The Magic of Making Ahead

There’s nothing better than when I’m hosting friends, family, or having a get-together at my house to be able to make whatever I can in advance!

The same goes for when I’m going to an event and I’m supposed to bring a dish to share - I love getting it done the day before.

It saves me from feeling like I’m living in the kitchen the day of the event when I’m the hostess, and just helps me relax more when I know I have the sides or salads done, ready, and waiting in my fridge.

With all of these salads that you’ll find below - a combo of pasta salads, bean, corn, or grain salads - you can make them 24-36 hours in advance. That’s all I would push it for optimal taste and texture.

Many of these do not have mayo which is nice for outdoor events. But with any of them, if you’re bringing a dish to an outdoor event in the middle of summer, make sure to keep things in the shade and keep your serving bowl on ice. Use common sense. Just because you can make them in advance, doesn’t mean you can store them out of refrigeration for hours and hours.

Pasta Salads

🍋🥒🍅 This Mediterranean Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad is loaded with flavor, ready in minutes, and showcases Mediterranean-inspired ingredients! It’s perfect for summer potlucks and barbecues (no mayo!) and feeds a crowd. Or, make it for an EASY family dinner with planned leftovers!

Taco Pasta Salad – EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with great Mexican-inspired ingredients including corn, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and more! Very kid-friendly (and adult friendly) and they’ll all want seconds!

BLT Pasta Salad — EASY, ready in 15 minutes, feeds a crowd, and PERFECT for potlucks and parties. Creamy ranch dressing perfectly coats the pasta and BACON. Guaranteed family FAVORITE!

Tomato and Mozzarella Pesto Pasta Salad features tender pasta, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella are coated in Parmesan cheese and DELICIOUS pesto sauce! EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and great for easy meals with planned leftovers or for parties because it feeds a crowd!

Shrimp Pasta Salad 🍤🫛🌿 with tender pasta, juicy shrimp, crunchy celery, bell peppers, and peas are tossed in a creamy and tangy homemade dressing for zesty perfection! Great for summer gatherings to serve as a side salad or make it for a lighter yet satisfying stand alone meal for lunch or dinner! Very EASY and always a crowd FAVORITE!

Chicken Orzo Salad has juicy chicken tossed with orzo, tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and a super flavorful lemon vinaigrette! Easy, healthy, ready in 30 minutes, and a perfect way to use your garden fresh veggies!

Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad takes me back to the grocery store pasta salad I grew up eating in the ‘80s with big juicy chicken chunks and texture galore from the rainbow of crispy veggies! Fast, easy, fresh and healthy!! Great for picnics, potlucks, and easy dinners!

Greek Lemon Chicken and Orzo 🥒🍅 is so EASY, ready in 25 minutes, and feeds a crowd! Juicy lemon chicken with orzo, fresh spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes make this a dinnertime WINNER! Great for parties, picnics, and potlucks too because people LOVE this one!

Italian Chicken Pasta Salad is easy, ready in 20 minutes, and showcases some of my favorite summer ingredients. It’s perfect for summer potlucks and BBQs, or as a no-fuss family dinner!

🥓🎉🙌🏻 This Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is CREAMY, delicious, and ready in just 20 minutes! Made with rotini pasta coated in a creamy ranch dressing and tossed with bacon, peas, cheddar cheese, and more, it’s the perfect FAST and EASY side dish to bring to summer potlucks and barbecues. Or, serve it for a tasty lunch or as part of a quickie weeknight dinner that’s a sure-fire family FAVORITE!

Bean, Corn, or Grain Salads

Mexican Bean Salad with Corn 🌽💃🏼 is such a fast and easy recipe to make! Plus, it’s loaded with flavor and textures galore. Two kinds of beans, juicy corn and tomatoes, crisp peppers, and green onions are tossed in a lime-chili-cumin vinaigrette that’s perfectly light!

Easy 5 Bean Salad 🫘🙌🏻🥗The BEST bean salad with 5 types of beans, artichoke hearts, red onions, veggies, and takes just 10 MINUTES to prepare! Everything is tossed in a tangy, savory yet slightly sweet vinaigrette that ties everything together perfectly. Serve this as a protein-packed side dish for dinner, at picnics and potlucks, or as a stand-alone healthy lunch option. The recipe is EXTREMELY flexible, too!

🥗 Smoky Roasted Chickpea Salad with Buttermilk Chive Dressing is an EASY salad with smoky roasted chickpeas, vegetables, kale, and topped with homemade chive-infused buttermilk dressing! An accidentally vegetarian, gluten-free, HEALTHY, and SATISFYING salad, it’s quick, delicious, and filling!

Mexican Corn and Black Bean Salad is full of smoky grilled flavor and a personal favorite! An EASY corn salad with black beans, zucchini, red onions, cilantro, lime juice, and more! So much Mexican-inspired FLAVOR in every bite of this family favorite recipe that’s sure to be a hit!

Twelve Superfood Salad 🥗🫐🥬🍇 is the only “lettuce” salad in this roundup and that’s because the kale stands up so well so you can make it in advance. And this superfood salad is packed with 12 superfoods! This is a great clean out the fridge meal and is easily customized to suit whatever you need to use up. Best of all you just FEEL so good eating it. The most popular salad recipe for the last decade on my site!

🫒🧀😋 This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a massive personal favorite and I could eat it all the time! It’s ready in 20 minutes with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients, including chickpeas, Kalamata olives, artichokes, and goat cheese, to give layers of flavor and texture in every bite! It’s naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, too!

Roasted Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad is an EASY, healthy, lettuce-less salad with roasted curried cauliflower and chickpeas as the STARS! Topped with raisins, pistachios, cilantro, and a DELISH tangy Greek yogurt dressing!

🐟🌿 This Chickpea Tuna Salad is a quick and EASY protein-packed recipe with fresh veggies for a light crunch! With bright, tangy flavors and a satisfying texture, it’s ready in 10 minutes for quick lunches or as a side salad for dinner!

🍗🍅🌿 My Pesto Chicken Caprese Salad combines JUICY chicken, ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a homemade pesto. A fun twist on classic Caprese, it’s easy, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with rich basil flavor! The balsamic keeps the basil from oxidizing.

🍂🧡🥗 My Roasted Brussel Sprout Salad is a HEARTY salad that celebrates the flavors of fall including roasted Brussels sprouts and dried cranberries along with quinoa, chickpeas, spinach, and goat cheese! Perfect for lunch, a meatless main, or a HEALTHY side dish - save this one for the holidays, too!

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Handy Storefront

I created a little storefront where I put all my favorite products and the ones I’m discussing below. It’s ALL LINKED HERE for easy reference.

The Sale Details

• At Sephora checkout, you need to enter code SPRINGSALE 📣

• Most products are 20% OFF! Sephora’s own line of products are 30% OFF!

• Sale runs 4/10-4/20. Depending on your Sephora status and if you’re a Beauty Insider member already with points, some have first access from 4/10-4/14, but from 4/14-4/20 everyone has access to the same deals. Sale ends 4/20.

• Don’t wait because the good stuff and really well priced stuff does sell out.

• To reduce overwhelm and unnecessary consumerism, I am sharing my favorites! I don’t use every single thing, every single day, and the older I get, I operate with the ‘less is more’ philosophy. However, I also like to save money on things I am going to end up buying anyway so I stock up now.

Top 10 Can’t Miss Products (with more details in the various sections below)

Crown Affair Dry Shampoo - If you buy one single product this sale, this is the one!

Crown Affair Hair Drying Towel is magic! Shaves so much time off drying your hair!

Pureology Shampoo + Pureology Conditioner - I’ve been using these for 10 years, I try others, but always come back to them because my hair is just better with them.

Patrick Ta Cream Foundation + Setting Powder - My #1 makeup discovery during the last Sephora sale that’s changed my makeup game and I LOVE this product! I use shade Fair 3, golden neutral. Here’s the thing….even if you buy the incorrect shade online, you bought it on sale. So you can go into the store at your leisure, color match in person, but you got the sale price locked in on your exchange. You’re welcome.

Bobbi Brown Dual-Ended Longwear Cream Eyeshadow - For those of us who are eye makeup-challenged, this is foolproof and doesn’t rub off.

Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat - Been loyal to this brow pencil for a few years now.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Gloss - In Pillowtalk, it’s a cult favorite for a reason. + Makeup Forever Lip Pencil in Wherever Walnut – If I can only have one pencil for the rest of my life, this is the one. Wear them together.

Caudalie Foaming Face Cleanser - Clean ingredients that FOAM. Love me some good lather and this delivers.

Coco Chanel Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum - I’ve been wearing this for 20 years, I get multiple compliments on it every week, to this day. Buy your favorite perfume NOW when it’s on sale for 20% off!

Hair

Crown Affair Dry Shampoo - If you buy one single product this sale, this is the one! It changed my life about 18 months ago because it shaves so much time off my daily/weekly routine of washing and drying my hair. Rather than coming in an aerosol like other dry shampoos, it’s a loose powder that you brush onto your hair like you’d brush loose powder onto your face. A little goes quite a long way and you’ll have this container for a good while - and then you can purchase the refills which are less expensive! The scent is amazing. Light and fresh and truly can transform day 5-6 hair into looking like it’s day 2 hair. No joke. It’s perfect for travel because it’s not considered a liquid nor an aerosol.

Crown Affair Hair Drying Towel is magic! Shaves so much time off drying your hair! It’s so much better than any hair drying towel I’ve ever used.

Crown Affair Hair Perfume - I love the smell of their dry shampoo, so got the hair perfume (for days when I don’t actually need dry shampoo). It’s almost the same scent, just a little different, very lovely.

K18- Repairs hair like no other. Fried, dried, overprocessed, or underloved, this stuff is the deal.

Pureology Shampoo + Pureology Conditioner - I’ve been using this for 10 years, I try others, but always come back to it. Smells great, hydrating, just works. And every time I cheat on it, I have more breakage, more split ends, so I just stay loyal now.

Slip Silk Scrunchies - The Amazon ones are not the same. These are the GOATs. Not all scrunchies were created equal so if you don’t want to rip your hair out or damage it when tying it up, get these.

Dyson Supersonic Natural Hair Dryer - An investment but if you’re going to bite the bullet, may as well do it during a sale. I’ve had mine for about 3 years and love it.

Makeup

Patrick Ta Cream Foundation + Setting Powder - My #1 makeup discovery during the last Sephora sale that’s changed my makeup game and I LOVE this product! After a certain age most foundations or concealers are just too drying, or they’re just like liquid soup that sits on your face. This is neither. The foundation part is creamy, blendable, smooth, doesn’t settle into fine lines, and gives good coverage without being overdone. The 2-in-1 setting powder in the same compact sets it so that your makeup lasts - and only 1 compact. I love love love this!

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Gloss - In Pillowtalk, it’s a cult favorite for a reason. Pair it with Pillowtalk liner for great results. OR the Makeup Forever liner below. There’s also a SET which is a great way to try this shade, noting that in the set it’s a liner and lipstick rather than the gloss.

Makeup Forever Lip Pencil in Wherever Walnut – If I can only have one pencil for the rest of my life, this is the one. It “goes” with almost anything you put on top of it and is very long-wearing.

Summer Fridays Lip Gloss - A cult fave among the 30 and under group I’ve found (although works for any age group). If you need a little stocking stuffer type of gift for someone, hostess gift, birthday, etc. this is always a welcome and practical gift.

HausLabs Concealer - A more hydrating concealer that doesn’t seem to settle into fine lines and wrinkles as much and doesn’t seem so dry. I used to be a diehard Nars concealer girl but switched to this about a year ago and love it.

YSL Concealer Pen - My daughter loves this one. Luxury beauty just feels so good going on!

Bobbi Brown Dual-Ended Longwear Cream Eyeshadow – If you’re a person who’s never really figured out how to put on your eyeshadow OR if you’re a person with lines and creases and dry eyeshadow just sinks into the crevices, this stick is foolproof! It’s creamy, hydrating, you put it on your eyelid, blend it with your fingertip a little, and you’re done. I use the golden pink/taupe. It’s like a two-for-one because you get two colors in one stick and it lasts a long time. I’ve tried knockoffs but they don’t work nearly as well and the quality isn’t the same.

Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat - Been loyal to this brow pencil for a few years now. It’s easy to do medium to darker browns well; it’s harder to do blonder or lighter shades for lighter brows and this is the best blonde (not ashy, not orange) with fabulous texture.

Kosas Brow Gel - Similar to above, it’s hard to find a product for those of us without really dark natural brows that doesn’t look like you smeared tar on them. This one delivers and lasts.

Dual-Ended Brush - Perfect for cream or powder blush or bronzer.

Makeup Forever Powder Foundation - I prefer powder over liquid foundations, always have. If you’re like me, give this one a try.

Charlotte Tilbury Bronzer - Refillable bronzer that seems to last forever and does the job.

Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops - They do just what they say without being too much. The Isle of Paradise are also good, slightly cheaper, both work great.

Nars Powder Blush - In Orgasm X, it’s my favorite pinky blush that I always reach for.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Setting Powder - Gives the smoothest, most airbrushed look and sets everything in. Can also use it to control oil throughout the day without feeling like you’re adding more and more makeup. Great for undereye area on mature skin that’s prone to crepey-ness. This doesn’t settle into those fine lines as much.

Charlotte Tilbury Setting Spray - Hydrating, doesn’t dry you out, really locks in your makeup for hours!

Nars Hydrating Lipstick in Dolce Vita + Nars Afterglow Lip Shine Gloss in A-Lister – This trifecta of the pencil above, this lipstick, and then this shimmery gloss with gold tones to top it off is perfection! This is the exact combo I wore in my wedding and was turned onto it by a professional makeup artist for Nars. It’s so versatile for day-to-night, casual-to-formal. It just works!

