Easter time is so nostalgic for me. I can already smell the roasting meat, hear my family laughing, feel the excitement of festivities… this time of the year makes me feel like a kid all over again. With Tim’s birthday on Wednesday and Easter Sunday around the corner, I’m on the hunt for quick-fix meals. These are some of my go-to recipes for those days when everything except the dishes is getting done!
Skip-Takeout Monday: Spicy Chili Noodles
When Tim and I first got married, we ate SO much takeout. Asian takeout was one of our go-tos, and we especially loved slurpy noodles. I can say with confidence that this 20-minute chili noodle recipe changed our lives (and gave our wallets a break!).
Hot tips
- Look for fresh ramen noodles in the refrigerated pasta section of the grocery store. If you can’t find them fresh, regular ramen noodles work just fine!
- Grill up a batch of teriyaki chicken skewers for added protein.
Taco Tuesday: Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
You wouldn’t believe the insane amount of flavor that infuses into this chicken after just a couple hours of marinating! I love tossing the chicken in the orange-lime marinade around lunchtime, then grilling it up right in time for dinner.
Hot tips
- If you feel like going above and beyond, make your own corn tortillas or flour tortillas (it’s so worth it)!
- Add a creamy and tangy side of Mexican street corn salad.
Fancy Wednesday: Osso Buco
It’s the big day — my sweetheart turns 40! I’ll never forget the look on Tim’s face when I was testing this recipe… he was practically drooling to get a taste, and he was in heaven once I served it up. These slow-cooked veal shanks are simply perfection.
Hot tips
- Use a large Dutch oven like this one. Trust me — you’ll need the room.
- Serve the shanks over a bed of risotto, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Deconstructed Thursday: Egg Roll in a Bowl
Tim and I love the flavor of egg rolls, but I usually don’t have the patience to wrap them individually — so I made a way easier version. It comes together in one pan, takes only 20 minutes, and it’s packed with protein!
Hot tips
- Save time by using a coleslaw mix instead of shredding the cabbage and carrots by hand.
- To make this meal even more filling, serve it with a side of rice or quinoa.
Good Friday: Leg of Lamb
This is one of those dishes that impresses an entire crowd but is unbelievably easy to prepare. It’s like my little secret! Poke garlic cloves into the meat, season it up, and you’ll have a show-stopping dinner 1.5 hours later.
Hot tips
- If you can’t find leg of lamb at a grocery store, visit a local butcher.
- This is my favorite baking dish to use for this recipe, but any large cast iron pan or oven-safe dish will work.
- Serve the lamb with mashed potatoes, olivier salad, and/or marinated tomatoes.
Snack of the Week: Ukrainian Easter Eggs
My favorite Easter memory as a kid was collecting onion skins and eggs from our chickens to make this stunning arts-and-crafts project. I bet you’ve never seen such beautiful hard-boiled eggs before!
Dessert of the Week: Easter Bread (Paska)
This fluffy, raisin-packed brioche is a traditional sweet treat for Easter. The recipe has been passed down for generations, and it’s one of my all-time favorite family recipes!
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