Longtime readers KNOW I love making pancakes and freezing them for breakfast, but I honestly got so tired of standing at the stove while my kids ate them before I could make more. When I was pregnant I started stocking my freezer with as much food as I possibly could, but I was running out of steam. I saw a postpartum prep about making sheet pan pancakes for a postpartum breakfast and was reminded that I used to do this. One problem I’ve run into with sheet pan recipes is they don’t fill a full sheet pan (and they aren’t gluten free)

I really wish I tallied how many sticks of butter I used trial and erroring this recipe because it was a LOT. I’ve found that over the last six months that these sheet pan pancakes are my go to breakfast for the kids because they are SO FAST.

I love these pancakes because they are so buttery you don’t need to add any when you serve it. The great thing is they can be eaten on the go too. We’ve eaten these for months, and they’ve passed the test with my family!

The trick to getting these pancakes just right is to use an immersion blender on your liquids before you add the dry ingredients. The butter will tend to solidify (I’ve also tried coconut oil and it’s worse) really quickly when the cold milk hits. The immersion blender helps distribute the fat evenly. You could probably use a blender for a short time if you don’t have one. The other trick is to let the batter rest for about 5 minutes before baking so that the gluten free flours can soak up the liquid easier.

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What is the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T? I wanted to create a fun weekly format to share food, reads, hobbies, items, shows and more that I’m currently loving or making my life easier. I see “Efficient Kitchen” embodying the whole home as well as the people in it. I also want to hear from YOU. What are you enjoying? Comment on the post anything you’re loving in a R.E.P.O.R.T category.

I currently have four books in rotation right now: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as a read aloud with my kids, The Wingfeather Saga as my audio book when I needlepoint, The Other Bennet Sister (that I’ve put on the back burner) and my main “slow” read challenge book that has now moved into the number one spot: East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

I don’t want to give a full review until I’m done, but I’m absolutely enthralled with this book. I would have never picked up a Steinbeck novel if it hadn’t been a recommendation from a friend.

Although I’ve read Harry Potter many times, rereading it out loud with my children has completely changed me. I have noticed so many nuances in the book that I never had before because doing a read aloud makes you focus one hundred percent. Your brain cannot wonder. I find myself getting just as excited with the plot even though I know what’s going to happen. Listening to the gasps and commentary from my children are just as delightful as if I’m reading it for the first time again. It’s a rare pleasure to read such a good book for the first time and seeing the magic of Hogwarts again through children’s eyes is a current delight in motherhood.

If you haven’t noticed, I love the classics because they are classics for a reason. Reading them is like working a muscle that you have to exercise. Some are easier to read than others but they all grow you in some way. I’ve wanted to understand literature more as an adult so I’ve been seeking out sources to help me learn. I’ve mentioned the Literary Life podcast before as one of my favorite sources. (They have a series on book one of Harry Potter for free here. I believe the rest of the books are on Patreon if you’re interested.)

A few other sources on Substack that I’m enjoying for “big scary reads” are below:

The Big Read: Jeremy has so much content in the archives to read. I loved his thoughts on Pride and Prejudice. He has so many good books with a reading schedule to follow and then notes. I love reading the comment section for what stood out to other readers as well. Currently, he’s doing a year long read of Les Mis.

Footnotes and Tangents: A lovely source as well with many books I’ve never thought of reading.

Rabbit Room Poetry: I would love to understand poetry better considering my children’s love for it. They have been taught better than me, so I’m trying to grow in my least favorite area— ha! The author of the Wingfeather Saga, Andrew Peterson, runs the Substack.

1000 Good Books Project: a great resource for free audiobooks of the classics making them accessible to anyone.

Guess what I didn’t do last weekend? gasp—meal prep.

I spent the whole weekend enjoying my family and friends and didn’t think once about doing it. Has it been harder this week? Yes, it has but I will just double up next weekend when I know we don’t have plans. Cooking AROUND your life has always been my philosophy. Looking for pockets of time when you can and doing it then. We still had breakfast in the freezer so I’ve scrounged a bit for lunch, but that’s fine for a week.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this month of easy sheet pan dinners. I’ve got some more that I’m working on that I’ll post when school’s back. Over the summer you can look forward to stocking your fridge and freezer with kids snacks in June and “no cook” dinners in July because it’s so dang hot.

If you missed it, I posted one of the easiest meals you can possibly make that gets everyone fed quickly. Save it for when you know you're short on time with activities or sports in the evening. It’s so easy to prep and only takes about 10ish minutes to whip it up.

My family is spending every day swimming that we possibly can right now, and my kids are going to bed tired (and hungry). I thought I would share some of our favorite items for practicality and fun:

• TOYS: Reusable water balloons , Dive rings, These pool Barbies were a must when my daughter was little. We love these torpedo sharks

• TOWELS: This inexpensive set of towels that looks chic (we like to have inexpensive towels on hand in case anyone forgot theirs and these are similar!), these super quick dry towels are what we take going anywhere. (Each family member has one)

• FLOATS: All our favorite floats that become battle ships and lily pads

• CARE: This shampoo and conditioner for after swimming, All my favorite suncare listed here.

As a former competitive swimmer and one who spends a LOT of time in the pool, my favorite places for swimsuits are from Land’s End, J Crew, and Lilly Pulitzer. The sales for all three are great, and I’ve had great luck with quality on all three brands where they last for many many years with a lot of use.

I would honestly be the worst fashion influencer though because most of my closet is really old. I typically buy a few items per year that will last me a long time and I love certain styles from brands that they bring back year after year.

I really love the newest swimwear collection at Lilly Pulitzer for swimwear, especially after looking at them in person, and am eyeing some pieces currently. I really love their coverups the best because I feel put together and have had some since before I had children. I bought two Stevie Kate swimsuits at their sale in January crossing my fingers that they would fit come summer time, and I’m truly obsessed. (You will not catch me in a swimsuit on the internet!) If they bring that style back, I will alert the press. They do have this coverup in pink and I love it soooo much. They also have the same fabric but a slightly different style in another old suit I own. The seersucker suits LAST and don’t tend to fade. (Also that hat is from J Crew from college, I probably need to get a new one ha! I tried this one on in store and it’s just so cute. They have their version of the Sarah Bray Bermuda hat that’s a fraction of the price too)

If there is ONE thing that I could recommend to make your life easier, it is buying a Blackstone griddle. We have had ours for over five years, and the new ones are even nicer than what we bought. There hasn’t been a week gone by that it isn’t used. It’s truly the best for the summer because your oven doesn’t get turned on to heat up your house. We have around a 28 in one (they don’t make our exact one anymore) and it works great. If you have a family on the larger side, I would go with a bigger one. Truly the fastest way to feed a ton of people.

I love it because it makes it so easy to host, my husband loves cooking on it (wink), and we can batch cook a lot of meat or vegetables quickly for the week. I have a lot of recipes that are much easier if you have one. It would be a great Father’s Day gift that would ultimately bless you haha! I’ll be posting more of my husband’s recipes over time that he loves to cook so be sure to forward them to your spouses.