L’Oreal Mascara - This is an Amazon link because this is L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara in Carbon Black and it’s about $10 bucks. It works just as well as $30 mascara IMO, lasts the same amount of time, and I see no difference in results. I am so sick of paying outrageous prices for mascara that really isn’t superior. I used to be diehard loyal to Lancome mascara but they get really gloppy, thick, and dry quickly lately for me and I can’t justify it.

Skincare + Fragrance

Caudalie Foaming Face Cleanser - Found this a year ago and have not looked back. It’s perfect, clean ingredients, love it. I also grab the travel sizes to keep in my suitcase.

Caudalie Toner - Pore minimizing toner that’s not harsh or stripping.

Vinoperfect Brightening Face Cleanser - Foaming with an AHA micropeel effect. I use this a couple times a week, and the rest of the time use the other Caudalie cleanser above.

Vinoperfect Brightening Serum - It works, lives up to the hype, a little goes a long way, and all things considered it’s much more reasonable than other products that promise to do the same thing.

The Ordinary Hylauronic Acid - Should be a must-do for everyone a few times a week because it draws moisture into your skin.

The Ordinary Lash & Brow Serum - I’ve only used this on my lashes and it works well, very clean ingredients.

Babe Lash - An Amazon link, but it’s my personal fave lash serum because I think it just works amazingly well. Taken along with these Amazon Biotin and Collagen pills, my lashes are better, longer, stronger than they have been in years!

Tatcha - Dewy facial moisturizer that my daughter turned me onto and I love it.

Coco Chanel Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum - I’ve been wearing this for 20 years, I get multiple compliments on it every week, to this day. When I wear other perfume, I never get compliments. Note there’s also an “intense” version (I don’t really like it very much) not to be confused with the linked one above.

Chanel Blue - Men’s perfume (cologne) that smells amazing and it’s one of many my husband has in his arsenal but I love this one.

Glossier - One of my daughter’s favorite perfumes, it kind of “adapts” to you and so it smells different on everyone. I love this on her and whenever I smell it on someone else (it’s still recognizable), I always think of her.

Kate McLeod Body Moisturizer - New-to-me product that looks like a bar of soap but it’s a solid “stone” moisturizer for body that you rub all over after you get out of the shower or bath and it soaks into your skin so nicely. Massage oil meets lotion that’s not greasy at all, clean ingredients, smells heavenly. I have the Grounding Stone (smells like a spa) and the Unscented is great for extremely sensitive skin.

Brazilian Bum Bum Firming Cream Set – It smells like a tropical vacation and if you want to get the matching Body Spray, go for it. It’s so aromatic! I also love the #68 Sol de Janeiro body spray.

I stocked up on similar things on the last sale

If you are not interested in my content, feel free to unsubscribe yourself by scrolling down and clicking the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom and you’ll never hear from me again. If you follow me for recipes averiecooks.com is where I post just recipes. This is my other platform where I share a bit of everything!

I’m in no place to sit in judgement of someone’s life story so I don’t put star ratings on memoirs or autobiographies.

If it’s on this list though it means I liked it well enough (or a ton) to recommend it and there are a couple of them that I have a made a special notation that they’re especially amazing. Gripping, powerful, and I truly had no idea that this person lived through ALL of that because I would have never known or never guessed. Truly, don’t just a book by it’s cover, or in this case the author and what you “think” about that person.

I love audiobooks and listen when I’m running, power walking, at the gym, washing dishes, driving, and and in all of these, the author narrates his or her own story. And the story is just that much better when it comes out of the author’s own mouth, in their accent, dialect, their cadence. Check out Audible and consider getting a package. Books come out to less than $10 buck each if you buy a bundle.

Tell-All

Strangers by Belle Burton (2023)

A haunting and quietly intense memoir, Strangers is a #1 NYT bestseller right now and is on all the cool kids’ TBR lists. It hooks you in immediately because it's a tell all of a woman who's husband of 20 years and 3 kids later just leaves her, unexpectedly, out of left field, no signs, no warning. To add insult to injury, he did it in March 2020 and we all know what was breaking out globally then. So she weathered the pandemic AND her divorce, alone.

I've been divorced, it's an awful time, even in the most amicable of divorces. And what I applaud the author for doing is being brave enough to tell her story with unflinching honesty and with 3 teenage/young adult children, and doing it in front of very privileged (and very judgy) friends and peers onlooking. I couldn't ever be the one to put all my dirty marital and divorce laundry on a page, for all the world to read about, so I really give her props for telling this story that blind-sighted her - she truly did not see it coming, that is very clear.

It also makes me question a lot about marriage, and people in general: how is it possible to not know that your husband of 20 years is going to walk in one day and just leave you? How is it possible to be be so caught off guard? How is it possible for someone to live a double life of sorts, and to not be the person at all you thought you were married to? Very thought provoking book! It's a short read and even shorter audio when you listen at 1.9-2.0x speed like I do, just under 4 hours.

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (2025) Free on Kindle Unlimited

Wondering what Facebook is really like? This is a sharp, insider memoir that pulls back the curtain on Facebook’s rise and the ethical compromises behind its global influence. Sarah Wynn-Williams blends personal narrative with whistleblower-style revelations, detailing a workplace culture shaped by power, ambition, and troubling decision-making. It’s an eye-opening and very unsettling read about greed, power, how social media can and has changed society, and reframes how we think about Big Tech and its impact on the world.

Subscribe now

Cult-Like Craziness

Educated by Tara Westover (2018)

In Educated, Tara Westover chronicles her journey from an isolated, survivalist childhood where she was mentally, emotionally, and physically abused. It’s a story of triumph and not being chained by our upbringings. She educates herself in a big way, going to a globally prestigious university, while shedding the craziness of her upbringing in the process. Her storytelling is both razor-sharp and deeply emotional, capturing the tension between loyalty to family and the pursuit of self. This memoir is as intellectually compelling as it is profoundly moving.

Her actual life story reminds me so much of Kristin Hannah’s, The Great Alone, because of the crazy, erratic, mentally ill father. I read the two books in close proximity to each other - with the Great Alone being first - and I had to stop and remind myself that Educated is real, the other was fiction!

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner (2016)

As I said in the opening, I don't feel it's okay to rate someone's life story with stars but if I were going to, this story and the author would get all the praise and accolades and the highest rating! She is a heroine, a champion, a survivor of just about everything. This is a story of a girl growing up in a fundamentalist, polygamist, Mormon cult between border states in the US and northern Mexico. She was the 39th child of her father's 42 children before he was killed by his brother. Her mother remarried a man who had....40+ children. The cycle of poverty, pregnancy, and the overarching beliefs that a woman's place is to make babies and make meals, and to share her husband with many other sister wives was just horrifying that in my childhood, other kids were growing up and this was their world.

I went down a rabbit hole of researching the LeBaron cult and there are many other books on the topic; written by other surviving children who are now adults and other sister wives who (in my opinion) were brainwashed into thinking this whole lifestyle is okay and what God wants. The jaw-dropping, shocking things that happened in the 1970s-80s are just unspeakable but thanks to Ruth Wariner unabashedly sharing her story, I learned more and became more aware. Her story is one of extreme survival, extreme, extreme survival. If you've ever thought your life was hard, it wasn't.

There is just about every kind of trigger warning in this book, but if she lived it, I can read it and honor it. And if you're in the mood for a different memoir with an equally crazy father and family life (although not Mormon), read Educated by Tara Westhover, above.

Celebrity & Pop Culture

Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (2024)

I grew up watching Ina Garten on the Food Network and in some way, women like Rachel Ray, Giada, and Ina may have quietly steered me into my career as a food blogger. I loved Ina the most, especially her relationship with Jeffery that we would see glimpses of on her cooking shows.

Ina Garten’s memoir is as warm, inviting, and thoughtful as her cooking, blending personal stories with reflections on career, marriage, and reinvention. She shares her path with honesty (spoiler alert, life with Jeffrey and her marriage were not always perfect) and a grounded sense of gratitude, emphasizing preparation as the foundation for “luck.” I really appreciated the behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life, especially the Paris connection. And I just bought tickets for her new book tour when she’s going to be in San Diego in the fall!

Spare by Prince Harry (2023)

I’ve never been a person obsessed with British royalty and all the drama, gossip, and stories behind the curtain. However, if that’s you, you’re going to love this memoir. Because it had me super intrigued and captivated! Spare offers an intimate and often raw look at Prince Harry’s life within and beyond the British royal family. With candor and vulnerability, he reflects on grief, identity, and the pressures of public life. The memoir is both deeply personal and culturally revealing, sparking conversation about tradition, trauma, and autonomy.

What I related to the most was not really feeling valued in one’s family of origin for being who one is. And that what he was doing wasn’t enough, wasn’t good enough, and he was always in the shadow of his older brother no matter what he did for a father and a monarchy that was largely unpleaseable - and you’re never enough. How many of us can relate to that! I wish he would have gotten more into the drama (and spilled more tea) between he and his brother and their two wives but there’s enough and I was hanging on every word.

Full Out by Monica Aldama (2021)

If you ever watched the Netflix show Cheer, you know who Queen Monica is! I started watching Cheer years ago because my daughter started cheering when she was 3 years old and by default, I became a cheer mom. Going to all the competitions, the events, and her team even went to World’s at Walt Disney World in Orlando when she was in grade school and it’s a lifelong, cherished memory, for both of us. My daughter cheered all through high school and was the captain of her team, and I was sad when she didn’t want to cheer in college, but she also wanted to ‘have a life other than cheer’ as she said which I completely understand and respect since it’s a year-round sport with just May off. Cheerleaders are some of the hardest working athletes out there - flipping their bodies around into the air, taking hard falls (both my daughters arms and elbow had both been broken by the time she was 6 years old), and doing it with a SMILE, grace, and a full face of makeup. Not for the faint of heart.

Full Out combines Monica Aldama’s personal story with leadership lessons drawn from her success as a championship cheer coach. She emphasizes discipline, resilience, and the power of high standards, offering insights that extend far beyond the mat. She is a heroine for me, on every level, professionally, personally, athletically, and in her relationship with her husband, her adult children, and in her faith. She expects the best of herself and her athletes, on every level; always. There is no half-assing it.

As she says,“You keep going until you get it right. And then you keep going until you can’t get it wrong.” Amen, Queen.

Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton (2023) Free on KindleUnlimited!

This woman and memoir are among the most under appreciated in Hollywood, or anywhere. There were truly jaw dropping moments in this book: abuse on every level, being tortured at school, and telling her parents who didn’t believe her; the actual literal physical strength it took her to escape some of the places where she was sent, honestly just shocking, truly shocking.

Moving far beyond tabloid caricatures to reveal a more complex and vulnerable self, she addresses past trauma, the realities of fame, and the intentional creation of her public persona with surprising depth. The book is both a personal reckoning and a sharp commentary on celebrity culture. I honestly do not know how she has forgiven her parents for what she has outlined in this book.

She also proves that while her birthright’s namesake comes with ultimate privilege, she is an extremely intelligent businesswoman, shrewd, hard working to the core, an extremely dedicated wife and mother. Whatever you think about her going in, I promise there is so much more than meets the eye. Her narration is amazing, too!

Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson (2023) Free on KindleUnlimited!

A deeply personal memoir that reveals a more introspective and thoughtful side of Pamela Anderson. So much more than the blonde Playmate and Baywatch star many of us watched three decades ago (wow, time flies).

Told in a mix of prose and diary-like reflections, it traces her rise to fame, relationships, and efforts to reclaim her identity on her own terms. The result is a surprisingly tender and self-aware portrait that challenges long-held public perceptions.

What I really appreciate about Pamela Anderson today is that she is an activist, speaking out about everything from animal rights to human rights, and she has the platform to do it. Secondly, she is 58 years old, and has not fallen into the Hollywood trap of “anti-aging” treatments, facial plastic surgery, never ending Botox and fillers, and has embraced an aging gracefully attitude, which I commend her, it takes internal strength to just shun all of that when your cohorts are doing everything and anything to look younger and ‘better’.

Here are some other book review posts to check out!

Food and Cooking Hacks

Cook double (or triple) the amount of food for that meal so that you have planned leftovers - especially chicken. I know there are some people who are anti-leftovers but I am not one of those people. I know there are people who don’t have protein goals but I am not one of those people. 100 grams a day, minimum.

So when I grill chicken, I cook 3 pounds. Half a pound is shrinkage and so I’m left with 2 1/2 pounds. Of which about a pound is eaten that day and then the remaining 1 1/2 pounds is used over the next few days. If you’re more of an air fryer chicken person, I personally pack my air fryer with as much as it can hold within reason, and add a few minutes to the overall cook time.

Straight off my camera roll from earlier this week (above) with recipe (below):

• 3 pounds of chicken breasts, marinated in a large ziplock with 1/2 to 2/3 cup ranch salad dressing (marinade hack that does not make the chicken taste like ranch, instead this seals in flavor and moisture), 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice or lime juice (doesn’t make it lemony or limey but the acid tenderizes the chicken), 2 teaspoons salt (don’t skip), and pepper to taste.

• Seal bag, squish around, refrigerate for 1-4 hours, take out of fridge 30 minutes before you grill.

• Grill hack is to grill it over medium heat, take it easy, slow and steady, so you don’t burn it. Don’t crank that grill all the way as hot as it goes, please

• Take the temperature and know for sure it’s 165F, rest it 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Check out these grilling recipes too!

Make a stir fry rather than letting produce go to waste! Or soup when it’s soup season. This Chicken Egg Roll Bowl (left below) is a stir fry inspired recipe that I’ve added just about everything to that’s not listed in the recipe - zucchini, mushrooms, onions of any color, broccoli, summer squash, spinach, kale, fresh herbs - and it always turns out great. The same can be said for this Pork Noodle Stir Fry (right below) add zucchini, cauliflower, sugar snap peas, seriously almost anything you have in your crisper drawer!

