Easy Recipes

I wrote this recipe up for 2 people but the sauce will feed four. So, you’ll either enjoy lots of sauce or have extras for two people. This is EASY and can be served at a dinner party.

Things like peppers are popular at Italian little plates restaurants. I’m offering you a recipe for mine here. Mine have a bit of an after-burner kick to them.

I ordered this dish at a restaurant in town. It was so good I said, “I have to figure out how to make this myself!” It was that wonderful.

This colorful dish is super simple to make. You can include whatever assortment of veggies you like. I’ll give you a list of suggested options. You can serve this with something cooked on the grill; chicken, fish, or even steak.

This is a decadent side dish. When I serve it, people at the table often ask me why this tastes so unique, so we play “guess the secret ingredient”…. Answer is the nutmeg. This dish goes well at dinner parties and holiday celebrations. It makes a perfect side dish for your upcoming holiday dinner.

To keep this recipe super easy the ribs are done in the oven. You could adapt this recipe for cooking on the grill but the whole point of this is you don’t have to babysit the cooking process like you do with grilling.

This comes together fast and easy yet it is fancy enough to serve to company. I just drooled over my dinner!

What’s the difference between chili and taco soup? Broth, of course. There is more broth in taco soup is more so it’s thinner than chili. The internet tells me that chili is technically considered a stew. Go figure.

This is a famous chili that probably should not even be called a chili. It was invented by two brothers who emigrated from Europe in the 1920’s. Of course, they lived in Cincinnati. When finished this will look sort of like chili but it’s served on spaghetti. There are no beans and it’s not spicy. It’s flavorful for sure, but not “hot.” Don’t let the list of ingredients throw you off.

This meal comes together in a MINUTE – or at least it feels like it. I made this for Saturday night movie night and it was a hit!

Grilled shrimp is a delicious summer treat. Enjoy this easy and tasty recipe!

This dish tastes very much like Shrimp Scampi that you might order in an Italian restaurant. The addition of cheese takes it over the top in terms of BIG YUM.

A ZReboot version of a ZReduction classic. If you like lamb, this recipe is a home run.

Roast carrots are easy to make and taste good every time. If you can splurge on fresh herbs, it will be well worth it. 

Another Happy Healthy Holidays classic. This is so easy it almost feels like cheating.

Most folks think of chicken wings as being a guy thing and even a sport fan thing but anyone can love this dip! I served it as a breakfast buffet item and it was hands down the dish that got the most comments and compliments. I think it was because it was so unexpected. The comments came from men and women alike but I must admit the guys were the ones who went gaga over this.

This simple Italian Soup is packed with flavor and convenience. It travels well and heats in the microwave too. Leftovers are a BIG YUM.

This looks like a lot of ingredients, but you’ll see it’s sort of a dump and cook recipe. Not difficult at all. If you love making Asian food you probably have many of these ingredients in the house. 

This is sort of one of those dump casseroles that come together quickly and doesn’t require a lot of effort or dishes.

This chicken casserole will remind you of chilies Rellenos. If you like those you’ll be a big fan of this low-carb dish. Simple to put together and toss in the oven. And Voila! Dinner. I serve with slices of avocado on the side dusted with a bit of grated sea salt.

I love my acorn squash roasted with just butter in the center and a sprinkle of sea salt and pepper. But I know tons of people want brown sugar in the middle and more. So this version can satisfy the sweet tooth and add an optional spice/heat factor.

As far as brunch casseroles go, this one is very easy to make and pleases the crowd. It can be made ahead and heated the day of the party.

This is a yummy dish with the creamy peanut butter sauce, the tamari and ginger.

A variation of my sea salt crusted snow peas recipe - but with snap peas!

This dish will be ready in about 20 minutes. All you have to do is a little chopping.

I designed this broccoli cheese soup for the average cook. It only takes a few minutes to chop the veggies and then put it in the pot and let the magic happen. All you have to do is stir it. How easy is that?

If you are going totally low carb you can serve this over lettuce. Bib lettuce would look nice.

This is a hearty and satisfying casserole for those who would love a traditional lasagna but know the noodles are not smart.

Anniversary chicken is a rather famous recipe. Been around a long time. I don’t have any idea, though, where the name came from. I made my own twist on this recipe. Most often it’s made with chicken breast. I made mine with chicken tenders.

These mushrooms are a super side dish. Perfect for a quiet dinner for two. Or make a giant bowl and serve on a holiday.

I did a cooked variation of this dish and served it as an entrée. Loved it.

This is a cheesy and bubbly casserole that will keep you warm for dinner during the cold winter weeknights!

The touch of nutmeg in here really makes the dish. Try this as a substitute for mashed potatoes. It’s really quite delightful

Dieter Rebecca first had this warm and rustic side dish while in Ireland on a road trip in 1994. These mushrooms where in every Irish B&B Dieter Rebecca visited. She loved the recipe so much she recreated it for Plan Z! Hope you enjoy.

This dish takes a humble vegetable like the eggplant and turns it into a crunchy, warm and Italian inspired meal. Big yum!

We had this quiche as a vegetarian entrée for a light dinner. My husband loved it so much he had it again the next morning for breakfast.

Serve this at your next family event instead of potatoes and you’ll save 30% of the carbs.

Can be a vegetarian entrée or a side dish. SUPER Yummy because as the squash bakes it becomes sweet.

This is one of my favorite summer dishes. You can eat this hot or cold.

This dish comes together in a flash! You can also make it with steak or even seafood. When I get a hankering for pasta, I crave Chicken Alfredo. This one did it for me!

The humble cucumber strongly stands in for bread in this protein packed lunch staple. Crunchy. Wonderful. And it is so much better for you!

They say everything goes better with bacon. From the sounds coming out of my husband when he took his first bite I’d say that’s on target. He loved this dish.

This dishes coaxes out an abundance of flavor from the shrimp. Creamy, smooth, and slightly spiced your taste buds will light up with his lightened seafood recipe.

This tastes like a little bit of France in your home. This one has pasta in it so it hits Z3.5. If you make it without pasta you could have it earlier in Z3. All the directions will stay the same if you make the Z3 version simply omit the pasta.

Even a novice cook can handle this one...and it’s only two pans! This also re-heats great for lunch the next day.

This recipe is taken from the cookbook New Farm: Savoury Recipes from a Farmhouse Kitchen on the Isle of Bute by Carole Howard.

To prep for this dish soak your wooden skewers in water for 15 or 20 minutes to they will be wet and won’t burn on the grill. Or use metal skewers.

Riley rocked her refrigerator to come up with this one. Riley says, "I was looking for a way to use up leftovers and winter in Nebraska is a great time for soups."

The only trick to coleslaw is to make it ahead, as the flavors need some time to develop. This one is just about as easy to make as the other stuff is to pour out of the jar. And healthier.

You can serve these as an appetizer, a party buffet food, a lunch or even as a dinner option. If you have never had Thai food and want an easy way to try it, this is a perfect dish.