Fast and Easy Blackened Chicken

Smoky, spicy, highly flavorful seasoned chicken kissed with a blackened exterior that envelops a juicy tender interior. It's a tastebud tantalizing recipe to make any day of the year!

It's so simple to make and cooks quickly. It's just a brisk mixing of spices, then generously seasoning the chicken and from there cooking in a super hot skillet for that beautiful finish.

There's a plethora of delicious sides to pair with it (lots of ideas below), and there's also so much you can do with this chicken. My personal favorites for serving are pairing with coconut rice, corn, and mango avocado salsa (for a bit of that sweet + heat) but there's endless options.

And it doesn't just need to be served solo. Try it in tacos, add it to pasta (like creamy alfredo), or toss into a salad.

Healthy Tofu Tacos

For a long time tofu has had have a bad name. Not many people seem to care for it, and I used to be one of them. But I'm telling you if you season it right it can actually be really delicious and even something you'll want to make again and again!

In these tofu tacos the tofu is abundantly seasoned with a variety of Mexican spices, soy sauce and lime juice which builds up much more depth and a welcome vibrant flavor.

Believe it or not you may find you like them just as much as the classic ground beef tacos! And these are a healthier alternative to rotate with, plus tofu is about half the price of ground beef and ground turkey.

These tacos come together quickly for a simple weeknight meal, they are perfectly filling, and they make a great leftover lunch the next day if you have any left.

If you haven't given tofu a chance yet I'd say this is an excellent place to start. And as always with tacos, just be sure to pile high all those tasty toppings!

Baja Bowl Inspired by Panera

These flavorful bowls, inspired by Panera version, include layer after layer of fresh flavor and a variety of textures. You get some nutty chewiness with the grains, tender softness and sweet flavor from the sweet potatoes, tart tang from the cilantro lime dressing, and a crisp bite from the fresh bell pepper and corn.

Collectively they create one beautifully colorful and deliciously satisfying grain bowl.

After you try this Mexican spin on grain bowls you can try building your own grain bowl from scratch. Wondering how to build a grain bowl? Simply include a base layer of grains, add fresh and/or roasted vegetables, a protein (such as legumes, meat, tofu, eggs) or cheese, fresh greens, and finish with a dressing or sauce of choice.

They make such a filling dinner and are an excellent option for make ahead meal prep for lunch too.

Possible Variations

To build these bowls include the grain and black beans, from there you can add your own substitutions:

• Protein: These can also be made with chicken thighs or chicken breasts in place of the sweet potatoes, I've included instructions in the note of the recipe.
• Cheese: You can add cheese such as feta, cheddar or queso fresco.
• Sauces: They are also delicious with a heaping spoonful of salsa, pico de gallo or a finishing drizzle of Mexican hot sauce.  If you want more creaminess try serving them with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Veggies: You can subsistute some of the vegetables here for others you may have on hand, that's the beauty of a grain bowl. Poblano pepper, zucchini, winter squash, or tomatoes are a great fit.
• Grains: These could also be made with farro or barley. Or you can use all brown rice or all quinoa rather than a blend.

Crispy Baked Chicken Strips with the Best Sauce

Sweet and sticky, peppery and bold, this hot honey chicken will be an absolute hit for spicy food loving fans.

To make it it's a simple process of dredging chicken pieces through a trio of coatings then baking them all at once. And the final finish of tempting hot honey sauce couldn't be easier to make. It only requires 3 ingredients that together create the most crave-able sauce. Honey, Sriracha, and butter.

The honey of course brings the sweetness, the hot sauce perfectly enhances it with striking brightness, and the butter balances and tones it out as well as bringing in a layer of richness. You'll want to add this sauce to everything!

This hot honey chicken can be served as a party appetizer, a game day favorite, or as a main dish entree paired with the classic sides (see ideas below).

My few tips with this recipe are to generously coat the chicken with the finely crushed up corn flakes, which will offer plenty of crunch. And wait to add the sauce until immediately before serving or even use it as a dip to keep the chicken strips extra crisp.

One Pot Chili Mac

This is the perfect sweater weather recipe! It's hearty, homemade comfort food that's brimming with flavor and it's just the dinner friends and family of all ages will love on a cold day.

One thing I think you'll really appreciate about this recipe is that many of the ingredients are things you may likely already have on hand, especially if you keep a pack or two of ground beef stashed away in the freezer. I love a one-pot meal, especially for weeknight dinners.

And just like regular chili (or American goulash), it's so versatile that you can swap in other ingredients you have on hand for those you don't (see ideas below for substitutes). I've added carrots to chili before so really just about anything goes.

Then top it as you'd like with all your favorite toppings. You can't go wrong with a sprinkle of green onions and more cheese!

Easy Tri Tip Roast

This has been a go-to recipe at our house for the last few months because it's incredibly easy to make, you only need a handful of ingredients, and it’s made with a less expensive cut of beef.

You can usually find tri tip steak quite a bit cheaper than most steaks (which are getting very expensive lately). We just buy a 2-pack at $7.99 per pound at our local Costco and freeze the second one for later (for best quality use frozen tri tip within 3 months). You can also get this cut at a butcher—or substitute bottom sirloin or California cut.

The key to a good tri tip is in the seasoning and the cooking method. Here we give it a nice spice dry rub for added flavor, let it rest at room temp a while, then roast it in a moderately heated oven, and last finish it by reverse searing (baking then skillet browning) for a few minutes in a scorching pan with a few tablespoons of oil.

It's the perfect beef roast!

What is Tri Tip?

• Tri tip is a cut of beef that comes from the bottom of the sirloin of a cow. It is usually cut in a triangular shape.
• You'll find it has a nice beefy flavor and great tender texture when cooked to a medium doneness.
• Its name comes from its triangular shape and the fact that it's cut at a tapered tip, at the very tip of the sirloin.
• Options available are select, choice and prime grades. Select is lowest quality, choice is good quality, and prime the best quality. I recommend buying only choice or prime.