Staple Family Suppers

This week, we’re wheeling out the old classics in our house. As the new routines of back to school and work settle in, I’m reaching into my back catalogue of family favourites to make life a bit easier while the carefree summer days give way to the rhythms of autumn. Writing about the food and recipes I cook each week often comes with the pressure to reinvent the wheel, but I have no shame in turning to dishes that are simple to make yet winners with the whole family. Bonus points if they make great leftovers or can be doubled up for batch cooking.

Beef stroganoff

A super staple in our kitchen is a bag of fresh pasta—cooked in under five minutes and often of decent quality, it’s the ideal accompaniment to a hearty dish like beef stroganoff, in place of the traditional buttered wide noodles. The creamy white wine sauce is perfect for the slow cooker, though be cautious about adding the cream too early to avoid splitting. Any cheap cut of beef, such as shin, shoulder, or cheek, works well here. Just let it slowly cook while you tackle everything else the day throws at you. Then, simply serve the slow-cooked stew over tender fresh pasta, and you’re good to go.

Get the recipe here.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Perhaps I do rely on pasta a bit too much when it comes to dinner for the kids, but it tends to be devoured every time, so I hope you’ll forgive me for including another old faithful. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese can be made with any short pasta you like and ingredients like frozen peas or steamed baby broccoli can be added, too. 

Get the recipe here.

Chicken and Potato Casserole

Lastly, here in Ireland, we’re never too far from meat and two veg, and the simple Chicken and Potato Casserole is a staple in our house, especially as we head into the darker months of the year. 

Get the recipe here.

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