Having the Same 5-7 Meals can be Boring

• That roasted chicken needs a drizzle of something…

• Those veggies are begging to be dipped…

What boring dinners are missing, is a sauce!!!

When you go out to eat its not even a second though that a sauce or three sauces come with your fries, on your sandwich or burger, or swooshed across your plate at a fancy restaurant.

Sauces can help make a dish feel complete...sooo…

Why don’t make sauces at home?

• Time consuming

• Overwhelming to make from scratch 

• Duh Celestina...all the sauces I need come in squeeze bottles

• You may not know how to make sauces at home 

If any of the above reasons sound like you, stick around while I give you a few ideas on how to make quick, easy, and delicious sauces for those busy weeknights!

Most sauces start out as a veggie, herb or combination of items you already have in your fridge...see that doesn't sound too scary any more! Right?!

Super Basic Pesto

Yes, I know that you can buy a pre-made pesto in the store, BUT it will never taste as fresh after you've made a 5 minute pesto at home!

• Start out with 2 large handfuls of greens

  • (I'm not specific here because you can use any greens you have — spinach, arugula, kale, fresh herbs like basil, parsley or cilantro....you can even combine 2 or 3 greens and herbs)

  • Remember to smell them together or even have a bite of them together to know how they will taste once you combine them.

• Place your 2 handfuls of herbs in a powerful blender. Add a pinch or two of salt & pepper.

• Add in about 1/4 cup of EVOO to start & blend.

• If the greens get stuck drizzle in more EVOO (about 1/4 cup) until it begins to process smoothly.

Okay thats it...SUPER EASY PESTO! See I told you its not scary!

It’s not a super traditional pesto, but if you want to you can add cheese, nuts, spices, and fresh citrus zest...but for something that comes together quickly this is perfect!

Use this pesto on:

• chicken

• fish

• beef

• pasta

• potatoes

• veggies...

• OMG the possibilities are endless!

I like to add a little to a pasta sauce — it adds a real brightness!

If you use a combo of cilantro & parsley you can have a super quick chimichurri sauce for beef, drizzle in a little red wine vinegar for tang and its ready to go!

Romesco Sauce

This comes from the Spanish region of Catalonia where the fisherman would make it to eat with their fresh catch. If your not a fish fan don't write this off...I love this sauce as a sandwich spread, dip, and marinade! Watch a quick video here!

You're going to add all of the following ingredients into a blender.

• Start off with 12 oz of roasted red peppers (I like to use a jar because they taste just as good as making them yourself...and its wayyy easier on a busy weeknight)

• Add 4 plum tomatoes (in the summer feel free to use some juicy fresh tomatoes, but I usually just go for a can of whole tomatoes and fish out 4...again a time saver on a busy weeknight…oh and keep the rest of that tomato liquid...you can add it to a soup!)

  • **Quick note if you don’t like tomatoes (double up on the peppers or vice versa).

• 1 cup nuts (traditionally almonds are used...but honestly any nut works! you what you have on hand).

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley (I rarely have fresh parsley on hand...you can totally use dried parsley for this...add like 2 tbsps)

• 1/4 cup EVOO (you can also use a fancy infused oil like lemon or walnut oil...this is a sauce that can handle your good stuff, so use it)

• 2 cloves of garlic (you can also use 2 tsps of already minced garlic, or 1 tsp of granulated garlic)

• 1 tbsp acid (this can be the juice of half a lemon, vinegar, or a combination of citrus & vinegar...but if you are using citrus remember to zest it, it will add a ton of flavor)

Blend it up until its SUPER Smooth it make take 60 seconds in the blender.

Serve it at room temp, cold, or warmed on anything you like...this will become a house staple for sure!

3 Ingredient Awesome Sauce

This next one is a favorite...my parents would always buy rotisserie chickens for quick weeknight meals...and we usually had leftover meat, so I would shred some the leftover chicken, place it in a pan with some chicken stock....and let it simmer.

THEN!!! Add in about a teaspoon or two of sriracha sauce and a teaspoon or two of whatever jam you have. Mix it all up to make sure its well incorporated and bam a totally different dish that you can put on a salad or wrap up in a tortilla! Watch a quick video here!

This sauce is great to make ahead of time too — 

• 1 part sriracha sauce

• 1 part jam of your choice in a jar

• 2-3x the amount of veggie or chicken stock and shake it up!

Store this in the fridge as a go to dipping sauce or drizzle. Be sure to warm it up before using it...I think it tastes better!

Easy Bean Dip 

Oh and one last really easy sauce!!!!

• Grab a can of pinto or black beans....rinse and drain.

• Heat the beans in the microwave or a pan until they are warmed through.

• Add 1-2 tsp of cumin

• 1-2 tsp of cilantro

• A pinch of salt

• 1/4 cup water

Put everything in the blender or food processor and whip until smooth — & you have an easy black bean dip, or a spread for burritos or tacos!

Remember that sauces don't have to take a ton of time to make to taste delicious!

You can totally use what you have in your fridge or pantry as a starting point...there is a world of sauces out there just waiting to be explored!