When I’m not eating, I am thinking about eating. Yes, true story. There isn’t a single thing I love more than a good meal. However, since becoming a momma I do not have the luxury of putting together dishes that take more than 30-minutes. At my house, I try to keep my meals as quick and easy as humanly possible. Normally, if the recipe calls for an ingredient I cannot locate in the grocery store in less than a minute, I toss it.
My go to Pinterest search? Quick, easy, and healthy dinner recipes. Is this your jam? Well, buckle up, I’ve got you covered. Here are five recipes currently on the Santos dinner rotation:
1.) 15-minute Roasted Chicken & Veggies
This 15-minute roasted chicken and veggies is a staple in our house. It is simple, easy, and delicious. Oh, and the kids eat it too (Most of the time!). The only deviation was that I tossed the veggies in coconut oil instead of olive oil before roasting them. The coconut oil was completely accidental. It was a Thursday and I had run out of olive oil, so, naturally, coconut oil it was. Honestly, it turned out fantastic! Also, you cannot beat the 15-minute timeframe. Are you running late on dinner? Use this recipe. Do you have unexpected dinner guests and can’t decide what to whip up? Use this recipe. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
2.) Penne with Kale & Chicken Sausage
If you ask my daughter what her favorite thing to eat is, without a doubt and without hesitation she will say, “PASTA!” I mean, can you blame her? I am a pasta lover as well. And, because there are a MILLION ways to make healthier versions of pasta dishes, we always have one on rotation. This Penne with Kale & Chicken Sausage is my husband’s favorite. If kale isn’t your thing, you can substitute it for spinach. Want to add more veggies? Throw in some chopped up zucchini. I can vouch for how quickly it can be done, even if you have a crying toddler pulling down your pants.
Now that you are aware of our love affair with pasta, you aren’t completely surprised that I am sharing two different pasta dishes, right? They are different, but equally delicious. Sure there are a million different variations of the Greek pasta salad on the web. However, I find that this is the most simple to follow if you need directions.
We usually pair this with either baked chicken drumsticks or a rotisserie chicken (Bought at Publix). It all depends on how much time this momma has left in her afternoon and how hungry the little humans are.
4.) Five Ingredients Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas
The slow cooker is like a forgotten kitchen gem. We all know of its many uses, its practicality, and how easy clean-up can be, yet, how many of us are truly using it to its utmost potential? Not this momma! Although, it seems as though it would probably make my life ten times easier, I usually only take it out on the weekend. I secretly have a fear of burning the house down.
This recipe is DELICIOUS. We usually eat it over rice with a side-salad. However, it works with pretty much anything. Try this recipe!
When I need to clean out my fridge or I am too lazy to really make a meal, this is my go-to-dinner. The only difference in what I make at home is that I use shredded mozzarella instead of feta. This also happens to be our meatless meal of the week, which in my book is a win-win. I pair this cheesy-veggie-scramble with rice and beans and voila, dinner is done! Easy Peasy! If you have 20-minutes, you can whip this baby up.
As a mother, one of the most important things is that my little people consume a well-balanced diet. If we eat home-cooked meals Monday-Friday, I am much more comfortable with allowing them that pizza, or that cupcake for dessert on the weekend. Savory meals do not have to be complicated. Take it from a mom who works five days a week, is home at 5:30 PM, and makes dinner from scratch almost every single day; all you need is 30-minutes. Thirty minutes and your stomach will thank you!
XO,
Renata
