This Saturday has felt like a giant exhale after a very busy week. My oldest son finished out his very first musical, and this former theater kid couldn’t be prouder. We’re all exhausted, and ready to head into a much slower paced spring break ahead.

Your meals for April are a mix of warmer weather favorites sprinkled in with the last vestiges of winter comfort food. I’m betting on having at least one day a week that’s warm enough to grill!

If you’re still working on your Easter plans for tomorrow, you can see my brunch plans here. And of course, you can never go wrong with a Carrot Sheet Cake (one of our most beloved recipes!). If you’ve got kiddos at home, these Resurrection Rolls are a sweet way to share the Easter story with children.

Your FULL MONTH, downloadable plan is at the end of this post.

Here’s the week’s Grocery Shopping List:

April Week 1 Grocery List

82.9KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to this week’s meals!!!

Monday: Creamy Ham and Potato Soup

A comforting home style classic: this hearty soup uses up any leftover Easter ham, and is the perfect warming meal for a rainy April evening.

Tuesday: Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

Just 15 minutes of prep gets this dinner off and running. This recipe is our go-to for a patio party where rain is possible in the forecast. Not that we’re being pessimistic…

Wednesday: Italian Dressing Chicken

Juicy delicious chicken with just TWO INGREDIENTS!? Praise the Lord! If you want to get fancy, you can make your own homemade Italian dressing, but it’s not necessary (Newman’s Own Italian is excellent, or Garlic Expressions). Grill these beauties if you can or I’ve got instructions for baking the chicken as well.

Thursday: Cheesy Baked Ziti

If you’re all about that crispy chicken skin, this recipe is the easiest way I know to get a chicken dinner on the table in 30 minutes. Using our homemade chicken seasoning, and the air fryer, this chicken goes perfectly with a wing-man of our sweet honey & thyme glazed carrots.

Friday: Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

I go into it in the post, but the secret to these perfect diner pancakes is separating the egg. These airy, golden, buttery flapjacks are a family fav for an easy brinner, or use this recipe and follow our guide to host an EPIC PANCAKE BAR PARTY!

Grab your customizable full month meal plan printable at the Canva link below, or download it as is and get cooking!

Subscribe now

Your plan to customize (You’ll need a free Canva account to make changes): Customizable APRIL Meal Plan

Or download the PDF as-is:

April Monthly Meal Plan

531KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

This series will feature doable menu ideas for all kinds of gatherings. These aren’t just aspirational ideas. They’re the recipes I actually make when I host or bring something to a gathering.

Today we’re starting with one of my all-time favorite kinds of gatherings: Brunch! 🍳

Spring has always felt like brunch season to me. As soon as the weather starts to warm up, I long to be on a patio with a mimosa in hand. Brunch is my preferred meal for Easter gatherings, but it’s also a great choice for a casual friend hang, a baby or wedding shower, or a book club get together.

Here’s a quick formula you can use for any brunch gathering:

• 1 Egg Dish

• 1 Savory or Sweet Baked Good (or one of each, if you’re feeling extra)

• 1 Salad or Veggie

• 1 Signature Beverage

That’s it, really! It does not have to be any more complicated than that. Of course, you can add dessert or extra sides, but we’re here to make hosting feel DOABLE, not daunting. I’m also always a fan of delegating. Considering asking a few guests to pitch in! I find people like being told something specific to contribute, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! ❤️

Subscribe now

Now, without further ado…

Here’s What I’d (Actually) Make For A Spring Brunch!

I’m sharing a personal favorite from each category, plus an alternate or two that you can swap depending on your own tastes.

For the eggs: A Crustless Quiche Lorraine

This is a classic for a reason, and going crustless makes it gluten free AND half the work. This can easily be made ahead of time and can be served warm or at room temperature.

Alternate pick: Ham and Cheese Frittata

For the greens: A Simple Lemony Arugula Salad

I will sing the praises of this salad until my dying day. You can make it in five minutes. It holds up well, and it goes with almost everything. I love to serve it with egg dishes to bring a little brightness and greenery to the plate.

Alternate pick: If I’m feeding a bigger group or want something more substantial, I’d go for a 7 Layer Salad. For something a little fruity, try this Strawberry Spinach Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing.

For a savory baked good: Cheddar Chive Scones

I am obsessed with these scones. They are so ridiculously fluffy and tender and buttery, and I would really like to have one for breakfast every single morning. These can be assembled and frozen ahead of time, then baked off when you’re ready!

Alternate pick: Puff Pastry Asparagus Ricotta Tart- a perfect appetizer, side, or “girl dinner.”

For a sweet baked good: Lemon Blueberry Crumb Bread

This Lemon Blueberry Crumb Bread is bright with fresh citrus and bursting with blueberries. You could easily swap our raspberries or blackberries here if you prefer, but don’t miss the crumb topping and glaze. It really puts these over the top!

Alternate pick: Orange Poppy Seed Muffins- Oh, these are just delightful! Moist, citrusy, and in a perfect single-serve portion.

For a signature beverage: White Wine Sangria

It’s light, it’s fruity, it’s bubbly. You can definitely have some before noon.

Alternate (non-alcoholic) pick: Orange Julius. Yes, like the one from the mall. My kids (and me!) still love this drink!