Walmart (36 in. Best deal I’ve seen) | 28” from Blackstone |

I loooove the door signs from this Etsy shop. I found my first one on Facebook Marketplace and had to find the shop where they were made. They are so cute and hand painted in Alabama. Out of all the door sign companies that I’ve purchased from, this one is my favorite. They have signs for all seasons and look so classic. My giant Peter Rabbit is my favorite (also the one I found for like $15!) and my husband’s least favorite haha.

• Yoto is having a big Memorial Day sale with 20% off players and accessories. I need to write an updated post on how much we love those. I think they’ve truly been the key to getting my kids to love books.

• Remember these Hill House dresses? Many of these style are majorly marked down right now. The Scarlet (Yellow) and Rosetta (middle)

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*This post may contain affiliate links at no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes the simplest recipes are the ones that end up on repeat the most. This one is proof — it'll take your oven longer to preheat than it will to throw dinner together, and that is not an exaggeration. This is the meal I lean on when we come in hot from sports practice or school events and everyone is suddenly starving at the same time. Warm, cheesy, one pan, and on the table in about ten minutes if you've done any prep at all on Sunday. It tastes way more impressive than the effort required, which is my favorite thing a dinner can do. Skillet enchiladas are a permanent resident in my back pocket and after you make them once they'll be in yours too.

This one runs on my Plan. Prep. Plate. method — paid subscribers get the full framework and a new recipe every Tuesday.

All you need for this recipe is:

• Chicken Breast (About 1.5-2 lbs)

• Spices: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, cumin

• A jar of enchilada sauce

• 8 tortillas

• One 8 oz block of cheese

• Optional: add a can of green chiles for extra flavor and heat

The ten-minute dinner only works if Sunday did its job. Here’s what I prep ahead:

• Instant Pot Chicken method*

• Shred your block of cheese and store it (I don’t buy shredded cheese because of cellulose!)

• Cut your tortillas into strips

Instant Pot Chicken Method:

• Make sure the steam rack is inserted into bottom of the Instant Pot

• Add your chicken

• Add at least one cup of water or chicken broth to bottom of Instant Pot

• Season your chicken liberally (for this recipe I used: salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and cumin)

• Cook on high pressure for 7-9 minutes

• Shred your chicken with a hand mixer and store in the fridge

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Heat an oven safe skillet to a low heat. Add your jar of enchilada sauce and tortillas. Allow the tortillas to soften slightly.

3. Add your shredded chicken to the skillet and stir until mixed well.

4. Remove from heat and add your shredded cheese on top.

5. Bake in oven for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

6. Serve and enjoy!

Skillet Enchiladas

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This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions expressed here are my own.

What is the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T? I wanted to create a fun weekly format to share food, reads, hobbies, items, shows and more that I’m currently loving or making my life easier. I see “Efficient Kitchen” embodying the whole home as well as the people in it. I also want to hear from YOU. What are you enjoying? Comment on the post anything you’re loving in a R.E.P.O.R.T category.

I have a special round up of Memorial Day Sales of my favorite items at the bottom!

I love a great “children’s book” that can enthrall adults. My 8 year old and I both read The Green Ember by S.D. Smith last week and loved it. I got nap trapped one day and saw the book pop up on Kindle Unlimited, so I decided to give it a try. It’s a nice middle grade fantasy that feels like a classic book.

What I love about classic books is that they are addressing morality and character and don’t water down the vocabulary for children. (They challenge them to rise to the occasion.) The Green Ember fits the bill with language was nice and meaty as well as the theme of courage, valor and bravery that the children face in the book. It gives a nod to Narnia books in that it demonstrates you will face hard challenges in life, and what will you do when you face them? The plot was exciting from the start with lots of chases, exploring new lands, and interesting backstories to characters. I would highly recommend this book for anyone to read and would make a fantastic read aloud for the family.

All thirteen of the books in the series can be found on Kindle Unlimited (or hopefully at your local library) and the recommended order to read them in is publishing order versus chronologically order. (Another nod to Narnia and a hill I’ll die on— ha!)

ICYMI, I posted one of my favorite weeknight dinners that our entire family loves. Pad Kee Mow or Drunken Noodles is one of my favorite dishes and the one I’m most tempted to get Door Dashed to me. I tried to make a weeknight friendly version and it took me three minutes to get it in the oven and let the oven do the heavy lifting on dinner.

I’m dropping one more easy dinner on Tuesday that’s for all subscribers. It’s the one to make when you’re coming in hot and need dinner FAST. I filmed the video for it when my baby was still a newborn and you can see how easy it was to make with even a baby strapped to me.

Not that you asked, but I finished my first literary ornament is finished. I had not charted a design before (only roughly sketched letters out) and Lowly Worm was such an easy one to start with. I’m now going back to finishing my monogram ornaments for our stockings because I really want them finished in time and I’ve only done one out of five.

Ballard Designs randomly sent me promo gift cards for some reason (they worked kind of funny and money doesn’t go far there), so I was SO excited to finally buy this ornament holder that I want to use year round to display needlepoint ornaments on. The first time I saw it, I knew it would be perfect I hope in the future to have ones for each holiday to display and rotate out.

All of these needlepoint projects are what I hope to do over five to ten years as I hope it continues to be a lifelong hobby. I used to paint for many years, but it’s quite difficult to have painting supplies out with small kids. I love how portable fiber arts are and how you can work on projects for 5-10 minutes here and there with your project fitting in your purse. I enjoyed this blog post on needlepointing and your nervous system because it really has done wonders to make me sit and slow down.

I always hope that this section encourages someone to do something they enjoy even if it’s only in small pockets of time. I love having to answer the question for myself “how am I ‘playing’ this week?” "or “Did I do anything to slow down and enjoy life?”

I bought one of the viral PopFlex active pirouette skorts last summer and have been loving it. The legs don’t rise up and the waist really holds everything in. It’s so feminine and looks good on everyone I’ve seen in it. It’s nice for being able to go for a walk or to the park with the kids and still go about your day. I’m a huge fan (and so glad it actually fits properly this summer—ha!)

I have very fair children, and we spend a lot of time outside in the summer. I always try to get some sun exposure in the morning, but we inevitably need sunscreen at some point to take care of our skin.

RMS Beauty’s Supernatural Radiance SPF is my favorite for my face (I wear the shade light aura). It makes my skin look so glowy and feels like a filter for my skin without wearing anything heavy. It gets so hot in the summer here that it’s my daily go to for making me feel a little more put together without feeling like my face is wearing jeans.

I also started wearing the refresh eye brightener daily and love it (I wear the color Cherish). My eyes look so much less tired. I think the underage is a tough spot for sunscreen, so I love that it has some in it. Just a bonus that it looks great for tired eyes.

