Good morning and happy Friday! Thanks for your overwhelmingly positive feedback on my “Drawbacks” post. I am so happy that many of your found it a) relatable, b) refreshing and c) informative. I am an open book about anything career-related so please leave a comment or emails me if you ever have questions or want insight. As I’ve said before, I want others to succeed and I think there is plenty of opportunity out there for all of us to be happy and thriving.
It’s been over two weeks since I’ve shared recent eats with you and today I’m going to focus on dinner ideas. I’ve been cooking a lot.
Here are seven homemade dinner ideas (plus one night of takeout!). I hope this helps with your meal planning for the week ahead!
Steamed cod over brown rice with satueed bok choy. I got this idea from a Blue Apron meal that I made a few months ago. I love steaming cod. It’s such a thick and flaky fish and really takes on the flavor of the sauce you’re cooking it in.
Pan seared chicken breasts with an olive, tomato, spinach, feta and basil topping served with roasted purple cauliflower topped with feta. “Greek chicken” is one of my go-to easy dishes. I find that I usually have tomatoes, spinach, feta and olives on hand so it makes for a flavorful and delicious topping for chicken and fish. And to speed up cooking time on the cauliflower I pre-boiled it for about 3-4 minutes. I find that roasted cauliflower takes FOREVER to cook when I start raw.
My favorite homemade spaghetti sauce over zoodles. I made a double batch of it to stock the freezer.
A big pan of roasted sweet potatoes, turnips and tempeh with a peanut sauce. I based the peanut sauce on this recipe.
Filet marsala with roasted butternut squash and sauteed Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch.
Leftover spinach, mushroom and black bean enchiladas over brown rice with tomatoes, fresh corn and cilantro.
More enchiladas with a chopped spinach salad and a cilantro lime dressing. Make a giant pan of enchiladas and it will feed you for days. Happy to report we polished off the whole thing! It took three nights but we got it done. 🙂
This was my first true “fall meal” of the season. Maple dijon salmon with roasted brussels sprouts, roasted squash and roasted sweet potatoes. I loosely followed this Paula Deen recipe for the salmon.
And some nights a girl just doesn’t feel like cooking. Vegetarian tofu and veggie pho and spring rolls from my favorite neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant.
What have you been cooking lately? Have you had your first “fall meal?” Any take out last week?
I tried searching your website but was unsuccessful – do you have the recipe for the homemade spaghetti sauce available?
hi patti! i have not posted it yet. it’s one i’ve been making for 10+ years so i need to get on that!
We have been all about squash lately – spaghetti, butternut and acorn! I am working on planning some new/different dinners for my son, he is impossible these days with what he wants to eat (which is anything other than what I am making!). Must be the age lol
winter squash are the best! i love them all for different reasons. and haha about your son…kids are so funny!
Greetings from China!
I bought squash and pumpkin at the grocery store the other day, and I am very excited to “wok it up”. Your recipes and pictures are inspiring me to create new dishes.
wow all the way from china! hi and thanks for commenting!
I busted out the crock pot with butternut squash soup! It was divine!
i LOVE butternut squash soup! yum!
Oh Jen, I just love your blog so much. Your cooking is so accessible and not intimidating while also being gourmet and gorgeous 🙂 Thank you for these posts!!
Thank you so much! Those words make me so happy. I love to cook and share with you guys! I’m glad it’s helpful.
Thanks for posting these wonderful dinner combinations. I pinned a couple.
You are so welcome! Glad they gave you some ideas!
Wow, all of your meals look so delicious! I made my first crockpot meal of the season this week- honey sesame chicken and I’ve been serving it on top of salads or in lettuce wraps. So yum!
do you have a recipe for the crock pot chicken? looking for ideas! 🙂
I have been obsessed with cod! My grocery has had some really awesome cuts the last month and I’ve obsessed! I’ll have to try steaming it though!
You have to try steaming. It makes it so tender and flaky!
I love black cod as well! I usually buy it on sale at WFM, because it’s not a cheap fish. It’s so buttery when you cook it right.
I loved this post! Gave me a few ideas for the week (:
This may seem like a silly question, but your simple sides of roasted veggies or sweet potatoes always look so perfect and delicious! What do you use for seasoning and how long/what temp do you cook them at?
no silly at all! my go to is oven at 400, olive oil and kosher salt. then maybe some additional spices. sometimes i use coconut oil if i’m roasting something sweeter like squash or sweet potatoes. roasting time varies depending on what i’m cooking but anywhere from 20-40 mins but the key is to make sure you give the pan a shake/flip a couple of times throughout cooking.
Looks absolutely incredible, Jen! I love cooking at home as well!
Would love your recipe for the Pan seared chicken breasts with an olive, tomato, spinach, feta and basil. Also for cooking/steaming the cod did you follow the Blue Apron recipe? All your dinners look delicious!
please post your spaghetti recipe soon! i’m in love with ALL of you recipes. my husband and i have decided that everything you make is perfect. 🙂
I will! Thanks for the EXTREMELY kind words Courtney!