As we transition into a new month and season, please forgive that our 4 week meal plans don’t align nicely with our calendar.

This week is a gap filler that doesn’t quite fit on the monthly printable schedule, but here is what we’re eating none the less!

Monday: Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad

This fresh zesty classic pasta salad is a great light dinner or makes a good side dish if you can’t resist throwing some burgers on the grill. It gets even better as the leftover marinade in the dressing, which means you’ve got at least one lunch covered.

Tuesday: Grilled Flank Steak Tacos

When the first warm weather hits we can’t resist grilling, and this flank steak recipe scratches that itch perfectly. This lean flavorful cut of beef loves to soak up the flavors of the marinade, and it’s fairly forgiving on high heat, so even if yours is a tad over cooked, it won’t be too chewy as long as you slice THIN. Save a few leftovers for tomorrow…

Wednesday: Black and Blue Cheese Salad

A crunchy bed of lettuce is stacked with tender strips of steak, sharp red onions, homemade blue cheese dressing, and a tangy sweet balsamic tomato bruschetta for a fresh herby meal that’s best enjoyed on a patio.

Thursday: 30 Minute Wonton Chicken Soup

I’m over here trying to manifest warm days, but just in case of rain (or if mother nature remembers that it’s barely April), I’m leaving this recipe here as an alternate.

Friday: Fluffiest Ricotta Pancakes

I also used to think that buttermilk was the key to the fluffiest pancakes. Then I discovered ricotta pancakes. Berries are just now starting to get good again at the store so top generously with your favorite fruits and maple syrup.

If that sentence felt like a lot to read, IMAGINE HOW WE FEEL. Spring keeps trying to enter, and winter just shoves a dresser against the door and says, “Not so fast, missy, try again next weekend.”

Subscribe now

It makes sense, then, that our dinner plans each week have included both grilling burgers and making cauldrons of soup. This is March in Ohio, which is why I’m bringing you the springiest soup I could imagine, a Crock Pot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup.

Read more

From the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, March really has a way of putting us through the extreme highs and lows. This year, it’s not just the weather, the NCAA tournament, and Easter, but it seems like the feeling is pervasive.

This week my hope for you is that meal time can be a place to celebrate the wins, grieve the losses, and find stability being with those you love.

Here’s the grocery list:

Mar Week 4 Grocery List

64.4KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to the meals!

Monday: 30 Min Foil Packet Lemon Dill Tilapia

This Grilled Tilapia is cooked in a foil packet for fool-proof, flaky, flavorful fish fillets every time. Paired with vegetables and a lemon butter sauce, this is an easy dinner you’ll come back to over and over again.

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

This big batch sloppy joes recipe is perfect for potlucks, tailgating, or just getting a jump on cookout vibes even though there’s still snow in the forecast. Make a big ol crock pot full of this savory sweet classic for your March Madness party.

Wednesday: Panko Crusted Chicken Piccata

Comfort meets sophistication in this Panko Crusted Chicken Piccata! With lightly fried, crispy chicken breast and a buttery lemon caper sauce, this classic chicken dinner is simple to prepare and extremely satisfying to eat.

Thursday: Cheesy Baked Rigatoni

This shareable pasta casserole recipe is easy enough for a weeknight dinner, but fancy enough to make for dinner parties and holiday events. Stretchy cheese hides tender baked pasta that’s stuffed with a rich meaty sauce.

Friday: GF Crustless Quiche Lorraine

This naturally gluten free quiche Lorraine can be whipped up and in your oven in less than 20 minutes. I love serving it with fresh fruit and simple salad greens for a gorgeous brunch or with air fryer potatoes for a kid-pleasing dinner.

It was a vulnerable time for many reasons, not the least of which was that I felt deeply insecure about almost everything. My faith, my parenting, my work—all of it felt unsteady. I was juggling full time self-employment with full time parenting, and when I had enough brain space to think thoughts, they were mostly of the “am I absolutely screwing this up?” variety.

About halfway through that first group gathering, I tucked myself into the half bath for a quick breather and social anxiety scan. I was busy analyzing every conversation I’d ever had when I noticed a dust bunny in the corner. Now, this was not a small crumb of dust, but a rather robust fellow, one who looked like he’d had some time to really work on himself, perfect that fluffy bunny tail aesthetic.

In an instant, I felt my body relax. My response wasn’t judgment and it certainly wasn’t disgust. I only felt relief—an expansive, bubbly almost giddy wash of relief. I distinctly remember the feeling in my body shifting from anxiety to safety.

When I traveled out from the cocoon of the restroom, I noticed other things. Stacks of papers on the counters, evidence of homework and bills. Random items on the stairs, waiting in purgatory to be transported up or down. Fingerprints and snooty dog noses smeared across the windows.

To me, it was all a flashing green light, a signal that perhaps I could belong here. Perhaps I could be myself here. Perhaps I could be not-perfect here.

Read more

Recipes are like living legends. They seem to get embellished the more they are passed along. This week’s meals celebrate that tradition of discovering something good and adding our unique take on it before passing it along. Hope you can enjoy a meal with others this week, and have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Before you bounce, be sure to grab the grocery list below, and check the bottom of this post for a message about how you can help us improve recipe search results, and keep “AI slop” from taking over Google.

