Monthly Musings August 2022: Fall Recipes/Dinners

Fall is just around the corner Besties. Can you smell the bonfires and taste the pumpkin spice everything? I am not hating on it and really ready for fall to be here.

Today Holly and I getting together with the Best group of writers to share ideas about fall dinners and recipes. If you are linking up with us today please link back to us and be sure to visit some other writers who join us. If you could leave comments for other writers too, that would even be Better. Let's dive into the questions now.

1. Easiest dinner you make? Will you share the recipe?

Hands down, taco meatballs are the easiest recipe I make. At this point, I can probably get these taco meatballs on the table in about 30 minutes. You probably have all of the ingredients on hand to make these tonight. We had these on Monday and I love them.

You can make these with ground turkey or ground beef. Find the recipe for these meatballs here.

2. Crockpot? Instapot? Both?

I only own a crockpot but not an Instapot. I don't really have an interest in an Instapot. Yes, I know my Instapot readers are going to come for me on that statement.

I don't really make whole meals in a crockpot as I think they can come out watery. I mostly use my crockpot for soups, stews, chili and for making the chicken for baked chicken tacos. I also made pork carnitas in the crockpot this summer that were amazing. I may have to post that recipe soon.

3. Are you a member of a wholesale club? Which one and favorite items there?

We have a Costco membership and it is literally around the corner from our house. My favorite Costco items are:

-Kirkland pesto

-Amylu chicken burgers (refrigerated section)

-Stuffed grape leaves

-Chicken salad cups

4. Do you meal prep or menu plan? Do you follow any set themes?

I absolutely meal plan because I cannot get home and figure out what is for dinner. I just function Better going into the week with a meal plan. Plus on hockey nights, I need to make something that is quick that is pretty mild to eat before practice. So that would be my only theme.

I would say that the only theme beyond the hockey theme above, I also really work around what we get in our monthly Butcher Box. It really helps me organize for the month and work around what we have in the freezer. If you are interested in trying Butcher Box you can get $30 off your first order and free bacon for life with this code.

5. Best dinner tips for busy nights?

My first tip would be to meal plan but stay flexible. 

My next tip would be to have things like microwavable rice, grape tomatoes and cooked grilled chicken strips on hand. There is a lot you can do with those items from stir fry to bowls with those ingredients on hand.

A chopped bagged salad kit is our newest obsession this summer and I highly recommend them. It takes all the work out of a salad and the chopped part keeps things crunchy.

My final tip is to call in help. I have been pretty Good lately about asking for help. This week on my way home I ask Running Daddy to help defrost the ground beef one night and chop some veggies for stir fry another night while I was driving home from downtown. It really helped and it was an easy task for him to do.

6. Do you use certain ingredients more in the fall?

Yes, I definitely try to use seasonal ingredients especially when it comes to produce. In the fall I am all about butternut and acorn squash as a side dish. All you need for those is a little bit of olive oil, sea salt, pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon.

We are also big fans of pears in this house. We like them even Better than apples. They are so Good added with blue cheese to salad or with even a little caramel sauce for dessert.

7. Any back-to-school dinner traditions?

Since Hockey Guy is in high school this isn't as a big a deal. Today he had orientation and it is a hockey night, we are holding off on the first day dinner until Monday. He picked breakfast for dinner for Monday so we will have gluten free pancakes, bacon and fruit.

8. Do you own an air fryer?

While you know my feelings on the Instapot, I finally caved last year on the air fryer. I actually really like it and since we bought one that is also a toaster oven, we use it every day. You can read about my air fryer odyssey here.  

9. Favorite grab and go items?

When I have my act together I like to make zucchini or pumpkin muffins on the weekend. They are Good in the morning with a cup of coffee or as snack to take the afternoon hunger edge off.

I personally love the Trader Joe's gluten free pumpkin bread and muffin mix. I literally stock up on it like a doomsday prepper. I highly recommend you trying it with white chocolate chips. White chocolate and pumpkin is an excellent unexpected combo.

10. How many nights a week do you cook?

I usually cook five to six nights a week. Most importantly, I do not cook on Friday nights...ever!

Oh I hope you think this post was as fun as I do. Be sure to check out the other writers who join us each month.

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