As temperatures fall and busy routines resume, the meals we crave tend to shift, too. Comfort food becomes a must — and, luckily for tastebuds everywhere, that's exactly what's on the menu.
This week on TODAY, Grandbaby Cakes founder Jocelyn Delk Adams is in the kitchen sharing her favorite weeknight wonders. When it comes to cooking for a family, hearty and kid-friendly meals that come together quickly with ingredients that are readily on-hand are key to keeping one's sanity. First, Delk Adams whips up a batch of her famous Tortilla Chip Casserole, a Tex-Mex-inspired lasagna that's bursting with flavor. Then, she makes a twist on meatloaf just for pizza lovers.
Related
Other meals here to make weeknight menu planning a cinch are homemade fish sticks, irresistible roasted cauliflower and, to top it all off, a make-ahead fall dessert. What could be better?
What to cook this week
This is not your mama’s weeknight casserole. Filled with so much flavor and Mexican-inspired flair, this Tex-Mex-style lasagna has texture, spice and so much personality. It's a comfort food that's got a nice layer of flavor without being too spicy for the kids too enjoy. It really is a winner any day of the week.
This is the ultimate comfort food mashup that merges Delk Adams' favorite dishes from her time in Chicago. Love a deep dish pizza? This meatloaf is for you. It has all the flavors of a cheesy, saucy pepperoni pizza combined with the homestyle goodness of flavorful meatloaf. The tomato sauce topping and surprise of melty mozzarella cheese in the middle take this easy weeknight dish to a whole new level of deliciousness.
If your kids love fish sticks, definitely make them this perfectly crispy baked fish sticks recipe! They are crunchy and flavorful on the outside with tender fish right inside. This recipe really shines with cod, but most white fish and even salmon also work well. Don't forget a wedge of lemon and some tartar sauce for serving.
Roasting is Gaby Dalkin's favorite way to make vegetables. Here are a few simple things to keep in mind when you're roasting vegetables: You need ample room on the baking sheet, don't skimp on olive oil and roast until everything is caramelized on the edges.
To get a jumpstart on this recipe from Lauren Salkeld, make the pastry dough up to one day ahead. Once you do, all you'll have to do is fill it with a gorgeous filling of sweet apples, brown sugar, lemon and warm spice.