Here’s the grocery list:

Mar Week 3 Grocery List

64.4KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to the meals!

Monday: Guinness Beef Pot Pie

Puff Pastry Beef Pot Pie features a slow-cooked Guinness beef and vegetable stew topped with an EASY flaky puff pastry crust. Transport yourself to an Irish pub with this serious comfort food recipe that will make your house smell amazing!

Tuesday: Loaded Shrimp Taco Salad

This fresh and citrusy Shrimp Taco Salad is loaded with black beans, bell peppers, queso fresco, and a creamy avocado dressing. Packed with protein and make ahead friendly, this is a great recipe to keep on hand for busy weeknights and meal prepped lunches!

Wednesday: Creamy Chicken Sausage & Tortellini Soup

This rich colorful soup is another all-star when it comes to shortcuts, because we’re using canned tomatoes & tomato sauce, plus sliced chicken sausage links (thanks Costco free sample ladies for getting us hooked on these…), and frozen cheese tortellini. There’s a few ingredients to chop, but otherwise this is a dump and go one-pot meal that’s ready in about 40 minutes.

Thursday: Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken & Veggies

This easy sheet pan meal is here to help clean up any carrots and red potatoes that might be leftover or unused from the corned beef. Though, if you’re tired of that formula, it’s easy to swap in whatever veggies you’d prefer. (We also really like onions, mushrooms, and broccoli). Either way, you know that cleanup is gonna be a breeze.

Friday: 30 Min Leek & Mushroom Pasta

This quick vegetarian meal perfectly bridges the gap between winter and spring. With just enough of the savory creamy richness that helped get us through those frigid winter months, and a preview of garden freshness that’s about to explode onto the spring scene, this recipe rocks.

A.I. is not a good cook…

A.I. doesn’t have a real kitchen, test its recipes, or have real mouths to feed. We do.

There’s a new button at the top of every one of our recipe blog posts that can help us, help improve Google search results, and might just save the internet from A.I. slop.

Clicking this button tells Google that our site and our recipe content is “Human tested, human approved.” Google can then prioritize these trusted sources the next time you search for recipe content. Just login to your Google account, check the box next to our site name “neighborfooblog.com” and click “Take me to Google Search” to save your preferences.

Thanks for helping us keep real recipes relevant!

The humble casserole was made for gatherings and meal trains. They’re perfect for a casual dinner parties but can also be packaged up and delivered to a family who could use a break. They make enough to feed your own family AND someone else’s, without a lot of extra work.

The casserole is pure, nostalgic comfort food. We’re talking saucy pasta bakes and blankets of cheese. Creamy chicken paired with buttery Ritz crackers. Crispy tater tots over cheesy ground beef. Did I mention all the cheese?

It’s really too much, and that’s the hilarious beauty of it. We might not know what to say or how to fix things, but we sure do know how to make enough food to feed you for a week.

Now, please here me when I say this. No one who is struggling needs 4 weeks straight of casseroles. Their hearts will explode (and not just from the generosity). If I check out a meal train and it’s all casseroles, I try to pivot to a big salad or grilled chicken or any of these other meal train dinner ideas. But when you need to feel mothered by a generous and warm Midwestern grandmother, nothing compares to a casserole dinner. Here are my favorites to give (and receive)!

Tater Tot Casserole

This was my favorite dinner as a kid, and my kids are finally coming around to its humble, delicious ways. When someone says “hot dish,” this is immediately what I think of.

Company Casserole

I mean, it’s in the name! This casserole is made for sharing. This is a classic ground beef and pasta casserole with a super creamy marinara sauce. I made this for my college roommates, and now they’re indebted to me for life.

Hamburger Zucchini Casserole

This is a newer favorite that includes a big serving of veggies! Hooray! Casseroles aren’t my go-to for the summer months, but this one is perfect when the garden is overflowing with zucchinis.

Walking Taco Casserole

This is all the best parts of the taco-in-a-bag you might remember from your high school football games transformed into an easy to share casserole. Serve it with lots of fresh, crisp taco toppings.

Tortellini Bake

Just five ingredients is all you need to make this super quick pasta bake that my kids really love!

Easy Cheesy Baked Rigatoni

I developed this recipe with Ohio Beef last year, and it quickly became my oldest son’s favorite dinner. Pair it with garlic bread and a Caesar salad for an Italian feast.

Cottage Cheese Lasagna

What’s a casserole list without lasagna? This one is fully Midwestern, subbing cottage cheese for the more traditional ricotta and adding just a little Swiss cheese. Don’t knock it till you try it! The five star reviews don’t lie!

Easy Cheesy Pizza Casserole

Cube up some day old bread and combine it with your favorite pizza toppings for a quick and family friendly casserole dinner.

Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Bacon

Brinner is always welcome in this house, and this bacon, spinach, and egg casserole is one of the best! Deliver it to a friend with a giant bowl of fresh cut fruit, and they’ll love you forever.

Creamy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

Canned soup and Ritz crackers, we’re doing this, baby! If you’ve got leftover rotisserie chicken, this casserole can be in your oven in less than 20 minutes!

Do you have a favorite casserole from your childhood? Share it in the comments!

Leave a comment

This week, we’re not only HYPED about the start of March Madness just around the corner, but our boys are finishing off their winter basketball season which has been a blast.