For the kids, my go to is Primally Pure’s sunscreen. It works so well and I feel good about the ingredients in it. Another one that I have used for years is Babo. I like that it has a spray version, if you prefer that. Primally Pure also makes a great tallow SPF lip balm which is great for protecting your lips.

*Edit: after this sent this morning, I was alerted that both RMS SPF products are on sale 30% off 5/22-5/24

I know I talked about homemade ice cream last week as well, but so many items are on sale this week for under $20! I personally think homemade ice cream is one of the easiest layups for hosting and memories in the summer. It’s always a hit every time I serve it and it seems so fancy when it really takes less than five minutes to get it going. I usually can make two containers of ice cream on one frozen barrel and can have it ready to go in the freezer. No need for rock salt or cranking a handle.

I’m really loving the melamine ice cream set in the collage above. I avoid plastic except for hosting outside because kids drop plates and bowls and such. It’s such a cute set and on sale now for under $20. I also included our favorite sprinkles and chocolate sauce.

There are SO many Memorial Day Weekend Sales right now. Here are the best ones that I’ve found:

• Hill House: an extra 20% off items on sale with the code EXTRA20. I always buy my dresses during these sales because they can be 40% off or more.

• Equip Prime Protein Powder: 25% off all one time purchases and an 40% off subscriptions. Use my code JORDANEK

• Old Navy: 5/21-5/25 Memorial Day 50% Off All Tees & Tanks, Swim, Shorts, & Dresses

• Deer Run: Summer Fitness sale with up to $200 off (my favorite walking pad that’s been helping me lose the baby weight!)

• Lands End: 50% + 10% off site wide with code GRAPEFRUIT (great suits that last a long time)

• Southern Tide: My husband and son LOVE these shirts. They last a really long time, don’t wrinkle, and are perfect for hot weather. My husband’s favorite style is this one and my son loves this style (He literally asked for one for Christmas!)

• The Company Store: 40% off Epic Deal + 30% off everything else. Our bedding is from here and I absolutely love it. They have a lot of great organic cotton OEXO-TEK bedding for reasonable prices. Ours is no longer sold but I have slept with this body pillow for years.

Shop the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T with past favs here.

*This post contains affiliate links at no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.

Pad kee mow, also known as Thai drunken noodles, has always been one of my favorite takeout dishes. I’m pretty sure it’s what I ordered on my first date with my husband, so it definitely holds a special place in my life. The bold flavors, chewy noodles, savory sauce, and fresh herbs make it one of those meals that feels comforting and exciting at the same time. But traditional drunken noodles can take a lot of hands-on cooking, especially when you’re trying to juggle dinner during a busy weeknight.

That’s exactly why I wanted to create an easier, family-friendly version that gives you all the flavor of classic pad kee mow without standing over the stove cooking in batches. Instead, most of the work happens on a sheet pan in the oven while you quickly boil the noodles. It’s the kind of low-effort dinner that feels way more impressive than the amount of work it actually takes.

With a little prep ahead of time, this recipe comes together fast and makes an excellent weeknight dinner for busy families. The sauce is packed with sweet, savory, and umami flavor, and you can easily customize the spice level depending on your preference. Add extra chili for more heat or keep it mild for kids and sensitive eaters. It’s also great for meal prep since everything reheats well the next day.

If you love easy Thai-inspired recipes, sheet pan dinners, or quick noodle recipes with big flavor, this easy pad kee mow recipe is one you’ll want to keep on repeat.

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What is the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T? I wanted to create a fun weekly format to share food, reads, hobbies, items, shows and more that I’m currently loving or making my life easier. I see “Efficient Kitchen” embodying the whole home as well as the people in it. I also want to hear from YOU. What are you enjoying? Comment on the post anything you’re loving in a R.E.P.O.R.T category.

I’ve been a bit all over the place with reading lately. Started reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck and was LOVING it until a certain character was introduced and it got too heavy for me right now. I paused Steinbeck and picked up Austen because that’s what I do when I need something I’ll enjoy.

I hadn’t ever read Northanger Abbey which is surprising I know. I usually rotate through her core four but really didn’t know much about this novel.

It was her last published but first written and I think that’s important to note. It’s very different from her other work— more satirical and light hearted. My opinion is that it just felt like she was making fun of Charlotte Bronte novels the whole time even though I know Charlotte wasn’t even born yet.

It’s not my favorite but I still enjoyed it. I know there is probably some deeper analysis of her writing but it was just a light easy read for me. One thing that Austen does is have the reader or the main character not see the same thing. In Mansfield Park, the reader was almost “wrong” at first and in Northanger Abbey you are kind of screaming at Catherine to wake up in parts.

In a short summary, the book is about a young Charlotte Morland who is gothic novel obsessed and her time in Bath meeting society and then her journey at a potentially “haunted” Northanger Abbey. It’s not that deep and it’s just a light easy quick read.

A tip for Austen novels: I think Rosamund Pike is my favorite narrator for her books. They are all included with an audible subscription. I just used whisper sync on the Amazon classics on Kindle Unlimited this time. The narration was fine but Rosamund is my favorite. Austen novels translate particularly well to audiobooks and film because so much of the books are dialogue.

In case you missed it, I launched volume two of my plan, prep, plate meal plans along with a new “10 minute” dinner recipe. I’m working on making meals as simple as possible and working on more easy weeknight dinner recipes.

I had a request for putting all my go to meals together for families, and so I’ve been working on that awhile. I had to pause a lot of recipe development last year because of being pregnant and food not tasting right. I basically survived off potatoes and protein smoothies.

I know that I’ve talked about my meal prepping method in my old kitchen blueprints, but sometimes you just need an example. My hope is to teach the method through a meal plan written out so that you are proficient at it and can plug and play whatever recipes you like into it.

It just takes a little bit of practice to get to where it is second nature in your week. If you haven’t read it, you can find my full meal planning 101 series here to learn the planning part.

When I think about “playing” in this season of life, I think about what is bringing me joy right now or what it fun. By now you know my hobbies— needlepointing and reading. Sometimes I do those activities just for myself and sometimes they are mixed with me being a mom. Right now I’m working on needlepoint ornaments for my kids. I know that sounds crazy working on Christmas stuff already but I made a list of projects that I wanted done for this Christmas.

Each year I try to get an ornament for both my kids that somewhat represents their interests at the time for our pencil slim main tree. Our home doesn’t have room for a super big tree, but I personally love the size of a pencil slim. Now that we have three children, I’m pivoting with my plan a bit. I am working on a literary themed small tree. I have a vision of a 4ft tree in our other room covered with ornaments that represent our children’s favorite books.

If you needlepoint, you know that canvases can get quite pricey, so I knew I would have to start charting my own. I took some shortcuts with my first two but so far I only have a few wonky spots. I bought charts from this Etsy shop because she had so many of my kids favorite picture books and they weren’t overly complicated to chart. If you’re a cross stitcher, then you should be able to use the patterns as well. Let me know below if you would be interested in some more information on needlepointing, and I will “point” you in the right direction.

