What I'm Eating: 30 Minute Meals (or less!)
Life is busy, friends. Like, crazy busy. My husband is in school on top of working full-time. A teacher's life is never left at the office....and for that matter, neither is a blogger's! So my two jobs keep me going. And then there is of course our lovely daughter. Despite how crazy our schedules might get, my husband and I always always make time for her and our family. We don't sleep much and our house could use a little TLC, but we are happy and fulfilled.
So, I bet you guys are wondering when I have the time to cook (or eat, even). Meal prep is always and forever my saving grace. But there are also those lovely, easy meals that come together in a flash that make life in the fast lane so much easier. Those meals are what I will be dining on this week...and what will be keeping my sanity intact.
Image credit: Real Food Whole Life
1. 15-Minute Chicken & Broccoli Stir Fry. A classic that is so easy, so delicious, and so tasty that I will probably want to make it weekly. Plus, 15 minutes to make dinner!? Yes, please! Omit the cashews to make it nut free and enjoy over jasmine rice or cauliflower rice!
2. 30-Minute Honey Mustard Salmon. I have been making this recipe for years. Years! It's the perfect blend of sweet meets savory and comes together so easily. I have served this dish to many a dinner guest over the years and I almost inevitably get a call or email requesting the recipe. It goes great with sweet potatoes and/or a simple green salad!
Image Credit: Super Healthy Kids
3. 30-Minute Black Bean Soup. Mmmmm. I have a very open love affair with black beans. They are one of my favorite plant based protiens and I just love them in all ways...but especially in soup. This black bean soup is fast, easy, and super family friendly! If your kiddo is a newbie to black bean soup, perhaps offer them some savory plantain chips, your favorite whole grain cracker, or sliced veggies and allow them to eat it like a dip!
Image credit: Yummy Toddler Food
4. One-Pan Pesto Chicken and Brown Rice. I just love love love one-pan/one-skillet meals because it means something very magical is about to happen....fewer dishes! If I don't have time to cook, then I have even less time (and patience) to do dishes. So this recipe gives me all the warm fuzzies. Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, this particular recipe says that it takes "about 35 minutes". However, if you use short-grain brown rice, the cooking time will be reduced and likely bringing you pretty stinking close to 30 minutes start to finish. The choice is yours, my friends.
Image credit: Dessert Now Dinner Later
5. Pesto Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers. This recipe sounds all fancy and like something you'd have to wait 45 minutes at an authentic Italian restaurant to actually eat, but it is super simple and made with simple ingredients! "Gnocchi" is basically potato pasta. It cooks up fast and tastes like heaven. You can find it at most grocery stores or buy it online. Be careful though, if gluten free is a priority to your family, make sure the gnocchi you're buying is gluten free.
I love that this recipe has beautiful bell pepper in it, but I also might try to "vegifiy" it a bit more with some sugar snap peas, mushrooms, carrots, and broccoli. You know how much I love to cram as many veggies as humanly possible.