…And since we’re in the basketball spirit, this week the meals are dishing out assists left and right. That means we’re taking one meals leftovers and executing the perfect pass on to the next night’s recipe. That’s easy points!

Here’s the grocery list:

Mar Week 2 Grocery List

63.7KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to the meals!

Monday: Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

We were tired of jarred sauces that were too expensive, too sweet, too acidic, and too meatless, so Courtney got to work dialing in this recipe that stews in the slow cooker all day to let that perfect blend of flavors really sink in. This freezer-friendly big ol batch of sauce is delicious, so eat some tonight on spaghetti, and then enjoy the rest later. Perhaps in some… (*alley-oop)

Tuesday: Italian Nachos

This easy sheet pan meal uses some leftover spaghetti sauce and various no prep ingredients. The fusion of Italian ingredients in a Mexican-inspired format is the definition of recipe SYNERGY. (Makes the fingers meshing hand motion). These colorful beauties taste amazing, and have awesome textures (on some garlic-y pita chips). I mean, just look at that stretchy MAAAHHHHZZZZ! It defies logic that there isn’t a whole nacho fusion restaurant category.

Wednesday: Rotisserie Chicken + Cheesy Potatoes + Green Beans

“Just grab a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store.” It’s one of our favorite meal shortcuts, and for tonight’s dinner, it let’s us focus on two of our favorite simple sides. Easy cheesy potatoes is a rich baked casserole that makes enough for a potluck, but the recipe is easy to halve (and have) for any ol weeknight. Paired with some simple garlic sauteed green beans to round things out, that’s good eatin. Plus, save whatever chicken leftovers you might have for… (*bounce pass)

Thursday: Creamy Ritz Chicken Casserole

Ritz Chicken Casserole combines a creamy chicken filling with a crisp, buttery Ritz cracker topping for a satisfying and easy dinner! This one hits all of the classic Midwestern casserole notes. Golden buttery crunch topping? Check. Bubbly savory filling? You betcha! Pass the scooper dere!

Friday: Salmon and Asparagus Linguine

This Salmon Asparagus Pasta is the first time I’ve sauteed lemon zest in butter with garlic, and MY LORD, I would like that smell in a candle, please. This simple but brilliant sauce combines with asparagus and salmon roasted on a sheet pan for a true 30 minute meal. The asparagus is just entering it’s prime season, so get some while it’s… uh… asparagussy?

This note is coming to you a bit later in the week than I had planned, because frankly the plan this week went hilariously awry. My kids each took turns being home sick, weekend plans were tossed out the window, and then we spent a day in an emergency room with another family member. And somewhere in the middle of it all, I tried to follow the news and process our country entering a war with Iran.

(Psst, I wrote you a poem about how I’m coping. 😮‍💨 I’m committed to staying at the table.)

In the coming days, we’ll celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. We’ll make time to laugh, eat good food together, and remind each other that every day we get is a gift, even if that gift feels sort of like a hot mess. We’ll make space for joy even when life feels heavy, because our joy matters too.

Today, I’m sharing my favorite reads and listens of the last few months. It’s a humble offering that I hope can be a bright spot for you to carry through whatever surprises, good or bad, this week might hold.

And please, if you’ve got some good stuff to share, let us know in the comments! Tell me about a great movie you watched or your new baby niece or the first tiny buds in the garden. And might I recommend impulse buying some flowers for your table? It’s a little reminder that spring is coming.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Treats of the Month:

Alysa Liu’s gold medal winning skate- Normally, I watch figure skating with sweaty palms and clenched butt cheeks, but watching Alysa Liu was something else entirely. Her performance didn’t feel like a zero sum game where there can only be winners and losers. Instead, it felt like an invitation to her joy. It felt expansive! It felt like something new, and I’m going to be thinking about that and celebrating it for a long while.

This jealous koala made me laugh out loud.

Carol Burnett was interviewed on the Good Hang podcast, and it was such a delight. I especially loved hearing about her friendship with Lucille Ball, one of my childhood heroes.

This episode of Everything Happens with and is so tender and lovely. Funny people talking about grief might be my favorite genre.

Neighborly Notes:

Everyone is talking about community lately! (Thank you, Minnesota, for inspiring us and leading the way).

🔨 Loved this article about how the smallest act of neighborliness, like borrowing a drill, can slowly transform communities and economies.

🍽️ with Katherine Goldstein shared 8 Ways to Embrace Deep Casual Hosting, and it’s filled with practical tips!

👯 I have really been loving Kat Vellos’ newsletter, We Should Get Together, that’s all about building friendships as adults. She uses the acronym VEES for being Vulnerable, Earnest, Exuberant, and Sincere, and I’ve now got that on a sticky note above my desk.

💭 Trevor Noah thinks progressives’ rejection of religion might’ve left them without the faith required to imagine better futures. I’m inclined to agree. This is a FASCINATING look at how religious imagination has fueled some of the most successful political movements of the past, and how tapping into the power and imagination of faith communities could make a difference in the present.

😮‍💨 What We Defend Reveals What We Worship- Speaking of imagination, Darryl Harrison Ford argues that Christians are lacking in it too. This was a heavy read, but incredibly powerful.

