Two Minute Chili

Grilled Fajitas

If you have a grill (or a frying pan), pretty much any boneless meat, pretty much ANY veggies, and big flour tortillas (keep these on hand), you’ve got a super easy, super popular dinner in minutes flat. This meal is so delicious and so fast, you’ll even have time to give yourself a pat on the back.
Make Grilled Fajitas »

Ravioli Lasagna

Lasagna is a family favorite and makes great leftovers. Ordinarily it takes hours to make, but this quick weeknight version — made with frozen ravioli instead of classic lasagna noodles — offers all the flavors of a classic Italian meal in a matter of minutes.
Make Ravioli Lasagna »

Two Minute Chili

Feed a crowd in seconds! This super-quick, super-cheap, super-tasty chili not only satisfies, it delights! Mild enough for young children, hearty enough for adults. This is one recipe you’ll return to again and again.
Make Two Minute Chili »

Pizza on the Grill

Pizza night is everybody’s favorite night. Now you can have it more often because you can make it from home. Use your grill for fast, flavorful, and healthy ’za — easy enough to make for dinner tonight!
Make Pizza on the Grill »

Pesto

One of the easiest and most delicious ways to eat pasta, you can make it in bulk in the summer when basil is plentiful, then save it in small containers for use year-round. Take a little Tupperware full out of the freezer in the morning; 8 hours later, you have a 10-minute meal.
Make Pesto »

Broccoli Beef

Every mom needs a go-to stir-fry dish. Whip up a batch of this savory Broccoli Beef in less time than it takes to order take-out. It’s got all the flavor of the classic dish but it’s stir-fried, not deep-fried (as fast food Chinese often is). Try to beat that, delivery man.
Make Broccoli Beef »

Mac n Greens

Mac and Cheese is a staple in almost every home, but there’s no need to feed your family preservative-laden pasta from a box. This simple, wholesome take on classic Macaroni and Cheese is a kid-pleasing favorite. And guess what? You can sneak in some greens for a healthy boost — with all the cheesy goodness, your kids won’t object. Try it!
Make Mac n’ Greens »

Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Got a bunch of little soccer players coming over after practice? These mini versions of Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches can feed the team — and they can be made in less than fifteen minutes. Make Philly Cheesesteak Sliders »

No-Cook Dinner

Got five minutes? Then you have enough time to make this simple, elegant meal, reminiscent of a European picnic. Sure it’s simple, but every mom needs to be reminded to take it easy now and then.
Make No-Cook Dinner »

Black Bean Burgers

Whether you want to eat less meat or you’re just looking for a quick weeknight meal, these black bean burgers deliver. They’re simple to prepare, enjoyed by even the pickiest eaters, and ready in about fifteen minutes.
Make Black Bean Burgers »

Spinach Salad with Blueberries and Feta

Need a jolt of energy? Take two of nature’s super foods — blueberries and spinach — to create a vitamin-rich, refreshing summer salad. This is about as good for you as it gets.
Make Spinach Salad with Blueberries and Feta »

Kale Chips

Sure we all like to snack, but substitute these crispy, homemade kale chips for regular potato chips and you’ve made a serious upgrade. But make sure to make a lot — your kids are going to want to wolf them down as well!
Make Kale Chips »

Tabbouleh

The fresh, simple Mediterranean salad is easier than you’d think. Make it once and it’ll become a staple in your fridge — and the perfect thing to take to potlucks.
Make Tabbouleh »

Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls

Another, “Wow, I can’t believe you made these!” dish that’s way easier than you’d think. Kids love that they’re finger food that they can dip and don’t seem to notice that they’re filled with fresh veggies.
Make Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls »

Super-C Smoothie

What's one thing every mom could use? A surefire way to load the kids up with Vitamin C to help prevent or fend off seasonal colds. Orange juice is ok, but for a real Vitamin C bomb, try this smoothie. It's a giant liquid vitamin your kids will love.
Make Super-C Smoothie »

Homemade Granola

Start everybody’s day off the right way with this low-sugar, no-preservative granola. I love keeping a big tub of it in our pantry so we can have it on hand for afterschool snacks and activities — and midnight munchies too. This is a great DIY recipe for every mom to have up her sleeve.
Make Homemade Granola »

Mango Lime Fruit Leather

Feed your family fresh fruit in a kid-friendly way with these easy to make and adorable homemade fruit roll-ups. I never buy fruit roll-ups from the store because they are either full of perservatives or crazy-expensive. Here too you can do it at home for a healthier, tastier, and much
less expensive version.
Make Mango Lime Fruit Leather »

Double Superfood Smoothie

Another blend-your-way-to-health special, this smoothie manages to pack in a lot of protein by hiding tofu within a ton of yummy blueberry flavor. Need a pick-me-up? Call this a 21st-century mother's little helper.
Make Double Superfood Smoothie »

