Category: Dinner Ideas

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Dinner Ideas

Simple, Tasty Weeknight Meals

Sick of your go-to weeknight meals? Me too! When cooking after work, I’m usually looking for something familiar but with different flavors or combinations so it doesn’t take too much mental energy to prepare. Try incorporating one of these into your meal plan for a little variation, or try a new one each night!

Simple Tasty Weeknight Meals, Frugal LA Living, healthy weeknight meals, healthy dinner recipes

Minestrone soup is just so nourishing, tasty, and easy to make. This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prepare and one pot to cook!

Simple Tasty Weeknight Meals, Frugal LA Living, healthy weeknight meals, healthy dinner recipes

A unique, healthier version of the typical lasagna roll. This savory recipe features a creamy cauliflower and cheese sauce- YUM!

Simple Tasty Weeknight Meals, Frugal LA Living, healthy weeknight meals, healthy dinner recipes

This delicious chicken goes well with pretty much any side dish or salad. For a better flavor, throw the chicken in the marinade before heading out to work, and it’ll be ready to cook by the time you get home.

Simple Tasty Weeknight Meals, Frugal LA Living, healthy weeknight meals, healthy dinner recipes

This recipe is already relatively easy, but to make it even simpler you can use store-bought mango salsa, and plain white rice instead of coconut rice if you don’t like the flavor or don’t have the ingredients!

Simple Tasty Weeknight Meals, Frugal LA Living, healthy weeknight meals, healthy dinner recipes

Cabbage roll soup is hearty, filling, and cooks in about 30 minutes! You can also make a bigger batch of this recipe and freeze some for later.

Simple Tasty Weeknight Meals, Frugal LA Living, healthy weeknight meals, healthy dinner recipes

This chicken and asparagus recipe has lots of flavor and comes together in minutes! Perfect low carb dinner!

Do you have a great after work recipe? We’d love to give it a try!

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Dinner Ideas

10 Freezer Meals You’ll Actually Want To Eat!

Meal prepping can feel like a chore, but it really is worth the few hours of work on a weekend day. The tasty recipes below are all easy to prepare and most can be cooked in a crock pot for extra easy week nights!

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

This is one of my favorite weeknight meals, and everyone I’ve shared it with has loved it as well! It definitely has Chipotle vibes, and best of all you just dump it in the crock pot before leaving for the day so you can come home to yummy dinner just waiting for you! Don’t forget to thaw in the fridge for 12 hours before cooking.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

The creator of this recipe describes it as a mix between Italian Wedding soup and garden veggie soup… sold! This recipe can be cooked fresh or prepared and frozen for a hearty comforting meal anytime.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

Stuffed shells is one of the ultimate comfort foods in my book, and these look SO good! This recipe would be great for holiday hostesses to make ahead, or freeze in smaller batches for individual servings.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

Artichoke, rosemary, and mushrooms come together in this amazingly simple yet delicious meal. This recipe produces quite a few servings, so you may want to consider freezing in smaller portions.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

These stuffed red peppers come together in 10 minutes and produces 6-8 servings! Pair with some fresh creme or mozzarella cheese for a filling vegetarian meal.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

This is an awesome recipe to make if you find a great deal on beef shoulder and want to stock up. So simple, some might even say “basic”, but the flavors are incredible. Pair with rice, mashed potatoes, or eat as is!

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

Taco Tuesday meal prep! Crock pot chicken fajitas are one of the best smells to come home to. This recipe makes quite a bit of food, perfect for sharing with friends and family.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

Individual turkey pot pies… yes please! These are great to have in the back of the freezer for when you want a warm home cooked meal but don’t feel like preparing anything.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

Crock pot Ragu…yeah, my mouth is watering too! Amazingly, it’s ready to freeze in only 10 minutes of prep time. When you’re ready to eat, thaw over night and throw in the crock pot before you leave for the day. If you can resist just eating the beef right out of the crock pot, serve with your favorite pasta and some Parmesan cheese.

Frugal LA Living, 10 Freezer Meals You'll Actually Want To Eat, Meal prep, freezer meals

Meatloaf is kind of a dividing food, most people either love it or hate it. I LOVE it. My mom used to make meatloaf all the time growing up. I love the idea of having a meatloaf ready to go in my freezer, I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before!

Which recipe will you try? Let us know in the comments below!

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Dinner Ideas

6 Recipes to Use Up Extra Produce

If you’re like me, throwing groceries that have gone bad into the trash is an upsetting event. Sometimes meal prepping just doesn’t go as planned and I’m left with three heads of broccoli or a big bag of potatoes and no plan. Rather than letting it go to waste, I’ve taken to looking up new recipes for these veggies to make it more exciting to cook up and try. Here are some of the recipes I’ve turned to when I have an abundance of a certain veggie:

6 Recipes to Use Up Extra Produce, frugal LA living, side dish recipes, vegetable recipes

A perfect side for Teriyaki Chicken, this roasted broccoli is easy to prep and make, and uses up two heads of broccoli! Find this 20 minute recipe here.

6 Recipes to Use Up Extra Produce, frugal LA living, side dish recipes, vegetable recipes

Unfortunately cucumbers and tomatoes tend to go bad rather quickly, even in the refrigerator. This classic recipe can be easily adjusted depending on how much produce you need to use, and is just so freaking tasty. A really great salad on its own or as a side.

6 Recipes to Use Up Extra Produce, frugal LA living, side dish recipes, vegetable recipes

Everyone has a couple bags of frozen peas in the back of their freezer, but really, what do you do with them? Steamed peas are about as boring as it gets and don’t taste all that great. This recipe will change the way you view peas. Granted, it may not be the healthiest option, but it certainly is tasty!

