Being able to nourish oneself and one’s loved ones is a skill every human being needs to survive. I’ve found having a weekly menu of dishes you love is a beautiful outlet to practice self love. Nourishing yourself and your family with healthy meals they love is the ultimate labor of love.

Here are 8 basic recipes that I every family should have in their repertoire (provided you don’t have any dietary restrictions…)

A really good tuna salad

I know this is either a hit or miss for many people, but I love a good tuna salad. It’s a great dish to have in the fridge for a quick sandwich or to eat by itself (as a snack).

Click here for the best Tuna salad recipe I’ve ever had. It’s creamy, crunchy and full of delicious spices that complement the tuna perfectly. This recipe always impresses.

A homemade pancake recipe

I must admit that I don’t eat pancakes as much as I’d like, mostly because I feel like it’s too much effort for just one person, but I do love making pancakes when I’m hosting for breakfast or brunch.

This is an easy recipe to follow and you’ll have delicious homemade pancakes that everyone will love. Don’t forget to pair it with real maple syrup for the best dining experience.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Spaghetti and meatballs is a staple in many households and I have always been a fan. I recently developed my own meatball sauce recipe and I’m working on posting in the next couple of weeks, but I did film a bit of it and posted the video on TikTok.

Your favorite roast (whole) chicken recipe

Whole chicken is one of my favourite meals of all time. It’s such a comforting classic meal that I have many, many amazing memories attached to, especially all-night dinner parties with friends with laughter and wine were in abundance.

My personal favorite roast chicken recipe is by Heston Blumenthal, who developed this recipe to use the preparation and cooking techniques to enhance the texture and flavour of the meat. It yields the perfect bird every time.

But if you don’t have the time, here’s a delicious and easy recipe for Buttery Herb Roasted Chicken.

Basic garden/ vegetable salad

Salads are a great way to fill up on your fruits, nuts and vegetables and having a staple basic salad recipe in your culinary repertoire will not only help you stick to a balanced diet, but it also gives you a go-to recipe that requires very little effort and is very nutritious.

How to reverse-sear a steak

I prepare steak a few different ways – depending on the cut, flavor I’m trying to achieve, time I have available. When I’m looking to impress or I’m cooking a ribeye, I use the reverse-sear method. Reverse- searing a steak involves placing a seasoned steak on an iron rack placed on a baking tray, slow cooking it on low, and then searing it quickly on high heat to develop a crust.

Read: How to Reverse-sear a Ribeye

A fancy hors d’oeuvre

We all need a recipe that is a little bit fancy, but always seems to be worth the effort. For me, these recipes usually produce easy to eat, bit-sized (or hand-held) creations that are prefect for game nights or Sunday lunches.

Try my Best Coconut Shrimp recipe – you won’t regret it.

Restaurant-style salmon recipe

I don’t eat a lot of fish, but I do cook it occasionally because I know it’s a healthy source of Omega oils. Salmon is a great alternative to meat or chicken and there are several ways to prepare it and really hard to mess up.

Read: Restaurant-style Pan seared Salmon