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Whole30 Meal Plan January 2021 // Week 3

January 16, 2021 By msmart Leave a Comment

pork picadillo

I can’t believe we’re heading into week three of Whole30 meal plans. Halfway there! Are you with me? Or are you doing “Whole30-ish”? Either way, I hope you’re enjoying the meal plans and recipes. My goal is to give you dinner ideas that are attainable on a weeknight, delicious and healthy. Tomorrow I have my…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans, Whole 30

Whole30 Meal Plan // January 2021 // Week 2

January 10, 2021 By msmart Leave a Comment

Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30) recipe by Smart in The Kitchen

Whole30 Meal Plan: Week 2 Here’s week two of my Whole30 meal plan, full of family-friendly weeknight dinners. There’s a lot going on this week! My kitchen reboot webinars (have you signed up?), the launch of my meal planning course, and a handful of online classes. Here we go! SUNDAY I’m teaching two cooking classes…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans, Whole 30 Tagged With: easy dinner, family meal plan, meal plan, whole30 meal plan

Any Greens Pesto

January 6, 2021 By msmart Leave a Comment

This "any greens" pesto can be prepped ahead and frozen in ice cube trays or glass containers.

Any Greens Pesto Yes, you can make fresh pesto in January! Maybe not the super traditional Genovese version, but you can make a bright and fresh “any greens” pesto that will be delicious with pasta, as a sauce for fish or chicken or tossed with roasted veggies. We just came back from a couple weeks…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Condiments, Freezer Friendly, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Pasta, Sauces and Salsas Tagged With: any greens pesto, arugula pesto, green sauce, herb pesto, herb sauce, kale pesto, pesto, pesto sauce, sauce

Whole30 Meal Plan // January 2021 // Week 1

January 2, 2021 By msmart 2 Comments

Make this sheet pan ratatouille for an easy and delicious dinner

Whole30 Meal Plan: Week 1! Here we goooooo! It felt good to take a break from blogging and get some rest and quiet time. We celebrated the holidays in Sun Valley, Idaho, with extended family. It was bluebird days and cozy nights, with lots of carbs thrown in for good measure. It’s time to reboot…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner plan, easy family meals, family dinner, meal plan, weeknight dinner, Whole30, whole30 meal plan

Meal Plan // December 13-18

December 13, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

We’re winding down school with a schedule full of papers, tests and loose ends. I want a meal plan that will use up what we have in our refrigerator and freezer. By the end of the year, I look forward to a fresh start in January full of clean eating. But until then, we still…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised

Gift Guide 2020

December 9, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

The Gift Guide for Ourselves! Were we anything but selfish when we came up with this gift guide? Well, no. This is basically a letter to my husband (jk!). But I do think we all deserve a little merry merry this year. And to jumpstart your merriment, be sure to download this year’s Holiday eBook….

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Filed Under: Gift + Product Guides Tagged With: gift guide 2020, holiday gift guide

Weekly Meal Plan // December 6-11

December 5, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

I’m enjoying a quick weekend away with my husband. It’s so nice to take a break from work and social media and just catch up before the holidays. Have a great week everyone! Stay tuned this week for a fun gift guide, as well as a list of some favorite food-related non-profits I like to…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised

Easy Weeknight Meatballs

December 3, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

These meatballs freeze well and can be cooked straight from the freezer.

Easy Weeknight Meatballs (Gluten-free) Your New FavoriteWeeknight Meatballs When it gets cold and cozy, there’s nothing I crave more than a savory bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Sometimes it might feel like over-achiever status to pull this off on a weeknight, but I have a version that’s quick, simple and delicious. Plus it’s gluten-free, Whole30…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Freezer Friendly, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Meat Tagged With: easy meatballs, gluten-free, gluten-free meatballs, meatballs, weeknight meatballs

Weekly Meal Plan // November 29-December 4

November 29, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

What a great Thanksgiving week! A few quiet days without homework, stress, and routine is the perfect entry to the holiday season. My family is bringing down decorations from the attic as I hide in the dining room to write this. We have tons of extra produce to use up this week, which I’ll work…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans

Membership Pop-Up!

November 28, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Smart in the Kitchen School Membership Guess what? The doors to Smart in the Kitchen School are open for one week only! What is Smart in the Kitchen School, you say? It’s an online cooking school for home chefs. During the early days of the pandemic, I started working on this online cooking school as…

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Filed Under: Friday Love List, Uncategorised Tagged With: cooking membership, online cooking classes, online cooking school, smart in the kitchen school

Thanksgiving Week Meal Plan

November 22, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Weekly meal plan

It’s a busy week of cooking so let’s not wear ourselves out, right? Thanksgiving week meals should be uncomplicated. And since our refrigerators are full of turkey and provisions, let’s use this week as an opportunity to clean out the fridge and pantry! I shared my Thanksgiving recipes yesterday. Be sure to have a game…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinner, meal plan

Thanksgiving Day Recipes

November 21, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving menu

Some of My Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes Guys. You’d think since it’s just my family of five, I’d be able to do a low key Thanksgiving. I tried. Really I tried! But the requests just keep coming. The newest one today was for homemade mac-n-cheese. Y’all, we NEVER have mac-n-cheese for Thanksgiving, but we’re adding it…

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Filed Under: Holidays, Uncategorised Tagged With: Thanksgiving menu, thanksgiving recipes

Cranberry Margaritas

November 18, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

This cranberry margarita is the perfect cocktail for the holiday season.

Cranberry Margaritas What to do with leftover cranberry sauce? Cranberry margaritas! Fresh, bright and colorful, they’re the perfect holiday cocktail. I make them non-stop from Thanksgiving through New Year’s and never tire of their tart-sweet taste. These are equally good with leftover homemade cranberry sauce or canned sauce in a pinch. Although homemade cranberry sauce…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Cocktails Tagged With: cocktail, cocktails for a crowd, cranberry margaritas, easy cocktails, holiday cocktails, margarita, tequila cocktails

Weekly Meal Plan // November 15-20

November 14, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30) recipe by Smart in The Kitchen

Here we go! It’s the week before Thanksgiving and planning mode is in full swing. If you haven’t ordered your turkey from your local butcher, the time is now. Or if you have the freezer space, buy it now and bring it home. I get an organic heritage turkey, but an organic free range turkey…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinner, meal plan, weekly meal plan

Simple Mashed Potatoes

November 10, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

This simple mashed potatoes recipe works just as well with skim milk as it does with whole milk, just use the variety you have on hand. Or substitute nut milk, coconut milk or chicken stock for a dairy-free version.

