Good morning & Aloha from Hawaii!! I am currently writing this on the beach, which isn’t the worst way to be working! We have had such an amazing and relaxing time here!
The first day here we rented a car and drove down the scenic route to the North Shore & it was absolutely beautiful!
Then, last night we got in a helicopter & saw it from the sky. Truly a breathtaking experience. Surprisingly enough it wasn’t too scary. Aside from the part when the pilot took us so close to the mountain that I could basically touch it. All so we could all get a great view of the waterfall. Let’s just say, I couldn’t focus much on the waterfall.
So close you could see everything!
View of the waterfall tucked in between the mountains!
All the days in between were pretty much relaxing at the beach, taking beach walks and reading by the pool with a Mai Tai in hand. I will say I was not expecting it to be so busy here, if you do come to Waikiki know it’s basically like the middle of LA or Times Square & not so much Hawaiian influence, but truly it was a wonderful trip!
Post helicopter ride with no doors, thanks to my husband I’ll never be able to brush my hair again!
Ok, now onto what you came here for! I am going to share some of my all time favorite easy summer staples from my blog!
I have put together a list of 5 summer staples that are quick & easy & perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Keep your eyes peeled for a new recipe mid week & next week we will be back to regular scheduled programming! I hope you all have a great weekend and see you next week.
CHEESY BLACK BEAN & CHICKEN STUFFED PEPPERS
First up are these quick & easy stuffed Mexican peppers. They’re perfect for when you want something a little lighter & don’t want to do much cooking! The oven does all the work & using rotisserie chicken makes these even quicker! Pair these with a simple cilantro lime rice or (you know me) rice a roni & you’re ready to eat in under 45 minutes!
CREAMY SUN-DRIED TOMATO PASTA WITH CHICKEN
Next up is probably one of my favorites! It’s simple but so incredibly flavorful. Sun dried tomatoes & Parmesan make the most delicious creamy sauce & in my opinion the spiral noods are the way to go! All the sauce gets trapped in the noodles & makes for a perfect surprise in each bite!
SLIDERS WITH A QUICK BURGER SAUCE
Since summer is in full swing grilling is always the easy way to go! Quick & easy & leaves your kitchen spotless! The sauce is literally drinkable, you’ll want to make extra! Frozen fries or grilled potato wedges would pair perfectly with these!
A staple in our house & so incredibly easy. Cut your chicken in half and stuff with lots of cheese & pepperoni. Bake it or cook in on the stove top and trust me it elevates a simple boring chicken breast - you’ll probably never make it another way.
Lastly, you guys know I’m not the biggest salad gal but this one is amazing! It’s filling, easy to throw together & perfect for lunch or a quick dinner! Italian meats, cheese & delicious tangy dressing. Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best!
I hope you guys enjoy these recipes! I will be sharing a new recipe mid week so keep an eye out for that! Let me know if you try any of these tasty meals! See you next week.
XOXO, Caroline