Hey Y'all,
I'm back!
We only went about 90 minutes away, but every single responsibility stayed home. The bills stayed home. The decisions stayed home. The endless chorus of "what's for dinner?" stayed home. For two glorious days I was off duty from my brain and my husband was the brain for both of us.
Honestly? It was wonderful.
We stayed in Glen Rose, which is a tiny little town where not much happens. And that turned out to be exactly what I needed. No attractions demanding attention. No packed schedule. No feeling obligated to make memories every fifteen minutes. I slept. I read. I sat around doing absolutely nothing productive.
And I drank wine with the sort of dedication usually reserved for Olympic athletes and their protein shakes.
On a less fun note, just as we were leaving town I got a message from my doctor. The lymph node still isn't behaving itself and apparently continues to look suspicious on the CT scan with contrast. So I've been referred to another doctor who will remove it for a biopsy.
I'll be making that appointment tomorrow, and I'll keep y'all posted as I know more.
But for today? It's Monday. The laundry is plotting a coup, my inbox has multiplied like rabbits, and we all need something good to eat.
Let's get to the recipes.
(Y’all, there might be affiliate links below—gotta keep the coffee flowing so I can keep sharing the recipes you love!)
Remember - you can always find ALL of the recipes (1200+!) on Restless Chipotle, divided by category, right here
skillet dinners for the win
One pan. Minimal dishes. Maximum flavor. These skillet dinners are what happen when you're too tired to cook but too stubborn to pay delivery fees. Hearty, easy, and wrestles Monday right down to the floor.
Creamy Spinach Chicken and Pasta Skillet
Tender chicken, pasta, and spinach tangled up in a creamy alfredo saucel. One skillet, minimal effort, and suddenly you've performed culinary sorcery on a random weekday.
Honey Pecan Chicken Breasts
Sweet honey, buttery pecans, and juicy chicken come together in a skillet dinner that feels just fancy enough for company but easy enough for a Tuesday. Crunchy, savory, and absolutely perfect with a side of mashed potatoes.
Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet
Smoky kielbasa, tender cabbage, and simple seasonings prove that humble ingredients can still show off. This budget-friendly classic is hearty, comforting, and surprisingly hard to stop eating.
Creamy Lemon Chicken
Bright lemon and a velvety cream sauce transform ordinary chicken into something worthy of a restaurant menu. Light enough for spring, comforting enough for winter, and ready before your patience runs out.
Smoked Sausage Jambalaya
Bold Cajun flavors, smoky sausage, and perfectly seasoned rice all cook together in one pan. It's got just enough spice to keep things interesting without causing a family meeting about who drank all the milk.
summer side dishes
When it's hotter than Satan's cast iron skillet, nobody wants a fussy recipe. These summer side dishes are cool, easy, colorful, and guaranteed to earn a spot next to whatever's coming off the grill. Now's the time to make the most of that summer produce.
Honey Buttermilk Corn on the Cob (Slow Cooker)
Sweet corn slow-cooks in a buttery buttermilk bath until every kernel tastes like summer vacation and questionable life choices at the county fair. The honey adds just enough sweetness to make people wonder why their corn never tastes this good.
Southern Style Okra and Tomatoes
This old-school Southern classic turns humble garden vegetables into something worthy of a second helping. Tangy tomatoes, tender okra, and enough savory goodness to silence every person who claims they "don't like okra."
Scalloped Tomatoes
Juicy tomatoes and buttery breadcrumbs bake together into a casserole that somehow manages to be both comfort food and summer side dish. It's the culinary equivalent of showing up to a backyard cookout in pearls and flip-flops.
Cucumbers in Sour Cream
Cool, creamy, and just tart enough to keep things interesting. This vintage favorite is what happens when cucumbers decide they're tired of being decorative and want a starring role on the dinner table.
Yellow Squash Casserole
Tender squash tucked beneath a buttery, golden topping that's impossible to leave alone. Every church potluck, family reunion, and Southern grandmother convention seems to have a version of this recipe, and for good reason.
if you need a quick and easy dessert here it is
Amazon finds
20% off
The Ninja Creami is for all the people who've ever looked at a carton of ice cream and thought, "I wonder what Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake ice cream would taste like." Ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, and all manner of frozen chaos are just a button away. With two extra-large tubs and 11 different settings, it's basically a dessert laboratory disguised as a countertop appliance. Bonus: it's currently 20% off, which is practically the universe enabling your ice cream habit.
See it here
June Meal Plan
Don't forget about the free June 2026 meal plan with clickable links
2026 meal plan (1).pdf
I am going to be uploading the meal plans to the Restless Chipotle shop. Y'all get them for free as long as you're a subscriber so don't buy them if you see the link on the blog!!!
Visit Picklefork every Thursday and get your first week free...
Picklefork Papers: stories, gossip, recipes that aren't on the blog. If you loved Golden Girls, Cheers, and Mayberry you belong in Picklefork. And we've got a seat waiting for you.
A weekly letter from Picklefork, plus town snippets, occasional bonus surprises, and members-only recipes that never make it to the blog. In your inbox every Thursday.
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talk soon!
love ya!
