10 Ideas for Simple and Delicious Family Meals

Preparing a meal that's both straightforward and delicious can be a challenge for most families. How do you please everyone without spending hours in the kitchen? Discover these easy recipes that promise flavour without the fuss. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, these ideas will bring smiles to your dinner table!

 

1. One-Pot Chicken Alfredo

This one-pot wonder combines chicken, cream, and pasta in a single dish. Start by sautéing chunks of chicken until golden. Add garlic, then pour in cream and chicken stock. Stir in your pasta, simmer, and watch it transform into a creamy delight. Just top with Parmesan for that final cheesy touch.

2. Veggie-Packed Stir Fry

Stir-fries are a quick and versatile way to use up your favourite vegetables. Simply heat a bit of oil in a pan, add your chosen veggies, and cook until they’re tender and flavourful. For added variety, include tofu or shrimp to complement the dish. Serve over rice or noodles for a vibrant and satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare.

3. Ultimate Beef Tacos

Tacos always bring the fun to mealtime. Cook ground beef with onions and homemade taco seasoning. Heap into crunchy shells or soft tortillas and let everyone choose their toppings, from lettuce and tomato to cheese and salsa. Quick, customizable, and always a hit!

4. Savoury Breakfast Pancakes

Integrate pancakes into dinner with a savoury twist by adding bits of bacon, shredded cheese, and chopped scallions into the batter. Cook until golden on each side. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream. Perfect for those breakfast-for-dinner days.

5. Hearty Italian Meatball Soup

For chilly evenings, nothing beats a soup. Simmer meatballs, diced tomatoes, onions, and Italian herbs in a rich broth. Include some spinach leaves for a dose of greens. Serve with crusty bread to soak up every tasty drop.

6. Easy Falafel Pitas

Falafel can be made easily at home using canned chickpeas. Blend with onions, garlic, herbs, and spices, then form into balls and fry until crispy. Stuff in pita pockets with salad and a drizzle of tahini. A Mediterranean delight that’s surprisingly simple.

7. Classic Margherita Pizza

Go back to basics with a classic Margherita pizza. Top a pre-made dough with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves. Bake until bubbly and enjoy a slice of simplicity at its finest. Even better, get the family involved in the topping process—a fun activity and meal all rolled into one!

8. Baked Garlic Butter Fish

For an easy and flavourful dinner, bake your favourite fish fillets with a blend of butter, garlic, and parsley. This simple preparation enhances the natural taste of the fish, creating a tender and satisfying dish. Pair it with steamed vegetables or a fresh salad for a complete and enjoyable meal.

9. Creamy Vegetable Curry

Utilize spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander to bring a vegetable curry to life. Add coconut milk for richness and include plenty of seasonal vegetables. Serve alongside fluffy rice for a comforting meal that warms from the inside out.

10. Refreshing Smoothie Bowls

Start with plant based yogurt, blend with frozen berries, a banana, and a touch of honey. Pour the thick smoothie into bowls and let the family go wild with toppings like granola, chopped nuts, or more fresh berries. This meal isn't just for breakfast; it's a delightful treat for any time of day!

Trying out these simple and delicious meal ideas ensures your time in the kitchen is minimized and your family dining experience optimized. From one-pot dishes to refreshing bowls, there's something to satisfy every palate. Step into your kitchen, explore these options, and watch as mealtime becomes a highlight of your day.

Gluten-Free Lemon Sparklers

These bite sized cookies are loaded with as much lemon flavour as possible and crowned with glittering sugar. Gluten-free AND vegan, they're a hit at bake sales, parties or simply an afternoon snack!

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The taste and smell of citrus is always such a welcome addition to the grey of winter. I'm lucky enough to live in a climate where we can get really good lemons, oranges (including blood oranges!) and grapefruit in the winter, and I love incorporating them into recipes where I can. 

I whipped up these tiny cookies for Christmas gifts - packed to the brim with lemon flavour, they make the whole kitchen smell like a sunny day when they're baking. The blend of flours and a hint of guar gum (you can also use xanthan) work their magic and keep these deceptively gluten-free - my non celiac family tried them and couldn't tell! It is important to make these with the weighted measurements of the flours in particular, since the balance with gluten free mixtures is delicate.

Once the dough is made and rested (also important - you want the gum to start activating), it's easy to scoop and give a final roll in sanding sugar. This gives these morsels such an elevated look and lets them stand out on the cookie platter - perfect if you have any gatherings or bake sales in the future!

Currant & Ginger Shortbreads

These Currant & Ginger Shortbreads are the perfect addition to afternoon tea - their 2-bite size packs a punch with the vibrancy of crystallized ginger and tart currants that were soaked in a spiced tea.

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Did you ever have a teacher or mentor that made an unmistakable impact on your life? I've been incredibly fortunate to have a few amazing people who shaped the person I've become over the years, and one of those people was my elementary school teacher (and later colleague) V. 

While I remember a wealth of things that I learned from her, whenever I think of her I think of ginger, black currants and tea. V is a connoisseur of those flavours in my mind, and when I'm compiling a basket of goodies for her every Christmas, I try to capture as much of them as possible. This year, in addition to my Chestnut Gingerbread Cookies, Gluten Free Sparkling Ginger Cookies and My Mom's Fabulous Shortbread, I decided to tackle a cookie that goes perfectly with her Friday tea sessions and captures the memories I have of her. 

