Is summer over yet?  I know there is a full month still until Fall is officially here, but today is the first day of school in our area and I know many of your children have been back for weeks now.  This time of year is a giddy one for me.  My sadness at saying good bye to the long, slow days of summer is completely drowned out by the excitement of a new school year.  It means cooler temperatures and warmer drinks, sweaters and baking, and caramel apples and pumpkins, and crunchy leaves underfoot, and roasts and stews and heavy dishes and Christmas cookies, and so much more.  By the end of August, I am ready for Summer to quietly slip away and for Fall to start happening with noisy exuberance.

Fall means starting fresh and getting organized.  After school snacks and dinners at the table and time for practices and homework-it’s all coming and it’ll be here before you know it.  So how do you get ready for Fall?  I use these tools to plan my menus (and who knows I might actually get organized enough to post a menu soon).  As hurricane season draws to a close I feel comfortable stocking my freezer and cook larger batches of meals and snacks to freeze.  I have plans to do several posts on freezing meals this fall so let me know if you are interested. 

The real key to staying organized for me is simplicity.  Simplicity with my meals doesn’t mean one-note or bland or boring, it just means to keep it simple: protein, starch, vegetables.  One of the simplest meals you can make is a quickly seared protein, accompanied by a starch and a few easy vegetables.

Take this Lemony Sauced Chicken over Truffled Mushroom Risotto with Lemon Butter Broccoli.  The basic components are simple: sear a chicken breast, make some rice, steam some broccoli.  It is the extra flourish of lemon zest over the broccoli florets, the fast yet velvety pan sauce, the creaminess of the risotto style rice with a drizzle of truffle oil, and the fresh chopped herbs sprinkled over that make the meal great.  The best part is that these extra accents take very little extra time yet make the meal feel far more luxurious.  Click here for the recipe »

I have a confession: I love buffalo chicken pizza.  It is such a non-traditional pizza topping yet I totally crave the combination of hot, saucy chicken bites smothered in cheese and cooled with ranch dressing.  You can make this pizza as easy or as complicated as you like.  Make your own dough and dressing or buy them pre-made.  Quickly cook a single chicken breast or use about a cup of left over chicken bits.  You can even sub blue cheese dressing or add a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles and sliced green onions to the top before serving.  Personally, I like this pizza simple but feel free to gussy it up to your tastes.  Click here for the recipe »

What is more fun than a banana cake with peanut butter and chocolate frosting?  Granted, it isn’t a tall, celebratory birthday cake but still, brought to a potluck or party or to the office for an afternoon pick-me up, this cake is fantastic.  The cake itself is delicious and needs no topping but spread with a thin layer of your favorite chocolate frosting it is transformed into a real treat.

The peanut butter in the cake is very subtle, almost too subtle, which is why I added a couple of tablespoons to the ganache as well.  Next time, I will increase the peanut butter to one full cup.  Also, I have made the cake with both oil and butter so use whichever you have on hand.  The butter cake is denser but still moist and tender, while the oil version comes out a little taller and fluffier.  Try to use bananas that are on their very last leg-the kind that split from their peels at the slightest pressure-for the best banana flavor and sweetness.   Click here for the recipe »

Is there a better combination than jalapenos, cheese, and bacon?  I love to make jalapeno poppers as a snack or party appetizer, but I generally try to avoid sitting down by myself and eating a plateful of them.  So, how does a girl get her fix when there isn’t a big game on or friends coming over to celebrate?  Add some chicken and shrimp and call it dinner instead.  (Although if you do make these for a party your guests will love you forever.)

Both of these dishes require some prep work but there is nothing hard about this meal.  The chicken breasts are great to make for a mixed crowd since you can stuff them with any filling you like.  Click here for the recipe »