I was inspired by Brighter Day Press painting ornaments of her kids books every year, which I’ll link her tutorial here if that is more your thing. (There’s also a non painting method)

Run and get your Old Navy Flag tee now! (Bless you if your weather is cool enough to wear a chic flag sweater in the summer!) The men’s have already sold out. I am kind of obsessed with how they have a heritage tee shop and brought back every 90’s and Y2K tee from the past. I thought it would be a cute idea to get kids tees for the years that they were born. They have a lot of cute items on sale right now, and I also linked my favorite white jeans that I’ve worn all spring.

The Breville Smart oven is one of the biggest workhorses in our kitchen. Ours is used every single day for reheating, toasting, and air frying. What I also love about it is that a whole chicken can fit in it to roast as well as a quarter baking sheet. I can bake a couple cookies from the freezer without heating up my entire house with the oven, and I’ve found that we eat way more produce because we can get it nice and crispy in the smart oven.

The smart oven would be a top five kitchen item to make your life better, especially since leftovers taste a lot better reheated it in.

Homemade ice cream season is upon us, and I was looking for some cute ways to serve it this summer. If you haven’t made ice cream before, it’s so so easy. We’ve had the same ice cream maker for almost 12 years that we received as a wedding gift. It goes to work in the summer.

I found these SUPER cute reasonable bowls at Anthropologie that I’m eyeing for serving this summer.

Anthropology is having up to 30% off outdoor living and there are so many great hosting items on sale right now.

Old Navy is having 50% off Deals featuring Tees, Tanks, Shorts, Swim and Dresses right now through May 16th.

*This post may contain affiliate links at no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.

Plan. Prep. Plate. is a simple system to meal prep in under an hour to get food on the table quickly for your family. These are quick, easy, gluten free meals to nourish your family. I hope this system serves your family well and gives you an example of how easy it can be to cook when you have time so you have food when you don’t have time!

I hope by showing examples of the method that you will be able to plug and play any recipe that you like (but also giving you something to fall back on when you’re tired!).

Disclaimer: I’m not a nutritionist or medical professional, so this is not diet or medical advice. Please scale or adjust recipes accordingly to fit your needs. This is simply a plan to help teach you easy meal prepping. Swap any recipes accordingly.

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I think this may be our family’s new favorite go to weeknight dinner dish. By following my plan, prep, plate method, it only takes about 10 minutes to get going in the oven. It’s full of flavor and is very filling. I hope you’ll give it a try!

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What is the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T? I wanted to create a fun weekly format to share food, reads, hobbies, items, shows and more that I’m currently loving or making my life easier. I see “Efficient Kitchen” embodying the whole home as well as the people in it. I also want to hear from YOU. What are you enjoying? Comment on the post anything you’re loving in a R.E.P.O.R.T category.

Trying to fill the hole in my heart while I wait for EML vol 9, I decided to read Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery. It’s her lesser known trilogy and a bit darker and more biographical than Anne of Green Gables. Anne and Emily are similar in the way they talk and think and drone on, but I find Anne way more cringey. (Sorry! The first book is tough for me. Even as a kid!)

One thing that I’ve learned lately is that if I’m struggling with understanding a book I’m reading, I need to pause and to read about the author’s life before continuing on. The best authors write about what they know, and understanding their life gives you insight into their writing. I started Emily and thought “oh we have another orphan going to live with a cranky old spinster” trope again. So I paused the book and decided to read more about Lucy Maud Montgomery. After diving into a few websites, I see that this book is very autobiographical even down to the odd mysticism in it?

I did enjoy the book minus one storyline with a much older cousin that grows bigger in book two (apparently). It’s a hard storyline to swallow when you think about it. Because of that storyline, I wouldn’t recommend it for young readers like the beloved Anne series, but it is an enjoyable read for an adult. The workings of New Moon farm and the characters were charming as well as watching Emily grow and mature over her time there.

ICYMI, My fridge and freezer have been broken. Honestly, my worst nightmare come true. Thankfully we have a small garage fridge/freezer to try to salvage and cram everything into the tight space. Since I don’t have my meal prepped breakfast right now, I have been loving this single serve protein pancake in the morning for breakfast with some fruit. It’s really light and fluffy- almost a dutch baby pancake texture.

I also am really excited to launch new meal plans with full Sunday prep steps next week to help make your weekdays and weeknights easier. We have so many activities going on that I keep having to be even more efficient than ever. I hope by giving examples, you’ll be able to see how easy the plug and play system is, but also giving you a no brainer plan to follow when life gets hectic.

My mission has always been to save time, money, food and sanity in the kitchen for moms. I started developing this system when my middle child was only 8 months because I was so tired of the drive thru and felt terrible. I wanted to cook more but not get burnt out or pull into Chick Fil A constantly because we were hungry without a plan. I’m excited to launch it and hope it will serve your family well.

Guys, I finally collected the final infinity stone of being a basic middle aged white woman- I learned to play mahjong.

I know. I know.

I actually loathe playing board and card games, so I thought I would hate it. I decided to go out on a limb and learn because one of my friends volunteered to teach us. Since friend is a former teacher, she made her own handouts taking up step by step on learning the tiles and the game rules. (I was honestly so impressed and glad I have something to reference now.) It is a complicated game, but it’s actually so so fun.

I found an “affordable” set of game tiles here that I think are really cute and hope to get sometime. (Hobby Lobby has a $20 set, but it’s missing blanks which would make it difficult to play in my opinion.)

As an avid American Girl Doll Enthusiast and lover of nap dresses, this collab feels like it was made for me. I was a Samantha and Molly gal growing up, and the infamous Ellie nap dress is on preorder right now. I think they sold out in 5 minutes which is crazy!

(I did find this nap dress on a decent sale and most sizes left as well as this LOVELY Scarlett dress. Hill House also launched their summer capsule and it’s just so pretty! I’m obsessed with this new style and print.)

It’s been awhile since I talked about coffee. If you are with me and think that coffee tastes disgusting out of a stainless steel cup or tumbler, you’re not crazy. There is actual science behind how the material you are eating and drinking out of can effect the taste. Stainless steel is a porous material and so all that residue from your old coffee or beverages will somewhat linger in it.

I personally LOVE this coffee mug because it has a removable glass insert. The outside is a regular stainless steel mug so you get the functionality of keeping your coffee warm without it tasting weird. I also love this larger version for the road that perfectly fits in my cupholder. I just got tired of taking my ceramic coffee mug everywhere and constantly spilling coffee on myself.

Equip launched their limited edition chocolate churro protein powder this week. Be sure to snag some here and use the code JORDANEK for a discount. I quickly snagged a bag to make some cookies for my family. (I have a tahini chocolate chip cookie recipe)

I have to be careful with dairy and this is one of the main reasons I love this protein powder. No dairy, only beef. Three out of the four of us have used it almost daily for years.

I also wanted to note that my favorite walking pad/treadmill company is having a $200 off sale right now. Here’s the updated version of the one we have and it’s $200 off right now. I love hopping on for 30 minutes a day and reading or watching TV.

