30 Minute Meals

Very often we are extremely busy and it seems like we don't have the time to cook a proper meal but there are plenty of quick, easy and tasty recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less and I like to keep a list of them on hand for those busy nights. Below you will find some of my favourite meals that can be made in 30 minutes or less and none of them sacrifice anything in the way of flavour! These quick and easy meals range from the staple chicken and pasta dishes, to soups, salads, burgers, pizzas, fish, Chinese takeout fakeout and even a few kid friendly meals. Many of these recipes use ingredients that are already in your pantry or freezer so you really just need to throw in some fresh ingredients like veggies or a salad for a side dish and you are good to go. The next time you are in a rush to get something ready for dinner on a busy night, don't reach for the phone to order takeout, reach for your list of your favourite 30 minute meals.

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Chinese Recipes for the New Year

The lunar new year, aka the Chinese new year, is this Thursday and it's the perfect excuse to to pull out some of my favourite Chinese recipes in addition to trying some new ones! I am a big fan of Chinese cuisine, both traditional style Chinese and American style Chinese, ie. Chinese takeout, and luckily they are both easy to make at home! Below you will find a mix of both traditional and takeout Chinese recipes that are really easy make and most of them can be made with ingredients that are already in your pantry! I always find that it's fun to try to recreate recipes that I have had at restaurants and this is especially true for Chinese takeout where I can make the dishes much lighter and healthier than the takeout version and what's more, the homemade version tastes even better! Whether you are celebrating the Chinese New Year or not, you really cannot go wrong with making any of these tasty recipes at home!

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Recipes for Mardi Gras

This Tuesday is Mardi Gras and even though I will not be in New Orleans to celebrate, I take it as an excuse to whip up some NOLA inspired dishes since I am a huge fan on NOLA cuisine. I was really into New Orleans cuisine before I had even had a chance to go there and after finally getting the chance to visit a few years ago I came back with a long list of new recipe ideas to try recreating at home! Below you will find a list of some of my favourite New Orleans style recipes many of which are staples and pretty authentic (well as authentic as someone that did not grow up in New Orleans can make them) along with a few of my creative outtakes using the flavours of New Orleans cuisine. If you are looking for a way to celebrate Mardi Gras from home this Tuesday you cannot go wrong with one of these recipes!

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50 Valentine's Day Recipes

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and that means that it's time to start thinking about what recipes you want to make for that special person in your life. Homemade food is a great way to show that you care so I thought that I would take the opportunity to roundup some of my favourite recipes for Valentine's Day. This list includes tasty recipes for everything from breakfast in bed, to appetizers, dinners for two and of course plenty of decadent chocolate treats! Most of these Valentine's Day recipes are super quick and easy to make for all levels of cooking skills. No matter what you make, a homemade Valentin's Day recipe is bound to bring a smile to that special person in your life!

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50 Soups to Warm the Soul

With the colder weather here it's definitely time for a nice, hot, comforting bowl of soup! Soups can be pretty amazing; they are pure comfort food and they are able to pick you up when you are down, warm you up when you are cold and of course help you feel better when you are sick. There are so many different kinds of soups that you will never get bored whether you like to stick with your favourites or if you like to try new ones all the time. I am always looking for a tasty new bowl of soup and these are a few of my favourites; I hope that you will enjoy them as much as I do and that they will help you get through these cold winter days!

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Healthy Game Day Snacking

Earlier this week I shared with you some of my favourite game day snacks for the upcoming Big Game, aka the football playoffs, but you may have noticed that a lot of them were not the healthiest recipes around so I decided to come up with a list of healthier munchies for the game. I know that a lot of you are rolling your eyes about now but these recipes are lighter without sacrificing anything in the way of flavour! The only things that are sacrificed are the carbs, calories and fat and all of these recipes are really easy to make and super tasty! This list of healthy game day snacks includes everything from buffalo cauliflower to veggie pizzas, dips, grilled meat on a stick, nachos, baked crispy veggie 'fries', quesadillas, chilies, casseroles, etc; pretty much anything that you could ask for! So if you are looking for some lighter snacking ideas for the Big Game this weekend I've got you covered and no matter which of these recipes you choose they are sure to satisfy and make your party the talk of the town!

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Game Day Snacking

The football playoffs are next weekend and that means that it's time to start planning your game day snacking menu! Whether you are throwing party at home in front of the big screen or heading out to a tailgating party you are going to need some tasty snacks! With that in mind I have gathered some of my favourite football munchies recipes and they include everything from decadent dips to chicken wings, chilies, grilled meat, jalapeno poppers, potato skins and grilled cheese sandwiches! All of these recipes are easy to make and many of them are even slow cooker friendly so drop that phone and don't bother ordering takeout when you can make something far better at home with little or no effort! No matter which of these recipes you make, they are all sure to keep you satisfied while watching the big game!

