Midweek Meals
New recipe + reader faves 🌞
Happy Wednesday and Happy New Year! Today, I have a new recipe plus reader faves and a few last-minute NYE ideas for you.
Midweek Update
Funny enough, I recreated my birthday trip from two weeks ago yesterday. The sushi restaurant we went to sent me a $25 gift card, and that was all I needed to make the two-hour drive trek to Philadelphia again. We had a great time eating pizza, drinking coffee, and then capping it off with an amazing spread of nigiri and hand rolls at Uchi.
I was going to make my sea bass with beurre blanc recipe, but I could NOT find sea bass anywhere, so I decided to do a simple shrimp cocktail, and I’m going to make scallops with beurre blanc instead.
I was also hoping to share my recipe for the most amazing hazelnut raspberry chocolate upside-down creation, but I think the recipe needs a bit more tweaking, so hopefully it’ll be ready next week!
As we close out 2025, I cannot thank you all enough for your support. 2026 will be my first time entering the year as a full-time recipe blogger, and your support, comments, and feedback continue to drive my excitement for delivering recipes that, hopefully, become permanent fixtures in your homes. I truly don’t take your support for granted, and I thank you all deeply!
Okay! That’s all my mushy-gushy stuff! Let’s dig into some recipes to inspire the start of the new year and a few quick ideas for tonight if you’re still thinking about what to make.
NEW RECIPE
Turkey Meatballs with White Beans
This is a new favorite in our house. I can’t stop eating them! Rich ricotta meatballs with salty, spicy, tomatoey beans. Perfect alongside crusty bread.
READER FAVES
Pork Pappardelle with Tarragon
Thank you for the 5-star review, Richard! I love how fresh, bright, and herbaceous this pasta is — perfect when you’re trying to manifest an early spring!
Easy Fish Stew
Thank you so much for this wonderful comment from Reddit! I love, love, love this fish stew. It’s so flavorful and a perfect way to use frozen fish. YUM.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
Thank you so much for the comment, Aubrey! I bet this was amazing with chicken. Delish!
Short Rib Lasagna
Thank you, Sydney! I’m so happy this is a recipe that everyone in your family loves! It’s definitely my absolute favorite lasagna. So rich and comforting and perfect for a holiday or when you need extra comfort on a cold weekend.
MORE IDEAS
Shirley Temple Upside-Down Cake
I bought lots of maraschino cherries to make a variation of this cake as my New Year’s Eve dessert tonight! I can’t wait!
Easy Baked Crab Balls
My most searched recipe this week! These make for such a perfect, easy appetizer for a New Year’s Eve table.
My Best Crispy Fried Shrimp
Sweet potato starch (though you can use cornstarch if you don’t have sweet potato starch) creates a light, crunchy coating on these easy-to-make crispy fried shrimp.
Air-Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders
Another irresistible app for the NYE table! Crispy, spicy, lemony, and just the right amount of saucy. SO good.
Easy Lobster Noodles
If lobster goes on sale tomorrow, you better believe I’m making a big batch of lobster noodles this weekend! One of my favorite ways to eat lobster.
My Favorite London Broil Recipe
This is one of my most popular recipes and for good reason. It’s easy to make, serves a crowd, and London Broils are great for the wallet compared to other cuts of beef. What’s not to love? This method results in juicy, flavorful slices that go along perfectly with mashed potatoes or your favorite red wine sauce.
Salted Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake
A sweet way to round out your NYE feast tonight! Sweet, salty, rich, and so delicious.
That’s all for Midweek Meals! I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, and very happy New Year’s Eve filled with lots of good food and memorable moments as we close out 2025 and glide into 2026.
If you make one of my recipes, please drop a comment on the post to let me know how it turns out; I’d love to hear from you! You can also respond directly to this email! Byeeeeeeee! 💖💖
-kylie
And if none of these recipes caught your eye, use the link below to view all my recipes.
Looking to incorporate more vegan dishes into your meal plan? View all the plant-based recipes I post on Exploring Vegan!
Talented chef and beautiful too!