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It's Your Kitchen's avatar

I love this. In the same spirit, I have a substack where I publish four great recipes with all of my tips and tricks (faster, easier, fewer dishes, etc.) and an organized shopping list every Thursday. Trying to ease that dinner mental load

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Julia Turshen's avatar

very cool!

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Judy Schatz's avatar

Thanks for all your hunger- inducing pics! I live right outside of Philadelphia, so I may try some of these spots . I have diabetes, and I have been so inspired by your journey of learning to cook delicious dishes that are diabetes-friendly. Most of these dinners would throw my blood sugar out of whack. I know this was just one friend-packed, special week, but I would love to see some recipe inspiration that I can follow. (I have all of your cookbooks, and make frequent use of them - they’re a great resource. I guess reading this post, I had a “nose up against the bakery window “ moment.) Thanks for all you do!

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Julia Turshen's avatar

Thanks for the feedback Judy. I hope you enjoy any or all of those spots in Philly! I do think the baked pasta I made is a great diabetes-friendly pasta dish — high-protein pasta plus tons of cottage cheese and ground turkey, served with a salad...same with the salmon dinner!

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Judy Schatz's avatar

Thanks for the link! I will definitely check out this pasta.

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Allison Dragsten's avatar

I made farro risotto in my instant pot tonight. Super easy and hearty. I threw in some defrosted peas and served it with a side of roasted veg. Instant pot risotto was a game changer for me. We have it every few weeks but I really enjoyedbthe farro instead of the arborio this time.

We've also been getting produce delivered every week from a company that uses produce that's been rejected by grocery stores. I try to make a weekly plan based on what we get every week.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

oh very cool! is that misfits? or another company?

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Allison Dragsten's avatar

I'm in Canada so it's a different company called Odd Bunch.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

very cool!

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Elizabeth G's avatar

I made a fun combo the other night. I chopped an orange bell pepper and cooked it in a pan with butter and salt. Added a can of chickpeas, rinsed. Cooked it all some more. Added leftover shrimp. Turned the heat up to sizzle and brown everything. Ate it with 1/2 an avocado and tortilla chips. It was really delicious and easy.

Thanks for sharing what you cooked and ate! I love this!

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Julia Turshen's avatar

that sounds so good!!!!!

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Kimberley Allan's avatar

I loved this recap of dinners! I have been cleaning out the freezers and trying to make room for the upcoming seasons. I usually have a weekly menu and prep list so it has been a little chaotic. I’ve used up frozen pesto, buttered zucchini (literally tastes like summer!), lots of fruit which I tend to hoard in the freezer so I have enough to get me to the next summer. We’ve been enjoying macerated berries every day with yoghurt or ice cream. Your baked pasta situation inspires!

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Julia Turshen's avatar

this all sounds so amazing and I'm so glad you love your freezer — I feel the same about mine!

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Zara González Hoang's avatar

This is so nice and helpful to see! It really makes me think of how I can use things from a previous meal as building blocks for the next. Also, fish in the air fryer? Have you done a post about this? I am trying to eat more fish and this is intriguing!

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Julia Turshen's avatar

i'm so glad!

and yes I've discussed fish in the air fryer a couple of times. see:

https://juliaturshen.substack.com/p/an-ode-to-my-air-fryer

https://juliaturshen.substack.com/p/a-fantastic-lunch

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Zara González Hoang's avatar

Thank you for the links! I am excited to embark on my air fryer fish journey!

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Kathleen's avatar

I love this!! Thank you! It's so inspiring

I especially appreciate that you included the so-so dinner.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

gotta be honest! :)

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Amanda's avatar

Two of the dinners I made this past week were from your red cabbage and cauliflower taco recipe, and I have your recipe for easy spinach lasagna in the oven as I type! I had the time to make my own sauce today, so I could add red peppers and mushrooms.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

awwww love hearing this! and those additions to the sauce sound so good

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ccbergren@yahoo.com's avatar

Going to make the pasta . I had leftover polenta and found a recipe on Food 52 for a polenta strata. It was incredibly easy and delicious. It would be really good with your jalapeño vinaigrette on a salad!😍

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Julia Turshen's avatar

ooooo sounds so good!

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Dana's avatar

Julia, one of my favorite dinners is a plate of roasted vegetables that I plate like a Composed salad with little groupings of individual vegetables : mushrooms, artichokes, zucchini, carrots, whatever’s in season. I leave room in the middle of the plate for protein like poached eggs, sliced chicken , steak or cheese or ( vegetarian style) a tasty sauce like sour cream ranch, pesto or homemade tzatziki sauce. I take my food styling inspiration from European style salads like French Tuna Nicoise or German Salateller. This way, even if I am just eating a plate of vegetables, it feels and looks like a feast.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

I love the care and intention here so much — lovely. thanks for sharing xo

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Joanna Philbin's avatar

Made your first dinner (spaghetti with Rao's sauce and broiled kale with breadcrumbs) for my very picky 11-year-old and she LOVED it. Asked for seconds, which is pretty much unheard-of. Thank you for the "mom win" tonight - it was much-needed!!

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Julia Turshen's avatar

That sent too soon! Oops! What I was going to say was: no way!!! Im so happy to hear this 🩷🩷🩷🩷

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