Simple Mashed Potatoes For a couple years, the only part of Thanksgiving dinner my youngest would eat was the mashed potatoes. Seriously, I couldn’t blame her. They are crucial to Thanksgiving––what better way to soak up all the gravy––but they’re also delicious on a regular old Tuesday night. Mashed potatoes don’t need to be complicated,…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Holidays, Thanksgiving, Vegetable Side Dish, Whole 30 Tagged With: easy mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes, side, side dish, simple mashed potatoes, Thanksgiving, thanksgiving side

Weekly Meal Plan // Nov 8-13

November 8, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

Quick meal plan this week! I’m enjoying a quiet 24 hours out of town with my husband. Starting tomorrow, I have cooking classes every day for a week. We have a few more openings for private holiday classes if you’d like to book a class! I’m gearing up to celebrate my daughter’s 17th birthday next…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinners, meal plan, weekly meal plan

Meal Prep vs. Meal Plan

November 2, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

The “One Thing” Strategy Those of you who’ve been here for the long haul know I’m a big fan of meal planning. As a working mom of three who values family dinner with my crew, there’s no way I could pull it off without a plan. And that doesn’t mean that every night is an…

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Filed Under: Kitchen, Uncategorised Tagged With: meal plan, meal prep

Election Week Meal Plan

October 31, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Election Week Dinners This meal plan isn’t really about the election, it’s about planning a regular week of dinners at home. But I couldn’t help to think that on Tuesday night I want a comforting and easy night. I don’t talk politics on my blog or social media channels, and I’m so thankful my sweet…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner plan, easy dinner, family dinner, family meals, meal plan, weekly meal plan, weeknight meal plan

Quick Lamb Ragu

October 26, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Looking for an easy dinner recipe? Try the Quick Lamb Ragu Recipe from Smart In The Kitchen.

Quick Lamb Ragu Some of you may remember when I made this super quick lamb ragu on Instagram stories a while back. Time flies when you’re having fun. It’s fast, simple and completely delicious. And before you keep scrolling since this is lamb, please oh please give it a try! Sure you can substitute ground…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Mains, Meat, Mediterranean, Pasta, Sauces and Salsas Tagged With: easy dinner, meat sauce, pasta sauce, quick and easy meals, Quick Lamb Ragu

Meal Plan // October 25-30

October 24, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Meyer Lemon Cranberry Sauce

Cozy Fall Dinners Happy weekend! I’m in Round Top, Texas, where there’s a cool front and the wind is blowing. This is the first day it feels like fall in Texas. We’re at our farm where I hope to host cooking retreats and classes soon. Although, this time to pause has given me space to…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: cozy dinner, cozy fall dinners, easy family meals, fall dinner, family dinner, family meal plan, meal plan, weekly meal plan, weeknight dinner

Parchment Paper Fish Packets

October 19, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

These are a “choose your own adventure” dinner. Set out the toppings and let everyone fill their own parchment paper packet.

Parchment Paper Fish Packets It may sound fancy, but parchment paper baking is a super easy method to prepare fish. Everyone in the family can add their favorite toppings (or leave them off). Toss the packets on a sheet pan, throw them in a hot oven and a few minutes later, dinner is done. Cooking…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Mains, Seafood Tagged With: dinner recipes, easy dinner, easy fish recipes, en papillote, fish en papillote, parchment paper fish, parchment paper fish packets, seafood, simple fish recipes

Weekly Meal Plan//October 18-23

October 18, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Weekly Meal Plan, Plus a “How To” Workbook for YOU! Today it hit me that I’ve been sharing my weekly meal plans with you for five years. Before that, they lived on Instagram, and before that they lived in my spiral notebook. Before that, I didn’t meal plan and our family life was even more…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinner, meal plan, meal plans, weekly meal plan, weeknight dinner, weeknight dinners, weeknight meals

Weekly Meal Plan October 12-16

October 10, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30) recipe by Smart in The Kitchen

SUNDAY I’m enjoying some time out of town with my oldest daughter. If you’re cooking tonight, think about making a double batch of vegetarian three-bean chili and freeze half for another dinner down the road. If you prefer something meaty, it could be weeknight chili or white chicken chili. MONDAY Back home in Houston and…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinners, easy family dinners, meal plan, weeknight dinner

ProLon Fast Review

October 8, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

ProLon Recap Last week I completed my second ProLon fast, and I wanted to give you my review and a few tips. My first ProLon was the first week of July this past summer when I deeply needed a reset. The recommendation from ProLon is to do three fasts within a three month range. Since…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Wellness Tagged With: fasting diet, ProLon, ProLon recap, ProLon review

Weekly Meal Plan

October 4, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Mexican-spiced ground beef tacos with shredded lettuce, homemade pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, and sour cream stuffed into grilled flour tortillas.

A Week’s Worth of Family Meals Guys, I’m making this quick because I just got back to Houston after a weekend at Kitchenette Farm. Need to get kids to focus on homework, unpack bags and focus on the week ahead. Two quick things: 1) I’ve been working on a free “how to meal plan” workbook…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, meal plan, weekly meal plan

Stupid Easy Dinners

September 27, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Five Stupid Easy Dinners Last week I had a great conversation about meal planning with Dr. Colleen O’Grady on her podcast Power Your Parenting. I’ll share a link when it’s live! While chatting about meal planning strategy, I told her that I have an arsenal of “stupid easy dinners” to fall back on in a…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner, easy dinner, easy family dinner, easy weeknight dinner, family dinner, stupid easy dinner, super easy dinner, weeknight dinner, weeknight meals

Weekly Meal Plan // September 20-25

September 20, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Weeknight Dinners Here we go! Take a few minutes on Sunday to look at your week ahead and make a plan of easy weeknight dinners that work for you! Having this strategy in place makes shopping and cooking much more efficient. I hope you all have a good week ahead! SUNDAY I’m trying out a…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner, easy dinners, family dinner, meal plan, weeknight dinners

Sheet Pan Ratatouille

September 15, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Make this sheet pan ratatouille for an easy and delicious dinner

Sheet Pan Ratatouille Sheet pan dinners are my lifeline during busy times of the year, nights when I don’t want a ton of dishes or just a regular Thursday night. And while this is far from a traditional ratatouille, it’s highly satisfying and one of my favorite veggie-based dishes. Sheet pan ratatouille is so versatile,…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Meatless Mains, Mediterranean, One-Pot Meals, Vegetable Side Dish Tagged With: Meatless Mains, sheet pan dinner, sheet pan ratatouille, vegetarian, vegetarian main