Tech Hacks

Get someone else’s contact info stored in your iPhone without typing it in! Just touch the tip of your iPhone to the tip of their iPhone kind of like they’re kissing and voila, your contact info is shared/theirs is received (you have to allow/accept). More info here!

This is particularly useful when you’re at an event, you meet someone, you want to get their contact info…. But….you may have had a few drinks making this simple task more clumsy than it needs to be, you’re bad with technology anyway, you have fat fingers, you forgot your readers, problem solved.

Save or add people with descriptive details. I never just say Allison Smith in my own phone. I always enter in things like: Allison Smith/tall blonde from Jenny D’s party. Or Allison Smith/mom of Sophia on cheer team. How many of us enter other women’s info in our phones based on their child and connection to our own child? You get the point though. I meet a lot of people and while we had an amazing connection in the moment, I have a lot of moments and my memory 2 weeks later may not serve. So this is 100% always necessary and helpful.

Tech-Related Book Hack: Sometimes if you come across a book that’s free on Kindle Unlimited, download it as usual, and be sure to check your Audible Not-Yet-Started books because sometimes it will give you the free audiobook too.

For my book fans, I keep all the books I’m reading updated in my Amazon Store - Books so you can easily find and grab my favorites there.

Also check out my book reviews.

Household and Shopping Hacks

Buy everything that’s bulky and/or repetitive on Amazon (or your favorite big box retailer with delivery) and let them do the work of bringing you your 112 rolls of toilet paper, 10 triple rolls of paper towels, 12 pack of wipes, 10 pounds of cat litter, etc. directly to your doorstep. Think of all those steps in grocery store or big box retailer parking lots you didn’t take, steps through the actual store, wrestling with a cart with bad wheels, the long check out lines, hauling it from your driveway into the other corner of the house, only to end up paying more for this “shopping pleasure trip” than had you just Amazon’ed it.

Put things on auto-replenish or autoship that you know you’re going to use anyway if this helps you. For me, I don’t tend to autoship because I have a 1000 square foot house with no storage so I literally can’t budget space for 112 extra rolls of toilet paper until I’m exactly ready. And I’m also very on top of what I need and am fortunate to live in San Diego where most Amazon orders arrive either same-day or next day delivery for no extra charge. Some markets are not like that such as Las Vegas or Salt Lake City because I speak from personal experience. Even so just plan ahead by 2-3 days and you’re golden.

Most things are always cheaper online than they are in your actual store so plan ahead and buy online. Whether you use Amazon, Target, Walmart, or something else, things like dish soap, laundry detergent, pet products of any kind, health and beauty items like deodorant, cotton balls, toothpaste, body wash, drugstore level makeup like mascara, facial products, Tylenol or Advil and their respective generics, it’s always cheaper! There are exceptions. I have never found tampons to be cheaper on Amazon. If you have other ones, please share in the comments.

Also for two more days this is going on and you NEED to check it out! ⬇️

The One In, One Out Principle to Buying and Donating. When it comes to clothing purchases, I try very hard to live by this rule because again, back to my small house with no storage situation, so if I buy a shirt, a pair of jeans, dress shoes, tennis shoes, etc. I also try to give one away. It doesn’t have to be one shirt in, one shirt out. But something should go. If I’m buying more, that means I’m not wearing what I have, so why do I still want that what I’m not using in my closet? I don’t. Let it go to the Salvation Army, Goodwill, church, or many times in San Diego, I just put a bag of clothes or a pair of gently used running shoes on the street corner and because of the large unhoused population we have, it disappears in minutes. I try not to actually let my closet get to the point where I have bags and bags of clothes to donate.

Hair Hacks

On hair wash day, do a hair treatment while you go about your day or workout. For me, this means in the afternoon, I wet my hair (just splash some water from the sink on it) because for best results, the K18 Hair Treatment I use should be applied to damp hair. I rub it into my ends, tie my hair up, and 4-6 hours later when I wash my hair, it’s soft and been treated all day. That hair treatment actually repairs damaged hair shafts, not just covers it up, best treatment ever.

Use a hair drying towel to save time off your blowdrying routine AND expose your hair to less heat. Best towel I’ve ever used is the Crown Affair Hair Towel. I have one, my daughter has hers, I’ve gifted it, it’s wonderful.

Stop wasting hours of your life washing your hair. My favorite dry shampoo is The Dry Shampoo from Crown Affair. Life changing, life altering, takes day 5 hair and makes it look like day 2 hair. I have shaved hundreds of hours a year off washing, combing through, and blowing out my long hair. I’ve never met a woman with medium to long hair who says, oh I wish I could spend more time washing my hair. LOL. Get this dry shampoo and free up some time.

Workout Hacks

Put your workout in your planner just like any other appointment. You’re not canceling on your dentist, your kid’s parent-teacher conferences, or that Zoom with your boss last minute or because “something came up”. So you’re not canceling your workout either once it’s penciled in, booked, and locked.

A walking pad will save you when nothing else will. I wrote about my Space Saving Walking Pad (currently ON SALE!!) and that I really did not want to get on board with the walking pad trend because I want to walk outside, period. But that’s not always possible due to work or weather which is how this pad came into my life. I had very specific requirements: Must be as small as possible since I have no dedicated place to keep it up, must fold, must be white (I cannot stand bulky black exercise equipment in my home), must be under 50 pounds, must go to at least 4.0mph speed, must be quiet. This delivers on all fronts 100%. I fold it and keep it under my bed when not in use. As long as you’re walking slow but steady, you can take work calls, put a standing desk up, plop your computer on it, and treat yourself to 2k-5k steps before 9AM.

Stop making excuses for why you don’t work out. No excuses - excuses keep you weak. Get up 30-60 minutes earlier. Put down phone and stop doomscrolling. And please for the love of God, please stop staring at a screen when you could be moving your body - whether that’s a movie, show, series, social media scroll, or going down an internet rabbit hole - I promise you will feel SO much better doing something for your health than you will sitting on your butt staring a screen. Enough said. It’s simple, not easy.

Tell me what little hacks do you do that make your life easier? Share below in the comments and help everyone!

If you are not interested in my content, feel free to unsubscribe yourself by scrolling down and clicking the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom and you’ll never hear from me again. If you follow me for recipes averiecooks.com is where I post just recipes. This is my other platform where I share a bit of everything!

Amazon Spring Sale March 25-31, 2026

• This sale is the best and last one Amazon typically has until their Big Summer Sale which is usually early to mid July.

• After that it’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So if you do have a semi big ticket item you’ve been eyeing or you just can’t resist a sale, now’s your chance!

• The items listed below are in no particular order and all of them are items I personally own, love, use, and would re-buy or recommend to my best friend.

Kitchen and Household

GE Pebble Ice Machine - I’ve had mine for 5 years and it’s made tens of thousands of pounds of ice in that time. I love ice. And after the ice maker on my fridge breaking multiple times (and multiple costly repairs that never lasted) I bought this and I’ve never looked back. 1000% worth it, no notes. If you’re on the fence, do it.

Viral Veggie Chopper - Make quick work of any recipe that has a lot to slice and dice. This thing saves so much time and is so handy. And I happen to really enjoy slamming the top down and watching the food come out perfectly cubed and diced.

Beast Mini Blender - A powerful blender sleek enough to leave out on your countertop and it takes up very little space (nothing like a space-hogging Vitamix!) and I use this for sauces, dressings, marinades, batter for egg wraps, and anytime I don’t really have enough for the Vitamix - if you have one you know that for small amounts, the blade is too high to really get to conquer what’s below it - so the Beast is perfect.

Also check this out for the what I actually use!

Cosori Stainless Steel Air Fryer - Not on sale, it’s very new, and I’ve had mine before it was released to the public and omg I LOVE this air fryer! Best one I’ve ever used, and I highly recommend it. It’s also beautiful and doesn’t bring me dread when I see it on my counter like most of those ugly black boxes do!

Bissell Little Green Machine - The best little steam cleaner for carpet, upholstery, rugs, your car interior, and more. If you have kids, pets, a messy spouse, or you just spill stuff, this is for you. I have the Cordless Little Green Machine and I love it even more because who doesn’t love a cordless tool.

Hotel Pillows - I’ve replaced all the pillows in my house with these! They come in a set of two, hotel-like quality, just that good. Don’t snooze (bad joke 😂) on this deal because it’s the cheapest I’ve seen these all year.

Clothes & Workout Clothes

Two Piece Casual Set - This is a fan favorite for travel days, city tours, trips, coffee dates, errands, and more. Comes in 10+ colors. Comfy yet put together looking with 6500+ reviews!

Lululemon Jacket Dupe - Best dupe I’ve seen for the $128 Lulu Define Jacket at a 1/4th the price! The Define jacket runs very small (I size up one size at least, sometimes two sizes, to accommodate for chest and long enough arms) and I recommend sizing up FOR sure in the Amazon version.

No-Wire Eby Bra Dupe - Those Eby bras for $70 each that are advertised everywhere on social media are nice but this one is under $20 bucks and worth it!

Electronics & Gear

Oura Ring - This has singlehandedly changed my sleep life, my overall life habits (less drinking, less heavy meals before bed), and has made me more cognizant, aware, and just tuned in to what my body is doing all day long, but especially while I sleep. If you’re a person who’s always slept great, you can skip this more than likely because the workout data is as good or superior on an Apple Watch or similar fitness watch (sidebar I love love love my Apple Watch and can’t be without it not even just as a watch but as a workout device, a business tool to quickly glance at texts and messages).

However, if you’ve ever struggled with sleep, insomnia, waking up and can’t get back to sleep, the Oura Ring gives you clues what your body is doing. Is your temp elevated? Your heart rate? How’s your heart rate variance? Are you tossing and turning a lot? All these “little” things are incredible to know.

Also, if you’re a younger woman and trying to family plan naturally, I think this would be so helpful. If you’re a perimenopausal woman, it helps predict irregular cycles at least for me it has. It has predicted before I get sick that I am going to get sick so I can double down on vitamins. Just literally love love love.

Buy the sizing guide, wear it for 2 days, then decide. Also, if you’re between sizes, I personally would size down not up because when you wash your hands in a public bathroom or sink, you do not want it sliding off with soap and these rings are heavier/bulkier than normal rings so I just don’t want that weight to help propel this ring and it goes flying off! I was between sizes, bought the bigger, regretted it after a couple days, returned it, and got the smaller size and am very happy. I have the White Ceramic which doesn’t go on sale because it’s new and I love it and would re-buy it 1000x over. Doesn’t scratch, period.

Space Saving Walking Pad - I really did not want to get on board with the walking pad trend because I want to walk outside, period. But that’s not always possible due to work or weather which is how this pad came into my life. I had very specific requirements: Must be as small as possible since I have no dedicated place to keep it up, must fold, must be white (I cannot stand bulky black exercise equipment in my home), must be under 50 pounds, must go to at least 4.0mph speed, must be quiet. This delivers on all fronts 100%. I fold it and keep it under my bed when not in use.

Kindle Paperwhite - Readers unite. Battery lasts for weeks, no joke, and the screen is nice and reading in the glaring sun is possible. Get it with Kindle Unlimited since there’s access to so many free books!

Also book lovers, please check out my book review posts!

Amazon Firestick - If you haven’t already, just cut your cable. I never watch tv and was paying a fortune for cable that I never watched, like ever. For the once-every-six-months I will watch a show on my tv, streaming with this is all I ever need.

Health & Beauty

Babe Lash - The best lash serum I’ve ever used. Safe for light eyes, sensitive eyes (I have both) and it actually works. Be consistent every night swipe on before bed, easy peasy. Use with the pills below!

Biotin, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Keratin Pills - Two a day, no big horse pills, and no trying to dissolve collagen powder into your water or coffee (which I’ve never been successful at). Been taking these 2 1/2 months and my nails are doing well, but I notice that my EYELASHES are longer than they’ve ever been in the past two decades. 100% worth it. Use with the serum above!

The Crown Affair Dry Shampoo - Life changing dry shampoo that you brush onto your roots like you would with loose face powder. The scent is amazing and can turn day 5 hair into day 2 hair. If you only want to wash your hair once or twice a week, THIS is what you need. Also limited edition… THIS SET is an incredible value!!! I just snagged one!

EltaMD Facial Sunscreen - The best I’ve ever used, period. Not greasy, gloppy, doesn’t break you out or turn you white or sweat off easily. After spending thousands of dollars on laser skin resurfacing to help combat sun damage on my face, this is the sunscreen my dermatologist and my plastic surgeon. Get it, you will not regret it!

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Carrot Cakes and Cupcakes

Layered Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 🥕🧡🍰 A tender and moist classic two-layer carrot cake with tangy-sweet cream cheese frosting! For anyone who loves carrot cake, this cake looks and tastes so impressive but is EASY to make! Perfect for Easter, springtime, or any carrot cake cravings you have!

Salted Caramel Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – Takes advantage of using a box of spice cake mix to save time! Soft, tender carrot cake infused with salted caramel sauce and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting is the ULTIMATE in decadence! Calling all carrot cake fans, you will LOVE this version!

Cream Cheese Carrot Tunnel Cake – If you like carrot cake, you’re going to LOVE this version that includes apples and a tunnel of cream cheese that runs through the center! EASY, amazing, and a MUST-MAKE!

The Best Pumpkin Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 🎃🥕 A marriage of pumpkin cake and carrot cake into one soft, moist, tender, and amazing cake! The tangy cream cheese frosting is truly the icing on this easy cake!

🥕 Carrot Cake Cupcakes are soft, moist, and tender, just like layered carrot cake but in handheld form. They’re fast and easy to make and perfect for holidays and parties!

