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    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So I’ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends – dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. I’ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipes…
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I don’t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly don’t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also aren’t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So I’ve got these go-to easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipes…
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, you’re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, I’ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesn’t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those aren’t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and then…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, you’re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? That’s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have – or want to spend – on dinner. I’m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought I’d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dad’s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together — like the Asian chicken mason jar…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, you’re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means I’ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? We’ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals but…
      • Healthy One-Pot Chicken DinnersHealthy one-pot chicken dinners are such a help on busy days! This collection includes everything from one-pot pastas and skillets to easy slow cooker and sheet pan recipes to help you get an easy, healthy and delicious dinner on the table any night! I am ALL about quick and easy meals. I cook our dinner 99% of the time, including on days when work has blown up in my face, or the kids have decided to coordinate their melt-downs, or we’re all just wiped out and hungry. And even though I love to cook, I definitely have those days when I’m just not feeling it. Enter some quick and easy one-pot chicken dinners for the win! These are great to have in your back pocket for busy days, busy weeks or in case of a “kids-are-making-me-crazy” kinda moment. (My husband also loves these meals because he’s on clean-up duty and it’s nice not to have a huge pile of dishes staring you down after dinner!) Many of these dishes are complete meals on their own. Others are low-carb as written, but can easily be paired with some rice, pasta, bread or potatoes to bulk them up a bit. Here are…
      • Slow Cooker Chicken RecipesThese hands-off slow cooker chicken recipes will put your slow cooker to work and have you coming home to a delicious, healthy dinner that’s ready to go! Some days, you just need someone else to make you dinner. I’m not talking takeout or delivery or a restaurant dinner. I’m talking about your crock pot or slow cooker. I find it supremely satisfying to go about my day, knowing that a delicious home cooked dinner is cooking up at home for me. I can play with the kids, take them to practices, run errands or just relax with a book and breathe easy. These slow cooker chicken recipes mean there is just one less thing to do in the evening and that’s a great thing on a busy day! This collection includes slow cooker recipes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well as chicken thighs (though you can usually sub either one). And many of these take just minutes to prep in the morning! 👍 Here’s a few of our favorite slow cooker chicken recipes: Slow cooker balsamic chicken Slow cooker bistro chicken thighs Slow cooker apricot chicken Crock pot Mediterranean chicken Slow cooker teriyaki chicken And be sure to check…
    • Easy Vegetarian RecipesEasy vegetarian recipes include main-dish meals that are hearty and satisfying and can stand alone for lunch or dinner (with a few savory breakfast options as well). Everything from one-pot veggie pastas to stuffed squash to chili to veggie burgers and hearty grain bowls and salads, there are meatless options here for everyone! I am a veggie lover through and through. 💚💚💚 I adore getting in as many vegetables as I can, throughout the day really, and I often make easy vegetarian dinners a couple of times a week. (Hello meatless Monday, I’m looking at you!) So over the years, I’ve created tons of great veggie-based meals that can stand on their own for lunch or dinner and be hearty and satisfying. And that are also mostly quick and easy, because I work as a health and nutrition editor and we’ve got a busy family so cooking on a weeknight needs to be low-key. My one-pot vegetarian spaghetti has been a hugely popular recipe here on the blog and you guys can’t seem to get enough of my grain bowls and salads. I know the feeling. 😉 I wanted to round up some of these in an easy-to-browse category that features…
    • Healthy Oatmeal RecipesA collection of healthy oatmeal recipes, including sweet and savory breakfast and brunch options as well as delicious, wholesome snacks and desserts. We are pretty much oatmeal fanatics in my house. ALL of us adore oatmeal and it’s a rare day that we’re not making or eating something with oats or oatmeal in it at some point during the day. And I mean all four of us – my husband, myself and our kids (currently ages 6 and 4). Our go-to 3-minute microwave oatmeal is a morning staple for my husband and a weekly staple for the kids and me. My kids eat overnight oatmeal jars at least twice a week for breakfast and we often have baked oatmeal another morning of the week. For school lunches or afternoon snack, we can be found munching on some no-bake cookie or energy balls with oats, oatmeal cookies of some variety or if they’ve asked nicely, I’ll make a batch of granola and we all just shovel handful after handful until it’s gone. Want to know some of our very favorites of the group below? OK, I’ll share! Our family’s favorite healthy oatmeal recipes: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Overnight oatmeal jars, 3…
    • Healthy Muffin RecipesA collection of easy, kid-friendly healthy muffin recipes for all times of day: breakfast, school lunch, snacking, dinner and dessert! We are BIG muffin lovers in this house, at all times of day! My kiddos love them for breakfast, brunch, school lunch, afternoon snack and sometimes even savory muffins at dinner. Muffins all the time! I’ve made thousands of healthy muffin recipes over the years and I love sharing them with you! There are plenty to browse below and plenty more I plan to add! (You can sign up for my newsletter so you never miss a recipe. You’ll also get my FREE e-book of easy weeknight dinners.) Wondering where to start? Spinach banana mini muffins and whole wheat pumpkin muffins are some of our constant favorites. Healthy peanut butter and jelly muffins are fun for lunch and easy cheesy cornbread muffins are great for a quick + easy dinner side, especially with soup or chili! And if you’re in the mood for a little chocolate (I know I always am!) you can’t go wrong with my healthy chocolate chip muffins. Hope you find some new favorite healthy muffin recipes! XO, Kathryn
    • Healthy DessertsThis collection of healthy desserts features everything from lightened up cookie bars and brownies to cakes, muffins and breads to no-bake energy bites. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying on track with healthy choices! Healthy desserts are kind-of my jam. I like a dessert that gives back. One that has redeeming qualities. A sweet treat that’s going to treat me right. But of course, it also needs to be delicious so I actually satisfy those sweet cravings! The healthier dessert recipes you’ll find below are some of our go-to treats that are perfect for a healthier late-night option and many of which are great for offering kids a wholesome, but fun, treat for an after-school snack or tucked in their lunch box. Most of these recipes are whole grain and naturally sweetened, others are recipe makeovers that are lower in sugar and/or butter. A majority of them contain chocolate. 🍫❤️ And ALL are easy to make. (You can also check out my healthy muffin recipes and my entire category of sweets & desserts if you want more.) Here’s a few of our favorite healthy desserts: Healthy chocolate chip muffins Healthier no bake cookie bars No…
    • Healthy Fall BakingThese healthy fall baking favorites include everything from muffins and baked oatmeal to snacks to cookies and cakes. These fall recipes are whole grain and most are naturally sweetened for a wholesome, delicious treat at breakfast, snack, school lunch or dessert! Does anyone else get the baking bug when the cooler weather starts to roll in during autumn? I know I do! I get excited for all the apple baking projects, pumpkin baking projects and even getting ready for all the holiday baking to come! 🍎🎃 The spices, the warmth, the aroma of having something in the oven is just part of the season for me. Plus the love that comes from a homemade baked good – it just can’t be beat! ❤️ And y’all know my style is definitely a healthier version of baking. I use whole grains and most of my recipes are naturally sweetened. I try to lighten things up where possible and keep to mostly wholesome treats, maybe with a little indulgence here and there! 😉 Wondering where to start? Here are some of our healthy fall baking favorites: Chocolate chip apple cake Pumpkin baked oatmeal with chocolate chips Whole wheat pumpkin applesauce bread Easy healthy…
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Baking Day Tradition