Easy Meal Plan

September 14, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Dinners for the Week Ahead Hi everyone! I definitely need an easy meal plan this week. We’re trying to resume to a normal routine over here after an emotional past week. Homework, emails and work piled up after we paused life for a few days. After a drive to A&M to say goodbye to our…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinners, easy meal plan, family dinner, family meal plan, meal plan, weeknight dinner, weeknight dinners

Smart in the Kitchen School

September 2, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

A New Adventure! Before I give you the details about my new Smart in the Kitchen School membership, I have a secret to share with you guys. When Covid struck, I was about to embark on the dream of a lifetime. We were just about to start photography for a cookbook I had been dreaming…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised Tagged With: cooking basics, cooking classes, smart in the kitchen, smart in the kitchen school

Best Fall Cookbooks 2020

August 30, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Best Fall Cookbooks 2020 Get ready to line your shelves with the best new cookbooks of 2020! There are beautiful new books coming your way, with inspiring recipes to keep you cooking and sated. Of course I snuck in a couple spring releases too because I couldn’t help it! Cookbooks are a work of art,…

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Filed Under: Fall, Friday Love List, Gift + Product Guides, Uncategorised Tagged With: best fall cookbooks, fall cookbooks, fall cookbooks 2020, new cookbooks, new cookbooks 2020

August 30-September 4 Meal Plan

August 29, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

To Whole30 or Not to Whole30? Anyone else? I’ve been toying with the idea of doing a September Whole30, which has become a typical September routine around here. It’s a good reset before the holidays approach, and kills cravings from summer hedonism! But I’m not sure I have it in me. Right now, I’d like…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans, Whole 30 Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, family meal plan, meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan // August 23-28

August 23, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan I have a free meal planning webinar Sunday, August 30 at 4pm Central Time! Grab a notebook, a pen and your computer and I’ll teach you how to make a weekly meal plan that works for you. Simple shifts in your routine can help you save time, money and energy during the…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: back to school dinner, dinner, dinner plan, easy dinners, family dinner, weekly meal plan

School Lunch Ideas

August 17, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Back-to-School Lunch Ideas Hello mamas! Here we go again. In another lifetime, some of us joked that never EVER in a million years could we homeschool our children, and guess what? Jokes on us! Doing school from home is not easy, and when you’re trying to get your own work done as well, it can…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Basics, Mains, Salads Tagged With: Easy Lunches, homeschool, lunch ideas, School Lunch, school lunch ideas

Back to School Meal Plan

August 16, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

A Back to School Meal Plan to the Rescue! It’s a busy week ahead. Thank goodness for a meal plan because it’s one thing I won’t have to think about this week. Speaking of meal planning, I have a free webinar next week and I can’t wait to share my meal plan tips and tricks….

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: back to school dinner, back to school meal plan, family dinner, meal plan, summer dinner, weekly meal plan

Meal Plan // Aug 10-14

August 9, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Coconut Red Curry Soup Recipe from Smart in The Kitchen

We’re in Sun Valley, Idaho, soaking up the mountain air. We are grateful to spend time with family and be outdoors where it’s easier to social distance. But we still need a meal plan! It’s not completely a vacation (my husband works from here and I’ve been busy finalizing my private membership launch and teaching…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner plan, easy meal plan, meal plan, weekly meal plan

Cooking Class Schedule

August 6, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

What’s Coming Up How’s life, friends? There’s a lot going on at Smart in the Kitchen, and I don’t want you to miss a thing! We have a ton of new faces and newsletter subscribers, so I thought I’d give you a quick rundown of the cooking class schedule! August Cooking Class Schedule Open sign…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised Tagged With: cooking class schedule, cooking classes, virtual classes

Pasta Salad with Roasted Tomatoes

August 4, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Pasta Salad for Lunch and Dinner, Please! You guys! This pasta salad––full of roasted tomatoes, a zingy oregano vinaigrette and cubed mozzarella––is just what the doctor ordered. I’m literally eating it as I type! Usually, I try not to be too effusive about my recipes, calling things the “best” or “favorite” is not my style….

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Pasta, Salad Dressings, Salads, Summer, Uncategorised, Vegetable Side Dish Tagged With: easy lunch, lunch ideas, pasta salad, pasta salad recipe, pasta salad with roasted tomatoes, quick lunch, summer pasta salad

Weekly Meal Plan

August 1, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Instant Pot Chicken Tinga

Dinner for the Week Ahead Here we go again! Weekly meal plans to keep us all sane and in the groove. I love taking July off from meal planning and embracing a more relaxed way of cooking. But after a while, the multiple trips to the grocery store start to wear me out. I love…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinner, meal plan, summer dinner, weekly meal plan

Summer Reading

July 31, 2020 By msmart 3 Comments

summer reading

Read and Listen When Covid first erupted, I couldn’t get enough of Netflix, Amazon Video and Hulu. I took a mental health break in March and it felt really good. After a fast-paced work and life schedule that was starting to take its toll, it felt pretty amazing (at first) for the world to pause….

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Filed Under: Friday Love List, Uncategorised Tagged With: best books, book recommendations, books, books recs, podcasts, summer books, summer reading, what to read

Soy-Honey Steak Kabobs

July 29, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Make these delicious Soy-Honey Steak Kabobs for dinner

Soy-Honey Steak Kabobs A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Meal Grilling is the theme song of summer. Throw meat and veggies on the BBQ, and dinner is done. Marinate them with ginger, soy and honey and the tune gets even better. Kabobs are a make-your-own adventure meal, which works great for families. Set out all the veggies, onions and…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Grilling, Mains, Meat Tagged With: grilled steak, Grilling, Kabobs, soy-honey steak, soy-honey steak kabobs, steak kabobs, steak kebobs, summer cooking, summer entertaining, summer weeknight dinners

Sesame Noodles with Napa Cabbage

July 21, 2020 By msmart 3 Comments

Sesame Noodles with Cabbage, Carrots and Red Peppers make for an easy and delicious dinner.