Carrot Cookies and Bars

🥕 Spiced Carrot Oatmeal Cookies offer all the flavors of richly spiced carrot cake in cookie form! Soft, chewy, extremely moist, and not at all cakey, these cookies are loaded with oats, spices, grated carrots, and butterscotch chips. Easy to make, they’re perfect for Easter and spring!

Cream Cheese Carrot Cake Bars 🥕🧡🎉 Dense, chewy, super moist bars that taste like carrot cake with a cream cheese topping that’s baked right in so you don’t need to worry about frosting them! So much EASIER than making carrot cake but with similar flavors you will LOVE!

Soft Glazed Carrot Cake Bars 🥕🎉🧡 Super soft carrot cake bars that taste like blondies packed with chewy carrots! So good and a must-make!

Carrot Cinnamon Rolls, Breads and Muffins

Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls – 🥕🍞🧡 These soft and fluffy rolls are what happens when you infuse the flavors of carrot cake into homemade cinnamon rolls! Flecks of grated carrots in every bite, combined with a warming spice trio of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, and topped with the most decadent cream cheese frosting! Make these for your next special event including Easter, Mother’s Day, or a lazy weekend brunch!

Apple Carrot Bread — 🥕🍎🍏This apple carrot bread tastes like carrot cake that’s been infused with apples and it’s AMAZING! Soft, tender, moist, layered with warm flavors and a family favorite! It’s a no mixer recipe that goes from bowl to oven in minutes!

Carrot Cake Loaf with Cream Cheese Frosting – Soft, moist carrot cake that’s baked as a loaf. So much faster and easier than baking a cake! Juicy raisins and cream cheese frosting makes it feel like carrot cake, just less work!

🥕🍰 Carrot Cake Muffins are fast, EASY muffins that are bursting with authentic carrot cake flavor! If you’re looking for a healthier carrot cake recipe that tastes AMAZING, make these muffins immediately! They happen to be vegan which is helpful when bringing desserts to events to provide an option that everyone can enjoy.

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Why Make A Whole Chicken?

• Making a whole chicken - depending on where you live - is potentially cheaper than buying a rotisserie chicken. In San Diego, small rotisserie chickens range from about $9.99 to $13.99 depending on the store. But it’s not just the money. It’s the taste + healthiness factor!

• They’re either drier than the sahara because they’ve been sitting under heat lamps for hours. Or they’re greasier than I even want to think about.

• When I make chicken myself, I’m controlling the salt and grease (so it’s healthier) and the cook time so it’s not dry!

• Not to mention, there are only 4 ingredients, 5 minutes of prep, and the chicken is ready in 45-60 minutes!

Watch The Video!

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No Air Fryer? No Problem: Oven or Slow Cooker Recipes!

Oven Roasted Whole Chicken and Potatoes 🍗🙌🏻🥔 FOUR ingredients + ONE pan = PERFECT roasted chicken with ZERO cleanup! Your new FOOLPROOF and EASY whole roasted chicken recipe that’s ready in 1 hour!

Crockpot Whole Chicken 🍗🙌🏻😋 is one of the EASIEST ways to cook a whole chicken because your slow cooker does all the work for you! The chicken is lightly flavored with lemon, garlic and herbs, and turns out so moist, juicy, and tender! Potatoes cook alongside the chicken to create an effortless built-in side dish. Planned leftover chicken is always great to have on hand and if a recipe calls for shredded rotisserie chicken, use this instead!

10 Easy Recipes To Use Up Your Chicken

I love making a whole chicken on the weekend so that I have chicken ready to go for the week for quick lunches and dinners to toss is salads, wraps, sandwiches, or just nibble on for extra protein.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas with Rotisserie Chicken 🌮🎉🧀 have just 5 main ingredients and are ready in 30 minutes! Soft tortillas are stuffed with chicken, topped with red enchilada sauce and cheese, and are baked to PERFECTION! Using shredded rotisserie chicken saves time, making this chicken enchilada recipe ideal for busy weeknights or for fuss-free casual entertaining!

Easy 30-Minute Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup 🍲🥕🙌🏻 Classic, comforting, and tastes just like grandma made but way easier and faster! This soup is AMAZING and it’ll be your new favorite recipe!

Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups 🍗🥓 feature shredded chicken and bacon combined with spinach and herbs, rolled up in lasagna noodles, and smothered in a homemade three-cheese alfredo sauce! This is the ultimate CREAMY CHEESY COMFORT food recipe that everyone ADORES! Can be prepped in advance and baked off later.

Chopped Chicken Salad 🥗 An EASY chopped salad with so much FLAVOR and CRUNCH topped with your extra juicy chicken so it’s ready in 15 minutes! Homemade honey apple cider vinaigrette adds the finishing touch!

Healthy 30-Minute Chicken Kale & White Bean Soup 🍗🥬👏🏻 This chicken soup with white beans, kale, zucchini, and more is easy, hearty, and healthy! Packed with flavor and texture, it’s a full meal in itself! Perfect for quick weeknight dinners and leftovers freeze and reheat great!

Easy 🫛🥕🥔 Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with puff pastry is a great twist on pot pie and you don’t need to make pie crust! The puff pastry bakes to golden, light and flaky perfection! The filling has big pieces of juicy chicken, carrots, peas, and potatoes in a creamy sauce that’s made from scratch. You can use rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken (or holiday turkey) to save time.

Homemade 30-Minute Chicken Tortilla Soup — 🥑🍅🧀 Chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, cheese, and addictively crunchy tortilla strips! Fast, easy weeknight meal, and better than from a restaurant! Made in ONE pot and ready in 30 minutes, this is a fan FAVORITE that will impress your friends and family!

Chicken Salad for Sandwiches or Wraps 🍗 This classic chicken salad recipe is great for sandwiches, on crackers, over a bed of lettuce, or just dig in with a fork! You can’t go wrong with this FAST and EASY and chicken salad that’s a tried and true FAMILY FAVORITE!

Cheesy Chicken Ranch Sliders 🍔 Tender chicken is coated in tangy ranch dressing and topped with Swiss cheese. It’s all nestled in soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping! Make these easy sliders for game days, graduations, or easy kid-friendly (and adult-friendly) meals!

🍲🙌🏻🍗 My Easy 30-Minute White Chicken Chili is hearty, healthy, loaded with tender chicken, beans, and packed with bold flavor! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves, it’s a one-pot EASY chili recipe that’s ready in just 30 minutes!

4-Ingredient Whole Chicken Recipe

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Photo for attention and has nothing to do with this post other than it’s where I spent yesterday playing hookie from work while my daughter is visiting me on her spring break. We had the absolute nicest day!

Check out my Free San Diego Recommendations if you have a visit planned to SD or my SD Restaurant Guide.

If you are not interested in my content, feel free to unsubscribe yourself by scrolling down and clicking the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom and you’ll never hear from me again. If you follow me for recipes averiecooks.com is where I post just recipes. This is my other platform where I share a bit of everything!

Things I’ve Bought Recently and are Worth It (in no particular order)

Biotin, Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Keratin Pills - Two a day, no big horse pills, and no trying to dissolve collagen powder into your water or coffee (which I’ve never been successful at). Been taking these 2 1/2 months and my nails are doing well, but I notice that my EYELASHES are longer than they’ve ever been in the past two decades. 100% worth it.

Space Saving Walking Pad - I really did not want to get on board with the walking pad trend because I want to walk outside, period. But that’s not always possible due to work or weather which is how this pad came into my life. I had very specific requirements: Must be as small as possible since I have no dedicated place to keep it up, must fold, must be white (I cannot stand bulky black exercise equipment in my home), must be under 50 pounds, must go to at least 4.0mph speed, must be quiet. This delivers on all fronts 100%. I fold it and keep it under my bed when not in use.

Arrae Tribiotic - Best probiotics I’ve ever tried. They say start with 1 a day and work up to two. I never found the need to take 2 a day and so a one month supply actually lasts me two months, making this a great buy for a probiotic that targets gut health, respiratory health, female health, and more. I just feel more on point with these in my life. I started taking them before the holidays and haven’t stopped.

2-in-1 Kitchen Scissors - Coolest little gadget with a built in cutting board that’s great for snipping herbs, cucumbers, green onions, and more. Check out this post for my main kitchen items I use and love.

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Bissell Little Green Mini CORDLESS - Makes cleaning up after your pet, kids, or spouse a little more “enjoyable”. I wouldn’t say anyone “loves” to clean stains from their couch, area rugs, or car upholstery but if you must, this is cordless, powerful, and gets the job done.

Patrick Ta Creme Foundation & Finishing Powder Duo - If you’ve got fine lines or wrinkles and it seems that your concealer or foundation just love to sit in them and make you look worse (which isn’t the point of makeup!), you need to try this. The foundation is creamy without being greasy, the texture is perfection and you can apply with your finger, the powder sets it, and it’s all in ONE compact. I’m color Light 3 if that’s helpful for anyone. I’ve thrown away all other base makeup!

Some of my other makeup faves in this post.

Washable Stretch Silk Cami - Very light on the stretch and it’s SILK that you can WASH at home in your washer for a super great price! I throw my black one on all the time as the base to layering other blouses or sweaters over it. And I have a purple one that I wore on vacation. So many colors, sizes, just a total winner of a top!

Rothy’s Almond Slingback - I have the Desert Cat Print (which I wore all winter in San Diego with jeans) and the Off-White Mesh which is my summery purchase. They’re very comfy, they come in extended sizes which I need, and so many colors. Soft, flexible, and WASHABLE! First time buyers, give them your email address for an extra $20 bucks off your order.

Parachute Home Towels - The Bath Sheet in Turkish Cotton is big, roomy, soft, absorbent, feels like a luxury hotel towel. I’ve had mine for years and they stand up to constant washing and dryer drying. If you’re looking for a bundle, with 2 hand towels + 2 bath towels, it’s a great option. Note that the bath sheet is much bigger than the bath towel. Choose accordingly.

Lululemon Set: Flow Y Sports Bra and 6-Inch Align Shorts. I’ll never shut up about these two pieces and own many, many (too many) colors and prints in both the bra and shorts! You know your body type and what your workouts are like but I wear the Flow Y Sports Bra and the 6-Inch Align Shorts for yoga, pilates, running, walking, and hiking. Washes amazing even after hundreds of washes, lasts forever, you get what you pay for. There’s a time and place for Amazon dupes and knockoffs but my workout wear is not that time or place.

See more of my Favorite Workout Gear.

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Slow Cooker Beef Birria with Consomme (for Birria and Quesabirria Tacos)

🌮🎉🧀 When I really want to blow people away, I make a batch of this slow cooker beef birria and turn it into tacos or extra-cheesy quesabirria. The beef simmers for hours in a smoky chile broth until it’s fall-apart tender and insanely flavorful, just like what I’ve eaten in Jalisco. I tuck it into tortillas with melted cheese, onions, cilantro, and plenty of consommé for dipping - these are truly some of the most unforgettable tacos to ever come out of my kitchen!

Easy Carne Asada Tacos

🥩🌮💃 My carne asada recipe rivals your favorite restaurant! Tender juicy beef is seasoned to perfection and topped with pico de gallo and homemade cilantro jalapeno salsa, making these carne asada tacos INCREDIBLE!

Tacos Al Pastor

If you’ve ever stood at a late-night taqueria watching pork spin on a trompo, these tacos al pastor are my at-home answer. Thinly sliced pork soaks in a tangy, slightly sweet pineapple and chile marinade, then roasts up juicy, caramelized, and crazy flavorful. I pile it into warm tortillas with onions, cilantro, lime, and salsa. Every bite tastes like a trip back to my taco nights in Mexico without leaving my San Diego kitchen.

Easy 20-Minute Chicken Tinga Tacos (with Rotisserie Chicken)

🍗🌶️🌮 Fast, super easy, and the super juicy chicken has authentic smoky chipotle flavor! When you’re craving tacos, these are the tacos to make! Great for busy weeknights because using rotisserie chicken is such a time saver!

Cauliflower Tinga Tacos with Avocado Crema

When I want a meatless taco that still feels totally indulgent, I make these cauliflower tinga tacos. Roasted cauliflower gets drenched in a smoky, chipotle-spiked sauce, folded into tortillas with cheese, and baked until everything is hot and crispy. A cool, bright avocado crema on top seals the deal—this is one of those vegetarian recipes where you truly don’t miss the meat at all.

Easy 15-Minute Fish Tacos with Avocado Corn Salsa

These fish tacos are my weeknight hero when I want something fresh and light but still totally satisfying. The tilapia cooks in minutes, stays flaky and tender, and then gets topped with a crunchy, creamy avocado–corn–cabbage salsa that I could honestly eat with a spoon. They’re clean-eating tacos that somehow still taste like pure comfort food—and they’re faster than calling for takeout.

Baked Cheesy Beef Taquitos

These baked cheesy beef taquitos are my answer when I want something crunchy, cheesy, and totally snackable with all the taco vibes. Seasoned ground beef, cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, and melty cheese get rolled in tortillas and baked until crispy and golden. I serve them with salsa, guac, or queso for dipping, and they disappear fast at parties.

Taco-Stuffed Avocados

Like avocados? 🥑 Then you are going to LOVE these taco STUFFED avocados with ground beef (or use ground chicken or ground turkey), CHEESE, and more! EASY, ready in 15 minutes, a family favorite, and perfect for busy weeknights!

Copycat Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos

Are these remotely authentic Mexican tacos? Absolutely not. Are they ridiculously fun and delicious? 100% yes! I bake crispy wonton “shells,” fill them with juicy teriyaki chicken, then top everything with a sesame-ginger slaw and a drizzle of sweet chili sauce. When I’m in the mood for a playful, Asian-fusion spin on taco night that everyone devours, this is my go-to.

