one pan

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One Pan Sausage Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe

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One Pan Sausage Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe

One pan meals are a regular at my home - their convenience is unmatched. This week’s recipe comes together in under 20 minutes. A hearty pasta toss that somehow remains light enough for a warm summer night. Little ears of Orecchiette pasta are the perfect shape to cradle juicy morsels of sausage and Parmesan cheese. Tender stalks of broccoli rabe bring some crunch to the party, but can be subbed with anything you have on hand - kale, broccoli, spinach, or even peas. Technically, we do use 2 pans/pots for this dish (a pot to boil the pasta!), but we’ll just keep that to ourselves :)

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Skinny Beef Stroganoff

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Skinny Beef Stroganoff

The first time I ever had Beef Stroganoff was during lunchtime in middle school. I had tried a bite of my friend Ari's lunch and couldn't stop thinking about how delicious it was. You could say that I've been food obsessed since forever, haha :) I love the creamy, robust sauce that's jam-packed with tender mushrooms and beef, and how it clings to al dente egg noodles. It's the ultimate comfort food; the perfect dish to usher in cooler fall nights. This week I've taken the traditional recipe for Beef Stroganoff and made it a little lighter - a Skinny Stroganoff! Instead of using condensed soup and sour cream, we're going with Greek Yogurt. Greek yogurt is an amazing substitute for tons of ingredients when it comes to cooking and baking, and it's a great trick to lighten up heavier dishes. 

Cinnamon Apples

Cinnamon Apples

Have you ever had Boston Market's cinnamon apples? Oh my god. When I was a kid, I lived for them. They're basically just the filling of a delicious apple pie - sweet, tender apples in a warm cinnamon sauce. Once in a while, I crave them, and a few weeks ago I decided that I'd try to make a batch! Turns out they're super simple to make at home. A yummy mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, a little salt, and a good squeeze of lemon juice makes these the perfect topping for oatmeal, pancakes, waffles, or just to enjoy with a scoop of ice cream. Let's get cookin!

One Pan, No Bake 20 Minute Lasagna

One Pan, No Bake 20 Minute Lasagna

This is of my favorite recipes since it's so easy, delicious, and straightforward. The results are great every time. A nice cheesy crust, tender lasagna noodles, creamy ricotta, savory Italian sausage, and zesty tomato sauce simmer on the stove for a mere 20 minutes and magically become the world's easiest lasagna. Once you've got all the ingredients prepped, the actual cook time is a breeze. Throw everything in one pan and impress your loved ones. I generally have a bunch of these ingredients on hand in my pantry so it's a great dish to make for last minute dinners. Find out how next...let's get cookin! 

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BBQ Chicken Without The Grill

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BBQ Chicken Without The Grill

My cravings for chicken are often and they are strong. Forget Tuesday, I’m down for Popeye’s any day of the week. Fried, braised, roasted, pan-fried… all of it is good in my book but sometimes there is nothing like some good ole BBQ Chicken. The problem is, there aren’t a ton of spots where you can just get BBQ chicken… so the last time I was having crazy cravings, I decided to just wing it and make my own. The problem with BBQ chicken is that you generally need a grill. Let’s face it, not everyone has a grill, and even the people with a grill don’t always want to fire it up. With #MemorialDay coming along soon, I’ve got a great solution for yummy BBQ chicken without the grill! I loooove Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce - SO cheap and really great balance of sweet and tangy. You can get a huge bottle for about $1.99. I love making drumsticks (for some reason it screams the epitome of BBQ chicken to me haha) and what’s awesome about that is that drumsticks and dark meat in general is so affordable. This recipe is so easy - takes a bit of attentiveness, but makes the juiciest, most delicious chicken ever.

Leftover Corned Beef Hash & Eggs

Leftover Corned Beef Hash & Eggs

I don’t know about you, but I have a TON of corned beef in my fridge. Maybe that’s because I cooked 3 slabs of corned beef last week, but let’s not focus on that :P Naturally, I’m looking for different ways to eat all my leftovers. One of my favorite memories as a kid was going to Seal Rock Inn in SF on the weekends with my cousins. I’d always order Corned Beef Hash & Eggs, and it always came in the cutest little skillet. It made me feel like a grown up :) 
There’s something so comforting and delicious about corned beef hash and eggs - the combination of crisp potatoes, salty corned beef, and perfectly runny eggs is just too good. Last week I had an inquiry about canned corned beef, and I am totally the first one to say that I love canned corned beef. It’s what we all grew up on, and let’s face it, not everyone is trying to cook some brisket for 2 ½ hours just so they can have some leftovers to eat with eggs. What I love about this recipe is you can substitute the leftover corned beef with canned corned beef and it’ll all work out the same. This is the perfect hearty meal that isn’t just restricted to breakfast time :) Let’s get cookin!

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20 Minute Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce

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20 Minute Chicken with Honey-Beer Sauce

I love last minute meals that are not only quick and easy, but on the lighter side. This chicken is so freaking good. It’s simple to make, and the recipe can be used for chicken thighs or breasts :) You can use any cheap domestic beer. I took a consensus from several guy friends to see what beer they thought would work the best with this recipe, and in the end, I chose to go with local brewed Anchor Steam. The sauce is a delicious mixture of whole grain mustard, soy sauce, honey, and beer. It all cooks down and leaves the chicken in an amazing glaze that is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy. Fresh flat leaf parsley brightens it all up. I devoured this while sitting in my garden immediately after shooting this recipe. It’s hella good, lol. Definitely my favorite new go-to during a busy weeknight. Let’s get cookin :) 

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

I’m not going to claim that I know how to make authentic enchiladas, or hell, Mexican food. These Enchilada Stacks are a great way to satisfy your craving for Mexican food without the extra work that comes with rolling each enchilada. The recipe is delicious - it tastes just like I remember, and is so easy to throw together. It might not look like the traditional thing, but trust me, it tastes just like the classic. Top off each serving with fresh Queso Fresco, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, olives, and cilantro - the whole enchilada.

Believe it or not, this recipe is also #GlutenFree! Traditional yellow corn tortillas keep this nice and simple. I also used ground turkey instead of ground beef, and made my own taco seasoning. This is such a fun dish for entertaining or for a weeknight meal with your family. Chop up all the toppings and set up a little enchilada bar! That way everyone can customize their own :) Let’s get cookin :) 

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One Skillet Mediterranean Orzo

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One Skillet Mediterranean Orzo

One-skillet dinners are domestic salvation. Personally, I loathe pre-heating the oven. This dish is done in 15 minutes on the stovetop - easy enough for the guys in your life ;)  I love the idea of not having to boil pasta or wait for dinner to bake up in the oven! Most of my favorite recipes are done in one pan - check out my One-Skillet, No-Bake Lasagna! I love simple tricks that help you cut down on time and save extra steps in the kitchen! :) 
This recipe made me almost cry into my bowl. I’m serious - it’s so good. It’s packed with rich Italian flavors that remind you of your favorite baked pasta dish. Tender orzo pasta, hearty ground beef, tomatoes, bright spinach, and the glorious nuttiness of grated Parmesan. In 15 minutes. It’s easy, I promise :) Let’s get cookin! 

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The Best Chicken Piccata

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The Best Chicken Piccata

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a great end of the year. I’m looking forward to sharing some amazing recipes with you this year. Personally, I’ve been working hard to make better diet choices and cultivate healthier habits and it feels great :) 
One of my favorite dishes lately is classic Chicken Piccata. I’ve always thought it was a really difficult dish and have never attempted to make it for myself. Recently I gave it a try and loved how it turned out. I love being able to enjoy this at home without the restaurant price.