Home cooked meals are few and far between these days. With all of the fast food chains, TV dinners, and restaurants, we tend to forget how nice it is to sit down and have a meal at home with our family. It has crossed my mind, that at some point we just think dinner is too darn hard and too time consuming to take care of each night. Recipes can be over complicated, long, and boring. These are some of the reasons author Amanda Haas joined forces with Cooking Light to create the “Real Family Food” cookbook. This unique cookbook contains 150 recipes to inspire families to return to the kitchen table!
The table of contents is one of my favorite things about the Real Family Food Cookbook. It’s easy to browse through all of the recipes because they have small thumbnail photos of each according to the categories. The first section titled the “basics” has convenient recipes for things like sauces, dressings, salsa, and even pizza dough. Some of the other groupings include Snack Time & Happy Hour, Salads & Side Dishes, Dinner Tonight, Sweet Treats, and more. Something I found very unique about this cookbook was the section on family meal planning which offers tips and guidance to starting one successfully. This is definitely not your typical cookbook. It’s so much more! The author, Amanda Haas, even shares her favorite tools and staple items that should be in every family’s pantry. You can tell she put an extensive amount of thought and care into creating this guide for the typical family. Not everyone is an expert chef and after reading this you will realize you don’t have to be to get a savory meal on the table!
There are so many recipes, that I had a hard time choosing which I would like to make for dinner tonight. I almost went with the French Toast Soldiers but figured I would save that for the next morning! Am I the only one that enjoy eating breakfast for dinner? Show of hands! After flipping through the pages, going back and forth, and a trip to the grocery store- I finally made a decision. I wanted to try something from at least two of the categories which lead me to make the Parmesan-Panko Chicken Tenders and the Hot Pink Smoothie. Dinner was delish and most importantly EASY to make.
Parmesan-Panko Chicken Tenders
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders (about 12 tenders)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
- 1.3 ounces grated fresh Parmesan cheese (about 1/3 cup)
- 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 4 lemon quarters (optional)
Preperation:
- Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place eggs in a shallow bowl. Combine panko and cheese in another shallow bowl. Dip chicken in egg; dredge in breadcrumb mixture.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil; swirl to coat. Add half of chicken; cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until browned and done. Remove from pan. Repeat procedure with remaining oil and chicken. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve with lemon quarters, if desired.
Hot Pink Smoothie
- 1 cup frozen unsweetened raspberries
- 1 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons agave syrup
Preperation:
- Place all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.
The Real Family Cookbook has pages upon pages of delicious, SIMPLE, and quick recipes to help make dinner stress free. If you would like to win your own copy please enter below through the rafflecopter form.
Disclosure: I received the product above for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own!
Samantha says
My fiance works night shift, so I struggle to get meals prepared consistently because of time restraints… plus on non-work nights sometimes its 8 or 9 before we get to eat dinner because of his sleep patterns.
HilLesha says
My biggest challenge is getting the 6 year old to sit at the dinner table. He much rather play with toys, lol.
sonrisasbonitas says
My biggest challenge is coming up with dinner ideas. Patricia
M says
My biggest challenge is coming up with something to eat every night!
Peggy Damon says
figuring out "what's for dinner"
sweetheart4171(at)yahoo(dot)com
Samantha Remington says
Making healthy, home cooked vegan food in 30 minutes or less for my family with enough leftovers for next day's lunches
Angel says
My biggest challenge is to keep my 21 month old out of the kitchen while I cook.
Melinda Dunne says
Time I never have enough of it.
Donna says
finding something delicious but tasty to make
Harmony Burmeister says
making something everyone will eat
Kelly Marie says
My biggest challenge is having enough time to cook everything. (I have a 4 month old) 🙂
Kathy says
Coming up with something everyone will eat
Coup Gator says
Trying to do it with a baby in the house
Daydreaming Realist says
My biggest challenge(s) is finding stuff everyone will eat and trying to cook around the people/child going in and out of the kitchen. *Real Talk*
susitravl says
Not having a stove. I just moved and haven't had time to buy one!
Saver Sara says
Finding a healthy meal my entire family will eat
Ivy Gayle says
Hardest thing for me… is that I tend to burn food hahaha. But seriously.. I do. Or it is too bland. My honey had learned that if he wants tasty food then he needs to cook.
Sam Stamp says
For me, we just don't have a lot of money to spend on food so there are days or weeks where we have a lot of pasta! Finding a way to have variety without spending an arm and leg is my biggest challenge!
Christine says
My dinnertine challenge is figuring out something to make that my picky husband will eat that won't bore me to death. Sometimes he can be worse than a kid!
Jennifer Colgan says
My biggest challenge is trying to cook with three hungry kids yelling that they're hungry! 🙂
Lauren says
coming up with food ideas that my daughter will eat. She has become really picky since she has a job and can go grab fast food. I want to be able to have her eat healthier
Laura says
My biggest challenge is time, I want something that doesn't take a lot time to cook, because we're already limited on time from when we get home from work to bedtime, so I want quick meals, so we can spend more family time together.
Kylie Carlson says
Getting everything on the table at the same time- my timing is terrible!
desdun31 says
Having the time to cook what I want to.
Desiree Dunbar
desireedunbar@hotmail.com
Cindy B. says
My biggest challenge during dinner time is finding something everybody love, even my pickiest eater.
me says
Having the time to cook
Kathy says
Turning the TV off while we eat
Nicole-Lynn says
My biggest challenge for dinnertime is not having the time to make something. I need quick, easy meals since I'm in school and my husband works.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Nicole-Lynn says
My biggest challenge for dinnertime is not having the time to make something. I need quick, easy meals since I'm in school and my husband works.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Nicole-Lynn says
My biggest challenge for dinnertime is not having the time to make something. I need quick, easy meals since I'm in school and my husband works.
Seasidesmitten@aol.com
Katie Fenters says
My biggest struggle is having a consistent dinner time since my husband works swing shift.
KProsser1989@ymail.com
Tina L. says
biggest challenge is figuring out what to make for dinner.
tinalee351 at gmail dot com
Denise says
Getting everyone to sit down at the same time!
JR911 says
Keeping things healthy but affordable.
Amanda Rauch says
Not making the house 120 degrees by having to cook dinner.
Gianna says
Making something everyone likes.
SavingCommonCents says
My biggest challenge is keeping the kids occupied while I'm cooking!
furygirl3132 says
My biggest challenge is trying to get the kids to eat what I make. It always seems like they want something different and it's hard to come up with new ideas. Thanks so much for hosting this great giveaway!
Eloise
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net