• 4th of July is Almost Here!

    With the 4th of July right around the corner I thought I’d take a look back into Kinda Sorta Simple’s 4th of July archives and see what ideas are there to use for this year’s festivities. Our family typically has a rib cook off, lots of food, and of course lounging in the back yard, and then finishing off the night with sparklers for the kids and the local fireworks show. I try to include at least a few activities and recipes the kids can help with to get them involved in celebrating Independence Day. Thanks to Pinterest the kids have a long laundry list of crafts and activities they want to work…

  • No Meat May Final Thoughts and Suggestions

    Well, it is now June which means No Meat May has officially come to an end. I wanted to share my final thoughts, experiences, and some suggestions as I know there are a number of you out there that have been following my husband and I on our no meat for a month journey. What is amazing is that although many people were joking with us about how we were going to indulge in large amounts of meat come June 1st, both Phil and I weren’t really counting down the days. In fact, when June 1st came around we both independently chose to eat black bean burgers for dinner and continued to not…

  • Spicy Korean Tilapia

    This Spicy Korean Tilapia dish is so easy and quick that it is perfect for a weeknight dinner, yet tastes ah-may-zing. The sweet and tangy spiciness of the sauce balances well with the mild tilapia and if the heat is too much you can always pair it with white rice. However, if you are anything like my husband and I, we like to add even more of the sauce on top of the fish with each spoonful, making each bite incredibly flavorful, spicy, and addicting. Making the spicy Korean tilapia is simple and takes no more than 10 minutes start to finish with all the prep work going into making the sauce. You…

  • Shrimp Pad Thai

    We are midway through our No Meat May and I am excited to share with you this amazing dish that packs tons of flavor and is actually quite quick to prepare, cook, and put on the table. What better dish to eat with summer coming up than a refreshing bowl of Shrimp Pad Thai? I love that you can customize the toppings to your taste and change up the protein with chicken or tofu, or even omit the shrimp all together. The flavor of the Shrimp Pad Thai packs a punch but adding a squirt of lime puts it over the edge. We already had all of the ingredients on hand, however if you…

  • No Meat May Update

    Hello all! Just wanted to give an update on how having no meat in May has been going. If you missed my post where I explained what my husband and I are doing and why, read about it here where I explain some of the benefits and resources I found that back why we decided to go a month without eating meat. So far it has been going great! Now, it is not to say it has gone without challenge, especially since we both typically ate some form of meat on a daily basis prior to this month. For the most part we’ve been able to easily substitute other foods and seafood in place…

  • What, No Meat?!

    My husband and I are definitely what you would call meat eaters. We love our steaks, bulgogi (Korean BBQ), chicken wings, and typically have some sort of meat at every evening meal. Shoot, our family even hosts a rib cooking contest every 4th of July to put our meat eating into perspective. So why am I talking about our indulgence of meat and the glory of us being proud carnivores? Because the hubby and I have decided to forgo meat for the month of May. Yes, I said it. NO MEAT. What? WHY?! Are you CRAZY?! I had no idea that sharing our decision with some friends and family would be faced with so…

  • Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

    If your kids are anything like mine macaroni and cheese is a food that is always at the top of their dinner or lunch request list. Unfortunately, although the boxed version is incredibly convenient and fast to make, it is full of preservatives whereas the baked version tastes amazing but can take about an hour to make. I wanted to figure out a version of macaroni and cheese that combined the best of both versions, something that was fast, easy to make, and tasted great. Introducing my version of stovetop macaroni and cheese! This recipe took as long as it took to boil the pasta making it about a 25 minute meal start…

  • Turmeric Paste for Golden Milk

    Golden Milk, or Turmeric Tea, is a warm drink with lots of health benefits and if you are like me and enjoy drinking it more often than not, you know it can take some extra time putting all of the ingredients together to simmer on the stove. So to save some time I make turmeric paste and store it in the fridge so I can make it quickly any time I am craving a warm, soothing drink. The paste is made with the main ingredients of golden milk: turmeric, ground pepper, coconut oil, and cinnamon. Now just add it to heated milk, honey to your taste, and drink away. It is simple, incredibly tasty,…

  • Golden Milk

    Golden Milk, also known as Turmeric Tea, is a drink that I absolutely love for both its relaxing and warm properties as well as its amazing health benefits. Although most health circles are currently trending this flavorful beverage, the health benefits of turmeric have been around for a long time.   I drink this golden milk at least once a week and if I have even a slight tickle in my throat I make sure to make a mug of the soothing drink. The crazy thing about it is that I am rarely ever sick and if I do catch a little cold I overcome it quickly,  and I attribute it to golden milk.…

  • Shrimp, Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

    Shrimp, beef and broccoli stir fry has officially become one of my husband’s favorite dinners and has become a staple on our dinner table. It cooks up quickly, can be served over rice, noodles, or by itself, and tastes absolutely amazing! I would probably eat this every day of the week if I had the choice. In fact, maybe we’ll have it tonight… I came up with the recipe when trying to use up some frozen shrimp we had leftover from New Year’s Eve. Beef and broccoli stir fry has always been a favorite of mine so I would have never thought to mess with such a great dish, however sometimes trying something…