Lunch
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Marinated Grilled Shrimp
My sister shared this recipe with me last summer, and it’s gone into high rotation in our household. You can use fresh or previously frozen (thawed) shrimp. A quick 20 minute marinade with pantry staples, and you have delicious shrimp that can be served hot, room temperature or cold! They make a great entree, or serve them as an appetizer. I prefer them with grilled veggies, but serve with whatever sides you wish.
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Big Mac Salad Bowl
While a Big Mac isn’t my burger of choice from McD’s, I have always loved the flavors! Since I have been trying to cut the carbs, this salad hits all the same notes in a salad that helps get more veggies in. Another recipe that comes together very quickly for those busy weeknights. I do not make my own Thousand Island dressing since it’s not high carb, but you certainly can if you prefer. I thin out the dressing with white vinegar and add some garlic powder. This recipe makes two generous salads.
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Spicy Honey Chicken Thighs
I know not everyone is a fan of thigh meat, but this recipe may convert you! Chicken thighs are less expensive, incredibly juicy, and easy to find. The dry rub is delicious, the honey mixture caramelizes and creates crispy edges, and this dish is fast – ready to serve in 15 minutes. The original recipe hails from Cooking Light and can easily scale to feed a few or a crowd.
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Asparagus Pasta
Who else has days that you walk into the kitchen at 6pm and still don’t have a dinner plan for your hungry people? Made mostly from pantry staples I always have on hand, this recipe is a family favorite, comes together in 15 minutes and hits all the right notes – a little heat, a little salt, and a little crunch. My tip would be to have all your ingredients prepped before you start cooking – this comes together quickly!
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Oven Risotto
This is a long-standing favorite recipe of my husband’s, and if you’ve been over for dinner in the winter, I most likely have made this dish. I’ve been making this recipe for YEARS – what are the chances that one of my favorite food bloggers, Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, posts her own oven baked risotto recipe this week?!
My Uncle Mark made this risotto for me when I visited him in San Francisco during my spring break my junior year of college at Iowa State. Such a fun trip – as a Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management major, his goal was to take me to as many restaurants and bars in San Francisco that we could squeeze in that week. I fell in love with the city, and immediately fell in love with his recipe. We ate it with steamed crab from Fisherman’s Wharf and some sourdough bread, which was heavenly! Might have been the only meal we ate at home that week, and it definitely left an impression! I still have the index card I wrote his recipe on, and have morphed it into my own over the years.