This week it's all about those cold weather comfort foods as we start thinking about Spring!
National pancake day is February 21 - think about having some fluffy buttermilk pancakes for breakfast! Or, if you don't have time in the morning, what about breakfast for dinner?
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🫑 What's in Season?
A better question might be, "what isn't in season?"
Everything is ripening and coming into the Farmers' Markets now. It's fresh, in season, and at it's best. Make the most of these fresh flavors.
- Apricots
- Beets
- Bell pepper
- Berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)
- Chiles
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Eggplant
- Figs
- Green beans & Wax beans
- Mangoes
- Melon
- Nectarines
- Okra
- Peaches
- Pineapples
- Plums
- Radishes
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini and yellow squash
As we get closer to spring more comes in season! In Texas, California, and other states with longer growing periods we'll even begin to see strawberries.
Try adding some mandarin oranges to a spinach salad. The vitamin c in the oranges helps your body absorb the iron in the spinach... plus it's yummy!
You should be able to easily find the following produce at your local farmer's market depending on where you live.
- Citrus - especially grapefruit
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery root
- Collards
- Kale
- Rutabaga
- Spinach
- Strawberrries (Texas & California)
- Turnips
💭 Tips for success
Here are tips for getting it all done this week!
- Keep canned and frozen foods around for when you are strapped for time. Canned diced potatoes, frozen onions and green peppers mix, canned carrots - these are all convenience foods that make dinner prep quicker and easier in a pinch.
- Get in the habit of batch cooking. Buy a big bag of chicken breast at Costco and cook it all in the slow cooker at once. Separate the chicken into meal sized portions and freeze to use as needed. You'll save time and money.
- Stuffed peppers freeze well. Make a double batch and freeze half of it for another day.
- Leftover beef and noodles? Put it in a pot with beef stock, a can of carrots drained, and some frozen peas - it makes a great soup.
- Leftover cornbread? Serve it for breakfast with sausage gravy.
February 19
Creamy Beef & Potato Skillet
Old fashioned comfort food all done in one skillet! The creamy beef and potato dinner is hearty and budget friendly. Pickled beets on the side would be amazing.
Potato Rolls
These potato rolls are SO soft and easy to make plus they freeze like a charm. Make a big batch and freeze for another time. Hold some out for the 22nd. They'll be delicious with that roast!
Double Decker Brownies
Get gooey brownies and chewy blondies in the same bar with these double decker brownies!
February 20
Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos
The chicken breast cooks to mouthwatering perfection in the slow cooker with ALL the yummy south of the border flavor. Make chicken tacos tonight and save the rest for chicken enchiladas later in the week.
Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Rice
Why have plain rice when you can have the cilantro lime rice like you get at Chipotle? Make double and save some for Wednesday. (This link goes to Bowl Me Over, a blog I just LOVE).
Grapefruit Tequila Sour
Hey, it's the weekend. Enjoy this hibiscus grapefruit tequila sour - the perfect accompaniment to this meal!
Millionaire Pie
Easy, no bake millionaire pie will have you feeling like a million bucks! SO creamy! Make it a day or two ahead of time if you want.
February 21
Cowboy Soup
Hearty, comforting soup that's almost a stew. Cowboy soup is a mild, brothy chili and it's absolutely delish!
Cornbread
This southern style cornbread is easy to make and all ready for you to sop up every bit of the soup with it.
Key Lime Chile Gelato
I know it sounds weird but you're going to have to trust me on this one, ok? Key lime gelato is amazing with a little kick from Hatch chiles!
February 22
Beef Round Roast
This beef roast is marinated in beer and brown sugar overnight then roasted. It's a deliciously old fashioned dinner. Serve with buttered broccoli. Save some roast for open faced sandwiches later in the week.
Sweet Potato Fries
These oven baked sweet potato fries are crispy and pair up with the roast just right for an unexpected side dish to celebrate Cook a Sweet Potato Day!
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Spicy, dark chocolate cupcakes have a creamy hot chocolate and marshmallow frosting. They freeze well unfrosted so save part of them for dessert another time.
February 23
Old Fashioned Stuffed Peppers
Old Fashioned stuffed peppers the way my mom used to make them! Rice, ground beef, and tomatoes cooked to yummy perfection!
Cucumbers in Sour Cream
Ok, so cucumbers are not in season but they are still available and sometimes I just need to have this creamy cucumber salad. I make sure to save some for the next day and make a sandwich with it. I know - I'm weird.
Cookies & Cream Banana Bread
Bananas, Oreos... what's not to like? This cookies and cream banana bread is yummy for brunch or a light dessert.
February 24
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
These chicken enchiladas are SO good. Use leftover chicken from the tacos and save the step of cooking the chicken. Serve with leftover cilantro rice.
Lime White Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
This make ahead Tres Leches cake is so easy and SO good! It's made and served right in the same pan.
February 25
Crockpot Beef & Noodles
Beef and noodles is one of my favorites. Beef is slow cooked in its own gravy until it's falling apart and then it's spooned over buttery noodles. I like to make double the meat I'll need and freeze half for an easy dinner another time.
Citrus Salad
Crunchy nuts, citrus, and winter greens like arugula all come together in this citrus salad from Bowl Me Over!
Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Old fashioned pineapple upside down cake is so quick and easy you'll be surprised it's from scratch!
📚 Related recipes
Grocery List
I've tried to add all of the ingredients called for but I suggest you go over the recipes before you finish your grocery list just to double check that you have everything.
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- ground beef
- rump roast
- bacon
- chicken breast
- potatoes
- garlic
- hatch chiles
- arugula
- shallot
- carrots
- cucumbers
- red peppers
- green peppers
- corn
- bananas
- strawberries
- oranges
- parsley
- cilantro
- basil
- onions
- lime
- frozen peas
- elbow macaroni
- egg noodles
- Ro*Tel tomatoes and chiles
- stewed tomatoes
- kidney beans
- corn
- creamed corn
- cream of mushroom soup
- chipotle in adobo
- chiles
- rice
- dried potato flakes
- chicken stock
- beef stock
- liquid smoke
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika
- chili powder
- cumin
- oregano
- active dry yeast
- all-purpose flour
- baking soda
- baking powder
- white chocolate instant pudding mix
- Mexican chocolate
- cocoa
- toffee pieces
- white chocolate
- vanilla
- pecans
- hazelnuts
- brown sugar
- sugar
- confectioner's sugar
- sweetened condensed milk (eagle brand)
- evaporated milk
- crushed pineapple
- pineapple rings
- coconut
- maraschino cherries
- Cool Whip
- milk
- buttermilk
- Cheddar
- Monterey Jack cheese
- heavy cream
- sour cream
- cream cheese
- butter
- eggs
- balsamic vinegar
- honey
- crumb pie crust if you aren't going to make one homemade
- corn tortillas
- Oreos
- mayonnaise
- tequila
- rum
- grapefruit juice
- key lime juice
- spicy V-8 juice
- hibiscus syrup
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