Trick your kids (and yourself!) into eating more veggies by incorporating them into your favorite meals. These recipes are sneaky good at disguising good-for-you ingredients.
38 Sneaky Ways to Eat More Vegetables
Tag: #FromMyKitchen
Tuna Broccoli Casserole
This tuna broccoli casserole captures all the goodness of the classic recipe without using condensed soup. It gets straight to the good stuff: tender noodles, a creamy homemade sauce with real depth, and a generous handful of melty cheese. Onion and dried herbs simmer into the sauce, giving it a savory backbone and making it feel more like a pantry-friendly bechamel than a shortcut sauce. The broccoli stays bright and slightly crisp, the tuna adds heft without overwhelming the dish, and the panko topping turns golden and toasty thanks to a slick of melted butter.
What comes out of the oven is equal parts comfort and competence, with bubbling edges, a cheesy crust and a spoonable center that’s just firm enough to hold its shape. It’s a great use of shelf-stable staples and frozen veggies, but it eats like a casserole with a lot more effort behind it. You’ll get creamy, chewy, crunchy and savory in every bite—no processed shortcuts, no extra fuss.
Tuna Broccoli Casserole Ingredients
- Whole wheat egg noodles
- Butter
- Onion
- Cornstarch
- Milk
- Basil
- Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chicken broth
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Broccoli florets
- Albacore white tuna in water
- Panko bread crumbs
- Butter
Taste of Home
Dry Mix Dinners
Make-Ahead Jar Meals & Seasoning Blends for Fast, Flavorful Weeknights (Sizzling Sauces & Condiments Book 2)
Dry Mix Dinners
By Josie B. Malone — Read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited
Let’s be honest—many dry mix cookbooks ask for things you can’t find in a regular grocery store. I know, because I’ve bought those same ingredients myself. The truth is, Dry Mix Dinners isn’t about making you hunt down obscure bulk items—it’s about teaching you how to build better mixes with what you have, and showing you how a few smart pantry staples can turn into endless meals.
Yes, some recipes call for specialty items like powdered butter or freeze-dried vegetables, but only because they make your mixes shelf-stable and giftable. You can always swap, skip, or scale them to fit your budget and pantry. Many of these ingredients now come in smaller bags online—no need for 20-pound sacks or emergency-prepper bins.
And as for serving sizes? I keep them small and flexible by design. Every recipe lists one serving so you can multiply or divide without the math gymnastics. Whether you’re cooking for one or six, you decide how much to make—because food should fit your life, not the other way around.
As for beans, rice, and pasta—some mixes absolutely do need to be cooked separately. That’s part of making sure everything cooks evenly and tastes right. I’ve noted it clearly in the instructions, and each mix is meant to be easy, not complicated. These jars are about real food convenience, not shortcuts that sacrifice quality.
Inside You’ll Discover
70 Tested Recipes — including Pantry Meal Bases, One-Jar Soups & Stews, Casserole Starters, Beverage Mixes, Dips & Dressings, Savory Staples, and Baking & Desserts.
Complete Recipe Details — servings, prep & cook times, tools needed, imperial & metric measurements, step-by-step instructions, nutrition facts, and Josie’s personal tips.
Packaging & Storage Strategies — keep your mixes fresh, labeled, and beautiful on the shelf.
Gifting Inspiration — themed jars, “mix-of-the-month” sets, and creative wrapping ideas.
Meal Planning Advice — batch cook, build mix-and-match menus, and reduce food waste.
Troubleshooting & Seasonal Ideas — fix clumps, boost flavor, and refresh your pantry year-round.
Why You’ll Love Dry Mix Dinners
Real Ingredients, Real Choices: Use what you have, substitute what you can, and don’t stress over perfection.
Flexible Servings: Recipes are portioned for one person—easy to scale for families or gifting.
Practical, Not Pretentious: These mixes work whether you shop at Walmart or Whole Foods.
Family-Tested: Every recipe was tried, tweaked, and approved by my five kids.
Gift-Ready: Beautiful jars that make thoughtful, personal presents.
A Note from Josie:
I’m new to writing cookbooks, and I’ve learned that formatting, portioning, and ingredient choices matter as much as flavor. Dry Mix Dinners is the result of hundreds of hours of testing—and of listening to readers who wanted a more down-to-earth, flexible guide.