Beer Battered Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema (with frozen breaded shrimp shortcut)

These shrimp tacos are for anyone who wants to take advantage of frozen breaded shrimp from the freezer case of your supermarket. Crispy, juicy shrimp tucked into soft tortillas with crunchy cabbage, creamy avocado, and a zippy lime crema over the top. They taste like something you’d order at a beachfront restaurant, but they’re ready in about 25 minutes in my own kitchen. Whenever I’m craving a fun, restaurant-quality taco night without going out, this is the recipe I reach for.

Beefed Up Taco Meat

🥩🌮 This is how you can beef up (pun intended 😂) a pound of ground with extra veggies so you’ve got high protein + veggies for nutrients and fiber so you can STRETCH the meat over more meals or more people and make it more nutrient dense! Easy one skillet recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes to use in tacos, burritos, salad bowls, lettuce wraps and more!

Steak Quesadillas

🌮🥩🧀 Stuffed to the max with juicy strips of steak, peppers and onions, and plenty of melted cheese, these EASY quesadillas are a family FAVORITE! Serve them for a simple yet satisfying weeknight meal, at game day parties, or your next Cinco de Mayo fiesta! Faster and less expensive than going to your favorite Mexican restaurant and they taste every bit as AMAZING!

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

🌮🧀🥑 Learn how to make the BEST tasting Creamy Chicken Taquitos at home that rival a Mexican restaurant in just 30 minutes with a handful of common ingredients! Crispy and crunchy on the outside, warm melted cheese and seasoned chicken on the inside, these will be a hit at your next fiesta or casual get-together! Instructions provided to bake, air fry, or fry so you’re set to make this EASY recipe!

Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos

All the flavor of the chicken taquitos in your favorite Mexican restaurant, but healthier because these are air fried! Crispy and crunchy on the outside with a perfectly spicy chicken, cheese, and cream cheese filling mixture that just melts in your mouth! EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and the whole family will want seconds! Oven baking instructions are also provided.

Chicken Taco Lettuce Wraps

Another non-traditional taco, but these chicken taco lettuce wraps are how I get all my favorite taco flavors in a lighter, fresher package. Taco-seasoned chicken, tomatoes, corn, peppers, cheese, and crunchy chips all get piled into cool, crisp butter lettuce leaves. They’re fast, easy, ready in about 10 minutes, and the kind of meal my family happily gobbles up without realizing it’s on the healthier side.

Loaded Chicken Taco Salad with Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing

Deconstructed tacos with plenty of crunch? Heck yes! On days when I want tacos but also really want a big salad, this loaded chicken taco salad is my compromise. It’s piled high with taco-seasoned chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheese, and crunchy extras, then finished with a homemade creamy lime-cilantro dressing that makes the whole bowl sing. It has all the flavors of a great chicken taco, just in a fresher, fork-and-bowl version.

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The Women ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars all the way; 472 pages, published February 6, 2024) follows Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse from a privileged background who volunteers to serve in the Vietnam War at the extreme displeasure of her parents. As she confronts the horrors of war (and this book is horrifying and gruesome in places, there is no sugar coating it) and the indifference awaiting her back home, Frankie’s journey becomes one of survival, resilience, and finding her voice in a country that refuses to acknowledge the contributions of women in combat. The novel is a powerful exploration of female courage, friendship, and the long shadow of trauma because we meet other women who served in Vietnam, each carrying their own crosses to bear. This is one of my favorite books of all time. If you’re inclined to listen to it, the wonderful Julia Whelan - aka best audiobook narrator of our time - does an incredible job!

Tip: If you don’t have an Audible membership, they tend to run a lot of specials and deals. For example, right now if you get 1 credit (1 book) per month for $8.99 which I think is a great deal. You can also buy a bundle of credits which is what I do, since they get cheaper the more you buy. Buying in bulk saves money in general and it does with credits, too.

The Nightingale ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars all the way; 608 pages, published February 3, 2015) tells the story of two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Vianne struggles to protect her family and home as her village is overrun, while rebellious Isabelle joins the French Resistance, risking everything to save others. Crossing the Pyrenees, as a woman (or man!) especially during those times - I truly cannot imagine how she did it! The novel is a poignant tribute to the strength, sacrifice, and quiet heroism found in ordinary people during extraordinary times. This is one of my favorite books of all time.

The Great Alone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 to 4.5 stars; 450 pages, published February 6, 2018) Set in the wilds of 1970s Alaska, this story centers on a family seeking a fresh start while grappling with isolation and inner turmoil. The father character is straight up crazy and reminded me in so many ways of Tara Westhover’s memoir Educated which is one of best memoirs I’ve ever read - but in that book the father was real! The father in The Great Alone after coming back from Vietnam convinces his wife to go along with a lot of decisions, but their young daughter’s needs are at dissonance with the parents’ decisions. The book made me “feel and see” the breathtaking beauty of Alaska while contrasted with the brutal reality of frontier life, mirroring the characters’ emotional landscape. The novel is a powerful meditation on survival, loyalty, and the meaning of home. I took a half star to 1 star off because the book is dark and brutal at times, but that’s also Alaska.

Night Road ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 to 4.5 stars; 416 pages, currently FREE with Kindle Unlimited, published March 22, 2011) This contemporary drama follows a close-knit family whose lives are shattered by a tragic accident, forcing each character to confront grief, guilt, and forgiveness. Hannah skillfully explores the complexities of motherhood, friendship, and the ripple effects of a single moment. The result is an emotionally charged story about healing and the possibility of grace. I took 1/2 to 1 stars off because the beginning gets long, the first third or a bit more is scene setting the female friendship between the two girls, the family dynamics and stability, and while very important to the overall story, it could have been condensed. Also as mother to a 19 year old daughter currently, the girls even at 14-15 were very simplistic - much more than teenage girls today actually are - and I feel the writing showed its age a bit here being that it’s a 15 year old book at this point. Minor things, but I’m being candid.

The Four Winds ⭐️⭐️⭐️( 3.5 to 4 stars; 464 pages, published February 2, 2021) follows Elsa Wolcott, a woman cast out by her own family when she becomes unexpectedly pregnant, and finds herself married into a hard‑working Italian farm family in Dust Bowl‑era Texas. As drought, dust storms, and economic collapse ravage the Plains during the 1930s, Elsa must decide whether to stay and fight for the land she loves or uproot her children and head west to California in search of hope. A deeply emotional story, it explores resilience, motherhood, sacrifice, and the enduring struggle for the American Dream. Of the 5 Kristin Hannah books, I’m mentioning this was my least favorite because it does get very, very depressing. Julia Whelan’s narration is what kept me going at times! I would personally recommend the other four above before reading this one BUT if you’ve already read those, and you’re in the headspace for a darker book, you may like this one.

Winter Garden - Adding this 2010 and 417-page book because it’s currently FREE on Kindle Unlimited and it’s on my TBR list. Gets great reviews and I’ve never been disappointed by a Kristin Hannah book so popping this one into the KH lineup here!

Please check out my other book reviews and book posts!

Richly chocolaty cookies that are soft and pillowy, with a texture that’s soft without being cakey. A sprinkling of sea salt is salty-sweet perfection! And I promise, there’s no cottage cheese or protein powder in sight!

And for all inquiring minds, they don’t taste like pumpkin. It helps the cookies bake up with structure and not fall flat while baking since pumpkin has a way of adding structure to baked goods for example in this vegan Mini Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread recipe.

If you’re craving chocolate but not trying to eat a bunch of sugar, you won’t miss it in these easy, healthier, mini chocolate cookies!

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Everything below is written in no particular order. However, it’s all written with a ‘tough love because this is real life’ approach because I need to be real!

Eat Protein, More Than You Think

Where ever you stand on the question of protein and how much is enough, most respected experts currently recommend between 0.7 and 1.0 grams of protein per pound (not kilo), of body weight.

So if you weigh 150 pounds, your protein should be 70% of that (get your calculator out and .7 x 150 = 105) or 105 grams, at the low, end per day.

At the high end, it’s a 1:1 ratio so 150 pounds = 150 grams protein.

If you’re 200 pounds, that’s 140-200 grams daily.

You’re immediately thinking, ohmygod that’s so much, that’s way too much, I could never eat that much.

Wrong. It’s not too much protein for most healthy adults, especially if you’re trying to:

• age gracefully

• retain muscle

• protect your bone health

• not have cravings every hour or two

• not binge on sugar

• sleep well

• stay lean and trim rather than chubby and flabby

• build muscle

• maintain the muscle you do have (muscle burns more calories than fat when you’re doing absolutely nothing) which in turns ensures that

• your metabolism stays strong and fiery rather than barely chugging along.

You need to make conscious choices at every meal to eat protein. This is simple, not easy - but it become easier as you do it and live it. I’ve been eating this way for 3 years and in the last 2 months have really, really doubled down on it and am seeing positive results in all aspects of my health and wellness.

Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes, Lemon Pepper Chicken, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

You need to become friends with eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, chicken, turkey, and beef although for me personally beef is less than 10% of my monthly protein. If I am eating beef, I’m making something like Beefed Up Taco Meat because there are vegetables for fiber and bulk to keep me fuller and digestion on track. Protein powder is less than 2% of my monthly protein intake but it’s a tool if you need it. Real food > processed food.

You need to be averaging at least 30-35 grams of protein at every meal so things like an egg white scramble + 1 egg + lots of veggies scrambled in (zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions) so you’re eating a big volume of food with fiber AND your protein goal is met.

I have a whole section of recipes on my site that are High Protein 💪🏻. For example, I love my new Two-Ingredient High Protein Wrap recipe with 51 grams protein just in the wrap, before you even stuff it. Add some canned tuna, leftover chicken, black bean salad, etc. and you’re at an easy 70 grams of protein.

📣 I have a High Protein Recipes ebook each with 30 grams protein per serving for anyone who needs recipe ideas!

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Salmon Recipes That Rival a Restaurant

Baked Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon is ready in under 30 minutes! It’s impossible to wind up with dry salmon when making this recipe, it’s just that good! All you need is one sheet pan and 30 minutes and dinner is served!

Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon creates juicy salmon at home in 30 minutes that’s EASY and tastes BETTER than from a restaurant! The butter is infused with lemon and garlic and adds so much FLAVOR!

Salmon Niçoise Salad with Basil Vinaigrette is an ELEGANT French-inspired salad with juicy salmon, tender potatoes, soft-boiled eggs, crispy haricots verts, and more. And it’s all drizzled with a super FLAVORFUL fresh basil vinaigrette!! This BEAUTIFUL salad has something for everyone!

Sheet Pan Asian Salmon and Broccoli is a personal fave and such an EASY recipe that only uses 7 ingredients, is ready in 20 minutes, and tastes way BETTER than salmon you’d get in a fancy restaurant! IMPRESS your family and friends with this FOOLPROOF recipe and as a bonus the broccoli florets absorb all the glorious sauce!

Salmon Florentine — You don’t need to go to Florence, Italy to enjoy this FAST and EASY Italian-inspired salmon recipe at home! Tender flaky salmon is bathed in a decadent cream sauce made with heavy cream, wine, Parmesan cheese, and more! Fresh spinach and mushrooms add extra texture and flavor to this super flavorful fish dish!

Honey Dijon Salmon is EASY, ready in 20 minutes, juicy, tender, and so FLAVORFUL from the honey, Dijon, and lemon juice! If you’re trying to incorporate more fish in your diet or your family’s diet, this is THE RECIPE to make because the flavors are very family and kid-friendly.

Easy Salmon and Potato Foil Packets happens to be the first salmon recipe I ever posted about 15 years ago. And it’s still juicy, moist salmon that’s loaded with flavor! Ready in 30 minutes, zero cleanup, and a foolproof way to cook salmon and look like a gourmet cook!

Grilled Honey Lemon Butter Salmon is a FOOLPROOF way to make grilled salmon (and bonus your house will not smell like fish)! Wonderfully tender, so juicy, just melts in your mouth, and has incredible flavor!

Lemon Dill Salmon with Vegetables in Parchment is clean eating at its finest! Tender salmon with vegetables and it’s so easy, healthy, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with bold lemon and dill flavor! Put it on your dinner rotation!

Sheet Pan Balsamic Salmon and Vegetables is an EASY meal on one sheet pan recipe that has so much flavor from the balsamic glaze! IMPRESS your family and friends with this restaurant-quality tasting baked salmon and veg!

Shrimp Recipes That Are Ready in No Time

Easy Better-Than-Takeout Shrimp Fried Rice is my most popular shrimp recipe of all time! One-skillet, ready in 20 minutes, and you’ll never get takeout again! Homemade tastes WAY BETTER! Tons more flavor, not greasy, and loaded with tender shrimp!

Lime Cilantro Shrimp and Black Bean Salad is something I whipped up from my kitchen in Mexico one day when I was living there during the pandemic. Tender juicy shrimp, black beans, avocado, cilantro, and more coated in a lime sauce that’s a FIESTA in your mouth! An EASY and HEALTHY Mexican-inspired salad that’s ready in 10 minutes!

Living In Mexico

10-Minute Easy Shrimp Scampi — If you thought shrimp scampi was just a dish to order out at a fancier restaurant, think again. You can make mouth-watering shrimp scampi at home in less than 10 minutes!

🧄🍤🥦 This Garlic Shrimp Stir-Fry is ready in just 25 minutes and tastes so much better than takeout! My go-to for busy weeknights, it’s made with juicy shrimp, crisp-tender veggies, and a homemade stir-fry sauce. I serve it with noodles or rice for a complete meal my whole family LOVES.

Shrimp Scampi Pasta — Indulge your taste buds with this elegant yet simple Italian-inspired dish! Made with succulent shrimp, zesty lemon, savory parmesan cheese, and al dente cooked pasta, this EASY restaurant-worthy recipe is ready in 15 minutes!