Vegetable and Nut Bread

Sneaking veggies into your diet is easy with this adaptable quick bread recipe from Mark Bittman. I love packing thick slices of this bread in my kids’ lunch bags, and so do they!
Make Vegetable and Nut Bread »

Roasted Beet Hummus

We’ve all heard about kids who, “if they can dip it, they’ll eat it” — but beets? Uh huh; just don’t say the word out loud. As it turns out, this gorgeous dip is super kid-friendly, and it offers a powerful dose of antioxidants, Vitamin C, and calcium. My daughters love when I serve this at sleepovers because, after all, it's pink!
Make Roasted Beet Hummus »

Real Deal Mac n Cheese

As any mom will tell you, there’s virtually no kid who can resist mac ’n cheese. But why buy it in a box with all those preservatives? Try this ultra-good, quick-to-make DIY version.
Make Real Deal Mac n’ Cheese »

Best Basic Hamburgers

Funny how even the pickiest eater somehow always loves McDonald’s. No need to hit the golden arches, though; these mini burgers will satisfy your kids’ fast-food appetites while letting you control the salt and fat.
Make Best Basic Hamburgers »

Refrigerator Pickles in Vinegar

A lot of kids who wouldn’t eat a cucumber if their lives depended on it don’t have any idea what goes into a pickle. Use this recipe for a homemade version that will liven up sandwiches or the aforementioned burgers.
Make Refrigerator Pickles in Vinegar »

Crust-less Quiche

A lot of people agree that breakfast is the best meal of the day. If your picky eater is one of them, solve the lunch problem with these crust-less quiche sandwiches.
Make Crust-less Quiche »

Crackerbread Pizza

Here’s a year-round way to make pizza at home — and don’t be daunted by the DIY crust; you’ll have no problem. The only risk here is that your picky eater will insist you make pizza every night.
Make Crackerbread Pizza »

Maple Bran Waffles

Sure you can buy store-brand frozen waffles and there’s no doubt that they’re great in a pinch. But when you make them yourself, you can get high-fiber bran into your kids’ bellies with zero chance of them saying no. Here’s a hearty breakfast your picky youngins will adore.
Make Maple Bran Waffles »

Hasselback Potatoes

We love recipes where a simple change to an old standard gets your family (or your guests) woo-ing and wow-ing. Here’s a slight variation on the baked potato that ends up creating a crispy, yummy treat that kids simply love.
Make Hasselback Potatoes »

chicken satay

The savvy mom knows that by putting food on a stick and adding a bowl of dipping sauce, you double your kids’ chances of eating it. And what’s more simple than a chicken satay? (Answer: not much.) This is another recipe that will be so popular, you’re kids might start asking you to put everything on a stick.
Make Chicken Satay »

Watermelon Hedgehog

Sometimes the way to a kid’s mouth is through his heart. Make this fanciful, kooky, and downright goofy watermelon “hedgehog” and see your kids nibble their ways to a full serving of fruit.
Make Watermelon Hedgehog »

Homemade Whole Wheat Pop Tarts

You might hate pop tarts, but we know your kids love them. So alleviate the guilt by making them at home. Here’s a whole-wheat version that will make both Mom and progeny smile.
Make Homemade Whole Wheat Pop Tarts »

Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Don’t you love recipes that sound hard to make (and taste great) but are actually really easy? Chimichurri sauce is a perfect example, used here to make a run-on-the-mill steak something special.
Make Steak with Chimichurri Sauce »

Tortilla Soup in 10 Minutes

That’s right: 10 minutes for a one-pot family-feeder. What mom couldn’t use that? By using a rotisserie chicken — or leftovers from a roast chicken earlier in the week — you skip all the wait time of cooking one from scratch. And you’re guaranteed to love the texture of the avocados next to the tortilla chips.
Make Tortilla Soup in 10 Minutes »

Root-Beer-Braised Brisket

If you don’t already own a slow-cooker, you’re in for a mom treat. Invented when families were larger and moms were even more harried, they’re designed so you can just throw the ingredients in and turn it on — that’s it. Here’s one of the more flavorful and imaginative recipes I’ve seen, almost like a barbecue but no grill to light.
Make Root-Beer-Braised Brisket »

Mashed Potatoes in Minutes

Kids love mashed potatoes, and they have no idea just how many nutrients are packed into the humble spud (even Vitamin C!), so every mom should be a whiz at throwing together some mashers on command. Here’s a standard recipe to take away the mystery.
Make Mashed Potatoes in Minutes »

