We could probably have tacos at my house almost every night. If I'm being honest, we will probably have tacos at least 8 times in the next month! However, it's good to change it up. Despite what my kids say. But sometimes it's hard to get out of the rut of my go-to meals. When I need inspiration, I always go to AllRecipes.com or use their App on my phone. They have a TON of recipes you can browse and search through. And many of them have been submitted and prepared by home cooks such as myself. I love reading the reviews and seeing how some home cooks modified the recipe to fit their tastes or available ingredients. Sometimes I even play a fun game and pull 5 ingredients from my fridge and pantry, and enter them into the Ingredient Search section and it gives me great new ideas for using the stuff I already have at home.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And don't forget the appetizer, dessert, and cocktail!
Bill's Sausage Gravy (Ok I lie and tell all my friends that it's my secret family recipe. But it's really Bill's. And it's delicious.) Make the biscuits from scratch if you want but we love the Pillsbury Homestyle canned biscuits.
Super Delicious Zuppa Toscana This soup is Super Delicious. Oh wait, the recipe name says that already. If you don't have Italian sausage, I have used ground beef instead and seasoned it with Italian spices and Fennel (a little goes a long way) and it tastes almost identical. You can also use milk instead of heavy cream for a lighter option. The leftovers are superer delicious. (yes I know that's not really a word. But it should be.)
Salsa Chicken Rice Casserole It's not tacos but it will easily cure your craving for tacos. I like to use a box of Spanish rice instead of white rice. And if I have an avocado on hand, I always add a little on top. The best part is you've got lunch covered for tomorrow because this recipe makes 8 servings!
Buffalo Chicken Dip (This is usually my go to Game Day app, but with no sports to watch, it would be a great movie snack) Sometimes I substitute rotisserie chicken if I have the time to get one but the canned chicken is surprisingly good. If you'd like to take a healthier route, dip with peppers, celery, carrots or zucchini strips. But it's also great with tortilla chips and Ritz crackers!
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies (Ever) I added the "ever" because this is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I have ever made. Ever. Whether you want to show your family how much you love them, or hide in your room and eat your feelings, these cookies will satisfy both needs. I do find that I have to cook mine several minutes longer than the recipe. Also don't get on Facebook without setting a timer. You might burn the cookies. So I've heard.
Baybreeze Cocktail This fruity beverage makes me feel like I'm at the beach even when I'm stuck on the back porch. You can easily substitute tequila, rum or spiced rum if that's what you have on hand. And you can leave the alcohol out for a non-alcoholic version if the kids want to join you on the porch. Plus it's got fruit juice in it, so it must be good for you, right?
(Photo: Getty Images)