👚 I can’t wait to host a Stuff Swap with my people this spring. All the dopamine of some new things, with the added bonus of good company and zero dollars spent.

That’s all for me! What goodness has come your way this month? Share it in the comments?

Leave a comment

With February behind us, we can all collectively yearn for grilling season to return. In the meantime, this month’s meals are winding down our savory winter staples, celebrating our St Patrick’s Day favorites, and sprinkling in a hopeful splash of fresh spring seasonal ingredients.

If you enjoy this meal plan, please hit the “heart” button to let us (and substack) know that this is one of the good ones. It helps our community grow.

Paid subscribers, your FULL MONTH, downloadable plan is at the end of this post.

Here’s the week’s Grocery Shopping List freebie for everyone:

March Week 1 Grocery List

61.4KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to this week’s meals!!!

Monday: Crock Pot Shredded Beef

This month, we begin with our favorite fall-apart tender roast. It’s easy, fragrant and tastes amazing over egg noodles, instant mashed potatoes, or these creamy stove top mashed taters.

Tuesday: 30 Min Beef Ramen Stir Fry

Next up, we elevate those shredded beef leftovers with some stir fried veggies, a sweet/savory ginger soy and rice vinegar sauce, and a couple packages of ramen noodles.

Wednesday: 1905 Salad with Garlic Dressing

If you’ve followed us for any time at all, you know that I will NOT stop singing the praises of this ham, cheese, and olive salad. Regardless of your opinion of olives, I insist you reserve judgement until you try it. This salad is crisp, savory, and has a STUNNING homemade garlic vinaigrette dressing.

Thursday: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

If you’re all about that crispy chicken skin, this recipe is the easiest way I know to get a chicken dinner on the table in 30 minutes. Using our homemade chicken seasoning, and the air fryer, this chicken goes perfectly with a wing-man of our sweet honey & thyme glazed carrots.

Friday: Classic Scrambled Egg Sandwiches

For brinner this week, we’re sticking with our classic cheesy egg sammies. The right (thinner sliced) sourdough bread and a ripe tomato can really put this one over the top.

Paid subscribers, grab your customizable full month meal plan printable at the Canva link below, or download it as is and get cooking!

Subscribe now

Read more

Let me praise the chicken thigh for a bit, because it’s really the star of this show. Chicken thighs are easy going and reliable, the kind of ingredient you want on your team for the group project. Ask a chicken thigh to show up for dinner, and it’ll be there on time and ready to work. Overcook them and they’ll apologize to you by being even more tender than usual. In this recipe, the humble chicken thigh teams up with a bubbling skillet of tomatillo salsa, green chiles, white beans, and cheese for a dinner that’s ready for anything. Tacos? Rice? All your favorite toppings? Yes, yes, and yes.

As I mentioned, this was a big hit at our family dinner table. Each of the kids found something to love. My oldest was into the chicken and my youngest devoured the cheesy beans. We take the protein wins where we can find them. My husband and I loved it all, and gave it bonus points for being so easy to make.

You can customize this in a million different ways. Sometimes we slice the chicken and serve the mixture in tacos or over tortilla chips. Sometimes we have it with Mexican rice. And sometimes we just pile on some extra toppings—avocado, sour cream, diced tomatoes, jalapeno slices—and call it good. I hope you’ll add this one to your weeknight rotation!

Read more

Grab the groceries, call the kids, and keep your favorite hot sauce handy! We are gritting our teeth and grinding our way through to the end of February.

Feb Week 4 Grocery List

66.4KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Your weekly grocery list and meal plan is here!

Monday: Beef Enchilada Soup

Taco night isn’t particularly difficult, it’s just that all those bowls of toppings makes for more dishes. Craving Mexican? Throw it all into one bowl with this easy 30 minute beef enchilada soup!

Read more

Instead, I bring you muffins. Blueberry ones, with oats and maple syrup and a sprinkling of extra sugar on top.

They won’t fix much, except perhaps a hunger pain. But when I say they’re baked with love, I mean it. And maybe you can taste that too, the whispered blessings sprinkled in with the cinnamon.

Subscribe now

A Meditation for Making Muffins

When I stand in the kitchen with my mixing bowl and measuring cups, I light a candle. Your name is on my lips, the weight of all you’re carrying in the center of my chest.

I put all my confusion and rage into the bowl. Why, God? When will the suffering ease? How can this injustice persist? Butter, eggs, yogurt, maple syrup, sugar, vanilla.

I mix in my prayers for you. May you be held in Love. May your eyes behold the sacred in new ways. May you have peace, though it makes no sense. May there be justice, like rushing rivers. Baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon.

The blueberries are folded in. They leave the faintest trail of purple behind them. A shooting star across the sky of batter.

A scoop for each muffin cup. A sprinkling of sugar.

They go in the oven. I practice surrender. I scrounge up a mustard seed of faith that something good can come from all this pain.

The kitchen begins to smell like something is happening. The grief and the hope are mingling, making something new.

The timer goes off just as the dishes are done, left to cry on the drying mat.

And then there are muffins. Craggly, golden, warm and sweet muffins. Not a miracle, but then again, not not a miracle either. They are, after all, a new creation. Something nourishing and joyful out of a mess of ingredients. It’s a heck of a lot more than nothing.