Sesame Noodles with Napa Cabbage Chock full of vegetables and packed with flavor, sesame noodles are your new favorite meatless dinner. Adjust the heat by increasing or decreasing the red pepper flakes. Make this gluten-free or soy-free by using gluten-free noodles and coconut aminos. Sesame noodles with Napa cabbage are a five star recipe in…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Meatless Mains, One-Pot Meals Tagged With: dinner recipes, Meatless Mains, meatless monday, sesame noodles, sesame noodles with cabbage, sesame noodles with Napa cabbage, Sesame Noodles with Veggies, Udon Noodles

Quick Dinner Ideas

July 12, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

20+ Easy Summer Dinner Ideas Summer is the time to rely on simple and quick dinner ideas. The best thing about summer is the change in routine, the easy living, the more relaxed “summer casual” vibe. When you rely on the season’s bounty, the flavors shine through without the extra fuss. During summer, I especially…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner for my family, dinner recipes, dinner tonight, easy dinners, family dinner, fast dinner, good quick dinner, quick dinner ideas, quick easy dinner, summer dinners, weeknight dinner

Live Stream Cooking Classes

June 30, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

live stream cooking classes

Hey, friends! Many of you might be here for the recipes and meal plans and not even realize that my main business is teaching cooking classes. I thought I’d take five minutes to give you some background and a quick update on my live stream cooking classes. I’ve taught cooking classes for 20 years, since…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised Tagged With: cooking classes, cooking classes from home, home chef, home cook, learn to cook, live stream cooking classes, on demand cooking classes, online cooking classes, online events, smart in the kitchen

Baked Feta and Tomato Confit

June 24, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Simple and delicious appetizer to eat all summer long, Tomato Confit and Baked Feta

Baked Feta and Tomato Confit Here’s the inside scoop on my all-time favorite meal: it would include tomatoes. There’s a story my mom likes to tell about a family trip to Canada when I was a toddler (which I remember nothing of). As she was making dinner, I ate every single cherry tomato out of…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Entertaining, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Summer Tagged With: appetizer, baked feta, snacks, tomato confit

Weekly Meal Plan // June 21-26

June 20, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

Weeknight Summer Dinners Summer dinners! That means all the peaches, nectarines, berries, zucchini and heirloom tomatoes. On Instagram last week, I posted a photo of my nectarine and burrata crostini and the crowd went wild. I honestly haven’t had that much reaction from a photo in a while, so thank you. I feel seen. Maybe…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner, family dinner, meal plan, recipes, summer cooking, summer dinners, summer weeknight dinners, weekly meal plan, weeknight meals

Father’s Day Menu

June 16, 2020 By msmart 1 Comment

pork tenderloin

An Easy Father’s Day Menu + You’re Invited to a Live Stream Cooking Class What month is it? Funny how that feeling hasn’t gone away just yet. One thing I do know is that Father’s Day is this weekend and you may need some grilling inspiration! We’ve put together a delicious Father’s Day menu so…

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Filed Under: Holidays, Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: fathers day gift guide, fathers day menu, virtual cooking class

Glazed Wild Salmon

June 14, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Herbed Sweet and Spicy Glazed Wild Salmon by Pamela Salzman

Herbed Sweet and Spicy Glazed Wild Salmon Do you have one of those friends who’s just a force? Nothing slows them down, they operate on all cylinders, always on their game? That’s Pamela Salzman for me. She runs a successful food blog, teaches cooking classes, is dedicated to her social media following––not just through regular…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Mains, Seafood Tagged With: dinner, easy dinner, Glazed salmon, glazed wild salmon, herbed salmon, Pamela Salzman, quicker than quick, salmon, seafood, smart in the kitchen, sweet and spicy salmon, wild salmon

Weekly Meal Plan // June 14-19

June 13, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

cherry tomato confit

Meal Plan: Summer Dinners So excited to be back up and running and get out my weekly meal plan! For the past couple weeks, our internet has been on and off so many times, I thought I might lose my mind. Just as I’d start to work on a blog post or meal plan, it…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner plan, dinner tonight, family dinner, June dinners, meal plan, summer dinner, weekly meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan//May 31-June 5

May 30, 2020 By msmart 7 Comments

weekly meal plan

Happy Saturday! I have a serious question for you all. Do you plan your dinners? Do you take 10-15 minutes on the weekend to make a weekly meal plan? I promise it will make your week ahead run so much smoother. Let me know in the comments below if you’re a wishful meal planner, a…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised

Healthy Texas Caviar

May 21, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Texas caviar

The Best Healthy Texas Caviar Ok, ya’ll (still not used to slipping that in, hello wanna-be Texas girl). Texas caviar is something I had in college or soon after, when one of my real-life-Texas-girl college roommates whipped it up. I was immediately obsessed with the flavor and crunch and all the colors. Salty tortilla chips…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Dairy-Free, Entertaining, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Uncategorised, Vegetable Side Dish Tagged With: appetizer, bean dip, best texas caviar, cowboy caviar, easy appetizer, easy texas caviar, healthy appetizer, healthy cowboy caviar, healthy texas caviar, texas caviar, texas caviar recipe, vegan appetizer, veggie dip

Weekly Meal Plan // May 17-22

May 18, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Radicchio and radish salad

How did we get here? The deluge of spring activity surely wasn’t the same this year, but the days flew by none the less. And suddenly Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and the school year is winding down. Our kids finish school this week, and we’re all ready to move on to summer. Here’s…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, easy family meals, family dinner, family meals, meal plan, weekly menu, weeknight dinner

Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk

May 14, 2020 By msmart 14 Comments

Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk Homemade vanilla almond milk is about the only kind of almond milk I like. It’s not gummy and thick like most of the store bought varieties. And when it’s sweetened with dates and scented with real vanilla, it’s rich and delicious. Start with raw, unsalted almonds and soak them overnight (or…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Breakfast and Brunch, Dairy-Free, Uncategorised, Whole 30 Tagged With: almond milk, dairy-free, dairy-free creamer, homemade almond milk, homemade nut milk, homemade vanilla almond milk, vanilla almond milk, Whole 30, Whole 30 almond milk, Whole30 almond milk, Whole30 creamer, whole30 recipes

Ground Beef Tacos

May 11, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Mexican-spiced ground beef tacos with shredded lettuce, homemade pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, and sour cream stuffed into grilled flour tortillas.