Bauble Bar is still having 20% off site wide and my favorite necklace that I wear every single day is included. I have the size large.

Let me know any of your recommendations below! I would love to hear them.

*This post may contain affiliate links at no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.

I know I’m not doing anything unique here but sometimes it’s just hard to think of even basic meals to get you fed in a busy season of life. One of our go to’s is a burger bowl because it’s so fast, our kids eat it, and we always get two meals out of it.

Burger bowls are so versatile to change up based on the sauce that you have and you can scale up or down the amount of food.

Burgers:

• 2 lbs of ground beef (preferably 85/15)

• Salt

• Pepper

• Cumin

Fries:

• Yellow Potatoes

• Salt

• Pepper

• Onion powder

• Garlic Powder

Sauce:

• Homemade mayo: 1/4 cup olive or avocado oil + one egg

• 1/4 tsp Salt

• 1/4 cup Ketchup

• 1 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp chili powder

Bowl extras:

• Arugula or romain lettuce

• Cherry tomatoes sliced in half

• Cheese on burgers (optional)

• Fried egg

• Grilled onions

Add to your Sunday meal prep:

• Slice your cherry tomatoes in half and store

• Slice onions if you want to grill them

• Make your burger sauce

• Slicing potatoes ahead of time makes them oxidate, but yellow potatoes slice so fast on a weeknight

Make the burgers:

*Note: we use a Blackstone Griddle outdoors but you can use an indoor griddle or a cast iron skillet on the stove top. (You may not be able to cook all at once then)

1. Preheat the grill to high heat. Lightly coat the grates with avocado oil to prevent sticking.

2. Place the ground beef on a clean surface and gently flatten. Season evenly with salt, pepper, and cumin.

3. Form the beef back into a ball, then divide into four equal portions (approximately ¼ lb each). Shape each portion into a loose ball.

4. Place the beef portions onto the hot grill. Using a burger press or spatula, firmly smash each ball into a patty. For best results, place a piece of parchment paper between the press and the beef to prevent sticking.

5. Cook for approximately 3 minutes, or until a well-browned crust forms.

6. Flip the patties and, if desired, add a slice of cheese to each. Continue grilling for an additional 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the burgers are cooked to your preferred doneness.

7. Remove from the grill and add fixings.

Make the fries:

These fries come out PERFECT every time in the air fryer. If you are using the oven, it will take longer and you’ll need to flip half way through.

1. Cut your yellow potatoes into fry shapes.

2. Spray with avocado or olive oil. Add your seasonings and toss.

3. Air fry at 400 degrees F for about 15 minutes. The timing changes on how crowded your basket is so be sure to monitor the first time making them.

Assemble your bowl with your lettuce of choice, cherry tomatoes, burger, fries and sauce.

Below is a printable recipe for paid subscribers

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When you’re ready to start your weekly meal planning, the first step is to take a look at your calendar. If you’re using my printable page, you’ll notice that the top section is designated for events throughout the week. While I personally manage my calendar digitally, when it’s time to meal plan, my husband and I both take a moment to jot down our schedules for the week, including the kids’ activities, all in one place.

This serves a dual purpose: it enhances communication and transparency within our family, ensuring there are no unexpected surprises. Additionally, it allows us to make meal choices that align with the time we have available for cooking. For instance, if we’re expecting friends over, we’d prefer to avoid recipes that create a big mess or strong odors in the kitchen. Instead, we might opt for grilling or outdoor cooking. On days when we anticipate one of us having a particularly tough or long day at work, we lean towards simpler meal choices for that evening.

This routine has been a complete game-changer for us. After you’ve noted your weekly schedule, it’s time to consult your list of go-to meals. Over time, you’ll continually add to this list. I find it helpful to include where to find the recipes, whether it’s a page number in a book or a printed page in my notebook. Sometimes, your initial plan might seem a bit ingredient-heavy, so don’t hesitate to make adjustments. You can swap out ingredients or even double a recipe to simplify it and make it more budget-friendly.

When you sit down to actually meal plan, you’ll need the work that you’ve already done:

• Goals

• Master Grocery List

• Go to Meals List

…and your calendar! Sit down with (in my case) your spouse, compare calendars and get them together. Just doing this alone was such a game changer to make a plan for the week. I find it important to note if someone will be working late, driving far for a meeting, any appointments for any one in the family, or school/sports events. Put it all down and then schedule your meals based on how much time you have. Some weeks you may have loads of time for trying something new or a more complicated recipe. Some weeks it’s gonna be a bunch of quick sheet pan meals.

Schedule cooking around your life! (and sometimes you gotta hit the Chipotlane because that’s life and that’s okay!)

My weekly meal planning formula:

• One lunch. Sometimes it’s as simple as prepping a protein to throw a meal together for the week.

• One breakfast. This should already be prepped in my freezer unless I need to restock. See my big breakfast meal preps.

• Three dinners. We pick three meals and double each of them. I usually do two and my husband will grill something. We leave Friday nights open for eating out. You can pick whatever rhythm works for you!

After I pick what I’m making, I write down everything that needs to be prepped from those meals. What produce needs to be chopped, what sauces need to be made, proteins to be prepped, and any freezer restocks. I write that all down in the prep section. Now I have a plan when it’s time to meal prep!

Final tidbits.

Mastering meal planning and meal prepping is a skill. It’s something that you practice and get better at honing what works for your particular family.

I wanted to leave you with a few thoughts for when you get tired, stuck, or burnt out.

• The freezer is your friend. Throw your leftovers in the freezer. Save portions back and put them in the freezer. Bulk prep. The freezer helps you be prepared when life happens.

• Save your old meal plans and reference them so you aren’t reinventing the wheel every time.

• Consider using the monthly meal planning template. I used this specifically when I did an elimination diet. I planned a basic meal plan for the month and then just modified it slightly when the week came.

• Consider making shopping lists in your online carts like Instacart or whatever grocery. Makes it easier to shop

You can do this.

I resisted meal planning for YEARS. I said it wasn’t for me and spent all this time wasting ingredients because I picked too complicated of recipes for every night of the week. Think simple at first and then maybe add one new recipe a week to try. New recipes take longer to make so save those for when you have extra time or help. You got this! I’m here if you have any questions!

This is the opposite.

This single-serve protein pancake is what I make when I want something warm, quick, and actually satisfying—without turning breakfast into a whole production. It’s built with simple, real ingredients and a solid protein base (I used Equip Foods Prime Protein) so you’re not getting that blood sugar spike-and-crash that comes with typical pancakes.

Everything gets blended in one jar, poured into one pan, and cooked in minutes. No mixing bowls, no stacks, no cleanup. Just one perfectly fluffy pancake that feels like a treat but works like a balanced meal.

It’s the kind of recipe that fits real life—busy mornings, quick resets, or honestly…any time you want something that tastes good and keeps you full.