I take the delicate wrapper off. The muffin is almost too hot to hold, but I cannot wait. I break it in half and smear some butter over the top, watch it disappear into the nooks and crannies. I give thanks. I eat.

And it helps, somehow. The surrender. The crumbly sweetness. The pop of a warm blueberry almost burning my tongue.

I blow out the candle and give thanks. The work of the rest of the day is calling. The laundry, the emails, the helping with homework and wrangling everyone to the bath. I’ll put a few muffins in a container to give away, a reminder of all we carry and all we have to give. It feels like it’s not enough. It’s all I have.

I’m not often blessed with a quiet house and 40 free minutes to do a full baking meditation like the one you see above. But I find the simple act of lighting a candle and having it close by while I bake is enough to direct my thoughts, even when my surroundings are chaotic and interruptions abound. You can do this with any project, but it works best when you measure out all your ingredients before you begin. Then, your spirit can pray while your body does the mixing.

Not in the mood for muffins? Try this meditation with Sour Cream Banana Bread or Crazy Cake.

For a video of the recipe and meditation, go here.

For a full breakdown of the recipe, including substitution options and step by step photos, visit this Blueberry Oat Muffins post.

Blueberry Oat Muffins

Serves: 18

Prep: 15 minutes

Bake: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk plain Greek yogurt, or sour cream

• 1/2 cup milk, dairy or non-dairy

• 1/2 cup maple syrup, or honey

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 cups quick oats

• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 2 cups all purpose flour, or white whole wheat flour

• 2 1/2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen & unthawed

• 1/4 cup Turbinado or coarse cane sugar, for topping

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 muffin pans with 18 paper liners.

2. In a large microwave safe bowl, melt the butter. Whisk in the Greek yogurt, milk, maple syrup, and brown sugar.

3. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking well. Whisk in the vanilla extract.

4. Add the quick oats followed by the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir well to combine.

5. Add the flour, then dump in the blueberries. Toss the blueberries with the flour then fold them gently into the remaining batter.

6. Scoop the batter into the prepared pans, filling each cup to the top and mounded a bit. Add an additional liner or two if needed. Sprinkle each muffin with turbinado sugar.

7. Bake for 19-21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out without any wet batter. Allow to cool in the pans for 5-10 minutes before removing. Enjoy warm or place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Be nourished and encouraged, beloveds.

Leave a comment

We’re fully committed to the Winter Olympics at this point, and just like we get enthralled by a smattering of odd sports once every 4 years (Why is it always curling?), we’re again finding ourselves obsessively returning to these unique recipes.

This lineup is as diverse and specialized as the Olympians who have captured our attention, and all right at home here in the midst of the winter season…

Your weekly grocery list and meal plan is here!

Feb Week 3 Grocery List

62.5KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to this week’s meals!

Monday: Sausage Kale and Sweet Potato Soup

Finding a perfect balance of smooth and savory with sweet and spicy, this satisfying soup feels like a real medal contender.

Read more

Despite this, we almost never dine out on Valentine’s Day. Snagging a reservation requires more advanced planning than two parents with two businesses and an ADHD diagnosis can muster.

For this holiday, we’d much rather stay home, drink inexpensive wine, and avoid the hassle of finding a parking spot near the city’s hottest new restaurant.

Here are a few tips for embracing the romantic date night in:

1. Decide if you’re cooking together or if someone will be cooking for someone else. You know your relationship best. Will sharing kitchen space be fun and romantic or make you want to hip check your partner into an open drawer?

2. Communicate expectations. Will you be dressing up or wearing fuzzy socks and stretchy pants? Either is completely viable, but it helps to agree on the vibe beforehand.

3. Set the mood. Use real plates and napkins. Light a candle or many. Curate a playlist for the meal that reinforces the mood (instrumental and romantic, flirtatious and dance-y, etc).

4. Incorporate tiny guests (if you have them). Have your kids write or draw the menus or be the official servers for the evening. Put them in charge of setting the table, and make it feel special for them too! My kids love when we get sparkling grape juice for fancy dinners.

Our Favorite Romantic Dinners

Steak and Shrimp Scampi - A classic that’s easier to make than you might think. Steak and Shrimp are cooked with a buttery garlic wine sauce and served over a pile of pasta.

Thai Basil Beef- This is my favorite quick date-night-in meal. It packs some serious heat, so it’s not the best choice if you’re including kiddos. I don’t like to make a separate meal for my kids, but for this one, I will. Feed them something from freezer, and treat yourselves to this fusion of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors.

Surf N Turf - This comes together in just 30 minutes and only uses one pan. What a dream.

Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta - A rich and creamy pasta brightened by the tang of sun dried tomatoes.

Seafood Mac and Cheese - Creamy mac studded with as much seafood as you can afford. This recipe includes shrimp and scallops, but no one would be mad if you snuck some lobster or crab in there, too.

Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs- Turn your house into an Italian bistro with this recipe for Italian meatballs in a homemade marinara sauce. Be sure to have your own romantic Lady and the Tramp moment with this one.

For a nice green side, we recommend a crisp tossed salad, creamy Caesar dressing, or simple lemon parm arugula salad.

For dessert:

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Truffles- Positively decadent chocolate truffles that you can easily make at home!

