This BBQ Chicken Sandwich is what football tastes like at my house. It’s insanely good, easy to pull together, and always a crowd pleaser. I’m pretty sure there is nothing better than a lazy day of football with family, friends, and a huge pot of BBQ Chicken ready to go!

We don’t entertain with fancy, sit down dinners at my house. Instead, we have families over for what I call “event television.” Think football games, awards shows, and finales of shows like Survivor. It is super low key entertaining with tons of food and kids running around. The show is basically an excuse to get together.

See the splatter on the counter? Just keeping it real….

Clearly, I still didn’t see the splatter.

This recipe is adapted from The Pioneer Woman. I’ve used it for years and it’s always a winner. This isn’t labor intensive, has 4 main ingredients, and is nothing short of awesome. It takes about an hour and a half in the oven but so worth it!

I love this moment. The chicken, the sauce, the Hawaiian Roll, the pickles…..

I serve these sandwiches on Hawaiian Rolls with pickles, cole slaw, a big pot of baked beans, potato chips, and sweet potato fries.

Enjoy!

 

I promise you can make potstickers. It’s one of those things that gets a big reaction from people (think fireworks sounds: oooh! aahhh!) and is so good. Once you master the art of folding dumplings and the cooking method, you are good to go. I’ve got step by step instructions with photos. You’ve got this!

Include the kids in making the potstickers. They can scoop the meat mixture, line the edge of the wrapper with water, or help fold them. Not only does it make the work go faster having a second pair of hands but some of our best conversations have happened sitting at the table filling and folding potstickers.

I tested a lot of potsticker recipes. I knew I had a winner when I left this version on the counter as an after school snack and the kids devoured them. Jake and Lily loved this recipe and I think your family will, too.

Enjoy!

TOP LEFT: Place dollop of meat mixture on center of wrapper. Wet edge of wrapper with wet finger.
TOP RIGHT: Seal edges of wrapper creating half moon shape.
BOTTOM LEFT: Create small pleats or folds along edge of wrapper.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Stand dumpling seam side up on parchment lined baking sheet.

Arrange dumplings in nonstick pan. Make sure they don’t touch or they will stick together.

To freeze, place plastic wrapped parchment lined baking sheet in freezer. When frozen, store dumplings in plastic bag and label with date.

 

There are a few things every home cook should know how to make and Roast Chicken tops the list. Roasting a chicken at home is incredibly easy, makes your house smells like heaven, and offers up a truly beautiful dinner for your family. It’s easy enough for a weeknight night dinner and lovely enough for company.

It may seem intimidating but this simple method will have you adding Roast Chicken to your dinner rotation in no time. I love a dinner that is easy to prepare, deeply satisfying, and offers endless options for using every bit of this chicken. I use left over chicken in salads, soups, enchiladas, and tacos. You can even save the carcass for homemade chicken stock. The versatility of a simple chicken is pretty amazing.

This version offers a crispy, well seasoned skin and juicy meat. Happy Cooking!
Enjoy!

My California kids have grown up on taquitos. These crunchy tortillas filled with flavorful, moist chicken are so delicious. I love to use leftover chicken or you can use rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. They make a great lunch, a fun dinner, and the best after school snack. My daughter lights up when she comes home after school and finds taquitos on the table. We serve these with guacamole, sour cream, or salsa. Enjoy!

We are big fans of Mexican food around here. These Chicken and Black Bean Enchiladas make everyone happy and are so incredibly good you won’t believe how easy they are to make. In fact, once I started making enchiladas, I thought about all the years I saved them for “restaurant only” figuring they were too time consuming to make. What a total waste of enchilada eating years! I could have been enjoying them at home all that time. The truth is, if you can roll a filled tortilla, cover it in an addictive enchilada sauce, and bake them off in the oven, you will be a pro at making enchiladas in no time.

Enchiladas are not only a great weeknight option because they are so easy to make, they are perfect for feeding a hungry crowd. There is nothing better than a beautiful platter of enchiladas topped with cheese in a bubbling sauce to put out for your guests. Throw in a salad, rice, and/or beans and you have a great dinner for friends. I love that kind of entertaining. It reduces stress in the kitchen and allows you to actually have fun with your guests. Who doesn’t want to go to that house for dinner?

Enjoy!
xx

Shred your own cheese. You can taste the difference!

 

This is one of the best recipes I’ve ever made and it’s really easy. Everyone should have something in their culinary arsenal that’s a sure thing. One that you feel confident making and is a hit with everyone. Kids who stay for dinner on chicken teriyaki night inevitably have their mom call me for the recipe. Yep, it’s that good. My kids love Asian food so we make a lot of it. While I try out a lot of different recipes and ideas, this one is a keeper. This is my sure thing.

Moms tell me all the time they need new ideas and that everyone is sick of the same weeknight staples for dinner. Put the frozen nuggets down. Do it. I dare you. This recipe is easy, delicious, and a game changer. Oh, and don’t be intimidated by the two or three ingredients that aren’t already in your pantry. They can be found in grocery stores with an Asian aisle.

My kids like this with white rice and vegetables.