Shrimp Pasta Salad 🍤🫛🌿 Tender pasta, juicy shrimp, crunchy celery, bell peppers, and peas are tossed in a creamy and tangy homemade dressing for zesty perfection! Great for summer gatherings to serve as a side salad or make it for a lighter yet satisfying stand alone meal for lunch or dinner! Very EASY and always a crowd FAVORITE!

Easy Shrimp Cakes – Easy, ready in 10 minutes, and they taste better than from a fancy restaurant! Whether you’re serving them as a starter or the main course, you may want to consider making a double batch because they disappear fast!

Shrimp Ceviche is the EASIEST way to make traditional shrimp ceviche and it tastes the BEST! Ready in 30 minutes, great as an appetizer, side, lunch, or as a healthy main course that everyone LOVES!

Coconut Shrimp with Orange-Chili Dipping Sauce is just soooo good! Plump, juicy shrimp with a crispy, crunchy coconut coating! Fast, easy, and better than you get in restaurants! Will be your new favorite coconut shrimp recipe!

Garlicky Lemon Shrimp Pasta 🧄🍋🍤 is the first shrimp recipe I ever posted on my site about 14 years ago! Buttery noodles with juicy plump shrimp, flavored with lemon and garlic! A family-friendly dinner recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes and it’s so EASY!

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20 Fantastic & Easy Recipes for Valentines Dinner-At-Home

There could be any number of reasons you’re not going out for Valentine’s Dinner including: you’re single, you and your partner don’t want to fight the crowds, you’re the parent to young kids and getting a babysitter isn’t going to happen, you’re broke, you don’t care enough about the Hallmark holiday, either you or your partner works in a field where one of you is working (that’s my situation), and on it goes.

Also, as much as I love a good Hallmark holiday date-night-out (pull out all the stops because I am worth it!) if I am being truly honest, food on New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Night tends to be mediocre at best, always expensive and over-priced for what it is, and there’s a hustle and rushy vibe to the evening that doesn’t make me want to linger over my creme brûlée.

Valentine’s Dinner At Home: What To Make!

I’ve grouped things as follows:

• Beef and Steak

• Chicken

• Fish and Seafood

• Vegetarian

Beef and Steak So Good You Won’t Miss The Restaurant

Juicy Steak Bites 🥩 are tossed in the most flavorful garlic butter sauce that I kicked up a notch with red pepper flakes, paprika, Dijon, fresh herbs and more. It’s also known as cowboy butter and SO flavorful! This restaurant-quality and protein-packed steak dinner recipe is easy, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for busy weeknights, entertaining, or date night at home!

Teriyaki Steak Tips 🥩🍍😍 Tri-tip steak tip bites are cooked to perfection and then topped with a thick and sticky homemade pineapple teriyaki sauce! A family favorite that everyone will love and is FAST and EASY to make!

How to Cook the Perfect Steak 🥩🙌🏻 Learn how to cook the perfect steak on the stovetop, every time! Which cut and grade of meat to choose, what temperature, what skillet, and how long to cook it. Plus, there are all the TIPS and TRICKS you need to know are included so you can make the BEST steak at home to rival a fancy steakhouse every single time!

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy 🤎🙌🏻🍄‍🟫 An old-fashioned recipe for Salisbury steak featuring seasoned ground beef patties that are simmered in a scrumptious mushroom gravy! This is a ONE skillet, comfort food recipe that’s easy to make and ready in 45 minutes! Impress your family and friends with this classic Salisbury steak and gravy recipe!

🧄🥩🥔 Steak and Potatoes Skillet is the way to your man’s heart (or your woman’s)! Made with garlic butter, herbs, and spices, and every bite just melts in your mouth. Plus, the potatoes are tender and buttery with lightly crisped edges. Made in just ONE skillet and ready quickly, my EASY recipe walks you through how to make the PERFECT steak and potatoes meal to impress your special someone!

Chicken That’s Special and Definitely Not Boring

Creamy Dijon Chicken Skillet —Tender, juicy chicken bathed in a divine cream sauce made with garlic, cream, Dijon mustard, and a splash of wine for extra flavor!! This restaurant-quality EASY stovetop chicken is ready in 20 minutes and will be a family FAVORITE!

🍅🧀🌿 Easy Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken features tender chicken that slow cooks in a creamy, Tuscan-inspired sauce featuring sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and Parmesan! Slow cooking the chicken makes it melt-in-your-mouth wonderful and it’s all made in your Crockpot – no stovetop searing or transferring is necessary. Serve with pasta for a stress-free dinner that the whole family will love!

🧄🧈🍗 Simple Garlic Butter Chicken features tender, juicy chicken bathed in a rich garlic butter sauce with a splash of wine for extra flavor! This QUICK and EASY stovetop chicken recipe is ready in 15 minutes and will become a family FAVORITE! The most popular chicken recipe on my site!

🙌🏻🍗🥬 Bring a taste of European elegance to your table by making this QUICK and EASY 30-Minute Creamy Chicken Florentine! Juicy chicken cutlets are coated in a creamy sauce made with heavy cream, white wine, and Parmesan! Fresh spinach adds a pop of color and texture to this restaurant-quality dish!

Lemon Butter Dijon Skillet Chicken 🍋 features tender, juicy chicken with a scrumptious sauce made with lemon butter, Dijon mustard, and a splash of wine for extra flavor! This EASY stovetop chicken recipe is ready in 15 minutes and will become a family dinner FAVORITE!

Fish and Seafood To Impress

Baked Honey Lemon Salmon 🍣🍯🍋 is ready in under 30 minutes! It’s impossible to wind up with dry salmon when making this recipe, it’s just that good! All you need is one sheet pan and 30 minutes and dinner is served!

🧡💚 Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Salmon is an EASY one-skillet dish that results in the most tender and juicy salmon that’s bathed in a rich and creamy garlic butter sauce! Parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and baby spinach add extra flavor and texture to this 30-minute recipe that everyone LOVES! Learn how to make restaurant-worthy salmon that’s fast enough for a weeknight dinner but elevated enough to serve to company!

Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon 🍣 Juicy salmon at home in 30 minutes that’s EASY and tastes BETTER than from a restaurant! The butter is infused with lemon and garlic and adds so much FLAVOR!

Indulge your taste buds with this elegant yet simple Italian-inspired Shrimp Scampi Pasta 🍝🍤 recipe! Made with succulent shrimp, zesty lemon, savory parmesan cheese, and al dente cooked pasta, this EASY restaurant-worthy recipe is ready in 15 minutes and is PERFECT when you want to impress your guests but don’t want to spend all day cooking!

10-Minute Easy Shrimp Scampi 🍤 If you thought shrimp scampi was just a dish to order out at a fancier restaurant, think again. You can make mouth-watering shrimp scampi at home in less than 10 minutes!

Vegetarian That’s Comforting & Filling

Cheesy Ravioli Lasagna comes together with just four simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights! Everyone LOVES this cheesy comfort food lasagna recipe that’s so easy!

Pasta with Vodka Sauce 🍝🍅🧀 Make an Italian restaurant-worthy pasta dish EASILY at home in 30 minutes! Pasta is tossed in a tomato-forward sauce that includes red pepper flakes, onions, garlic, spinach, heavy cream for RICHNESS, and of course, vodka! A family FAVORITE comfort food classic recipe that’s doable for busy weeknights, for entertaining, or for date night at home!

Meatless Baked Ziti with Cheese 🧀 is an EASY baked ziti recipe that can be assembled up to two days in advance and bake it off when you’re ready! Al dente ziti pasta is coated in a creamy three cheese sauce and then baked until golden brown and bubbling. Serve with a side salad, steamed vegetables, or garlic bread for a full meal!

Browned Butter Cauliflower and Fettuccine with Parmesan Cheese 🧀 - Everything is better with browned butter and it can make humble cauliflower and average noodles taste like a million bucks! The nutty, aromatic, and rich flavor that butter takes on after it’s been browned is magical and will impress the toughest critics!

Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry 🍠🎉 is an EASY one-skillet curry that’s ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING! I’ve never met a vegetarian or meat-eater alike who doesn’t LOVE this dish!

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Sliders

Ham and Cheese Sliders 🙌🏻🎉🧀 are my most popular sliders recipe! Baked juicy ham and Swiss cheese nestled in soft Hawaiian rolls and brushed with a buttery Dijon, onion, and poppy seed topping! Fast, EASY, and a party and family FAVORITE! Everyone is going to want THIS recipe!

Pepperoni Pizza Sliders 🍕 Pizza by way of supremely cheesy sliders! EASY, ready in 15 minutes, and perfect for parties because everyone LOVES them! Totally IRRESISTIBLE!

Dips

🧀🥬🎉 The BEST Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip, this easy recipe is rich, creamy, and it’s a crowd FAVORITE that’s sure to disappear at parties! It’s so cheesy thanks to both mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses! Perfect for game day events, New Year’s Eve, Super Bowl, or your next holiday party, it’s just THE BEST!

Also check out the Crockpot Spinach and Artichoke Dip if that’s more your style.

Creamy Baked Onion Dip 🧅🧀😋 has been a staple on my website for 15 years! A cheesy, comforting, and easy dip that everyone loves! Made with cream cheese and sweet Vidalia onions!

Meatballs

🍯🧄😋 Baked Honey Garlic Meatballs are easy, can be prepped in advance, and hold well at room temp. They’re juicy, tender, and the honey garlic sauce gives them so much flavor! Whether you’re serving them at a party or event, or as a protein-packed 30-minute dinner option, everyone ADORES these easy meatballs!

🙌🍇 Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs are the EASIEST holiday appetizer that’s made with just 3 INGREDIENTS! People adore these saucy meatballs loaded with FLAVOR! Make them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s celebrations, and holiday parties, or your next tailgating, game day party, or potlucks!

Taquitos

🌮🧀🥑 Learn how to make the BEST tasting Creamy Chicken Taquitos at home that rival a Mexican restaurant in just 30 minutes with a handful of common ingredients! Crispy and crunchy on the outside, warm melted cheese and seasoned chicken on the inside, these will be a hit at your next fiesta or casual get-together! Instructions provided to bake, air fry, or fry so you’re set to make this EASY recipe!

Craving Mexican food? 🌮🎉🧀 Make these EASY Baked Cheese and Beef Taquitos made with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, salsa, and baked to crispy perfection! Family friendly, picky-eater approved, and PERFECT for busy weeknight dinners, game day events or parties!

Drinks

3-Ingredient All-Natural Fresh Homemade Margaritas 🍋‍🟩💚 are my most popular drink recipe! Learn how to make a margarita with just three natural ingredients! Nothing fake, neon green, and no sugary chemicals. This is the best homemade margarita recipe I’ve tried and it’s the easiest! Make them by the glass or the pitcher.

Refreshing Beer Margaritas 🍻 Things tastes better with a pitcher of these delightful and refreshing beer margaritas are made with Corona, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, agave, and a sugared (or salted) rim! Cheers to beer-garitas!

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The San Diego Restaurant Scene

If you’ve never been to San Diego, we’re our own city and scene, we have our own deal, vibe, and our own restaurants. We are not LA which is a 2-3+ hours drive north, depending on traffic and where in San Diego you’re starting from. And we’re not Orange County although it could be argued that northern San Diego country and southern OC somewhat blur together.

There are over 3000 full-service restaurants in San Diego and 5000+ total restaurants. That’s a lot of food to choose from.

And I’ll let you in on a secret…For a county with 3.34 million residents (and the 5th largest county in the entire US), our restaurant scene is very diverse BUT if you’re not careful, you’ve just bought yourself a $400 dinner for two - not at all hard to do, I promise - that’s mediocre at best, and this is sadly easy to do unless you’re in the know.

So I’ve taken the liberty to spend two decades of my life dining out and tens of thousands of dollars out of my own pocket in restaurant meals to tell you what I believe is the best food in San Diego. Not one meal has ever been comped.

As an aside…One of the biggest misconceptions people have about food bloggers is that we go around and eat in 5-star restaurants for free and then write about it. That is a million percent NOT what food bloggers do. That’s what restaurant critics do although if they’re accepting free meals in exchange for reviews that’s a very slippery slope.

As a food blogger for 17 years at Averie Cooks, what I have done is write two cookbooks and personally develop and photograph 3000+ of my OWN recipes and have shared them on the internet, for free, with all of you. And because food is my job and I love trying new food, I go out…a lot. Likely a very disproportionate amount to “normal” people who don’t work in the food space.

Also make sure to check out my fun Free Things To Do In San Diego post which is chock full of - you guessed it - fun free activities, sights, and recommended activities if you’re in San Diego. Photo below is at one of the restaurants on my favorites list.

Favorite Fun FREE Things To Do in San Diego post!

The Best San Diego Restaurants, Why & What to Order (and not to order)

Since it’s a big city and county, paying attention to where you're staying, or where you live in relation to where the restaurant is, it's a big deal. I don't care how good the food is, unless it's a Michelin star, I'm not spending more than 45 minutes in my car or Uber, one way, just to get there. Pay attention to areas: downtown, Little Italy, La Jolla, North County, East County, South Bay, and so forth. Most all restaurants I have selected are metro San Diego or slight north county.

The restaurants are grouped by category such as steak, sushi, Mexican, etc. and are in no particular order.

Unless I specifically mention that you don’t need one, you NEED to make a reservation. I never call, it’s pointless most times. OpenTable or Resy (all of these restaurants use one or the other) is what you need to do. Click, click, done. Do not show up expecting to dine, even on a Tuesday, and especially if it’s more than just two of you, if you don’t have a reservation.

So let’s get to my favorite 35 restaurants that you should try!