Sour Cream Cheesecake- A lusciously creamy cheesecake, that’s never dry or dense. Serve it with your favorite pie fillings, a lovely lemon curd, or chocolate and caramel syrup.

Flourless Chocolate Orange Cake- This flourless cake is decadent and rich, almost pudding like. The subtle orange notes make this one a scene stealer.

Ice Cream Stuffed Crepes- Leave yourself lots of time after dinner to make some room for this epic dessert. Warm crepes are wrapped around your favorite ice cream (we love black raspberry chip), then finished with fresh fruit and a chocolate drizzle. Truly divine.

It still feels like the depths of winter here in Ohio, but look at how much light we’re all gaining this month! I am beyond thrilled to have more sunshine and be able to go for a walk after 4:30 PM. It’s the little things.

Your weekly grocery list and meal plan is here!

Feb Week 2 Grocery List

63.3KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to this week’s meals!

Monday: Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies

This all-in-one guest recipe from Chelsea’s Messy Apron is just what we needed this week. Fast, easy, and covered in Parmesan.

Read more

The ideas I’m sharing today are my attempt at making the most of my little squirt gun. They’re about embracing the tiny glimmers in the every day—the smell of a soup bubbling on the stove, the sun glinting off a fresh coating of snow. They’re about finding and sharing comfort, with yourself and with your neighbors. Turning toward each other is the best hack I have for surviving winter. Grab a tea (more on that later) and snuggle up for some warm February comfort.1

Make a big pot of soup to eat all week long.

These recipes will require your biggest Dutch oven, and will make enough soup to feed a small crowd or give you a week of warming lunches to look forward to. Increase the good vibes by channeling your inner witch. Stir dramatically! Season with flair! Lean over your cauldron to take in the magical smells. Then ask some friends to bring some bread and join you for dinner.

Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup- A tomato and red wine based soup that simmers for awhile and makes your house smell incredible.

Sweet Potato Sausage Kale Soup- An unexpectedly fantastic combo that’s creamy and comforting but includes enough veggies to make you feel virtuous.

Broccoli Cheese Soup- This one actually has some discernible veggies and tastes like real cheese, not gloop. It’s begging to be served in a bread bowl or alongside a crusty baguette.

Vegetable Soup with Ground Beef- I’m not a huge fan of tomato-y vegetable soups, but this light and brothy soup that’s finished with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar is totally my jam. It somehow feels hearty and fresh at the same time.

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili- Ah, who doesn’t love a good set-it-and-forget it recipe? This one is best served with LOTS of fresh toppings: cilantro, sour cream, avocado, jalapeno slices, just throw all the green stuff at it to combat the winter drearies.

Read cozy books

To be honest, I read cozy books year round, but mid-winter is the time I am most drawn to comfort reading. For me, that equals cozy murder mysteries, lighthearted rom-coms, and found family tales.

For the ultimate bundled-up reading experience, I recommend this remote page turner for the Kindle, which allows you to keep both hands tucked under a blanket while you’re turning pages. It’s a game changer!

Clare Pooley (yes, all of them)- If you’re looking for heartwarming tales of found family and joyful rebellion, Clare Pooley is your girl.

Louise Penny (again, all of them)- No one can make murder cozy like Louise Penny. A small town Canadian setting, quirky neighbors and an inviting French bistro make these books some of my favorites for long winter nights.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches- A cozy romance with some magical realism. One of my favorite nervous-system regulators.

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry- Is there anything cozier than a book about books? This one, about a widowed bookstore owner in a small coastal town, is funny and tender and so so sweet.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting- I don’t normally read regency romances, but this is a perfectly delightful haters to lovers rom-com that explores themes of duty and the fierce protection of family, as well as the graying lines of “morality” in an inherently unjust society.

Wear the same emotional support sweater every day.

I highly recommend the blanket kimono from Natural Life and this midi-dress length full zip sweatshirt. It’s like a robe, but better. You can push up the sleeves since they have a cuff (no more soaking your robe while washing your hands), and the zipper means it stays closed!

Chain Drink Tea

Tis’ the season to keep the kettle on all day long. Pick a signature tea of February and sip on it all month long, or try out a new one each week. Even better, invite a friend to join you for a cozy tea session once a week. Here are a few of my favorite blends and recipes.

Hot Matcha Latte- This is my every day winter drink. The bright green color feels absolutely LIVE GIVING in the winter months. My favorite matcha comes from Ippodo.

Doodh Patti- This is a form of chai, but is less spicy and more creamy than the typical varieties you get at a coffee shop. It is the COZIEST drink.

Swan Dance Teas Magnolia Oolong- A gently floral and toasty tea that’s great with a little steamed milk.

No Joe Brew- If you like the taste of coffee, but it makes you jittery and anxious (oh, hi! It’s me!), this caffeine free tea is perfect for you. I also love the Warm + Immune blend from Highland Oak Farm.

Harney and Sons African Autumn- An herbal rooibos tea that you can drink all day long.

Cinnamon Latte- Not a tea person? I highly recommend these homemade cinnamon spiced lattes.

Give a Galentine’s Day Gift

Put together a little bundle of cozy favorites to give to one of your best gal friends. Think: a to-go mug of soup, a fancy new tea, cozy socks, a small vase of flowers, chapsticks, a candle, books, or a sweet treat. I love scouting the thrift store for cheap baskets and boxes to gift!

