Quick and Tasty Weekday Recipes

I have an infant, and I've recently returned to work. In short, I'm super busy and tired and not getting to go out to eat very often! Since many of you probably have that in common with me, I thought I'd share a few recipes that have been lifesavers during this hectic time. Mind you, my darling husband has been doing all of the cooking since Baby G was born, so he's the one usually making these. I honestly don't know how women do it if their husband's don't cook!



Black bean tacos

Black bean tacos are a staple of Meatless Mondays at my house. We always have canned black beans on hand, and any well stocked kitchen would have cumin and chili powder around. Once you throw on some sour cream, salsa, jalapenos and cheese, you've got yourself a really darn tasty dinner that took only a few
minutes to throw together. Bonus points for being pretty healthy, too.

Asian Sloppy Joe's

This is a true 30 minute meal and the Asian flavors make it surprisingly sophisticated tasting for something that is fundamentally a sloppy joe. I love these so darn much that I've asked my hubby to make it a zillion times since I first discovered it in Fine Cooking Magazine. It makes great leftovers, too!


Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Slow cookers are a lifesaver. There is nothing better than coming home to dinner already ready to go. These are a little bit fiery and pack a ton of flavor for very little effort. Just throw a few ingredients in the slow cooker that morning, and you're good to go. At night you just have to heat up tortillas and put out some accouterments (I'm a sucker for pickled jalapenos), and you're all set.

Deviled chicken thighs

We've been making these for years. We make them with onions rather than shallots since we're more likely to have that on hand. I love that it takes just a few minutes under the broiler to cook these, and like all of the recipes, they pack a lot of punch with minimal ingredients or effort required. Serve with a quick roasted veggie or cook up some frozen peas or boil some corn, and you've got a complete meal in 30 minutes.