You can find my favorite dairy free protein powder here. Code JORDANEK will save you money.

There are dinners that feel like a whole production… and then there are dinners like this.

This is my go-to when I want something that tastes fresh and satisfying but requires almost no mental energy to pull together. It’s gluten free, dairy free (depending on your toppings), and built for real life. You can do a quick 10-minute prep earlier in the day, and when dinner rolls around, everything comes together fast with minimal cleanup.

It’s also one of those meals that stretches beautifully. This recipe feeds our family of four (2 adults, 2 kids) for two full meals, which means you’re not starting from scratch tomorrow. That kind of built-in margin makes a busy week feel a lot more manageable.

If you want to be nourished but life is busy, this is exactly the kind of meal to lean on.

Sheet Pan Fajitas + Rice

Gluten Free | Dairy Free | Meal Prep Friendly | Family Style

Serves: 4–6 (or 2 meals for a family of 4)

Ingredients

Fajitas:

• 2 lbs chicken

• 3–4 bell peppers (any color), sliced

• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced

• 1/2 packet taco seasoning (I like Siete)

• Avocado oil spray or drizzle

Rice:

• 2 cups jasmine white rice

• 2 cups chicken stock

• Optional: butter and salt to taste

Prep (Do Ahead to Save Time)

• Slice chicken into thin strips and store in an airtight container

• Chop peppers and onion and store in an airtight container

This step alone makes dinner feel effortless later.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Add chicken, peppers, and onions.

3. Spray or drizzle with avocado oil, then sprinkle with taco seasoning.

4. Use your hands to mix everything together so it’s evenly coated.

5. Spread into an even layer and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temp of 165°F.

Rice (Instant Pot Method)

1. Rinse rice in a strainer until the water runs clear.

2. Add rice and chicken stock to the Instant Pot.

3. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes, then allow it to naturally release pressure.

4. Fluff and add butter and salt if desired.

Serve

Build your bowl or plate with rice and fajitas, then add any toppings you love:

• Avocado or guacamole

• Salsa

• Fresh lime juice

• Cilantro

• Dairy-free sour cream or regular (if tolerated)

Notes & Tips

• Leftovers store well for up to 4 days and reheat easily.

• Double the veggies if you want to stretch it even further.

• Great for bowls, wraps, or even next-day quesadillas.

This is the kind of meal that keeps you fed without adding more to your plate. Minimal prep, one pan, and multiple meals handled.

Exactly what you need when life is full but you still want to eat well.

I’m usually all about doubling recipes and prepping ahead, but sometimes you just need something for you. A craving hits and you want it now, without making a whole batch or ending up with something that spikes and crashes you.

A lot of mug cakes are loaded in calories or way off balance on macros, so I kept this one lighter by using applesauce for moisture instead of extra fat or dairy. It’s soft, sweet, and comes together in just a few minutes.

Perfect for when you want a little birthday cake energy… no actual birthday required.

You can find my favorite protein powder here and the code JORDANEK saves you money.

It’s simple, efficient, and built for real life. Everything bakes together on one pan, which means minimal cleanup and no standing over the stove cooking eggs in batches. Just blend, cook, pour, and bake.

One small tweak that makes a big difference here is using mayonnaise instead of dairy. I picked up this trick from Alton Brown, and it works so well. The mayo adds richness and keeps the eggs tender without needing milk or cream, so you still get that soft, fluffy texture while keeping the recipe completely dairy free.

If you’re trying to stay consistent with protein, this is the kind of recipe that helps you actually do it. Make it once, freeze it, and you’ve already handled breakfast for the week—or honestly, longer.

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Before I started having this list, my husband and I would sit down to meal plan and just kind of stare at each other while we said “I dunno, what do you want to eat?”

Begin by jotting down five go-to recipes for your family. This establishes a solid starting point to simplify your meal planning.

Ensure that these recipes are both enjoyable and practical, ideally fitting the criteria of being quick and easy to prepare for weeknight dinners. They should demand minimal time and effort.

Remember the goals that you set? Make sure they fit those goals.

Remember the master grocery list you made? Make sure the staples of the recipes are on it.

Keep both of those steps in mind as you choose recipes.

This recipe list will be the backbone of your meal planning. You’ll sit down and look at it every week so you aren’t racking your brain for ideas. You have a winning list to choose from every single week.

As you expand your repertoire, you can categorize these lists for seasons and holidays. For example, you may have a summer grilling list, a “whole30” diet list or some other elimination diet you may follow from time to time, or seasonal lists. Although I have general quick go to meals, we have meals that we eat in certain seasons. You won’t catch me using the oven in the dead of summer except for a purposeful meal prep. I enjoy a lot of soups and stews in the winter time. We definitely rotate what produce we buy to be in season.

I have an example worksheet of meals that we enjoy on the first post, or you can check out the index of all my recipes for bulk meal prepping, quick mom lunches and easy dinners here.

Below are my favorite cookbooks for inspiration. Especially if you’re looking for gluten free or whole food ingredient recipes:

• The Defined Dish: this is by far my favorite cookbook for healthy and nutritious gluten free recipes. Many of them are old school Whole30 compliant which agrees with our family so much. Many of our most beloved recipes are in this cookbook.

• Celebrations: I always have to mention this cookbook because it just makes holidays feel so inclusive. I had the Thanksgiving and Christmas PDFs before they were an actual book and have used some of those recipes for over 10 years. Also my copy is autographed which makes it extra special to me.

• The Comfortable Kitchen: I probably love Alex’s recipes the most because she’s local to me. All the flavors are just right. These are a little more complex but taste restaurant worthy.

• Whole Food For Your Family: an excellent kid friendly cookbook. Michaela specializes in budget friendly Whole 30 recipes. (She used to be an old school Whole30 coach)

• Callie Salls: I want to share Callie’s ebooks because I think more people need to know about her recipes. Her account should be so much bigger than it is because her recipes are incredibly flavorful. She used to own a local grab and go shop and meal prep service. She’s an actual chef and some of my favorite recipes are from her blog or ebooks.

• The Urban Poser: Jenni no longer posts new recipes due to her health and her cookbook is out of print. If you can get your hands on a second hand copy of The Paleo Patisserie, you should. It’s very precise French style baking for gluten and grain free folks. Every recipe is incredible (and maybe time consuming). She also has load of recipes on her website.

Jenni, Callie, and Alex are all Texas folks, so I tend to gravitate to their recipes but I also enjoy Danielle Walker. I extensively used her Against All Grain book when I first got married but I tend to gravitate towards the Texas ladies now. If you are needing a lot of dairy free or AIP recipes, Michelle at Unbound Wellness is a great option. (Also local to Texas)

I grew up on southern cooking where the flavor heavily comes from sugar, butter and processed shortcuts, so I’ve definitely had to relearn cooking. Sometimes I’ll grab an old church or junior league cookbook and laugh at those old recipes. They taste good but no wonder with the ingredients!