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31 Pumpkin Recipes

October is the month for pumpkins! Pumpkins are everywhere and it's the perfect time to take advantage of them because they won't last long. Although pumpkin pie seems to get all of the attention, and with good reason, pumpkin is pretty versatile and it can be used in many different things both sweet and savoury from desserts to breakfasts to appetizers, side dishes and even mains! I am definitely a fan of pumpkin and I always have fun using it in new dishes at this time of year! I thought that it was about time to gather up and share a few of my favourite pumpkin recipes!

A lot of these recipes call for pumpkin puree which is super easy to make at home and perfect during pumpkin season but it is also available canned which is convenient and available year round. Although these recipes are great with actual pie pumpkins you can also make them with other sweet pumpkins and winter squash like butternut squash, which is also easy to roast and puree.

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50 Fabulous Fall Recipes

Fall is officially here and that means that it is the perfect time to pull out some of my favourite fall recipes! During fall there is still plenty of amazing fresh produce around from apples to pears, pumpkins and other winter squash, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. and there are just so many great ways to enjoy them! The cooling weather also opens up new opportunities like using the oven for things like roasts and casseroles which may have been taboo during hot summer days. Of course as the weather gets even cooler soups and stews make a more prominent appearance on the table along with other comfort foods like pasta! Here are 50 of my favourite fall recipes for your inspiration and enjoyment over the coming days!

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Bacon Day Recipes

I can't believe that it's here already, one of my favourite days of the year, Bacon Day! This Saturday bacon day where we celebrate one of my favourite foods, bacon! On this most hallowed of days bacon addicts people gather together to enjoy dishes that include bacon and if you were wondering what you are going to serve at your bacon day party, boy do I have some ideas for you! From the more than 150 bacon recipes that I have shared on my site I have selected some of my favourites that are sure to make any bacon day party great! Bacon isn't just for sitting next to your eggs for breakfast, it's a really versatile food and this roundup includes everything from sandwiches to pastas, soups, salads, dips, snacks, sides, pies, pizzas and even sweet things like pancakes and cookies so you can easily eat bacon all day long! No matter what you decide to serve at your bacon day celebrations I hope that it's baconlicious!

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25 Zucchini Recipes

Zucchini, aka courgette, a summer squash, has to be one of my favourite summer vegetables (technically a fruit) and that's good because when you grow it you get a ton of it! Although it's nice and easy to steam or saute some zucchini and serve it as a side dish you can do so much more with it! Zucchini is really versatile and it can be used in a wide variety of dishes from pastas, to salads, soups, sauces, fritters, pies, casseroles and the list goes on! It can even be used in sweet dishes like cakes, muffins, breads, etc. I always love to experiment and try new ways of using zucchini and with zucchini season here I thought that I would share some of my current favourite recipes!

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30 Summer Salads

We're in the middle of summer right now and summer is definitely the salad season! Salads are amazingly versatile in that they can contain so many different things from a basic lettuce, cucumber and tomato salad to chicken salads, to potato salads, etc., they can be served either hot or cold and they can be everything from a side dish to a main course. After a long hot summer day I somethings don't feel like cooking, or eating a hot or heavy meal and a light, cool and crisp salad is the perfect solution! Summer is a great time for salads since there are so many fresh vegetables and fruits that can be used in them and as the ones that are available change, your salads change ensuring that they are always exciting! After thinking about salads so much I figured that it was about time that I gathered a few of my favourites and shared them with you and below you have 30 of them along with a few tasty dressings!

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50 Summer Recipes

Yesterday was the first day of summer and that got me thinking about all of my favourite summer recipes! Summer has to be the best time of the year as it's just packed full of fresh produce and of course the weather is perfect for outdoor activities like grilling and picnics! My weekly trek down to the farmers market is like an adventure where I get to see what new and wonderful things arrived and I often have a difficult time choosing just what to get! Below you will find a collection of some of my favourite summer recipes including those using some of summers bounty and some for outdoor cooking and eating!

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25 Recipes for the Grill

Grilling season is here so dust off your barbecue, fire it up and get your grill on! Whether you are cooking for family or friends the warmer weather provides the perfect opportunity to move things outdoors, and who doesn't love to cook under open blue skies with fire! It is easy to cook an entire meal on the grill with everything from mains like juicy steaks, meat on a stick, burgers and sandwiches to sides like grilled vegetables and even onto dessert with grilled fruits. Below you will find a few of my favourite recipes for the grill and I am looking forward to sharing some new ones this summer! Happy grilling!