This book isn’t about selling bulk ingredients—it’s about empowering you to make wholesome, shelf-stable mixes that fit your real life.
Follow me for recipe demos, pantry inspiration, and kitchen stories on Instagram:
📸 @josiebmalone
Ready to simplify your kitchen and cook with confidence?
Grab your copy of Dry Mix Dinners today and start building your own pantry magic—one jar at a time.
44 Pasta Recipes for Nearly Every Pasta Shape
There’s nothing like noodles to please everyone at the dinner table. Whether you’re feasting on impressive baked pasta recipes like lasagna or stuffed shells, or enjoying a bowl of saucy tortellini, every shape of pasta satisfies. These go-to pasta recipes prove that you don’t need to have a lot of time on your hands to whip up a delicious and comforting Italian-inspired meal.
Round out your carb-heavy entree with spaghetti side dishes (they go with ziti, penne and ravioli too) and some crusty Italian bread. If you’re feeling ambitious and have the time to spare, homemade fresh pasta is well worth the effort.
Taste of Home
The Ultimate Guide to Pasta Shapes
The grocery store is packed with pasta shapes. Before you reach for a box, learn about what makes each shape different and which recipes work best with your go-to noodle.
There’s a reason making pasta is so much fun—there are tons of pasta shapes to choose from! Whatever kind of sauce you’re in the mood for, like pesto, cream, marinara or meat sauce, there’s a noodle shape that suits it perfectly. You can take it one step further and choose between fresh or dry pasta too.
Long, smooth noodles prefer lighter sauces or a simple coating of olive oil and herbs. Thick, ribbon-like noodles or ridged pasta can hold more weight, and they keep the sauce on your noodles instead of at the bottom of the bowl. Tubular pasta is ideal for baked dishes like casseroles. Because the shapes, sizes and thickness varies so much, each type of pasta will have different cook times. Check the directions on your pasta box for perfectly al dente noodles.
If you’re using a pasta maker to shape your homemade pasta dough into noodles, tubes or shells, here’s a whole list of fun shapes to try. One ball of dough can make dozens of different dishes!
Taste of Home
Quick and Simple Dinner Ideas in One Pot
Satisfy your craving for a home-cooked meal—without making a sinkful of dirty dishes.
- Simple, Perfect Chili
- Creamy Skillet Chicken
- One-Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
- Chicken Pot Pie
Dinner, with Less Mess
There’s no denying that the least exciting part of cooking is cleaning up the mess afterwards. Whether you tackle a good, old-fashioned Sunday supper or a simple weeknight meal, it feels like the dirty pots, pans and plates always pile up fast. That’s where these one-pot wonders come in. Grab your favorite casserole dish to make a dump dinner, break out the cast-iron skillet and whip up rustic chicken and dumplings or turn to your Instant Pot for shrimp scampi in just 20 minutes; whatever you decide, you’ll find that these recipes are wonderfully delicious—and make cleanup a breeze. Take this American version of goulash, for example. It features hearty pasta and plenty of aromatic spices (including paprika as a nod to the traditional Hungarian dish) for a comforting and complete meal that can be made entirely in your Dutch oven. What could be easier?
Food Network
Dry Mix Magic (Sizzling Sauces & Condiments Book 1)
Dry Mix Magic is your go-to guide for building a pantry that works as hard as you do. Say goodbye to overpriced store packets and hello to homemade convenience—fluffy breakfast blends, cozy drink mixes, crowd-pleasing dips, savory soup bases, flavorful rubs, and more. With simple ingredients, smart storage tips, and step-by-step directions, you’ll create shelf-stable mixes that taste like real food, not factory formulas.
Whether you’re prepping for holiday baking season, stocking up for fall comfort cooking, planning winter warm-ups, refreshing your pantry for spring meal prep, or making thoughtful homemade food gifts, this book shows you how to craft reliable mixes that save money, save time, and upgrade every meal.
Inside you’ll find:
Easy recipes made with everyday pantry staples
Make-ahead blends for breakfasts, beverages, dips, dinners & desserts
Tips for long-term storage, gifting, and mix-and-match flavor boosts
Kid-tested, family-approved recipes with no preservatives or mystery ingredients
Clear labels, batch sizes, and add-ins for every mix
Perfect for busy home cooks, budget-friendly families, pantry preppers, and anyone who wants smarter shortcuts without sacrificing flavor.