The Easiest Ground Beef Tacos Taco ’bout a weekly staple! We LOVE Mexican food and flavors around here, and typically have various taco nights on the regular. Almost every Tuesday I add a Mexican-inspired meal to my weekly meal plan, and these ground beef tacos are a hit with everyone in my family. Leftovers can…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Entertaining, Freezer Friendly, Meat Tagged With: dinner, easy taco recipe, Ground Beef Tacos, Ground Meat Tacos, Ground Turkey Tacos, homemade taco seasoning, mexican ground beef tacos, soft tacos, taco night, taco recipe, taco tuesday, taco Tuesday dinner, tacos

Weekly Meal Plan // May 10-16

May 11, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Easy weeknight baked taquitos

SUNDAY Happy Mother’s Day! We had a late breakfast of quiche Lorraine, salad with super simple salad dressing (in today’s variation we used minced fresh garlic, grainy mustard and apple cider vinegar with EVOO) and rosemary and sweet onion breakfast potatoes. I highly suggest making these breakfast potatoes pronto! To make, dice 4 russet potatoes…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, meal plan, weekly meal plan, weeknight dinner

Easy Weekly Meal Plan // May 3-9

May 2, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

An Easy Weekly Meal Plan Let’s make this fast — it’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Houston, and we’re making the most of breezy spring weather. Since I’m trying to lighten up our meals and focus on vegetables instead of cookies, this is a healthy and mostly Whole30 meal plan. It felt good to get…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, weekly meal plan, weekly meals, weeknight dinner

Gift Ideas for Mom

April 29, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

gift ideas for mom

Gift Ideas for Mom We’ve been taking a little break from our Friday Love List, but it’s time for some gift ideas for mom! Moms right now are working harder than ever: Working from home, educating kids, entertaining families, walking the dog, cleaning the house, killing the germs and cooking non-stop. Women can seriously do…

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Filed Under: Friday Love List, Uncategorised Tagged With: a gift for mom, gift guide for mom, mothers day gift

Weekly Meal Plan // April 26-May 1

April 25, 2020 By msmart 4 Comments

chicken tinga

Time for a Reset Hi everyone! We’re making this weekly meal plan fast today because we’re deep in house projects. Couldn’t let quarantine go by without some attic organization and closet clean outs. It’s also my youngest’s birthday tomorrow, so we have work to do! After tomorrow, we’re starting a Whole30 reset, teenagers included, so…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans, Whole 30 Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, healthy dinner, meal plan, weekly meal plan, whole30 dinner

What Is Natural Wine

April 24, 2020 By msmart 1 Comment

What is natural wine

What Is Natural Wine? Guest post by Kaitlyn Ross Chances are you’ve heard of natural wine. Whether you can describe it or not! The truth is, there’s no legal definition, which is just confusing. In her recent book Natural Wine for the People, Alice Feiring nailed it, “Natural wine is wine without crap in it.” But…

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Filed Under: Entertaining, Uncategorised, Wine Tagged With: buying natural wine, how to find natural wine, natural wine, what is natural wine

Weekly Meal Plan // April 19-25

April 18, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

Easy Dinners All Week Long Did you get my cooking class update? We’re hosting free live stream Smart in the Kitchen cooking classes through the month of April. I’m working on a full calendar of online cooking classes for May as well. I’ll have a set schedule of classes twice a week, as well as…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner plan, easy dinner, easy weeknight meal plan, family dinner, family meals, meal plan, meal prep, weekly meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan // April 12-18

April 11, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

meal plan

Keep On Cookin’ I bet you feel like that’s all you do. More ideas for what to cook below, as well as one routine change that’s helping me stay sane right now. You guys have maybe heard me talk about “come and take it” night. Every Friday, I clean out the fridge and let everyone…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinners, family meals, quarantine cooking, quarantine dinners, quarantine meal plan, weekly meal plan

Easter Brunch Menu

April 9, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Easter brunch menu

Easter Bruch Menu Ideas It’s time. Easter brunch is upon us, and I’ve been fielding lots of texts and questions about my Easter menu. While I want to give you ALL the ideas, I also don’t want to suggest that anyone should be making all of these. I’ve given you TONS of ideas to work…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Entertaining, Spring, Uncategorised Tagged With: brunch recipes, easter brunch, easter brunch menu, Easter lunch, Easter menu, easter recipes, easy easter, spring recipes

Three Bean Salad

April 7, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Use those basic pantry ingredients to create a simple and delicious Three Bean Salad

Three Bean Salad This one takes me back. Anyone else? It’s an old school side dish my grandma used to make for lunches when I’d visit. I remember hers being deliciously sweet and almost syrupy. My variation of three bean salad uses healthy pantry ingredients and has multiple substitutions to make it work for you….

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Salads Tagged With: Bean Salad, easy dinner, pantry recipes, simple dinners, simple meals, simple recipes, Three Bean Salad

Weekly Meal Plan // April 4-11

April 4, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

weekly meal plan

We’re starting to understand the meaning of the phrase, “this is a marathon not a sprint.” Currently feeling like I’ve been running full bore and need to check my pace. Last Friday, we had a full deep clean at our house, with tons of laundry, vacuuming and disinfecting, I appreciate my housekeeper more than ever….

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, easy recipes, family dinner, pantry meals, quarantine cooking, quarantine kitchen, weekly meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan, Quarantine Edition

March 29, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

Dishes, Dishes and More Dishes Cooking at home has taken on a whole new meaning: Dishes! And lots of them!! I know many of you are cooking more than ever, but hang in there. Cooking together with your family is such a fun way to spend time together. For slightly older kids, let them pick…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: cooking at home, cooking during clovid, cooking during quarantine, easy dinner, easy family dinner, family dinner, family meals, meal plan, quarantine cooking, quarantine meal plan, weekly meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan // March 22-27

March 21, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

Let’s Cook! Hi everyone! Just here meal planning like always with a big old stack of my favorite cookbooks and a warm cup of coffee. A meal plan creates a sense of routine and also might help reduce stress around dinner time. When I got ready to meal plan today, I was surprised by how…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner plan, easy dinners, family meal plan, healthy dinners, meal plan, weekly meal plan

Basic Knife Skills

March 20, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Learn basic knife skills like how to hold a knife, how to sharpen a knife, and how to cut and onion and bell pepper

Basic Knife Skills I thought it might be helpful to share some oldie-but-goodie knife skills videos. These and other easy recipe videos are on my YouTube channel. Please subscribe and share with friends! Knife skills are a building block that just might make your time in the kitchen a little more efficient, a little less…

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Filed Under: Basics, Kitchen Tagged With: basic knife skills, Beginner Knife Skills and Tips for Home Cooks - Smart in the Kitchen, cooking basics, Cooking Skills, How to Cut a Bell Pepper, How to Cut an Onion, How To Hold Your Knife, How to Sharpen Your Knife, Kitchen Skills

