a great way to cut down on extra cooking. … [Read more...]
In the Kitchen: Seasonal Recipe Round-up
Spring produce can't be beat! After months of apples and all types of squash, a refreshing palette of colors bursts across the produce aisle.I compiled a list of my favorite nine recipes that will use all those delicious farmer's market finds.Maybe you have favorites that you go back to year after year (mine happens to be artichokes). Hopefully, this list will inspire you to try something new like leeks or prosciutto-wrapped apricots! … [Read more...]
30 Minute Dinners- A Weekly Meal Plan For Busy Families
Need some dinner inspiration? I am always looking for something new to put on the table without too much fuss.The months transitioning from spring to summer can get pretty hectic, what with end-of-school activities, graduations, weddings, outdoor sports and more. Implementing an easy weekly meal rotation could be just the thing to keep you sane when you're on a crazy schedule. I've created a dinner plan with five meal categories- quesadillas, salads, frittatas, skillet meals and pizzas- and … [Read more...]
POYEL: 10 Tips for Better Meal Planning
Some people love meal planning, some people hate it. Whether you like it or not, it can be really helpful for your budget, your time management and your sanity as a parent. Everyone goes about meal planning a little differently, but this is how our resident food contributor, Natalie, sets herself up for success before the actual “meal-planning” time begins. … [Read more...]
18 Things You Didn’t Know Your Slow Cooker Could Make
The slow cooker is all the rage these days (thank you, Pinterest!). I am all about putting my kitchen appliances to work, but I haven’t made much more than the usual pot roasts, soups and pulled meats. I did a little research and found some atypical slow cooker recipes worthy of sharing. Some made sense, but some just blew my mind - I mean, Chex Mix in the slow cooker?? Crazy. Row One- Brownies, Yogurt, Artisan Bread Row Two- Dulce de Leche, Baked Potatoes, Oatmeal Row Three- Lemonade, Chex … [Read more...]