I also LOVE this idea that uses a recycled drink carrier for an affordable but lovely gift!

Read Stories of Black Joy.

One of the few things February has going for it is that it’s Black History Month!

I think many folks avoid reading Black stories because they fear they will be too heavy or too depressing. I want to be clear: we cannot grow in our understanding if we are unwilling to be uncomfortable. Our country’s history of enslavement and racism IS deeply disturbing, and we should still learn about it.

That said, if we’re only reading stories about Black pain and suffering, we’re missing out on a huge part of the Black experience. February is a great month to read some books that center Black joy, love, family, and healing. I have a few recs of my own, but I realized when I was writing that this is a hole in my own reading, so I’m also adding some books from this list to my February reading plans.

Here for It- I can only describe R. Eric Thomas’ writing as effervescent. His memoir is insightful and an absolute delight to read. I laughed so much!

Get a Life, Chloe Brown- Chloe is a chronically ill computer nerd who’s determined to shake up her life after almost (but not quite) dying. When she teams up with bad boy Red Morgan to complete her “Get a Life” list, things heat up fast. (Well, actually, things heat up slow, but then they’re quite spicy).

You Should See Me in A Crown- A warm YA novel with a classic underdog-runs-for-prom-queen plot and a sweet queer love story.

skin & bones- The discrimination our female lead, Lena, faces as a fat black woman are unique to her, but there are so many themes here that are universal: the struggles of aging, learning to be at peace with our bodies in a world dominated by diet culture, the bittersweet reality of having aging parents, navigating friendships and parenting and romantic partnerships with both boundaries and grace. It’s a really beautiful book told with a lot of care.

Oh, and if you haven’t watched Abbot Elementary yet, it is an excellent way to celebrate Black History Month AND enjoy some big belly laughs!

Join the Conversation

Tell me, what are you best cozy recs for surviving February? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Leave a comment

If you had your children home from school all last week like we did, you might be feeling a bit…overwhelmed/exhausted/discombobulated/overstimulated…should I go on?

I hope this February meal plan can lighten your load a bit, so there’s one less thing you have to figure out. This week, we’ll kick things off with a ridiculously easy recipe for Crock Pot Enchilada Chicken (that’ll be used for two different meals!) and end with a cozy soup and grilled cheese croutons.

Paid subscribers, your FULL MONTH, downloadable plan is at the end of this post. Be sure to check out the extras this month! We’ve shared several ideas for Valentine’s Day treats and dinner.

Here’s the week’s Grocery Shopping List freebie for everyone:

February Week 1 Grocery List

60.3KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Now on to this week’s meals!!!

Monday: Crock Pot Enchilada Chicken

Toss everything in the slow cooker, and let dinner make itself! We love to serve this chicken over baked potatoes, with lots of avocado, sour cream, and cilantro. Of course, you could also toss it over a salad or rice bowl, nachos or tacos. Make sure you save all the sauce in the crock pot for night two!

Tuesday: Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Night 2 is for enchiladas! Thanks to all your hard work with the crock pot yesterday, these will be ready for the oven in just 20 minutes!

Wednesday: Fish Taco Salad Bowls

Did you know that fish can broil in just 8 minutes? Talk about a quick dinner. We season white fish with a quick blend of spices and honey before broiling it and tossing it over mixed lettuces and cabbage. This is a great recipe to use any leftovers you might have from enchilada night—toss it with avocado, cilantro, and lime juice!

Thursday: Easy Pantry Pasta

This is the recipe I make when I’m capital “O” OVER IT. This five ingredient pasta can be made simply with the creamy sauce, or be a home for whatever you’ve got hanging out in the fridge. Try it with roasted zucchini and peppers, cherry tomatoes, or mushrooms. Or add some shrimp or bacon for some extra protein.

Friday: Crock Pot Carrot Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

When my sons gobble up a vegetable soup, I pay attention! Both my boys love this creamy carrot soup, particularly when they’re given these crisp, gooey croutons for dunking. You’re going to love this one!

Feeling overwhelmed or off-balance this week? We’re all in this together, so feel free to vent, share a recipe, or drop your feelings in the comments or join the conversation with us in the chat!

Wishing you a SOLID, routine week.

Paid subscribers, grab your customizable full month meal plan printable at the Canva link below, or download it as is and get cooking!

Subscribe now

Read more

One of my pantry staples is boxed tomato soup. Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with opening the soup, heating it in a pot, and calling it dinner (especially with some grilled cheese croutons! 🤤), but boxed soup can also be a short cut to a fantastically easy and robust meal.

Below, I’ve got two variations on tomato soup that each include some extra veggies and protein for a complete meal. Each of them can be whipped up with just 5 extra ingredients and in under 30 minutes. TRULY. Not the fake “I have the ideal kitchen set up and no distractions” 30 minutes, but an actual 30 minutes. I hope it gives you some great inspiration for the week ahead!

Bonus neighbor note: This would be a super easy dinner kit to take to someone who could use a little extra support. Put the ingredients together in a bag with a loaf of crusty bread and attach the recipe—there’s a printable version of both recipes available for paid subscribers below!

Recipe #1: Spinach Tomato Tortellini Soup

Read more