November 29, 2021 By Kathryn Doherty

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A holiday baking day tradition is a treasured day spent making Christmas cookies and other holiday goodies and having some quality family time in the kitchen. Get tips and ideas on making yours a success!A collage of cookies and holiday treats and a family making them together with a text block in the middle

Ever since I was little, my mom and I have had a mother-daughter holiday baking day tradition.

It’s one of my favorite things about December and leading up to Christmas time.

Baking day, at its most simple, is really just a day full of baking.

We make cookies and treats and goodies and ALL of our Christmas favorites.

It’s a fun day of together time, spent measuring and mixing and making delicious food and precious memories.

We chat and laugh, and now that I’m older, often sip mimosas or wine, depending on the time of day. (We like to drink when we’re cooking. Thanksgiving day is all about the bloody Mary’s for us! 😊)

Here we are a few years back. I think this was technically us making Christmas dinner, not baking day, but it’s my mom’s same kitchen!

A mother and daughter cooking together in the kitchen

And honestly, this was not something I ever thought to post about.

But my aunt, the last time I saw her at the holidays, caught wind of this tradition and thought it was so sweet – and something she wished she had done with her daughters.

So today I thought I’d share all the ins and outs so you can make your very own baking day tradition with your loved ones!

Here are a few of my favorite bonus parts about having a baking day.

Baking day benefits:

  • You make a mess of the kitchen, but just the once.
  • You’ve already got all the basic ingredients out – sugar, flour, butter, eggs – so you might as well just keep using them.
  • The oven is already on. Make the most of it.
  • You can rinse and re-use bowls as you go.
  • Having more than two hands helping means everything goes faster.
  • It’s great for bonding and having fun!

Oh, and a caveat.

I’m referring to this a mother-daughter baking day tradition because that’s what it has been for our family.

You of course can include dads and sons in the fun. Men can bake, too. My 8-year-old son loves to help me in the kitchen and get in on the fun. Here he is a few years ago decorating a gingerbread cookie. 🥰

A little boy adding decorative icing to a gingerbread cookie

Or maybe you having a baking day with a sister, roommate, best friend or your partner.

