Our newest version of macaroni and cheese adds the flavor of tacos and does it all in one pan. That’s one-pot taco mac and cheese! You won’t believe the secret ingredient that turns regular mac and cheese into this taco-flavored favorite…salsa. What you need to make taco mac & cheese pasta taco filling (ground beef,…
How to Make Easy Beef Stew: A Simple Recipe that Cuts Cooking Time in Half
Today we’re talking about how to make easy beef stew faster than you ever thought possible. Do you know that traditional beef stew is a two and a half hour ordeal? Not here! We pack our easy beef stew with tons of veggies — cabbage, peas, carrots, even mushrooms — and do it…
Easy Salisbury Steak Meatballs
How do you feed a whole family with one pound of ground beef? Try our Easy Salisbury Steak Meatballs! This simplified recipe is already a favorite with my kids. We serve our Easy Salisbury Steak Meatballs over brown rice but you could certainly use egg noodles or any kind of pasta. What Makes these Salisbury…
Easy Pot Roast with Vegetables
This easy pot roast with vegetables comes together so quickly! I threw a giant pan brimming with fresh veggies smothering a roast underneath, then seat out with the brood for an afternoon walk. Don’t get woozy on me with images of a “perfect family” because this is the FIRST time the guy who shaves ever…
A Healthier, Faster Meatloaf Recipe: Replace Half the Beef with One of the Most Nutritious Ingredients
I’ve made this healthier version of meatloaf for a total of 10 kids and 9 adults now and I’m pleased to say that everyone, except one holdout, loved it. Even the kids. Even the dads. If you’re looking for a way to boost nutrition (better for your bodies!) while lowering your family’s beef consumption (better…
The Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches My 8-Year-Old Can’t Get Enough Of
“Are there any more?” That’s the only question my third grader has when I make these Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches for dinner. Lucky for her, this recipe makes enough to feed our family of 6 at LEAST twice. If you’re cooking for a crowd without spending a fortune–or want to freeze leftovers for an instant dinner…
Taco Squash Boats
If you’re looking for a way to get your kids eating more vegetables, boats are the thing. We’ve made Italian Zucchini Boats and I’m thrilled to say two things about it: They used a lot of zucchini (a perk because I love actually using produce from our overflowing garden). They were a huge hit with…
Homemade Sloppy Joes
When my soon to be 8-year-old asked for Homemade Sloppy Joes as her birthday dinner, I knew we had a hit! You know that very distinctive flavor of a good Sloppy Joe? The one I remember as a kid came out of a can, but man I loved that stuff. It turns out that you…
How to Make Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese in 1 Hour
Have you ever made Marcella Hazan’s bolognese sauce? It’s amazing. But it takes almost 4 hours. If you have one, two, four or nine small kids at your house like I do, this just won’t work. So as part of my quest to introduce our kids to delicious food made from fresh ingredients, with tons of…
5-Minute Meatball Skewers
The season for packing school lunches is in full swing around here, and these 5-Minute Meatball Skewers are part of the reason I haven’t tried to climb into my morning cup of coffee. So far. These meatball skewers are so easy, hearty and a colorful addition to any lunch box. Technique Start with frozen but…
Slow Cooker Cheesy Rice with Beef & Beans: A One-Pot Tex-Mex Meal
WE’RE ON A BIT OF A ROLL with meals like this slow cooker rice, beef, beans and peppers. There’s been quinoa enchilada casserole, slow cooker shredded chicken Tex-Mex, and one-pot Mexican casserole–each one a total success with the munchins. I mean, I don’t want to jinx it or anything. Because if there’s a roll, I want…
Cheeseburger Hand Pies with Puff Pastry
Cheeseburger hand pies are what happens when you cross a juicy cheeseburger with a croissant. AMAZING. Cheeseburger Hand Pies are Perfect for Picky Eaters Also, if you’ve got picky eaters cheeseburger hand pies are for you. One of the (bazillion) lessons I’ve learned about feeding my tribe is about spin-offs. Keep your eyes open for…
Make-Ahead Sweet Potato “Cottage Pie” with Ground Beef (and Why It Isn’t Shepherd’s Pie)
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN shepherd’s pie and cottage pie? Lamb. This is what I just learned from Food 52. Shepherd’s pie is traditionally made with lamb, which makes sense when you think of a shepherd’s job. Cottage pie, however, is made with ground beef. That’s what we used here when we made our own even simpler version….
Shortcut Swedish Meatballs: Ready in 30 Minutes
“IF YOU GUYS WILL TRY COUS COUS TONIGHT,” I heard myself bargaining, “I’ll make you pumpkin muffins for breakfast.” And with three nods we had a deal. I was desperate. I already had this delicious pot of Shortcut Swedish Meatballs simmering on the stove when I realized I’d need something to serve with them, something…
1 dinner 3 ways: stuffed peppers with beef, tomatoes & rice
LAST NIGHT’S DINNER WAS A DISASTER. Sometimes I use a lot of smart strategies for making dinner quickly and easily, but not last night. There I was at 5:30pm, stirring a pot on the stove to make a vaguely Mexican dish I saw somewhere online. You know, the kind that’s not too spicy for the kids but still…
lettuce wraps with steak & carrots
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I JUST WANT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. Despite how the kids might react. When I made lettuce wraps with steak and carrots, I knew there would be resistance from the knee-high critics but sometimes, every once in a while, I don’t care. If we agree that a win is when everyone tries a bit,…
perfectly flavored london broil (aka, meat your kids will eat!)
THE OTHER DAY I MADE CHICKEN CUTLETS for dinner and when I saw my four-year-old dunking each bite in her water glass, I had to ask… “This makes it softer on my teeth,” she told me. Note to self: Don’t overcook the chicken. My three small kids aren’t always the biggest meat fans but when it’s…
Beef & vegetable roll-ups with balsamic glaze made a little simpler
I CAN’T LIE TO YOU. THESE DELICIOUS BEEF ROLL-UPS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE WILL NOT BECOME ONE OF YOUR GO-TO WEEKNIGHT DINNERS. But you’ll love making them once in a while. With a tangy, sweet sauce plus a built-in veggie and playful presentation, there’s a lot to like here. The only trouble is the number of steps it…
very small shepherd’s pies (a step-by-step recipe)
WE’VE MADE THESE MINI SHEPHERD’S PIES TWICE NOW, once at a kiddie cooking school here in North Carolina, and once at home, both for St. Patrick’s Day. This version is our own recipe, which is really just layering all the flavors you’d expect–but simplified. We cheated a bit with store-bought biscuit dough, which really puffs…
Finally, a Chili Recipe My Kids Will Eat
MY KIDS DON’T LIKE CHILI. EXCEPT THIS WAY. There are a couple of tricks at work here. First, make some chili. Don’t put in too much cumin and skip the spicy chiles. Then swap a soup bowl for a juice glass and present those knee-high guys with this, a chili parfait. And if that doesn’t…