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50 Spring Recipes

Although spring has officially been here for a while now I don't really see spring as having started until the weather gets warmer and the local asparagus starts to show up, both of which finally happens this last week! This is always a happy time of year for me as it means that for the next few months I will get to head down to the farmers market every week to see what is new and pick up a few things up. With the first spring produce here I thought that it was a great opportunity to gather some of my favourite recipes using some spring ingredients including asparagus, ramps, fiddleheads, peas, fava beans, rhubarb, strawberries, artichokes and morel mushrooms. I hope that you enjoy these spring recipes! I am definitely looking forward to using them in some new recipes over the next few weeks!

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50 Mother's Day Recipes

Next weekend is Mother's Day and a great way to show her how much you care is with some home cooking! Start the day off right for mom with breakfast in bed or a special brunch and then keep things going with some tasty snacks in the afternoon followed by and quick and easy dinner that is sure to please! You don't need to be a master chef to treat mom to some home cooking on Mother's Day; most of these recipes are super easy to make and she will definitely appreciate the effort! Whether you treat mom to a full day of home cooked meals or just one dish you can't go wrong with one of these recipes and any one of them will make this Mother's Day one that mom will never forget!

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Happy 7th Birthday Closet Cooking

I can't believe that it has been another year already but Closet Cooking now celebrates it's 7th 'birthday'! This last year was a tasty one indeed with Closet Cooking's collection of recipes growing to almost 1900! Closet Cooking first started out as more of a hobby but it has now become my passion and obsession where I get to share some of my tastiest adventures from my closet sized kitchen. I do hope that you have enjoyed my recipes over the last year and I am looking forward to another tasty year!

I leave you now with some of my favourite recipes over the last year:

Crispy Baked Asparagus Fries

Pesto Grilled Shrimp

Zucchini Pizza Crust (with Chipotle BBQ Bacon and Grilled Corn Pizza)

Grilled Jerk Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers

Maple-Miso Dijon Salmon

Shrimp Linguine in a Tomato and Feta Sauce (aka Shrimp Saganaki Linguine)

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper and Cauliflower Soup with Goat Cheese

Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Quinoa White Chicken Chili

Spinach and Artichoke Dip Tortellini Soup

Roasted Cauliflower and Mushroom Carbonara

Chicken Carnitas Burrito Bowl with Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

75 Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner!

Cinco de Mayo is a day celebrated in both the US and in Mexico. In the US it originated with Mexican-American communities in the American West as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War and it has since spread. In Mexico the day commemorates the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Celebrations in the US typically include Mexican-American culture, food, music and dancing.

Mexican cuisine is definitely one of my favourites and Cinco de Mayo is the perfect excuse to pull out some of my favourite Mexican dishes and to try a few new ones! I am kicking things off a little early this year by testing some new recipes and gathering up a list of some of my favourite Mexican dishes and Mexican inspired dishes to share with you! I must apologize for the length of this list, there are just so many great options starting from breakfast or brunch, to snacks, main courses and sides and lets not forget plenty of salsas, tacos and quesadillas! You really can't go wrong celebrating Cinco de Mayo with tasty food and each of these recipes are sure to please!

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Easter Leftovers Recipes

As much as I enjoy the roast for a holiday dinner I usually have more fun coming up with tasty ways to enjoy the leftovers! Ham is a common centrepiece of the Easter dinner and there are plenty of ways to make sure that any leftovers do not go to waste. Ham is great in soups, sandwiches and pretty much anything with eggs; speaking of which, there are also plenty of ways to enjoy any leftover hard boiled eggs from your Easter festivities! If you went for something else like a roast turkey or roast beef for dinner, I've got you covered with some tasty soups and sandwiches as well!

I hope that everyone has an amazing Easter and enjoy your leftovers! I know I already have plans for mine!

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50 Easter Recipes

Easter is next weekend and that means that it is time to start thinking about your menu! The Easter long weekend provides plenty of opportunities for feasting whether it be a special long weekend breakfast or brunch or appetizers for an Easter get-together and the big family Easter Sunday dinner. Most of the focus on Easter weekend will go to the Easter Sunday dinner which will most likely be a big meal with the center piece being a roast and it can be a ham, a turkey, beef or even lamb! Of course you will need some tasty sides to go with your roast and lets not forget about dessert! Although I really enjoy a nice big roast for Easter dinner I sometimes like to change things up a bit and a tasty lamb tagine is a great way to go. With the extra time on the long weekend I like to do at least one special breakfast or brunch and there are plenty of great ways to go! No matter what your plans are for your Easter weekend dining, you cannot go wrong with one or more of these tasty dishes!

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