Being gluten free doesn’t have to be a sentence, you just have to get a little creative and be strategic in the kitchen!

What is the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T? I wanted to create a fun weekly format to share food, reads, hobbies, items, shows and more that I’m currently loving or making my life easier. I see “Efficient Kitchen” embodying the whole home as well as the people in it. I also want to hear from YOU. What are you enjoying? Comment on the post anything you’re loving in a R.E.P.O.R.T category.

In January I started reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen and set it down at the end of volume one and shelved it as “did not finish” on GoodReads. Since Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, this felt like an absolute crime against myself, Jane Austen, and literature. I was encouraged at book club to give it a second chance after listening to the Literary Life podcast on it. I’m so glad that friend suggested to press on, because I was reading the book completely wrong. I couldn’t understand why she drolled on about a play for so long, and I couldn’t stand any of the characters. I thought that Fanny Price was weak spined compared to a Lizzie Bennet or an Anne Elliot.

After listening to the podcast as I read each volume, I see that this book has so many layers to it and her observations on morality and character. Some questions that the book raises:

• Is there someone that I am overlooking because I don’t think them to be very “important”?

• Am I trying to get between my children and their struggles to prevent them pain? When in fact, that’s exactly what they need to grow in virtue.

• Am I raising my children to know the virtuous answer (because children are quick to know what you want to hear) or am I raising them in virtue?

• Struggles create gratitude. It’s hard to develop gratitude without some sort of struggle in your life.

I wouldn’t say that I loved the book, but I liked it and will read it again. I think it’s a book that grows with you over time because it’s so deep. It’s really hard to catch everything in one read. My favorite thing about Jane Austen’s writing is her dialogue. She is so witty in her dialogue between people, and she truly captures women to women conversations well. I think what’s hard about Mansfield Park is almost everyone in the book is a fool, so Fanny can’t have a decent conversation with hardly anyone!

We had Bubba Gump week around here. If you’ve been around the Efficient Kitchen long enough, you know what that is. My husband smokes a huge pork butt that we get creative in how we serve it for most dinners and then freeze the rest. We got more creative this time with serving it, and I really enjoyed the dinners without getting tired of it. I am going to write up a full post about it because it’s one of the most cost effective meal preps. We also enjoy doing a slightly larger pork butt for potlucks at church and have plenty to share and freeze.

I finally capital F finished my needlepoint for my son’s door. I have one kid left and am stumped on how I will design the canvas for it. Needlepoint, reading and recipe creating are all hobbies that fill my creative cup. I highly recommend to have something that you enjoy doing. You almost have to create time for it though because there is always something you could be doing to be productive. Slowly down to create is against my nature, and I stopped doing so many things I enjoyed for a long time during college and my early career. It wasn’t “productive.”

I’ve changed my views on productivity and stopped trying to find my worth in it. It’s taken a lot of practice, and I still have to fight it sometimes. If you want to learn needlepoint, don’t be intimidated at all. It’s very easy once you learn a tent stitch.

I saw someone on TikTok post that Michael’s has a collab with Jonathan Adler for kitted needlepoint pillows for $40 and you can use coupons on it. CRAZY! I also think these would be great gifts for someone who enjoys fiber arts. I am always on the hunt for lowering the barrier to entry to it!

Spring time clothes, purses, and shoes are my favorite. I love that all the color is in full bloom in the clothing industry. I am not purchasing clothing right now as I am navigating a still freshly postpartum body, but I have seen SO MANY cute pieces of clothing and purses. I have linked all my favorite here.

(Ha Hill House is my GOAT because they are like yoga pants and love you with whatever your body is currently doing!)

I think I’ve been through all the water bottles starting with a Nalgene in the 90’s. I had been so resistant to a strawless water bottle but my kids were told to switch to Owala’s for oral development. I truly love a flip top straw water bottle and thought I found the GOAT with the Hydrojug. However, I could not keep that thing clean. It got mold in every crevice. I grabbed an extra one we had in the cabinet, and I’m sold. I think this is the final boss. Like can we come out with new water bottle technology? I don’t know.

One of my hesitations was that I don’t like the colors. (I know that’s lame but color is a big thing to me) Owala came through with their spring drop and they are SO CUTE. (we had a lost and recovered Owala situation over here so I had ordered a new one for an unnamed child ha!)

I know that I mentioned awhile back about doing Sarah Kleiner’s hydration protocol. WOW. It was very simple and easy, but I’m so much less thirsty. I think we go too hard as Americans with our water sometimes. I actually stopped carrying a 40oz bottle and dropped to the smaller size. Doing this protocol made a massive difference in energy too. She has the protocol on her paid Substack.

Also sidenote: If your kid is prone to leaving water bottles places, I like the Inch Bug Orbit labels. I have used the same ones on my kids baby bottles and they transition to water bottles.

We had an ice cream social to attend recently so I whipped up my homemade ice cream recipe. Our kids have been telling their friends that they have had ice cream parties every night, which is so funny to me.

It’s truly the best recipe and we use corn and dye free sprinkles for the kids along with the best chocolate sauce. There is a local coffee shop that makes the best mochas and I asked them what chocolate they use for it. They told me and now that’s all we use!

You can find the recipes here:

Let me know any of your recommendations below! I would love to hear them.

*This post may contain affiliate links at no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.

The master grocery list became an integral part of my routine when I wanted to cut our grocery budget and quit forgetting items at the store. By creating a master grocery list, I have something I can look at each week when I am making our list. It saves money in two fold: I'm planning recipes around what we usually buy and it cuts down on those midweek grocery trips that seem to blow the grocery budget because we forgot something. (Extra items always sneak their way into the cart!)

The first step to creating a master grocery list is to clean out your pantry, fridge and freezer. I know that no one wants to hear that. However, it’s really important that you see what you actually use and buy! Think about all those random items you bought for some Pinterest recipe that you never used up. We are trying to prevent that from happening.

I want you to set a timer for 30 minutes and tackle your fridge. Do JUST the fridge and then move on with your day. Do this again for your pantry on another day and then your freezer on another day. I feel like if you try to tackle it all at once, you’ll get overwhelmed with “mid project regret syndrome” and want to throw in the towel when you have a huge mess on your hands. I want to set you up for success!

After you’ve cleaned everything out, take an honest look at what you buy every week or almost every week. What are the staples that you always want to have on hand? I have a lot of example categories to get your brain going. Don’t worry about doing it perfectly. You are creating a springboard that you can build on.

Some bonus tips:

1. Create an online version of your list wherever you shop. You’ll be able to order your groceries in 5 minutes with your list saved! No more racking your brain while you place an online grocery order.

2. Pick a pickup time when you know you’ll already be in the car. School drop off and pick ups are great times because everyone is already buckled up.

3. Use an app that both you and your family can use together. My husband and I use the AnyList app and have lists for each store we shop at. It makes it easy for both of us to add to this grocery list as we run out of items during the week. I also like that it will sort grocery items by category making you more efficient in the store.