6 Recipes to Use Up Extra Produce, frugal LA living, side dish recipes, vegetable recipes

Comfort food at its best, this delightful dish makes a large batch with plenty of leftover.s You can’t go wrong with garlic, Parmesan cheese, and parsley!

6 Recipes to Use Up Extra Produce, frugal LA living, side dish recipes, vegetable recipes

Okay, this might be a controversial statement, but I don’t love mayo. It tastes alright when mixed with other foods, but the smell just grosses me out. So when I found this mayo-less potato salad I was stoked! Great flavor without the mayo.

6 Recipes to Use Up Extra Produce, frugal LA living, side dish recipes, vegetable recipes

Zucchini is one of those vegetables I love, but don’t really know how to cook with as a stand-alone dish. This recipe is a tasty way to use up a bunch of zucchini and has lots of flavor.

What other kinds of veggies do you always have too much of? Leave your comment below with suggestions for future posts!

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Dinner Ideas

7 Quick , Healthy Weeknight Side Meals

Nothing like coming home after a long day of work to realize you still have to figure out something for dinner! These dinner side dishes are tasty, easy to make, and good for you! Try a different one each night for a week of delicious dinners.

Frugal LA Living, Healthy Weeknight Meals, Healthy Side Dishes, 7 Quick and Healthy Weekly Side Meals

I might be biased since we have the same name, but this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen is SO GOOD. One of my all time favorite salads, it has a delightful fresh taste that even picky eaters will enjoy.

Frugal LA Living, Healthy Weeknight Meals, Healthy Side Dishes, 7 Quick and Healthy Weekly Side Meals

Another fresh, nutritious veggie dish that would go great with grilled chicken breast, pork, or tofu. If you don’t have a veggie spiraler, you can buy them already spiralized (that’s a word, right?) at most grocery stores.

Frugal LA Living, Healthy Weeknight Meals, Healthy Side Dishes, 7 Quick and Healthy Weekly Side Meals

If you love zucchini, this recipe is for you. If you are on the fence about zucchini, this recipe is for you. Basically, unless you hate zucchini (I won’t judge, but that’s a damn shame!), this recipe is for you. Irresistible flavors and delightful texture in an easy dish.

Frugal LA Living, Healthy Weeknight Meals, Healthy Side Dishes, 7 Quick and Healthy Weekly Side Meals

With a 1/4 cup of butter + oil, this might not be the healthiest option on the list, but it’s certainly quick and easy! You could definitely add less butter and still get wonderful results. This recipe would pair well with beef or chicken.

Frugal LA Living, Healthy Weeknight Meals, Healthy Side Dishes, 7 Quick and Healthy Weekly Side Meals

These are the SH*T! So flavorful, you’ll want to keep going back for more. This is the perfect veggie side with chicken and mashed potatoes, as pictured.

Frugal LA Living, Healthy Weeknight Meals, Healthy Side Dishes, 7 Quick and Healthy Weekly Side Meals

Similar ingredients, different vegetable, equally as amazing! If you’ve never tried carrots like this before, your mind will be blown. Crispy exterior, melt-in-your-mouth interior. YUM!

Frugal LA Living, Healthy Weeknight Meals, Healthy Side Dishes, 7 Quick and Healthy Weekly Side Meals

Cauliflower is a staple in many people’s kitchens these days, but constantly eating cauliflower rice and mashed cauliflower can get old. This baked recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal and you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen!

Which one are you excited to try? Let me know how it comes out!

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Dinner Ideas Local LA Deals

5 Budget-Friendly Date Night Ideas in Los Angeles

Dating, like everything else in LA, is freaking expensive. While there may not be a ton of cheap options, if you know where to look, you can find a great night out on a dime.

$9 MOVIE NIGHT AT LA LIVE

Every Tuesday, movies are only $9 at Regal Cinema LA Live! Considering tickets are around $17 each usually, this is an amazing deal! If you have Regal Rewards, you can use those to get some free popcorn and soda as well, making for a thoroughly enjoyable and cheap date night!

STUFF YOUR FACE AT GRAND CENTRAL MARKET

For the Foodie couple, Grand Central Market is the perfect date spot! There are tons of restaurants to sample including Villa Moreliana, where they sell tacos that require two hands for only a few dollars a piece, and Belcampo’s amazing $5 Fast Burger. Afterwards, take Angel’s Flight for a whopping $1 per ticket up the hill and enjoy the expansive views from California Plaza.

EXPERIENCE CONTEMPORARY ART

The Museum of Contemporary Art has two locations in DTLA and features pieces by Arshile Gorky, John-Michel Basquiat, Max Ernst, and so many more. A generous donor gifted MOCA a substantial amount and they now offer free admission to visitors!

PONDER THE COSMOS

If you’ve lived in LA for any amount of time, you’ve no doubt been to Griffith Park. But when was the last time you actually walked through The Observatory? This impressive center is free to the public and includes multiple exhibits to enjoy, including scales that tell you how much you would weigh on other planets! Once a month, staff and volunteers of The Observatory opens access of a variety of telescopes to the public for free to view the sun, moon, and other planets! Free lectures and talks are also held regularly.

GO ON AN ADVENTURE

For such a large city, there is no shortage of nature within driving distance! Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, Franklin Canyon, Coldwater Canyon, Will Rogers State Park, Kenneth Hahn State Park, to name just a few, are just a quick drive from anywhere in LA.

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