Pantry Meal Plan

March 14, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Easy Pantry Dinners

Two Weeks of Pantry and Freezer Meals Now that you have a list of everything for a well-stocked freezer and pantry, you need some ideas for what to do with it! Work to start with fresh ingredients and produce stocked in your refrigerator. Make a big batch of vegetable soup and freeze it in serving…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Uncategorised Tagged With: freezer meals, pantry meals

How to Stock Your Pantry and Freezer

March 13, 2020 By msmart 3 Comments

Pantry and freezer

Perfect Your Pantry Game Stock your pantry with cooking essentials to make your weeknight dinners a breeze. Some of my favorite “faster than fast” dinners come from pantry ingredients: Penne with Rao’s, chicken thighs plucked from the freezer and cooked with a jar of salsa verde, roasted red pepper and tomato soup or my throwback…

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Filed Under: Basics, Kitchen, Uncategorised Tagged With: freezer food, freezer meals, kitchen essentials, pantry basics, pantry essentials, pantry meals, pantry organization, shopping list

Weekly Meal Plan // March 8-13

March 7, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

whole30 meal plan

Happy weekend, everyone. We have a quiet Saturday around here and let me tell you, I’m so thankful. One more week until Spring Break, and we are taking it one day at a time. The world is an anxious place right now, but to stay calm I’ve tried to focus on what I’m grateful for…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinner, meal plan, weekly meal plan

White Chicken Chili

March 4, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

For an easy weeknight dinner try the White Chicken Chili Recipe from Smart In The Kitchen. The recipe can be adjusted to be made in and InstantPot.

White Chicken Chili My family is full of chili aficionados. We don’t discriminate amongst turkey, beef, brisket, veggie or chicken chili. So while it’s still a little cool and crisp outside, get this white chicken chili on the stove. Full of green chilies, jalapeños and green bell pepper, it’s almost more “green chicken chili” than…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Instant Pot, Mains, One-Pot Meals, Soups Tagged With: Chicken Chili, chili, Green Chicken Chili, Instant pot chili, weeknight chili, White Chicken Chili

Weekly Meal Plan // March 1-6

February 29, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Father's Day Menu

SUNDAY I can’t believe it’s March! Two weeks until Spring Break and then buckle your seatbelt for the fast paced ride to summer. I’m teaching an afternoon cooking class today, so dinner at my house is something fast and simple. I think I’ll repeat the Spicy Ground Turkey and Green Bean Stir Fry we’re making…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinner, meal plan, weekly meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan // Feb 23-28

February 23, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

skirt steak fajitas

SUNDAY We have a full Sunday of confirmation class, National Charity League and tutoring. So much for a day of rest! Let’s make a one-pot wonder: Whiskey and lime skirt steak fajitas will be just the thing. To make it easy on yourself, stock up on store bought guacamole, pico de gallo, hot sauce and…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner recipes, quick & easy dinner, weekly meal plan, weeknight dinners

Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30)

February 21, 2020 By msmart 3 Comments

Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30) recipe by Smart in The Kitchen

Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Whole30) Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Gumbo –– it’s what’s for dinner! Chop the holy trinity of onion, celery and bell pepper, throw everything in the Instant Pot and seal the lid. And while it’s not a traditional gumbo that starts with a browned roux, it’s gluten-free, Whole30 and…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Instant Pot, Whole 30 Tagged With: gluten-free, Gumbo, Instant Pot, Instant Pot Dinners, Instant Pot Gumbo, Whole 30, whole30 dinners, whole30 recipes

Weekly Meal Plan // Feb 17-21

February 15, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

SUNDAY If you’re cooking at home over the long weekend, I suggest super easy tomato confit pasta. Roasting the tomatoes brings out their sweetness and creates a delicious sauce. Use good quality extra virgin olive oil and your favorite pasta, whether it’s gluten-free, whole wheat or whatever floats your boat! MONDAY Monday I’m taking the…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans

Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles

February 11, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

This easy Hazelnut Chocolate Truffle Recipe from Smart in The Kitchen uses hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cocoa powder, semisweet chocolate, and a few more ingredients to create a delicious dessert.

Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles My kids have always loved the flavor of Nutella, and I can see why. The nutty combination of rich hazelnuts and chocolate combine to create a classic flavor combo. My hazelnut chocolate truffles aim to achieve that same satisfying flavor without the unhealthy oils or processed sugar. Decadent and satisfying, you can…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dessert, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free Tagged With: chocolate, Chocolate Truffles, dessert, easy dessert, Hazelnut, Hazelnut Chocolate Truffles

Weekly Meal Plan // Feb 10-14

February 10, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

It’s time to meal plan and look at the week ahead. The weekend was full of cooking, eating, laughing and talking with a great group of women. It was a cool and beautiful weekend in Round Top at my 5th cooking retreat and it was so great to share new recipes and some time in…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, meal plan, weekly meal plan

Chocolate Popcorn Bark

February 7, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

Chocolate Popcorn Bark

Salty and Sweet Chocolate Popcorn Bark I really REALLY want you to be able to make this crunchy, sweet and salty popcorn bark this weekend. Chocolate popcorn bark is the perfect dessert for your Oscars viewing party and it takes all of five minutes to put together. What Type of Chocolate Should I Use? Start…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dessert, Entertaining, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Uncategorised Tagged With: chocolate, chocolate bark, Oscars Party

WEEKLY MEAL PLAN // Feb 2-7

February 1, 2020 By msmart 3 Comments

white chicken chili

Super Bowl Meal Plan and Beyond… February is here! Super Bowl! Valentine’s Day! My birthday! So many great menus to plan. My Whole30 officially ends today. My 4th round of Whole30 wasn’t perfect by any means (honey in my tea when I was sick, and maybe a little whiskey in my tea when I was…

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Filed Under: Appetizers and Snacks, Dinner, Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: weekly meal plan

Coconut Red Curry Soup (Whole30)

February 1, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

Coconut Red Curry Soup Recipe from Smart in The Kitchen

Coconut Red Curry Soup Coconut red curry soup might be your new favorite weeknight dinner. Not only is it Whole30, dairy-free, and full of veggies, it’s also absolutely delicious. Red curry paste is such a powerful secret ingredient. This flavorful spice and aromatics mixture adds so much depth of flavor; warm tones from red chilies…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Poultry, Soups, Whole 30 Tagged With: coconut red curry soup, easy dinner, soup, Whole30