I have tried to have lots of easy meal prep lunches for myself and this one fits the bill. I love just making the chicken and dressing at the beginning of the week and having the other ingredients on hand to throw this quick salad together!

Make the chicken

First you’ll want to cook some chicken in the Instant Pot. I have a video on making that here.

• Place the rack at the bottom of your Instant Pot and place three chicken breasts on top.

• Pour some chicken broth in the bottom of the pot but don’t let it touch the chicken

• Season your chicken with spices of your choice. I like salt, pepper, onion and garlic

• Cook on high for 9 minutes. It can very a minute or two based on how much chicken you put in the Instant Pot

• Put your chicken in a container and shred with two forks or a hand mixer

Prep the dressing

Next you’ll make your salad dressing. There are a couple of ways to make it. If you have an immersion blender, make your mayonnaise first in a wide mouthed jar and then add your dijon mustard, and honey. I also love to use Mike’s hot honey for an extra kick. If not, you can use regular mayo and combine the other ingredients with a spatula.

• 1/4 cup olive or avocado oil

• 1 egg

• 4 tbl dijion mustard

• 4 tbl honey

Add your oil and egg to a jar and use your immersion blender under mayonnaise is formed. Add your other ingredients and blend again.

If you prefer a thinner dressing, add some apple cider vinegar to your liking. This dressing is very flexible to adjust to your taste preferences. I rarely measure when making it!

Prep the elements

I keep all the ingredients separate and make a salad each day as I go. I store the chicken in a container, a dressing in a jar and have the other topping ready to go.

For the salad:

• Shredded carrots

• Unsweetened crasins

• Goat Cheese

• Spring mix lettuce

Let me know if you make this simple meal prep salad!

What is the Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T? I wanted to create a fun weekly format to share food, reads, hobbies, items, shows and more that I’m currently loving or making my life easier. I see “Efficient Kitchen” embodying the whole home as well as the people in it. I also want to hear from YOU. What are you enjoying? Comment on the post anything you’re loving in a R.E.P.O.R.T category.

I’m sad to report that this is my last Beth Brower book update. I read Beast of Ten, which is a stand alone fantasy novel that is loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. Beast of Ten explores redemption and the idea of can someone be redeemed even if they are “too far gone.” It is a truly beautiful and deep story with a complex magic system.

If you want a fantasy novel with pretty much zero romance, this book is for you. I could NOT put this book down. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed it more than the Books of Imirilia. It’s also nice and chunky but not “door stopper” level in the 500ish page range.

I hope to spread the word far and wide about because she has become my favorite writer. I hope I can influence you (wink!) to read her books. I’ve had multiple friends read her Emma M. Lion books, and they have become “addicted” to them. If you’ve read her historical fiction, definitely give her fantasy novels a try because they are equally page turners!

You can read about Beast of Ten on her website here. I love that she has follow ups after you read her books.

On Wednesday, I posted about my Tahini Chocolate Chip Protein cookies. I’ve been tinkering with this recipe for a month or so, and my family begs me for these cookies. They are really great for that after school/afternoon snack to get you to dinner because they have approximately 10g of protein in them, 16-17 g of carbs and 10-11g of fat. I always struggle with a good balanced snack in the afternoon to help the kids make it to dinner. They come in STARVING from school. I enjoy them too on days that I was a bit more active and need something to get me to dinner. (My husband enjoys nuking them in the microwave for a few seconds to make them warm and gooey again!)

The Efficient Kitchen

Gluten Free Tahini Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies

Do I think cookies need protein in them? Absolutely not…

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2 months ago · Jordan | Efficient Kitchen

After my third was born, I’ve taken a bit of a break from needlepointing since my hands were constantly full. Lately we’ve found our rhythm with baby number three, and I have found pockets of time again to stitch! I truly enjoy this hobby and love it even more when I’m able to listen to a book or podcast while doing it. It feels like it completely resets my nervous system because you have to slow down so much to do it.

I finally finished my door hanger for my second child and love how it turned out. I hope to capital F finish it this weekend where I can hang it up. I completely designed the canvases myself and am so proud with how they turned out. I’m working on monogram ornaments from a vintage needlepoint book that will probably take all year to stitch all five!

Several friends in my book club suggested the Literary Life podcast to me after having a lot of trouble with reading a classic novel. I have absolutely devoured this podcast. If there’s a book you’re struggling with, I would highly suggest listening to their podcast. I learned so much from listening to them break down a tricky novel, and they opened my eyes to reading classic literature differently. It felt like an English class that I actually enjoyed because I learned so much.

You can find it here.

I shared on social media this week about my Tahini Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies and also that I am now an affiliate for Equip Prime Protein. I’m excited about this because I’ve been telling everyone about this protein powder for years. I think our family has been using it for about four years now, and it’s the only one that I like. Our family uses it every day in some capacity. While I’m a staunch believer in most of your nutrients coming from real food instead of powders, I really love this when you’re in a pinch and just need some nutrients. It definitely got me through a lot of nausea in pregnancy when I could only tolerate a smoothie. If you’re weirded out by funky protein flavoring, the unflavored only has one ingredient: beef. (and no it doesn’t taste like beef!) The code JORDANEK will save you a bunch or you can click the link here.

Our family’s other flavors are the low sugar chocolate and the low sugar vanilla (no stevia yay!). Below are two other recipes that I made using their protein powder:

The Efficient Kitchen

Cookie Dough Protein Bites

I get asked a lot for easy snack ideas. We all love these. We store them in the freezer and they are ready to pop out an eat! Thanks for reading Jordan’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work…

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a year ago · 4 likes · Jordan | Efficient Kitchen

The Efficient Kitchen

Wedding Cake High Protein Yogurt

My latest go to way to get my daily protein intake up! If you cannot find a protein powder you like the taste of, this is for you…

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a year ago · 2 likes · Jordan | Efficient Kitchen

I’ve set a goal to read thirty books this year including some “door stopper” books. (I’ve read 14 books so far!) I finally made a list of some top classics that I want to finish this year. After I read the Count of Monte Cristo last year, I found that really increased my confidence not being intimidated by “hard” books. I hope to retackle Jane Eyre with the help of the Literary Life podcast, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, and The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

You may wonder how I read a lot. Well, I discovered how much time I was wasting on social media, so I now have strict settings on my Brick app. The other way is that I am always multitasking. As much as I would love to just sit and read, that only really happens for a small amount of time a day. Maybe 20 minutes? A bit more on the weekend.

I love the read and listen option books on Kindle Unlimited. To be honest, I don’t know how it works. I checked a book out from the library and it had that option.

I listen while I’m in car line, washing dishes, doing laundry, cooking, and while I’m walking. I try to walk on my walking pad for 30 minutes every day even if it’s interrupted. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s one of my favorite purchases. We previously had a bike and sold it. I find I use the walking pad far more even if it is not a great piece of “decor” in my house. You can find all my favorite barefoot shoes here.

Let me know any of your recommendations below! I would love to hear them.