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Real Balanced — Sara Nelson

Enjoy easy & balanced recipes — ranging from 30-minute weeknight dinners to holiday appetizers and everything in between. My goal is to make sure you can cook a successful and memorable dish every single time.

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Warm German potato salad with sliced potatoes, crispy bacon, and fresh chopped parsley in a tangy vinegar dressing.
Featured Post

Your summer cookout shortlist (and a tiny favor)

Hi, friend! It's officially cookout and potluck season! I pulled together a few of my recipes that are perfect for it right now — some easy sides, a really good cheesy dip, and a couple of mains for the grill: 🥔 German Potato Salad — warm, tangy, and bacon-y, a nice change from the usual mayo bowl. The one people always ask me about. 🧀 Queso Fundido — the melty, cheesy dip that disappears first at every party. One pan, 30 minutes. 🍜 Tuna Macaroni Salad — creamy, cold, and made for a crowd....

5 months ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Tuna Melt Quesadillas. It takes about 30 minutes start to finish, so nothing to do until you're home. Sara

3 days ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Lemon Chicken Rice. Pull the chicken thighs from the freezer now so they have time to thaw before you start cooking. Sara

4 days ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Chicken Tortellini Soup. Pull your cooked chicken from the freezer to thaw now. Print the recipe (one page, PDF)The full ingredient list with check boxes, every step, and the times, ready for the counter. Sara

5 days ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole. It takes about 55 minutes start to finish, so nothing to do until you're ready to cook. Sara

6 days ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Broccoli Casserole. It takes about 50 minutes start to finish, so nothing to do until you're ready to cook. Sara

7 days ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Chicken Corn Soup. Pull the chicken breasts from the freezer now so they have time to thaw. Sara

10 days ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Sheet Pan General Tso's Chicken. It takes about 30 minutes start to finish, so nothing to do until you're home. Here is the recipe. Sara

11 days ago • 1 min read

This week I picked two chicken dishes, a stuffed fall squash, and a breakfast wrap I'd make for dinner, too. Stuffed Acorn Squash: Roasted squash halves packed with Italian sausage, apple, mushrooms, kale, cranberries, and pecans, topped with melted Parmesan. A full fall dinner or a holiday side in about 40 minutes. Breakfast Crunch Wraps: Scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, sausage, and melted cheese in a pan-fried tortilla with a quick lime salsa verde. Four wraps in about 26 minutes....

12 days ago • 1 min read

Hi! Tonight is Broccoli Cheddar Ditalini. It takes about 30 minutes start to finish, so nothing to do until you get home. Sara

14 days ago • 1 min read

It's mid-October in Wisconsin and the oven is fully back in rotation. Here are four recipes I'm putting on the menu this weekend and into the week ahead. Oven Roasted Whole Chicken: Garlic-herb butter goes right under the skin for deep flavor, and once it's in the oven, dinner takes care of itself. Baked Tortellini with Meat Sauce: Cheese tortellini baked in meaty marinara and covered in bubbling mozzarella — simple ingredients and on the table in under an hour. Spice Rubbed Chicken Wings: A...

15 days ago • 1 min read