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Lean Protein + Fiber Filled Recipes for Satisfaction & Strength

One-Skillet Lemon Chicken with Farro 🍋👏🏻🧀 Chicken thighs, farro, and asparagus simmer in ONE skillet to produce a satisfying and complete meal with layers of FLAVOR from lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and more! The chicken is tender and juicy, the farro is hearty, the asparagus is crisp-tender, and it’s all ready in 45 minutes. If you’ve never worked with farro, it’s easy or you can sub with another grain.

🥑🍤🥗 Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad with Black Beans and Avocado is an easy, Mexican-inspired salad ready in 10 minutes! With tender, juicy shrimp, black beans, avocado, cilantro, and more are coated in a lime sauce, creating a fiesta in your mouth!

20-Minute Baked Cilantro Lime Chicken Breasts 💚 Super juicy, EASY, tender chicken that’s ready in 20 minutes and made on ONE sheet pan! Bursting with robust Mexican-inspired lime cilantro flavors that will make this an automatic family FAVORITE!

Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry 🥢🥦🧅 This Chinese-inspired stir fry recipe includes tender pieces of chicken, along with crisp-tender broccoli and other veggies, all coated in the best stir fry sauce! Ready in under 30 minutes, healthier AND faster than calling for takeout, and PERFECT for busy weeknights! The whole family loves this easy stir fry recipe!

15-Minute Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Chicken 🍋💜 Fast, EASY, HEALTHY, and loaded with great lemon pepper flavor! A DELISH one-pan meal with zero cleanup that’s perfect for busy weeknights!

🥦🍗🫛🌶️ This EASY Sheet Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables recipe is ready in 30 minutes and full of rich Asian-inspired flavor! If you’re looking for a ONE PAN, no-fuss chicken dinner that’s high protein with healthy fiber, look no further than this chicken teriyaki with veggies that are easy to customize!

Shrimp Ceviche 🍤 The EASIEST way to make traditional shrimp ceviche and it tastes the BEST! Ready in 30 minutes, great as an appetizer, side, or as a healthy main course that everyone LOVES!

Plant-Based Protein

Smoky Roasted Chickpea Salad with Buttermilk Chive Dressing 🥗 An EASY salad with smoky roasted chickpeas, vegetables, kale, and topped with homemade chive-infused buttermilk dressing! An accidentally vegetarian, gluten-free, HEALTHY, and SATISFYING salad!

Zesty Quinoa Salad 🍅🍋🥗 includes sundried tomatoes, sliced almonds, and a burst of lemon for a salad that’s fast, EASY, and fresh! Lovely bright flavors and loads of texture in this clean-eating salad keeps you full and satisfied! Healthy never tasted so good! Tip – There’s no mayo, making this great for outdoor events or lunch boxes!

Thai Chickpea and Kale Curry — An EASY one-skillet vegan curry that’s ready in 15 minutes and has AMAZING Thai-inspired flavors! Low-cal, low-carb, and HEALTHY but tastes like hearty comfort food!

Spinach And Artichoke Quinoa Salad – All the flavors of classic spinach and artichoke dip are in this HEALTHY salad! The only thing that’s missing is tons of fat and calories! FAST, EASY, naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and tastes DELISH!

Check out this Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry! 🍠😍🎉 An EASY one-skillet curry that’s ready in 30 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors! HEALTHY comfort food that tastes AMAZING!

🫒🧀😋 This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is ready in 20 minutes with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients, including chickpeas, Kalamata olives, artichokes, and goat cheese, to give layers of flavor and texture in every bite! It’s naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, too!

Salads with Protein That Aren’t Boring

Twelve Superfood Salad 🥗🫐🥬🍇This superfood salad is packed with 12 superfoods! This is a great clean out the fridge meal and is easily customized to suit whatever you need to use up. Best of all you just FEEL so good eating it!

This EASY 15-minute Avocado Mango Shrimp Salad 🥑🥭🍍🍤 with tropical fruit, avocado, red onion, lime juice, cilantro, and plump JUICY shrimp will become a new FAVORITE! Healthy and light with an assortment of wonderful flavors in every bite that’s perfect for a snack, quick lunch, or casual summer dinner!

Chicken Avocado Black Bean Salad — A Mexican-inspired salad with tender chicken, black beans, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and more! EASY, ready in 20 minutes, HEALTHY, and packed with fiesta FLAVORS galore!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad — A HEARTY salad that celebrates the flavors of fall including roasted Brussels sprouts and dried cranberries along with quinoa, chickpeas, spinach, and goat cheese! Perfect for lunch, a meatless main, or a HEALTHY side dish on your holiday table!

Steak Fajita Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing — 🥗🍅🥑🌶️ Tastes like your favorite steak fajitas, but in fresh and crisp salad form! Mouth-watering sliced sirloin steak, crisp bell peppers, onions, and juicy tomatoes are layered over a bed of lettuce to really level-up your salad game! The homemade creamy avocado and cilantro lime dressing comes together in seconds and adds so much incredible FLAVOR! There are so many fresh Mexican-inspired flavors in this FAST and EASY salad!

Avocado, Black Bean, and Corn Salad with Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette — Everything tastes better with avocado! Easy, healthy and tons of flavor and texture from the corn, tomatoes, and black beans.

Tabbouleh — Never had it? Think couscous or quinoa mixed with vegetables, herbs, lemon and olive oil! Easy, no cooking required, healthy, and packed with so much flavor! (Great for outdoor events because there’s no mayo!)

Mexican Bean Salad with Corn 🍅🌽 Such a fast and easy recipe to make! Plus, it’s loaded with flavor and textures galore. Two kinds of beans, juicy corn and tomatoes, crisp peppers, and green onions are tossed in a lime-chili-cumin vinaigrette that’s perfectly light!

Easy 30-Minute Soup Recipes

• These are the kind of soup recipes that let me throw everything into one pot, walk away to multitask on everything else going on, and come back to something that smells amazing and tastes even better!

• Many are naturally lighter and veggie-packed, which I love when I want comfort without heaviness. Whether you need something classic and soothing or bolder and a little spicy, there’s a pot of soup here with your name on it.

• Soup Pot Tips: My favorite soup pot is without a doubt my Le Creuset Dutch oven. Worth every penny because I use it for soups, roasts, sourdough, and more. Although this Lodge Dutch oven is much less expensive and it has amazing reviews! I just like oval but round is totally fine and this Amazon Basics is a steal!

• Soup eBook: 40 Easy Cozy Soup Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes is my newest ebook and perfect for all the soup fans - from restaurant copycats to classics, there’s a huge variety of easy soup recipes! Thanks in advance for your support. 🙏🏻

The Best Easy Soup Recipes Coming in Hot!

1. Easy 30-Minute Chicken Noodle Soup

🍲🥕🙌🏻 Classic, comforting, and tastes just like grandma made but way easier and faster! This soup is AMAZING and it’ll be your new favorite recipe! One of my most popular soups of all time with thousands of 5-star reviews!

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2. Restaurant-Style Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is a reader favorite for a reason—it’s loaded with chicken, black beans, corn, and all those bold Mexican flavors in one pot. The crunchy tortilla strips and toppings make it feel restaurant-worthy, but it’s on the table in 30 minutes. I make it on repeat!

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3. Healthy & Hearty Kale, White Bean and Chicken Soup

🍗🥬👏🏻 This chicken soup with white beans, kale, zucchini, and more is easy, hearty, and healthy! Packed with flavor and texture, it’s a full meal in itself! Perfect for quick weeknight dinners and leftovers freeze and reheat great! A reader favorite!

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4. Easy Minestrone Soup (Olive Garden Copycat)

This minestrone soup recipe takes just 30 minutes to make and it’s way better than what you get at Olive Garden! Homemade always wins in my book!

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5. The Best 30-Minute White Chicken Chili

Hearty, healthy, loaded with tender chicken, and packed with bold flavor! Fast and easy comfort food that everyone loves! It’ll be on rotation all winter!

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6. Easy 30-Minute Tomato Basil Soup

This is my go-to when I want cozy comfort that doesn’t wreck my goals. It’s naturally dairy-free, loaded with sweet carrots and fresh basil, and tastes like it took all afternoon even though it’s done in 30 minutes. Pair it with grilled cheese and call it a win!

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7. Easy Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup

😋💛🍁 Have leftover Thanksgiving turkey? Make this turkey and noodle soup! It’s an EASY, flexible recipe that tastes like Grandma’s homemade chicken noodle soup, but with turkey!

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8. 30-Minute Easy Taco Soup

🌮🙌🎉 Taco lovers are going to love this beef taco soup which is like eating tacos but in soup form! Layers of Mexican-inspired flavors in this comforting and hearty yet healthy soup that will become a family FAVORITE! Fast, easy, one pot, and perfect for busy weeknights!

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9. 30-Minute Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

This is the thick, creamy version of chicken noodle soup my family begs for all winter. It’s loaded with chicken, noodles, and veggies, and tastes like you spent hours on it. Total hug-in-a-bowl vibes with minimal effort.

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10. Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup

Slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and ridiculously hearty—this soup has it all. Butternut squash, sausage, white beans, and spinach come together in 30 minutes, and it freezes like a dream. Cold-weather comfort without any fuss.

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11. Light 30-Minute Mushroom Vegetable Soup

I made this when I was fighting a cold and needed something light but nourishing. It’s accidentally vegan, packed with mushrooms and greens, and has a subtle Asian-inspired twist from soy sauce and vinegar. Perfect when you want comfort without the heaviness.

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12. One Pot Beef and Bowtie Soup

EASY, hearty, comfort food that’s full of flavor! A FAST and tasty soup the whole family will LOVE! It will keep your warm on chilly winter nights!

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13. Better-Than-Storebought Homemade Alphabet Soup

This nostalgic throwback is so much better than the canned stuff. It’s packed with veggies, alphabet pasta, and a tomato-y broth that kids love and adults secretly do too. One pot, 30 minutes, and totally meatless.

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14. Chicken and Vegetable Mediterranean Soup

An EASY soup that’s both HEALTHY and HEARTY! Loaded with tender chicken, vegetables, garbanzo beans, and more! Ready so fast and it’s perfect for busy chilly winter weeknights!

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15. Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Biscuits

All the comfort food feels of pot pie, but in soup form! Rich, hearty, creamy and ready in just 30 minutes! Use canned biscuit dough to save time on busy weeknights when you’re craving a hot homemade meal!

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16. Bonus: The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup

🥦🧀 Make the best soup of your life at home in 1 hour! Not 30 minutes but so worth it! It’s creamy, CHEESY, and loaded with tender pieces of broccoli! Beyond words amazing and WAY better than Panera! Thousands of 5 star reviews for great reason!

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If you are not interested in my content, feel free to unsubscribe yourself by scrolling down and clicking the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom and you’ll never hear from me again. If you follow me for recipes, averiecooks.com is where I post just recipes. This is my other platform where I share a bit of everything!

I’d Rather Just Not…If I Don’t Have The Right Gear

For those of you who don’t know, I’d describe myself as extremely active. I am a 20k steps a day person, and even on sick days or “light days”, I’m at least at 15k.

It’s a mix of power walking, running, and training for half marathons, marathons and races. I’d say I am always in marathon shape, it’s just that during some life cycles I’d put up better times than others, but I can always finish if that’s the goal. A friend messages me on Tuesday and wonders if I want to run a half marathon on Saturday? Sure thing! I’ll see you at 4:30AM Saturday!

I also do yoga, mat pilates, and strength training at the gym. I like climbing hills, I always take the stairs, I walk on escalators, I never use moving pedways, basically I’m a person who functions best when I move my body a lot (which is ironic since I also sit at my desk for 8-12+ hours a day)!

Over the years I’ve learned that if I don’t have the right gear, for me, my workouts are miserable. I am def not one of those “whatever’s clean” I’ll just throw it on people. Or “it’s on sale so I’ll buy it” - nope because I end up not using it and being wasteful is never in style.

By no means in this a comprehensive list of everything I’ve ever worn or used. Rather, the items that I have in every color, are always in rotation, and I can buy online without trying on.

I’m keeping this list smaller while still being thorough because I also don’t believe that you need “tons of stuff” to work out. No, you sure don’t. You need motivation more than you need stuff.

I’m also a firm believer in “you get what you pay for”. There’s a reason Lulu gear is expensive: it lasts through hundreds of washes. Or why Hokas are so pricey: You get 500 miles before you need to replace them. Your mileage will vary of course, pun intended.

Tops/Bras

I machine wash these and hang everything up to dry. I do not put any of these in the dryer.

Lululemon Flow Y Bra - The GOAT (greatest of all time). I have bought it in dozens of colors over the years. The Nulu fabric is buttery soft and I love it. I buy the A-C, it’s tightish, but it holds me in, and this is my base layer for 100% of any workout activities from yoga to running. I don’t like sports bras that have an actual back clasp (this one doesn’t), and while adjustable straps can be nice, these hit me perfectly and I don’t feel there’s anything to adjust. Sports bras and tops are highly personal but this is mine.

Lulu Energy Bra - For more full coverage and greater support, this is a runner up. It’s still cute with the crisscross back straps but more coverage in front.

Lulu Align Tank - I am Team Align with anything because the fabric is just so soft. If you like a tank + bra in one, these are great and it’s a crop but not too cropped. My daughter loves these!

Swifty Shirt 2.0 - An all-around great short sleeve workout shirt. Lasts forever, thin and breathable but not paper thin. I size up in this shirt because I don’t like that skin tight across the chest feeling that makes me feel like I should be at a club rather than the gym, so a little extra material is preferred. The Long Sleeve Version is great if you need a longsleeve option.

Shorts/Pants

For yoga, pilates, running, walking, or the gym, I only wear the Lululemon Align line because the fabric is buttery soft, the right amount of stretch, it lasts forever, it’s sweat absorbent and wicking, it just works for me!