Everyone is welcome!

OK, let’s get our bake on.

Now, I’ve got some notes and tips coming up on how to make your baking day a success – and as stress-free as possible. (This is supposed to be pure fun!)

And below that, I’ve got some of our favorite recipes to make every year if you need some inspiration.

Notes for baking day success:

  • Make sure to select all of your recipes in advance. It helps to have printed out copies to refer to because the kitchen may get messy!
  • Also, it helps to plan which recipes you’ll make first to maximize oven space and time. If you have something that requires refrigeration time or a recipe that is made stove-top, make a note of those things, too.
  • Plan to have all of the groceries on hand. Check supplies of any ingredients that may need to be replaced. (In other words, if your sugar is running low, be sure you have extra for a back-up!)
  • Check that you have plenty of storage containers to hold all of the baked goods you’re making.
  • Estimate how much time you’ll need to get everything done, so everyone can plan around it.

On that last point, baking day was often a full half-day event for us.

A little girl decorating a sugar cookie

When my babies were babies, however, I just didn’t have that kind of spare time. So we did a power hour or two at night instead.

My mom would get everything prepped and ready to go so we could just dive right in and be super efficient.

Now that my kids are older, and I can more easily ditch them, we’ve gone back to extended baking days. Way more fun!

Oh, and you can definitely get the kids involved! My mom and I sorta cherish this time for just the two of us, but I also do a modified baking day with my kiddos. Both my daughter and son love to be in the kitchen with me. ❤️

So any especially kid-friendly Christmas treats — like sugar cookies, that we can then decorate — get saved for my baking day with them.

Also, aprons are not necessarily but certainly make the day more festive and fun!

My mom and I had a matching set when I was younger. She has since passed that over to me to use with my daughter. See this cute photo of us from a few years back:

A mother and daughter wearing matching Christmas aprons and posing together in the kitchen

You can find some cute matching aprons on Amazon if you really want to get in the spirit.

Music can make it more fun, too. Put on some tunes and dance your way around the kitchen. 🎶

So let’s get on to some ides of what to include in your baking day, in terms of recipes and different fun things to make.

Our family has a few MUST HAVES every single year.

It just wouldn’t be the holidays without these treats. They are not negotiable for us.

Our go-to Christmas favorites:

  1. Chocolate chip cookies
  2. Rice Krispie wreaths or Rice Krispie Christmas trees
  3. Homemade Chex mix
  4. Sweet and salty pecans
  5. My grandmother’s chocolate chip brownies
  6. And either gingerbread cookies or sugar cookies – sometimes both!

Here’s my grandmother, years ago before she passed, enjoying a chocolate chip cookie – her absolute favorite!

A grandmother holding a chocolate chip cookie with a big smile on her face

We also like to add in a couple of new recipes to try, or other favorites to rotate in. It keeps things interesting year to year cause we love trying new things!

We’ve done old fashioned ginger snaps, peppermint chocolate chip cookies, truffles, snowball cookies, cranberry orange cookies and more over the years. I’ve also done chocolate bark with my kiddos and that’s fun, too.

Gather your favorite family recipes, browse cookbooks and magazines, check Pinterest and blogs and get a collection of recipes you want to tackle.

OK, let’s talk about what happens after baking day.

What should you do with all the yummy results of your baking fun?

Enjoy them and share the love!

Rice Krispies Christmas wreaths -- an easy, fun holiday dessert! | www.familyfoodonthetable.com

We eat as we go, but the extras are great for gift giving and holiday get togethers.

You can put together a mixed plate of treats for neighbors, teachers, friends and family. You could also take a plate to your local firefighters, post office or favorite small business. (Be sure it’s OK for them to accept food gifts. That might be iffy right now for some people.)

It’s also so convenient to have a selection of treats on hand for friends and family who come visit at the holidays. You can whip up a little platter to set out after dinner in no time.

For us, I know these treats are an absolute must to have on hand when my brother and his family come up for their December visit.

After all, he grew up with these treats as a regular part of his Christmas, too, and we like to make sure to keep that going. And share the tastes and memories with his kiddos.

Cause that’s really what baking day is all about. It’s making memories and traditions that you’ll carry with you always. And that you can share with the next generation to build family connections.

I hope that helps and I hope it inspires you to start your own baking day tradition, whatever it might look like and whoever it might include.

I bet it will come to be a favorite part of your holiday season, too.

Enjoy and a very happy holiday season to you!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. If you have a baking day tradition or favorite holiday treats, I’d love for you to share with us in the comments below! We can all use more ideas and recipes!

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a cookbook author, mom of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious food on the table for your family! More about me

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