Are you working on your weekly meal plan tonight? Coming up with the main course is always much easier than figuring out what to serve with it. Instead of resorting to something in a box, try pairing dinner with one of these 10 easy and delicious side dish recipes!

Collage of photos of side dishes with text overlay: 10 Easy + Delicious Side Dish Recipes

[bctt tweet=”Don’t get stuck with another boxed side for dinner this week. Plan your side dishes with these 10 easy and delicious side dish recipes! ” username=”diyadulation”]

Nigerian Jollof Rice (All That’s Jas)

This rice looks absolutely incredible and would pair well with many meals. It’s a great dish to try out some new cultural eats.

Simple Egg Salad (Teaspoon of Goodness)

If you need a dish that’s quick and easy, you can’t beat this recipe. Bonus: the leftovers can easily be lunch the next day.

Roasted Vegetable Tray (Gluten Free A to Z)

I’m including this roasted vegetable tray because the concept would work great for large families full of picky eaters. Everyone can choose what vegetables they want and you’re happy the kids are eating a more balanced meal.

white dish full of roasted vegetables

Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Recipe (NEPA Mom)

If your kiddos aren’t as picky about their veggies, then these roasted vegetables are the perfect easy side for your next meal.

How to Make Twice Baked Potatoes (Super Mom No Cape)

My brother still begs my mom to make twice baked potatoes for him to this day, and he’s 30 years old! That’s how delicious these are… and probably says a little something about him that he hasn’t bothered making his own.

The Best Mashed Potatoes (Cincy Shopper)

Mashed potatoes are a classic and comforting side dish that everyone will love. This recipe shows you how to make this staple side dish.

Lemon Roasted Fingerling Potatoes (Cravings of a Lunatic)

If your mouth doesn’t water looking at these you might be dead inside. Your family will be begging you to make these again and again.

Ultimate Baked Beans Recipe (A Proverbs 31 Wife)

Baked beans aren’t just for pitch-ins. This easy recipe is perfect for serving up with hearty main courses.

Orzo with Black Olives and Asparagus Recipe (Home Cooking Memories)

This rice dish is totally different from the one above but equally delicious. It goes great with fish dishes or even on its own.

Loaded Baked Potato Salad (Rae’s Books and Recipes)

I think this recipe would be a great way to give new life to leftover potatoes. Always try to anticipate and work leftovers into your meal plan. There’s nothing worst than wasting food.

Which one of these 10 easy and delicious side dish recipes is going on your meal plan this week? Check out this free pantry tracker to help you stay organized while you’re meal planning. Then come back and party at this week’s Merry Monday link party!

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Collage of photos of side dishes with text overlay: 10 Easy + Delicious Side Dish Recipes

Save money on basket fillers this year with these delicious mint and raspberry chocolate crosses. They’re easy to make and kiddos love them!

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[bctt tweet=”Control the candy level and your budget with these mint and raspberry chocolate crosses! #Easter #candy” username=”diyadulation”]

Baskets filled with candy are your nightmare on Easter. It leads to sugar-hyped kiddos and cupboards full of candy for months.

I believe we were still hoarding Easter candy come Christmas last year. That’s why we don’t load our Easter baskets up with candy.

Instead the kids get one plastic egg with candy inside, peeps (because they’re pretty), and a chocolate cross.

Years ago, I bought this chocolate mold and started making my own to save money and it has definitely paid for itself. This year, mix up the traditional chocolate with these mint and raspberry chocolate crosses.

Funny story… I hate white chocolate. I have no idea why, I have just never enjoyed the taste.

Unfortunately, white chocolate is the best for making the pretty colors and designs that I love. You simply can’t achieve that prettiness with cocoa chocolate.

Luckily, my kids have never met a candy they didn’t like so I get to enjoy the pretty colors and designs vicariously through them. That’s how these fun mint and raspberry chocolate crosses came to be.

Note: I used Duncan Hines Frosting Creations to flavor the candy melts which are no longer available. I’ve included links to my favorite candy flavoring for the same flavors. To achieve the same colors as my crosses, you will need to add some gel food coloring.

Mint and Raspberry Chocolate Crosses Ingredients

White Candy Melts
2 Tbsp. Shortening
Raspberry Flavoring
Mint Chocolate Chip Flavoring
Colorful Sprinkles

Step 1

Start by melting your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until melted.

Step 2

Next, stir your shortening into the melted chocolate. This will make it smoother and easier to pour.

Step 3

Divide your melted chocolate in half and add the second half to a separate bowl.

Step 4

Then add one flavoring to each bowl and stir to combine.

Step 5

Add sprinkles to the bottom of your cross molds and pour the melted chocolate into them.

Step 6

Let your chocolate set then pop your crosses out of the molds.

That’s all there is to these mint and raspberry chocolate crosses. They are so easy to make and a perfect treat for the kiddos’ Easter baskets. You can also control the level of chocolate. If you want your kids to have less, only fill the molds up halfway. They will still get a festive treat in their baskets without it being over-the-top.

Don’t forget to grab your cross mold. This is worth every penny and I love that I can make 2 at a time. When you have a bunch of rugrats to fill baskets for, anything that helps you save time while saving money is awesome!

Yield: 2 Chocolate Crosses

Mint and Raspberry Chocolate Crosses

Name: Mint and Raspberry Chocolate Crosses
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: White Candy Melts; 2 Tbsp. Shortening; Raspberry Flavoring; Mint Chocolate Chip Flavoring; Colorful Sprinkles

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Ingredients

White Candy Melts
2 Tbsp. Shortening
Raspberry Flavoring
Mint Chocolate Chip Flavoring
Colorful Sprinkles

Instructions

Start by melting your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second increments until melted.
Next, stir your shortening into the melted chocolate. This will make it smoother and easier to pour.
Divide your melted chocolate in half and add the second half to a separate bowl.
Then add one flavoring to each bowl and stir to combine.
Add sprinkles to the bottom of your cross molds and pour the melted chocolate into them.
Let your chocolate set then pop your crosses out of the molds.

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

More Ideas You’ll Love:

How to Fill and Easter Basket for Under $50
Beautiful Recycled Easter Napkin Rings
Easy DIY Golden Bunny Bank
Mini Easter Egg Topiary – Intelligent Domestications

Convenient foods are your best friend during the week. Anything that can be thrown in the oven or in the Crock Pot is lifesaving. Unfortunately, prepping these meals for the freezer can take an entire day away from you. That’s why I love easy meals like these Homemade Freezer Bagel Pizzas and the easiest homemade freezer lasagna ever! These are prepped in minutes and get heated in the oven with almost no work on your part. Play that extra game with kids or curl up with a book for an hour while still getting a hot and delicious dinner on the table tonight.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Convenient foods are your best friend during the week. That’s why I love easy meals like this easiest #homemade freezer #lasagna recipe ever!” username=”diyadulation”]

Here’s the funny thing: I actually enjoy cooking. Even in my teeny tiny kitchen, I put Buffy on my tablet or play my favorite podcast and get to work. Unfortunately, there are plenty of other work and responsibilities vying for my time. Eating out every night is not in the budget, not to mention the health risks, so how do you balance home cooked meals with everything else on your plate? You make it as easy as possible. With meals like this homemade freezer lasagna I don’t have to choose between productivity and my family.