Do you struggle with mealtime? What should we have for dinner? What do we have to eat? I’m hungry, when’s dinner? These are questions I hear every week (probably most days) and not only is it stressful, but I realize it’s not necessary. As you know, there are a lot of great recipes, and help for meal planning, but I want to share with you, a brand new blog to help you with all those things (and the recipes are delicious). Angela is The Menu Maid, and not only does her blog show you how to easily organize your mealtimes, but she only shares recipes that she has made and finds delicious. I also love how Angela puts thought into finding healthy options that taste great and are totally achievable for a novice cook. I had the honor of interviewing Angela and I think I got some great tips from her to share with you. Not only is Angela an amazing cook (I have enjoyed everything I’ve tasted from her kitchen), but she’s an amazing woman with the biggest heart to serve others. Be sure to subscribe to her blog – you will love the instant access to fantastic recipes delivered directly to your inbox.

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Tell us a bit about your new blog, The Menu Maid.

“The Menu Maid is a space designed to give readers access to easy delicious meals; along with tips on meal planning and healthy weekly menu options. Our schedule is busy most days with dance, school, and work, so I need quick recipes to glide me through the week. You’ll find an occasional recipe on my blog where time is no concern, but most of my meals can be made in under an hour.”

“I like to call The Menu Maid a renaissance of some sort. For a short time, many moons ago, I had a small space on the web where I shared my favorite recipes (and A-LOT of photos of my then, 3 year old daughter). It was casual, and a fun way to share my love for cooking. Since then, food blogging has always been tucked away in my heart. After the Covid pandemic shut my business down for several weeks, I knew there was no time like the present to create ~The Menu Maid~ blog. It’s been an adventure of hard work, growth, and extreme reward.”

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Can we watch videos for any of your recipes?

“I am excited and hoping to launch some of my short recipe videos by fall of 2021 so be on the look-out and subscribe to the blog for updates!”

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What are your meal planning tips for busy families?

1. Plan a few days worth of recipes for those busy weeknights. I like to make my menu on Friday’s, and shop for ingredients over the weekend. It’s one less thing I have to worry about when Monday rolls around. Meal planning takes time but it’s 100% worth your sanity.
2. Look for recipes that give you prep and cooking times. There is nothing more stressful than getting halfway into your meal prep only to find out you have to marinate something for two hours.
3. Make a note for yourself to pull out any meat that needs thawed for the next day’s recipe. I live by my notes. Without them, I’m no good.

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Can you recommend pantry staples to keep stocked?

• Canned Beans
• Canned Tomato’s & Sauce
• Canned Artichoke Hearts
• White/Brow Rice & Quinoa
• Veggie & Chicken Stock
• Assortment of Vinegars
• Olive, Avocado, & Coconut Oil
• Variety of Pasta
• Quick Oats
• Nuts
• Unsweetened Almond Milk
• Whole Grain Tortillas
• Store Bought Salsa
• Sour Cream
• Plain Greek Yogurt
• Cholula Hot Sauce (yum)
• Big Jar of Pickles
• Shredded Cheese Blend
• Organics Spring Mix
• Kale

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What’s your favorite recipe?

“My favorite recipes to cook are those that are easy and delicious. I love to chop veggies so if my recipes include those, even better! My favorite foods to eat are anything pasta and Mexican.”

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What kitchen tool can you not live without?

“My top 3 kitchen items I can’t live without and literally use them every – single – day are: cutting board, chef’s knife, and a small nonstick green pan.

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Do you have a favorite celebrity chef?

“My all time favorite celebrity chef is hands-down, Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. She is classy, homey, loves her family, loves Jesus, and makes delicious no-fuss food. She’s my hero.”

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What’s your home decorating style?

“My decorating style is fairly eclectic; modern country meets classic traditional, I’m guessing. My home has a lot of wood, and we live in the country, so it feels natural to showcase this style. However, I don’t like clutter. In terms of my kitchen, less is more. I like plenty of space to do my thang! Plus, I hate cleaning around all that stuff.”

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Why do you love to cook?

“I love cooking because it makes people happy. Aside from the actual act of cooking, which I love, it brings me great joy to serve the people I care about most. Knowing that I can provide good honest food for my family and friends blesses me.”

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So far, The Menu Maid has inspired me to try some risk-free recipes (because I trust this girl and know she has top-notch taste buds) and to not be afraid of making something new or different from my typical go-to meals! Angela has already tried them, tweaked them, and is recommending recipes to keep your whole family healthy and well fed~ I admire how Angela makes a recipe taste delicious and be on the healthy side. To me, balancing taste and health is the biggest challenge when cooking for a family. With weekly meal inspiration from The Menu Maid, I can create a new dish knowing it’s tasty and good for my family. Be sure to check out Angela’s blog, The Menu Maid, subscribe for her fabulous recipes, and give her a follow on Instagram and Facebook for those convenient reminders that healthy food can taste great and be easy to make!

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