Red Cabbage Salad

January 27, 2020 By msmart 1 Comment

Red Cabbage Salad with Herbs Whole30 Recipe from Smart in the Kitchen

Red Cabbage Salad Growing up in Southern California, we would head to the North Wood’s Inn to celebrate birthdays and gather with extended family. The fake snow on the roof, the peanut shells on the floor, and the moody lighting made a sunny Southern California day feel cozy and seasonal. Their red cabbage salad came…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Salads, Vegetable Side Dish, Whole 30 Tagged With: quick and easy sides, Red Cabbage Salad, side dish, whole30 recipes

WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN // WEEK 4

January 26, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

whole30 meal plan

Are you guys still hanging tight with your Whole30? I have one more week of easy and family-friendly dinner ideas to keep you on track. If your house is anything like ours, you’ve had your fair share of cold, flu and cough. I’ve added some immunity boosting ingredients to this week’s meal plan to keep…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised Tagged With: weekly meal plan, whole30 dinner ideas, whole30 meal plan

WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN // WEEK 3

January 20, 2020 By msmart 1 Comment

Veracruz-style fish

An Easy Whole30 Meal Plan the Whole Family Will Love You may have noticed on Instagram stories that I have an intern right now. It’s a program through my children’s school called Interim Term. Lucky for me, there was a senior who wanted to cook and be in the kitchen for his three week internship….

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Filed Under: Uncategorised

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

January 16, 2020 By msmart 2 Comments

cauliflower gnocchi and sun-dried tomato pesto

Cauliflower Gnocchi with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto (Whole30) Oh the glories of Trader Joe’s. By now, most of us are not strangers to their disappearing Cauliflower Gnocchi. But some of us are lost about the proper way to cook it. The first time I made Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi, I didn’t read the directions and just…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Meatless Mains, Pasta, Uncategorised, Whole 30 Tagged With: cauliflower gnocchi, meatless monday, trader joes, whole30 dinner

Whole30 Meal Plan Week Two

January 12, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

whole30 meal plan

WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN WEEK TWO! Here we go. It’s been so busy around here that I’m not even sure what day it is! I do know I’m on my 10th day of Whole30, and so far so good. No serious withdrawals or cravings. Cutting down on the sugar and alcohol has helped me sleep more…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised Tagged With: easy whole30 recipes, Whole30, whole30 dinners, whole30 meal plan

WHOLE30 MEAL PLAN // WEEK 1

January 4, 2020 By msmart Leave a Comment

whole30 meal plan

Whole30 Meal Plan Week One Let’s go, January. If you’re anything like me, the past couple months have been a constant stream of cookies, cocktails and carbs. Time to embrace a new year and start it off with healthy habits, lots of whole foods, vegetables, healthy fats and grass-fed meats and wild-caught seafood. There are…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised Tagged With: family dinner, weeknight dinner, weeknight meals, whole30 dinners, whole30 meal plan

Weekly Meal Plan // December 29-January 3

December 28, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

meal plan

New Year’s Eve and Whole30 on the Horizon If you’re on vacation somewhere warm and tropical, then God bless you and just go ahead and skip this entire post. In fact, order a margarita for me and put your feet up. We’re in the mountains of Idaho and it’s COLD. Especially since our heat went…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: meal plan, new years day, weekly meal plan, Whole30

10 Christmas Breakfast Ideas

December 24, 2019 By msmart 2 Comments

Christmas breakfast ideas

10 Christmas Morning Breakfast Ideas Happy happy, everyone! Only two more sleeps until Christmas. And for all my friends celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanza, I hope you have a week filled with family, love and lots of good food! I’m sharing a few Christmas breakfast ideas in case you need inspiration. I’ve been to the grocery…

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Filed Under: Breakfast and Brunch, Entertaining, Holidays, Uncategorised, Winter

Winter Sangria

December 20, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

winter sangria

A Big Batch and Bubbly Winter Punch Tis the season! Invite friends over and make a pitcher of the easiest winter punch around. Big batch cocktails like sangria are your answer to stress-free entertaining. And this winter sangria couldn’t be faster to stir together when you’re in need of a party libation. Winter sangria is…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Cocktails, Entertaining, Holidays, Uncategorised, Winter Tagged With: cocktails, holiday cocktails, prosecco sangria, winter sangria

Cooking Retreat

December 18, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

cooking retreat

Join Me at the Table! Exciting announcement! Tickets for my next cooking retreat are available now! We’ll gather at The Vintage Round Top February 8-9. Get ready for a weekend of cooking, laughing, eating and relaxing at one of the coziest spots in Round Top. If you’d like to join us, grab your tickets soon…

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Filed Under: Retreats, Travel, Uncategorised Tagged With: cooking retreat, smart in the kitchen, vintage round top

Weekly Meal Plan // December 15-20

December 15, 2019 By msmart 2 Comments

Instant Pot Picadillo

Midterms, Send Help and Easy Recipes!! At this point my body composition is 50% sugar. Fudge, peppermint bark, date squares and toffee have been my go to holiday pick-me-up. Not good. This week I need a healthy meal plan that’s quick and easy. My older two have midterms all week long, and my youngest has…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, meal plan

Holiday Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

December 11, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

stocking stuffer

Pint Size Favorites That Won’t Break the Bank Cotton Cocktail Napkins. Obsessed with these, from hemstitched “linen” to gingham and white. Great hostess or teacher gift! Reusable Glass Straws. I’m making up for the disposable cocktail napkins with reusable straws. It’s called carbon credit. Small Maldon Sea Salt Tins. I may or may not have…

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Filed Under: Gift + Product Guides, Holidays, Uncategorised Tagged With: gift guide, stocking stuffers

Weekly Meal Plan // December 8-13

December 9, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

Weekly Meal Plan

A Week of Healthy Meals This is our last full school week before midterms and I want my kids to stick to a routine. That means dinners at home and me trying to get them to sleep at a decent time. This week I have a big private cooking class for a local legal firm,…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Seafood, Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, easy weeknight dinner, family dinner, weekly meal plan

Holiday Gift Guide: Hostess

December 3, 2019 By msmart 1 Comment

holiday gift guide

Holiday gift guide for the hostess with the mostess.