Brian Boitanos Summer Pasta

Summer is tomato and basil time, and superfresh tomatoes and basil make one heck of a delicious no-fuss no-muss pasta. Here’s a recipe I learned from Brian Boitano — the first dish I make when I see cherry tomatoes start making it into the grocery store.
Make Brian Boitano’s Summer Pasta »

Baked Eggs: Breakfast and Brunch in Minutes

Used to love eggs before you had kids but now feel too busy to do all the clean-up? Problem solved: Just bake them in ramekins instead of gooeying up a pan. When they’re done, they slide out easily, and the ramekins go right in the dishwasher. Really want a treat? Toss diced herbs over the eggs before baking. Delicious.
Make Baked Eggs: Breakfast and Brunch in Minutes »

Lemon Dill Grilled Salmon

Salmon was the key to getting my kids to eat fish. They called it “orange fish” when they were young, and they all love it, even my youngest, who has been eating it since he was a year old. One of the simplest and most straightforward ways to make it is simply by adding a bit of lemon juice and dill and grilling it up. No hassle, no fuss, and a dinner that is healthy and loaded with Omega-3s.
Make Lemon Dill Grilled Salmon »

Cilantro Mint Chicken

Boneless skinless chicken is one of the quickest and healthiest meat options around, but it’s easy to fall into a rut. This is an easy twist on the plain-old chicken breasts that end up on so many dinner plates. A bit of yogurt and a few herbs make the chicken bright and tasty, and it’s a breeze to make.
Make Cilantro Mint Chicken »

Raspberry Nutella Panini

It’s nice to know you can always throw together a super yummy, impressive-looking dessert in no time. This is my last-minute solution: Just grab a baguette, add a bit of sweet cheese, Nutella and fresh berries, and in just two minutes you’ve got a smash hit.
Make Raspberry Nutella Panini »

Thai Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker

Not only does this recipe have a shot ingredient list, but it’s also tossed directly into a slow cooker, making it perfect for those days when you’re running around and short on time. Serve it over some minute rice, and you’ve got a complete meal in no time at all.
Make Thai Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker »

Ruby Razz Crunch

Every mom needs a go-to dish for summer potlucks, and this classic combination of berry and rhubarb epitomizes summer in one bite. Surround the soft warm filling surrounded with a crunchy crumble, balance berry sweetness with rhubarb tart…You’ll be sold.
Make Ruby Razz Crunch »

Chocolate Chip Cookies

There’s one easy way to be Most Popular Mom on the Block: bake cookies! And though there are six million chocolate chip cookie recipes out there, this one, from renowned dessert chef David Lebovitz, is the best you’ll ever find.
Make Chocolate Chip Cookies »

Chocolate Cupcakes

Next to cookies, cupcakes are probably the most coveted food for kids and parties. This is my never-fail version, simple and perfect so you know you can put smiles on a gang of little
ones in no time.
Make Chocolate Cupcakes »

Frontera Grills Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan pie is an all-time classic. This version, from one of America's best chefs, adds chocolate and pretzels — great idea — and then makes it into bars for easy eating. Perfect!
Make Frontera Grill’s Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars »

Peanut Butter Cookies

Who of us doesn’t remember from childhood peanut butter cookies with the crosshatch on top? It’s a childhood standard we want to pass on to our kids as well. Rich, chewy and full of flavor, this timeless recipe is my cookie comfort food, and I know my kids will associate with happy days as well.
Make Peanut Butter Cookies »

Hot Fudge

A secret weapon for every mom’s arsenal. Hot fudge is one of the most versatile condiments in the kitchen — and you can make it in 99 seconds! With this recipe in your cupboard, no sundae is safe.
Make Hot Fudge »

Root Beer Floats

Like the peanut butter cookie, the root beer float is a one-taste trip back in time. I still remember drinking them with my grandmother and now love making them with my daughter. And somehow I think she’ll share them with her kids too.
Make Root Beer Floats »

Chocolate Pudding Pops

This is my standard make-in-advance summer treat, the perfect thing for an instant chill during a heatwave. While other kids are munching on processed, pre-fab versions of these, yours can have the healthier and infinitely yummier DIY kind. (And don’t worry; they’re easy to make.)
Make Chocolate Pudding Pops »

Two Bite Brownies

Perhaps my favorite of all classic desserts, these bite-size brownies are the perfect size for an afternoon nibble. And, yes, you can make them bigger, but sometimes just two bites is all your sweet tooth needs.
Make Two Bite Brownies »

Angel Food Cake

So low-calorie it’s amazing that it’s even called cake, so versatile you can make and adapt it every week, Angel Food cake is outstanding topped with whipped cream, berries or chocolate sauce. I love serving this as a light summer dessert at dinner parties. It is always a crowd-pleaser.
Make Angel Food Cake »

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