I machine wash these and hang everything up to dry. I do not put any of these in the dryer.

Lulu Align Short - I always get the 6 inch inseam. My daughter gets the 4 inch inseam, but we're 30 years apart 😉. I have it in every color, this is all I wear for running, walking, yoga, Pilates, the gym. Basically this is the only thing I wear.

Align 17” Crop Pants - When it's too cold to run outside in San Diego in shorts, I wear cropped pants. I like the 17 inch because it comes just underneath the knee, but doesn't go down all the way over my calf. Those are 21 inches.

Align 28” Pants - These are full length pants that come to your ankle, I'm 5’11” and they still come to my ankle. But they do come in 31 inches if you’re really tall AND really long-legged.

Jackets/Vests

Because I live in San Diego, AND I’d rather be a little cold rather than a little too warm when I’m running outside (I cannot stand being overdressed and it’s said that being overdressed can reduce your performance by 20%!!) , so my recs in this category are limited.

Define Hooded Jacket - I love a hood because childhood ear infections left me with extremely sensitive ears to wind and “cold” (it does get into the high 30s in San Diego in the winter for early morning or evening runs). There’s also an non-hood Define Jacket. I love that you can turn the sleeves over your hands to create little “mittens” which are great for running. Without a doubt, I’ve washed this at least 1000 times. Yep, nearly daily for 4-5 years. I sized up because I don’t like any too-tight in the chest feeling when I’m running.

Down For It Vest - For those times when I need a little more warmth than just my Define Jacket, I throw this on top. I find that the waist-hip area is quite exaggerated as workout gear goes and really snatches your waist, which is a blessing so you don’t look boxy but also if you don’t want to look snatched while working out, take heed.

Rain Jacket - Mine is similar to the linked style. It rarely rains here but when it does, this keeps me 100% dry, no questions asked.

Running Shoes (that I also walk in and strength train in because I just do)

This is so highly personal and I’ve ran in every single shoe out there. I used to run in Nikes for 20+ years but over the years, they've gotten wider and wider, as Americans have gotten wider and wider and for me they are just too wide.

I've ran in Brooks, Asics, Saucony, Reebok, New Balance, OnCloud (omg, no hate them with those little gaps in the sole area, they don’t not feel cloud-like, they feel stiff and lack cushioning), and my current go-tos are mostly Hokas.

Hoka Clifton 10 - I am linking to women’s shoes but I wear a size 12 to 12 1/2 in women’s shoes (yep I am 5’11” and my feet are proportionate to my height) so I need to size up to mens shoes to truly be comfortable since women’s shoes rarely go past 11 or 12.

Remember when you run/walk/warm weather, your feet will swell so it’s smart to size up a half-size generally speaking. And if you’re between sizes, always size up. I like the Clifton's because they are a good cushioned shoe for training runs, even after 8 to 10 miles. Anything can feel good for the first 3 to 5 miles. But how do you feel after 10 miles? That's why I really like the Cliftons. Squishy, springy, not too much sole, a good balance of plushness to functionality. Take these out on a long run and you won’t be disappointed.

Hoka Mach 6 - This shoe has a leaner profile compared to the Clifton. It's not as squishy and cushioned, but I think it's faster. And if you like shoes with less profile, less sole, just less bulk, this is a great shoe at a great price.

Hoka Mach X3 - If you’re trying for a PR, this is the shoe I’d wear to your next race. I’ve had three generations of this shoe - back when Hoka started it and marketed it as a unisex sized shoe. It has a new generation Pebex plate (cousin to a carbon fiber plate) and I love these. They’re responsive, not plush; but that’s what you want when you’re running for speed. Think of these as the Ferrari that you take out to go super fast. Carbon fiber plated shoes have been controversial because it’s said that high end athletes are breaking records when wearing them but that not everyone has access to shoes like this. This isn’t the shoe to buy if you don’t know what a PR is. Save your money - you don’t need this shoe.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 - These are full carbon-plated soles, and they are ultra lightweight. There's not much support because the upper is so thin and breathable, but that also helps them stay in the featherweight category! I've raced in these shoes and trained in them, and they are solid performers. They’re pricey, but you get what you pay for. Fully recommended.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 - The Endorphin line has both “Pro” and “Speed”. I personally like the Pro a little better, it’s slightly lighter, and aesthetically, I like it better but if this shoe speaks to you, I've worn it and it's been a great performer.

Socks

There are only a few socks I will wear, and everything linked has been worn for thousands of miles (no joke!) inside my running shoes and washed and dried in the dryer hundreds of times.

Balega Blister Resistant Socks - I am very prone to blisters, I've tried all the socks, I've tried all the tricks, and I go for a long run runs. So what feels bad after 5000 steps, after 20,000 steps it's true misery. And I have to say, knock on wood, I've never had a blister wearing these socks. And they're not overly thick either!

Balega Ultraglide Friction Free Socks - These socks are said to reduce blisters, and they do. They are thinner than the socks above, but if you're not really all that prone to blisters, or are probably “average”, these are wonderful performance socks.

Feetures High Perfomance Cushion Socks - For years, this is all I wore! Super solid socks, cushioned in all the right places without being thick, and prevented blisters. These are also the socks that I wear if I'm wearing cute but functional walking shoes in Europe on days where we walk and walk and walk.

Accessories & Everything Else

Manduka Pro Yoga Mat - 6mm thickness, regular length (although I have tried the long and even being tall, it's more mat that I need or that will comfortably fit in very crowded yoga or pilates classes). I've had this for at least 10 years, and it's perfect. Enough said. It's the best of the best in yoga mats (or pilates). If you’re sick of ripping, shredding, slipping, sliding, or not having enough cushion - or too much - get this.

Fun Fact: I’ve been a RYT certified yoga teacher since 1999! I started doing yoga long before it was trendy and my practice has changed and shaped my life for the better. Realizing that a ‘What Yoga Has Taught and Given Me’ post is in order!

Manduka Hot Yoga Mat Towels - Has grippy little nubs on the underside and stick perfectly to the mat, without being too grippy. Again, I've tried all of the towels, just skip those and get this. Washes and dries like a dream.

You can see both the mat and the mat towel in this time lapse video.

Silk Skinny Scrunchies - I cannot stand having my hair flopping around when I'm working out!!! It's an absolute dealbreaker, I just hate the feeling so finding a hair tie solution that doesn't rip my hair out is really important. I personally put my hair up in one and then wrap a separate one around the hair to make a knot on top of my head. They come in every color combination and thicknesses. I like the skinny size. I've also tried the Amazon knock offs and I prefer these. I washed and drying them in the dryer every week or so.

Bandi Pocketed Belt - Right up there with socks and yoga mats, I've tried all of the running belts and things to hold your phone, keys, and a chapstick. This is the only one that I can recommend and come back to. The Lululemon belt is way too tight and the fanny pack is way too floppy. The Bandi belt hugs your body, without being too tight, it has an adjustable strap, and it fits an iPhone Pro Max. Again, another item I've washed thousands of times. I also bring this to Disney when I truly cannot have anything bulky on my body or be forced to contend with the old ‘what am I going to do with my purse on the ride’ feeling. I use this.

Let me know what your favorite workout gear, items, and must-have’s are!

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If you are not interested in my content, feel free to unsubscribe yourself by scrolling down and clicking the Unsubscribe link at the very bottom and you’ll never hear from me again. If you follow me for recipes averiecooks.com is where I post just recipes. This is my other platform where I share a bit of everything!

What Makes Trader Joe’s So Great

I’ve been shopping at Trader Joe’s since the early 2000s in San Diego, so give or take ~25 years. And I’ve tried just about everything they sell!

I’ve ready many, many articles on their business model, their success, and their cult-like following.

• For those who don’t know, Trader Joe’s has a fraction of the SKUs or items that regular grocery stores sell. This is an advantage because everything on their shelves is “important” and sells well - or should. Whereas mainstream grocery stores have lots of dead weight. i.e. those 22 jars of pickled cocktail onions that they may never sell but still take up valuable shelf space and someone (you the customer) is paying higher prices to cover the overhead.

• If an item doesn’t sell, Trader Joe’s does away with it. So even though you may have loved something like those dill pickle-flavored peanuts, if it doesn’t seem to catch on with most customers, ba-bye. There’s no room for things that don’t perform in their small stores. So if you find a new item you love and can’t imagine your life without it, buy a dozen. Not kidding. You may never see it again when that run is done if it’s not a performer.

• They private label much of what’s in their stores direct from suppliers, thus reducing the middleman, which reduces costs to them, and they can pass it onto consumers.

• Bottom line, Trader Joe’s is the most reasonable place for me to shop on many, many items. I currently have a two-person household (my husband and I because my daughter is at college), and we live in a very small house in urban San Diego. No closet space, no basement, no garage, no shed, no storage. That means no Costco for me! So while Costco may be technically cheaper, it’s only cheaper if I have a place to store what I’m buying or can use it up before it goes bad. Here’s looking at you that 5 pound container of mixed nuts which will go rancid before we consume them.

• The atmosphere is fun, the marketing is always great and eye-catching, they accept returns on anything, no questions asked, their employees seem to genuinely like their jobs and want to help shoppers, and the vibe is just good. If you ever don’t see something you came in search of, the managers are super receptive for quickly checking the inventory status of your item, when it’s coming back (hopefully it is) and/or other stores in your area that may have it.

• They also do seasonal foods so, so well. Especially pumpkin spice season (which starts in late August-early September), pre-Thanksgiving, and then Christmas stuff. Wow from seasonal pumpkin spice crackers to hot pepper jelly to stuffing-in-a-box to the best selection of peppermint anything, they really really do it right.

Table of Contents for This Haul

What you’ll find below includes my picks ✅ (and avoids 🚫 when applicable) for the following categories AND recipes that you can make using said items:

• Frozen Foods

• Chips, Crackers, Salty Snacks

• Cheese

• Deli Meats, Charcuterie, Other Meats

• Dairy and Eggs

• Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, Salads & Prepared Foods

• Condiments, Oils, Extras, Randoms

• Bread, Granola Bars, Sweeter Snacks

• Personal Care, Pet, Household Products

• Alcohol

• Fresh Flowers and Plants

Frozen Foods

Freezer food is a huge section and category. My Hillcrest, San Diego store is very crowded and this section is particularly chaotic. That’s another thing…if you’re going to TJs, if possible avoid weekends (especially midday/afternoons) and pre-holidays!

Turkey Meatballs - I love these for the high protein/low cal nature. 18 grams of protein for 150 calories in 3 meatballs. Heat them up in the microwave and 90 seconds and I personally dice them up and put them over big salads like my 12 superfoods salad.

Mini Frozen Pizzas - A kid and teenager favorite. Enough said. Much cheaper than name brands at regular grocery stores. I don’t tend to buy their bigger frozen pizzas regularly, although I have and there’s many types of larger frozen pizzas to suit your liking.

Mandarin Orange Chicken - I’ve read that this is one of their most popular, highest, selling items of all time. This is definitely a cult, favorite! If you like chicken thighs, this is for you. Otherwise make my Healthier Orange Chicken!

Indian Butter Chicken - I really love their Indian butter, chicken! I think between this chicken and the orange chicken, that Trader Joe’s does a better job on the Indian butter chicken. However, both are very popular. Or make my Indian butter chicken, you won’t be disappointed!

Chicken Tikka Masala - Also a big winner. I love this! It’s just spicy enough, it’s indulgent, it’s just really good if you’re not making your own Chicken Tikka Masala.

Chicken Fried Rice (or Vegetable Fried Rice) - Nothing is as good as my Better-Than-Takeout Chicken Fried Rice (or my Shrimp Fried Rice) but if you don’t have time or energy to cook, this is a great shortcut and I find it’s good for after school snacks, pre or post workout snack, or as a side to another protein-forward main dish.

Basmati Rice - Plain frozen rice that is so versatile and useful as a side for most anything.

Chicken Soup Dumplings - They went crazy on TikTok and kids and people of all ages seem to love these! I’m not a dumpling person in general, but my daughter adores these things.

Potstickers (Chicken or Pork Shu Mai) - I’ve always got a pack of these in the freezer. My daughter is more partial to the chicken version (red package vs blue package for the pork) so that’s what I tend to buy more.

Coconut Shrimp - If you’re not making homemade coconut shrimp, these are a good option. They bake really nicely (do not microwave) and have rich coconut flavor. Serve them with orange-chili dipping sauce.

Frozen Vegetables - This is where I always get my frozen peas, frozen artichoke hearts (they have been hit and miss in the last year, but when they have them, I always buy a couple bags) but I make The Best Spinach and Artichoke Dip with them; frozen corn and fire-roasted corn, edamame both shelled for my winning Cashew Chicken and in the shell, just any frozen veg I need, this is where I grab it.

Frozen Fruit - Their berry medley, mango chunks, frozen blueberries, mixed berries, strawberries, any frozen fruit at all - this is where to buy it! Many options come in both organic and conventional, and either way their prices are great.

Ice Cream - Their cookie butter (speculoos) ice cream is absolutely incredible! I’m not even a huge ice cream fan but the sheer quantity of cookie butter that they put in it is just next level! My husband really likes their strawberry ice cream.

Mini Hold The Cones Ice Cream - If you’re trying to be mindful about portion control, this is the way to eat an ice cream cone with that in mind.

Puff Pastry - In my area, this is a November and December seasonal item. If you’re making recipes that use puff pastry, now is the time to stock up and just keep it in your freezer!

Pie Crusts - another semi-seasonal item for me with luck in fourth quarter, but if you’re making pie and you’re not making your own pie crust, here you go.

🚫 I have some avoids and would not buy again because we just don’t like them and I think they’re too expensive for what they are based on taste/flavor/quality.

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