The Many Little Joys

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EASY Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

This Instant Pot honey garlic chicken is the perfect weeknight meal. Toss a handful of ingredients in your pressure cooker, walk away, and have a delicious, better-than-takeout dinner on the table in 30 minutes.

Instant Pot honey garlic chicken over rice

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

I do not have the time or energy for fancy dinners these days. Still, I don’t want to settle for mediocre-tasting food, nor do I want to spend a ton of money to buy already prepared meals or take-out all the time.

Call me picky, but I want it all: a healthy, delicious, home-cooked meal that I can have on the table in 30 minutes from start to finish.

Is that too much to ask?

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Easy lasagna skillet (one pot meal)

This one pot, 30-minute meal has all the fabulous tastes of a classic lasagna but a lasagna skillet is SO much less work. It’s comfort food at it’s best: simple, hearty, and delicious!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

I love lasagna, but truth be told…I think I’ve made it twice in my whole married life. It’s just too much work. I mean, really! Who has two hours to spend making sauce, boiling noodles, and carefully layering everything into a masterpiece?

Not me. Do you know what messes a two-year-old could make it that amount of time? Come to think of it, you probably do. That’s why you’re reading this recipe and NOT one for traditional lasagna.

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Chocolate hummus recipe (quick & easy snack for kids)

This chocolate hummus recipe is a triple-threat in the good snacks for kids competition: nutrient-dense, as delicious dessert, and so quick to make!

Raise your hand if you’re going through food like CRAZY right now with kids at home and running around outside so much! Man, oh man. My three little men sure can eat! And as much as they would be happy to eat Goldfish crackers and popsicles all day, I occasionally like to expand their culinary horizons.

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Healthy breakfast banana split: a fun way to start the day

Who says you can’t have dessert for breakfast? Kids will love waking up to this fun (and still nutritious) breakfast banana split. Perfect for special occasions, but simple enough for weekdays morning, too!

Healthy breakfast banana split with strawberries, blueberries and granola

One truth I’ve learned in my eight years of parenting is this:

Successful parenting is all about marketing.

Really! I mean, how much time you spend every day thinking of creative ways to “sell” your kids on doing whatever you need them to do?

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How to simplify weekly meal planning + free printable templates

Meal planning is a life-saver, but sometimes it can feel like an overwhelming chore. Here’s how I keep things simple and delicious!

Meal planning is a life-saver, but sometimes it can feel like an overwhelming chore. Here's how I keep things simple and delicious!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

I have been a firm believer in meal planning for years. It makes my life SO much easier. However, lately I’ve been simplifying my method even more to make mealtime doable during these crazy times we’re in.

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Christmas Popcorn Snack Mix

This easy-to-make Christmas popcorn snack mix is a perfect recipe for your holiday party, neighbor gift, or Hallmark family movie night!

This easy-to-make Christmas popcorn snack mix is a perfect recipe for your holiday party, play-date, or Hallmark movie night!

Christmas is next week! Are you ready? My shopping is almost all done, and I’m looking forward to some good low-key family time together next week. This week has been crazy busy (we’ve had something planned every night), but next week our schedule is wide open, and I want to keep it that way.

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Caramel Apple German Pancake

This caramel apple German pancake is a sweet twist on the classic breakfast recipe. It’s a perfect “fancy” breakfast for special occasions that takes minimal extra effort. This caramel apple German pancake is a sweet twist on the classic breakfast recipe. It's a perfect "fancy" breakfast for special occasions that takes minimal extra effort. 

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I HAVE USED AND LOVED. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE.

I LOVE German pancakes–so much so that they take front and center on our breakfast table at least once a week. Why do I sing their praises?…

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Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Dinner

This hearty Instant Pot chicken and rice has become a staple in our house on busy weeknights when I need a no-fuss dinner that can keep up with the appetites of three growing boys. It’s a simple, one-pot meal that everyone loves!

This hearty Instant Pot chicken and rice has become a staple in our house on busy weeknights when I need a no-fuss dinner that can keep up with the appetites of three growing boys. It's a simple, one-pot meal that everyone loves!

Note: This post contains affiliate links to products that I have used and loved. See my disclosure to learn more.

I love to cook. But I HATE the stress of trying to get a healthy meal on the table in between school, sports practices, homework, and other errands. I’ve finally admitted to myself that this is NOT the right season of life for me to be making elaborate meals on a regular basis. Instead, I’ve made it my quest recently to compile a list of healthy, homemade meals that take minimal effort. 

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Healthy Apple Oatmeal Muffins

These healthy apple oatmeal muffins are the perfect fall breakfast recipe or after-school snack. Grab your kiddos, and whip up a batch in the kitchen today (really, a double-batch because they freeze beautifully)!These healthy apple oatmeal muffins are the perfect fall breakfast recipe or after-school snack. Grab your kiddos, and whip up a batch in the kitchen today!Some people might call our current month September, but I call it…APPLE SEASON! The weather around here has been cooling off, and I’ve been waking up to crisp mornings that have very much put me in the mood for baking. At the top of my “to bake” recipe list were today’s delicious apple oatmeal muffins.
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