I came across a copy of Barbara Tropp's China Moon Cookbook at the local library, and while I earmarked several of the cookie recipes contained therein, her Currant & Ginger Shortbread recipe just screamed perfection. I made several tweaks along the way (because of course I did) but the result was well worth it! Delicate, golden and unbelievably buttery coins of shortbread packed with diced crystallized ginger and currants that had been plumped in a spicy tea with a hint of lemon zest made the whole house fragrant, and the sample my mom had passed with flying colours. I have no doubt that these would elevate any cookie platter, regardless of the season!  

Thanks to Selefina Spices and Adagio Teas for making these happen with their crystallized ginger and Oriental Spice tea!

The Best Coffees for Fuelling Your Home Office Productivity

 

Working from home can be delightful, yet challenging when it comes to maintaining high productivity levels. Many professionals rely on a good cup of coffee to kickstart their day and keep the momentum going. But not all coffees are created equal. Explore the finest types of coffee that promise to elevate your focus and efficiency while you conquer your tasks from the comfort of your home office.

Discover the Power of Single-Origin Beans

Single-origin coffee beans come from a specific area, and they are renowned for their unique flavour profiles. Such beans can significantly enhance your coffee experience, providing the sensory motivation needed to stay focused. Whether it's a floral Ethiopian Yirgacheffe or a chocolaty Sumatra, a single-origin cup can be just the trick to refine your palate and your home office effectiveness.

Why Blended Coffees Are Worth Your Time

Blends combine beans from various regions, creating a balance of flavours that many coffee enthusiasts swear by. For those long hours of meetings or project marathons, a well-crafted blend can offer a consistent taste and caffeine level. Try a medium roast with a balance of South American and African beans for a smooth day-long energy provision.

The Role of Espresso in Peak Productivity

When deadlines loom and the pressure mounts, espresso is the go-to for a quick and powerful caffeine boost. A finely tuned espresso can deliver a single shot laden with complexity and vigor, propelling you through tough afternoons. For those who juggle multiple tasks, maintaining an espresso machine in your home office could be a game changer.

Enhancing Your Coffee: Add a Twist with Tiramisu Coffee Enhancer

Besides choosing the right type of coffee, adding something extra like a tiramisu coffee enhancer could enrich your coffee break, giving you not just a caffeine boost but also a delicious twist to your day. The sweet and creamy flavour could soothe your senses and refresh your mind, perfect for when you need a midday treat to keep up the productivity.

The Art of Brewing Coffee at Home

Making a great cup of coffee at home is as much about the process as it is about the coffee itself. Experimenting with different brewing methods—like the pour-over, French press, or AeroPress—can help you discover new depths of flavour. Each method brings out unique notes and textures, allowing you to tailor your coffee to suit your day. Whether you prefer a bold brew or a lighter, more nuanced cup, mastering a brewing technique can make your coffee moments even more rewarding

Cold Brew: A Gentle Yet Effective Approach

For those who prefer a less acidic and smoother coffee, cold brew is an excellent choice. Its slow brewing process at a lower temperature preserves flavours and delivers caffeine in a gentler form. This type of coffee could be ideal for those who find regular coffee too harsh but still need a stable energy flow.

Stay energized and efficient with the right choice of coffee for your home office. Whether it's the rich depth of a single-origin, the balanced harmony of a blend, or the quick hit of an espresso, make sure your coffee is enhancing your productivity. Don't forget, adding a special touch like the tiramisu coffee enhancer can transform your coffee break into a luxurious recharge moment.

In the end, remember that the best coffee is the one that suits your taste and energy needs. Experiment with different types and enhancements to find that perfect coffee that not only wakes you up but also increases your pleasure and efficiency while working from home. Cheers to a productive and aromatic journey in your home office!

Gluten Free Sparkling Ginger Cookies

These cookies brim with the festive spices of the season and have a delicate crunch and sparkle from a hefty pinch of raw sugar. To top it off, they're a great cookie for gatherings since it is both vegan and gluten free! Give these easy to make cookies a try - you won't regret it!

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We are coming up to cookie time again this year! I don't know about you, but I have lists of cookies depending on who is the intended recipient of them. With luck (and a little bit of free time) I will be able to share each and every (new) cookie I'm making for the holidays - but let's start with these ones!

I happen to have two friends who keep their diet gluten free for various reasons, and while I can't share my mom's absolutely amazing shortbread cookies with them I do try to give them a couple things they can enjoy over the holidays. These cookies were developed after finding a recipe lodged deep in my Pinterest board, and they looked so festive I had to see if I could make a gluten free variant that was still vegan. 

The first (and easiest) swap was the flour. I love the Bob's Red Mill 1:1 flour and I've never had an issue with it failing to hold things together. A bunch of spice, thanks to the cinnamon, ginger and cardamom from Selefina Spices, warmed things up and made the kitchen smell heavenly - pro tip, add the spices to the margarine when it's still quite warm to bloom the spices, it makes them really pop. I also added a hefty dose of a vegan pumpkin spice flavoured protein powder for extra flavour and nutrition. I didn't have any brown sugar left (I made these chestnut flour gingerbread cookies the day before) so I added a touch more molasses, and finally I added some egg replacer powder just as some extra assurance the dough would bind together. Popping the mixture in the fridge overnight resulted in a super easy to work with dough - it scooped like perfect ice cream! A quick roll in raw sugar and I had a batch of cookies ready for the freezer, as well as for immediate baking. 

For those of you baking for a diverse group of people, don't hesitate to make these - heck, just make them even if you aren't gluten free. They're a perfect blend of spicy and sweet, ready to pair with a cup of tea!