The busier life has gotten, the more I've come to value meals that are 1) quick to prepare, 2) can be made in advance, or 3) can be taken on the go. These tasty Strawberry-Banana Breakfast Bars fit the bill! Think of them as handheld oatmeal - soft and chewy with juicy baked fruit. They taste the best warm from the oven, but they're also delicious at room temperature and can be reheated in the oven or microwave if you prefer. read more[...]
It's usually a wonderful thing when chocolate and peanut butter come together, and these granola bars are no exception. With the peanut butter's heart-healthy unsaturated fat and the oats' fiber, these make a fulling and nutritious portable snack or on-the-go breakfast item. Best of all? A batch can be made well in advance and kept in the fridge for at least 2 weeks. Yum! read more[...]
This grain salad was exactly what was needed after a steamy couple of weeks in the Midwest. It's hearty enough to be filling but tastes light and cool on a hot day. Grain salads tend to make great dishes for advance preparation; they can typically be served cold, warm, or room temperature, they last several days in the fridge, and they only get tastier as they sit and their flavors meld together. So many thumbs up. This dish will be even better if you can find a really good feta. I stumbled across the most delicious Greek feta when[...]
A good pot of soup is such a good thing. I love to make a big batch at the start of the week and have enough leftovers for days of packable lunches. Pair with a loaded-up salad and a big slice of crusty bread and done! This soup does well with this make-ahead method: the vegetables hold up to reheating, and a fresh drizzle of pesto and grating of Parmesan easily brings it back to life. Prepping meals in advance can be extremely helpful when you don't necessarily have time to cook every day. Cooking in bulk not only allows you to spend less time in[...]
Most things are so much tastier when made at home, including salad dressing. Store-bought dressings are convenient, and sometimes convenience is a necessity, but when you have a spare 5 minutes to whip up a dressing yourself, it's worth it. This week's recipe is a simple one, but it's a good one to have in your arsenal and a good template to use for making your own salad dressings. Don't love balsamic? Use champagne vinegar instead. Want a little extra zing? Add a dab of dijon mustard. Not a fan of spice? Omit the red pepper flakes. This recipe is versatile[...]