Bring convenience back where it belongs—your kitchen.
Chicken Alfredo Casserole
Keep this easy chicken Alfredo casserole recipe on hand when you need a simple dish that doesn’t require a lot of hands-on time. This is a “dump and bake” casserole recipe that uses a single baking dish.
Stir together the pasta, pre-made Alfredo sauce, broth, leftover chicken, cheese and seasonings. Bake for about 30 minutes and serve with salad, or see our variations for an option to include veggies in the bake. You will have dinner on the table in record time, with minimal fuss.
Ingredients for Chicken Alfredo Casserole
- Penne pasta: Combine uncooked pasta with the sauce and the broth and bake in the oven until tender.
- Alfredo sauce: Use two jars (15 oz each) of your favorite prepared Alfredo sauce.
- Chicken broth: Store-bought or homemade chicken broth, along with the Alfredo sauce, provides enough liquid for the pasta to cook right in the oven.
- Cooked chicken: Cubed chicken breast adds a lean protein to this easy casserole.
- Garlic: Minced garlic adds plenty of savory flavor.
- Cheese: Combine parmesan and mozzarella cheese to get the best of both cheesy worlds. Parmesan has lots of flavor and mild mozzarella melts beautifully.
- Parsley: Minced parsley is a simple way to add a dash of vibrant green and some brightness to this rich and creamy casserole.
Taste of Home
14 Easy Overnight Oats Recipes
Overnight oats recipes start your mornings off on the right foot, even if both feet are running out the door as soon as you wake up. These recipes are so simple to make; just mix oats, milk, yogurt and a little honey together the night before and stick the mixture in the fridge to enjoy in the morning with some fruit and granola. Nutritious, wholesome and packed with fiber and protein—what’s not to love about this easy breakfast idea for busy mornings?
If you’re anything like me, though, you can’t eat the same breakfast for weeks on end, no matter how convenient and nutritious. Luckily, this overnight breakfast is super easy to customize. Our overnight oats recipes use simple ingredients like cocoa powder, fruit, nut butters, baking spices, jam and so much more to create exciting flavors like apple cinnamon, PB&J, chocolate and tiramisu.
If you’re ready to add healthy grab-and-go breakfast recipes to your weekly repertoire, start with overnight oats. They’re the most simple, nutritious and quick—not to mention: No cooking is required!
Taste of Home
Blueberry Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bake
Cottage cheese has become a popular and versatile ingredient for adding protein to various recipes. Cottage cheese mac and cheese, queso dip, eggy breakfast bakes, pasta sauces and even high-protein cookie dough all benefit from this cheap protein-rich ingredient. However, there’s a way to use cottage cheese in sweet breakfast recipes too, and this blueberry cottage cheese breakfast bake recipe is one of our new favorites.
This baked recipe with cottage cheese can be whipped up quickly when you need something tasty in a pinch, or it can be meal-prepped ahead of time and stored in the fridge for easy grabbing on busy mornings. To make it, all you have to do is whisk together simple ingredients to form the batter, pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with blueberries and bake. This easy breakfast recipe will be ready to dish up for any occasion in under an hour.
Ingredients for Blueberry Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bake
- Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese provides moisture and a boost of protein in this breakfast bake.
- Eggs: Three whole eggs are incorporated into the mixture to provide a fluffy base for this easy breakfast.
- Rolled oats: Add rolled oats into the mix for a bit of texture. They also help soak up some of the additional moisture from the cottage cheese.
- Milk: We use whole milk for this recipe, but you can easily swap in 2% if preferred.
- Maple syrup: Sweeten this cottage cheese breakfast bake with a bit of maple syrup. For the best flavor, use pure maple syrup (pancake syrup is not the same as maple syrup!).
- Vanilla extract: Enhance the flavor of this breakfast bake with a touch of vanilla extract.
- Cinnamon: A small amount of cinnamon makes all the difference in enhancing the taste of this bake.
- Salt: Just a pinch of salt goes a long way in balancing the sweet flavors in this blueberry cottage cheese breakfast bake recipe.
- Blueberries: Add pops of juicy, fruity flavor throughout by stirring fresh blueberries into the mixture. Wash the berries and let them dry before getting started.
Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let's Eat! 