Filed Under: Gift + Product Guides, Holidays, Uncategorised Tagged With: christmas gift, gift guide, hostess gift

Cherry Tomato Confit

December 2, 2019 By msmart 2 Comments

cherry tomato confit

A Super Easy Party Appetizer Garlic, herbs and tomatoes in a warm bath of extra virgin olive oil makes your whole house smell intoxicating. Pour the just-baked mixture over goat cheese and serve it with crostini or crackers, and it makes the perfect party appetizer. HOW TO MAKE THE CONFIT Look for the smallest size…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Entertaining, Holidays, Uncategorised Tagged With: cherry tomato confit, easy appetizer, goat cheese appetizer, holiday appetizer, tomato confit

Weekly Meal Plan // December 1-6

November 30, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

An Easy Weekly Meal Plan SUNDAY I’ve decided I need a cooking vacation tonight, how’s that for a meal plan? I’ll give my husband the option to make dinner at home or we’ll go out. If you’re cooking at home and need to use up leftovers, make turkey stock with the carcass. Enchilada casserole with…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, family dinner, weekly meal plan

Thanksgiving Week Meal Plan // November 24-29

November 23, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

thanksgiving organization

Thanksgiving Week Meal Plan My husband and I are in Round Top, Texas, soaking up one of our happy places. The second I turn off the highway for Round Top, my blood pressure lowers and my shoulders relax. It’s a slow pace and a beautiful setting, especially this time of year when the leaves are…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans

Baked Pumpkin Custard (Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free)

November 21, 2019 By msmart 2 Comments

Baked Pumpkin Custard

A Simple and Delicious Fall Dessert Do you love pumpkin pie, but can’t do dairy? Do you have gluten-free guests coming for Thanksgiving? Does the thought of making homemade pie dough give you anxiety? Make these simple dairy-free and gluten-free pumpkin custards. It’s basically the pie filling without the crust. Spicy, creamy pumpkin custard is…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Dairy-Free, Dessert, Entertaining, Fall, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Holidays, Thanksgiving, Uncategorised, Winter Tagged With: dairy-free dessert, pumpkin custard, Thanksgiving dessert

Weekly Meal Plan // November 18-22

November 18, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

weekly meal plan

Pre-Thanksgiving Weekly Meal Plan MONDAY Make-your-own pizzas for an easy meatless Monday dinner! Today my oldest takes her driver’s test, my son gets braces and I’m catching up after a weekend away. If you want to make your own dough, check out Alexandra Stafford’s Neapolitan-style pizza recipe. Or buy Trader Joe’s pre-made pizza dough or…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: easy dinner, easy recipes, family dinner, weekly meal plan, weeknight, weeknight meals

Getting Organized for Thanksgiving

November 15, 2019 By msmart 4 Comments

Thanksgiving organization

Thanksgiving barely gets its due. Christmas décor and ads appear before Halloween and holiday movies pop up in October. Let’s not run through Thanksgiving like it’s a race. Take the time to enjoy the week with friends and family and celebrate a season of gratitude. Let’s slow down and be thankful for the abundance of meaningful…

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Filed Under: Friday Love List, Holidays, Thanksgiving, Uncategorised Tagged With: Thanksgiving, thanksgiving organization, thanksgiving prep

Weekly Meal Plan // November 10-15

November 9, 2019 By msmart 1 Comment

pork tenderloin

SUNDAY Slow Cooker Pot Roast for Sunday supper will make your whole house smell delicious. I’ll sub avocado or olive oil for the canola and arrowroot powder for cornstarch. MONDAY Book fair family night at our school, which means half my crew will eat at home and do homework while the youngest (and mom) head…

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Filed Under: Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: dinner plan, easy dinner ideas, family dinner, meal plan, weeknight dinner, weeknight meals

Weekly Meal Plan // November 3-8

November 4, 2019 By msmart 4 Comments

Chicken lettuce cups

An Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Kind of Week This week’s meal plan is full of savory soups, family favorites and fast dinners. I have a couple new Thanksgiving recipes to upload for you guys, but keep your fingers crossed I can pull it off. It has been a busy couple weeks, and I have…

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Filed Under: Uncategorised, Weekly Meal Plans Tagged With: family dinner, meal plan

Kitchen Equipment Essentials

August 23, 2019 By msmart Leave a Comment

kitchen essentials

Kitchen Equipment Essentials How to Choose a Knife The ultimate essential. First order of business: Everyone needs a good chef’s knife for chopping, slicing and dicing. It’s such a personal preference, although I do NOT recommend those knives sold by your neighborhood college kid that come serrated and promise to never need sharpening. Just say…

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Filed Under: Friday Love List, Gift + Product Guides, Kitchen, Uncategorised Tagged With: best knifes, best pans, chef knife, cooking equipment, kitchen equipment, kitchen essentials, kitchen gadgets, kitchen tools, knives, pans

Thanksgiving Menu

November 15, 2018 By msmart Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving Menu

A Simple and Delicious Thanksgiving Menu Thanksgiving is one week away! I’m proud to partner with Memorial Hermann on this easy Thanksgiving menu that’s full of seasonal bounty. From appetizers to dessert, find your new favorite recipes and tips for a stress-free turkey day. Get everything in one beautiful booklet that you can download and…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Entertaining, Holidays, Thanksgiving Tagged With: thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving menu, thanksgiving planning

Healthy Seven Layer Dip

March 28, 2018 By msmart 2 Comments

Healthy Seven Layer Dip

Healthy Seven Layer Dip I have friends to thank for this one. Iterations of this appetizer kept showing up at casual poolside barbeques and weekend gatherings last summer. Healthy, colorful and easy to assemble, it’s definitely a crowd pleaser. To assemble the appetizer, spread out the ingredients in thin layers on a white platter or…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Dairy-Free, Entertaining, Gluten-free/Gluten-free adaptable, Grain-free, Uncategorised, Whole 30 Tagged With: 7 layer dip, entertaining, healthy appetizer, Whole30

Meyer Lemon Cranberry Sauce

December 11, 2017 By msmart Leave a Comment

Meyer Lemon Cranberry Sauce

Super Easy Meyer Lemon Cranberry Sauce Meyer lemons make the perfect cranberry sauce. Slightly less acidic than Eureka lemons and full of juice, Meyers are my favorite winter crop. Tangy, bright and with a touch of cinnamon spice, this is my favorite cranberry sauce. If you don’t have or can’t find a Meyer lemon, feel…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers and Snacks, Condiments, Thanksgiving, Uncategorised Tagged With: cranberry relish, cranberry sauce, meyer lemon cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving

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Marcia Smart
Marcia Smart is a cooking instructor, recipe developer and food writer who wants to help you make good, simple meals for your family and friends. She craves food that's seasonal and delicious and wants to share it with you. A California girl living in a Houston world with her husband and three children.

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