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Need some mealtime inspiration? This on-the-menu for the fourth week of March is packed with 45 easy and delicious recipes your family will love.
Happy spring, friends! I have planned a delicious week full of fresh flavors and satisfying textures. We eat with our eyes first, so I always keep presentation in mind too! With the first day of spring on Thursday, March 20th, it’s the perfect time to make early spring recipes.
Here’s what’s on the menu for the third week of March…
Need an easy spring dinner idea? This creamy Tuscan chicken pasta with a crisp Italian chopped salad is a fresh and delicious meal to make this week.
This creamy Tuscan chicken pasta is one of those dishes that has a richer flavor than you might expect. The sauce is creamy, tangy and full of flavor, and the whole wheat pasta gives it such a nice texture. It looks like a light recipe, but it definitely doesn’t taste like one.
I always love a pasta dinner with a big salad, and this Italian Chopped Salad seems like the perfect match. It’s fresh and colorful, adding just the right crisp bite to the creamy pasta.
Weight Watchers Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Mom’s Classic Italian Tossed Salad
I know spring is officially here, but now is the perfect time to make Nani’s Fried Chicken. It’s one of those old family recipes that never goes out of style.
This chicken has been made in my family for generations. My mother made it and her mother before her, and so on. It is simple, gentle and so very good. I’ve tweaked the recipe a bit over the years. I follow the recipe on the stove until everything boils nicely, then I put the pan in a 350-degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes. The skin stays crisp, and the chicken becomes so tender it almost falls off the bone.
I’m serving it with mashed potatoes because the pan juice spooned on top is too good to miss. Roasted carrots are also on the side, and they add a little sweetness and such good flavor to the meal.
And one more thing, this chicken makes the whole house smell amazing while cooking. To me, it smells like home.
Nani’s Fried Chicken
Ina Garten Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Delicious roasted organic carrots
These Garlic Mary Mee Pork Chops are one of those dinners that look a little special but are super easy to make. It’s the kind of meal that works just as well for a busy weeknight as it does when company comes over.
The sauce really makes this recipe. It’s rich and full of flavor with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, parmesan and fresh basil. Everything comes together so easily, but the end result tastes like you spent more time in the kitchen.
I pair this with leftover make-ahead mashed potatoes (I can eat them with every meal), which always makes dinner feel a little easier. And a side of spinach with garlic, along with warm garlic bread, perfect for soaking up every bit of that delicious sauce.
It’s a warm, comforting meal with a little spring mixed in.
Garlic Mary Mee Pork Chops
Ina Garten Make Ahead Mash Potatoes
Sauteed spinach with garlic
Easy Homemade Garlic Bread
This salmon recipe is what I reach for when I want something easy, fresh, and full of flavor. It comes together quickly.
Bobby and I try to eat salmon at least once a week, and this version with a lemon mustard sauce is so good. The lemon adds brightness and balances the richness of the salmon perfectly. It’s simple, but it makes such a difference.
I serve it with a lemon couscous salad. I especially like Israeli couscous because it has a little more substance and a nice texture. It makes the whole meal feel satisfying without being heavy.
This is one of those dinners that feels like early spring. Light, fresh, and so good.
Easy Baked Lemon Duan Salmon
Israeli Couscous Salad
Friday nights call for something simple, and this French Bread Pizza is always a good idea. It’s easy, satisfying and everyone loves it, especially me.
I like to keep it classic, but it’s also a great recipe to add a few extras. I’m planning to add caramelized onions and mushrooms to mine, which will give it a little extra flavor and make it a little more special.
This is the kind of meal I make on a busy day when I’m styling and taking photos and don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Such a fun dinner.
If you love artichokes, this side dish is one you won’t want to miss. It is full of flavor and pairs well with pizza.
It’s a relaxed, weeknight dinner, and sometimes that’s all that’s needed.
French Bread Pizza
Artichoke Provencal
It’s the kind of dinner that feels a little extra special, and it’s perfect for a weekend or when company is coming over.
Beef tenderloin is a wonderful cut of meat. It tastes like filet mignon but is very easy to make at home. I always use a meat thermometer to get it just right. When it reaches about 135 degrees, I take it out and let it rest. That small step makes all the difference and keeps the meat tender and juicy.
I’ve been serving it with mushrooms sauteed in Marsala wine, and it’s great with a roast. The flavor is rich and pairs beautifully with the beef. I also like to add mashed potato cakes to the plate. They look a little special but are very easy to make.
To balance everything out, there’s a fresh arugula salad with lemon dressing. It adds a nice light bite to the rich portions of the meal.
And for dessert, a vanilla custard cake that forms its own layers while baking. It’s one of those desserts that always gets some attention at the table.
This is a lovely meal to slow down and enjoy.
Roast beef tenderloin
Baby Bella Mushrooms in Marsala Wine
Baked Mashed Potato Cake
Arugula salad with shaved parmesan, peanuts in a lemon vinaigrette
Magic Custard Cake
This is a lovely and easy meal for a relaxing Sunday, especially at this time of year when asparagus is popping up everywhere.
This asparagus cheese tart is made with puff pastry, so it comes together without much fuss but looks like you spent more time on it. It is light, tasty and perfect for a simple lunch or an early dinner.
I am planning to serve it when the family comes after church. I’m not sure if the grandkids will be the first to like it, but I know they’ll be happy to see my potato salad on the table. It is one of those dishes that is often requested, and it always disappears quickly.
And for something sweet, fresh strawberries with vanilla ice cream. It doesn’t get any easier, and it tastes like spring at its best.
It’s a simple, fresh way to end the week and enjoy some extra time together.
Green Asparagus Cheese Tart
The best potato salad
Fresh strawberries and Vanilla ice cream
This is a beautiful orange cake. It is very moist and can be made with pantry ingredients. I top it with an orange glaze and zest for a little sweetness and intense orange flavor. This is the kind of cake that can work after lunch or dinner or with a mid-morning or afternoon cup of coffee.
The best orange cake
This Scones Soft, buttery, and very hard to resist.
This Breakfast cake Easy, sweet and perfect with a cup of coffee.
This Air Fryer Salmon Cake Crisp, delicious and easy to make.
This Creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta Tastes fresh and perfect for spring.
This Lemon Glazed Zucchini Bread Bright, moist and so beautifully sliced.
This Loads of tater tots Cheesy, crispy and such a fun appetizer.
This Herb butter A delicious way to use up leftover herbs.
This Brown Butter Sausage Risotto Rich, creamy and company worthy.
This Strawberry Lemon Blondies Soft, sweet and full of sunny flavor.
This Chicken Taco Soup Hearty, simple and always loved.
This Baked Pork Tenderloin Juicy, delicious and so satisfying.
This Orange Oatmeal Muffins Soft, mildly sweet and perfect for snacking.
This Carrot Cake Bar Moist, creamy and such a treat.
This Biting eggs An easy breakfast for a busy morning.
This Crustless Corn and Zucchini Quiche Delicious, easy and full of flavor.
This Chopped salad Crisp, fresh and very tasty.
This Lemon Chicken Light, bright and simple enough for any night of the week.
This Baked cod Tender, flaky and full of good flavor.
This Potato and Celery Root Gratin Creamy, savory and comforting.
This Spinach and Feta Puff Pastry Appetizers Flaky and very good.
This Rarely Baked Cookies Chubby, chocolatey and always a favorite.
This Rotisserie Chicken Tacos Quick, easy and full of flavor.
This fish pie Cozy, old fashioned and so satisfying.
Things to make your meals easier…
Happy cooking, friends.
