Getting back into a routine can be a challenge after summertime. Meal prepping can sound daunting. However, what does work for me is to have a stocked freezer full of items that allow me to have the ability to throw things together at the last minute. It’s prep without the prep. Since I make breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home 95% of the time, I love a solution that helps to remove the legwork while still providing the same level of quality as something I would make from scratch.

Don’t you wish you had the time to make homemade sourdough bread all of the time? I do! Small-batch bakers and pasta makers across the country partner with Wildgrain to provide nutritious artisanal bread, pasta, and pastries in a monthly themed subscription box. These have come in handy with the craziness of back-to-school.

The artisan bread is always a winner for dipping in hearty soups or sandwiches for lunch. The kids will always want pasta for dinner, so having hand-made pasta in the freezer makes dinner feel extra special. I always have pasta sauce and pesto in the freezer as well, so the combination with fresh pasta is one of my favorite things to have for dinner. A protein can easily be added to bulk it up more.

My new favorite thing to make is an Italian Fall Sandwich with the Olive Oil Ciabatta Bread! I make a batch of my pumpkin seed pesto. Cut the bread in half lengthwise and slather one side of the bread with pesto. Top it with slices of brie, sliced tomatoes, and prosciutto. Toss a few handfuls of arugula with some olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper. Add the arugula on top of all the other layers and place the top piece of the bread over the arugula. Wrap the sandwich in foil and place it in a 400-degree oven for about 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the bread is warm. Use a sharp knife to cut the sandwich into pieces and serve. This sandwich is great for a fall picnic, a tailgate, or even a cozy fall lunch!

Fall is the perfect time to start baking up some delicious pastries and bread with Wildgrain's signature subscription box! Do yourself a favor and get some croissants and apple pie bites while ordering…you can thank me later!

Wildgrain boxes are a great solution to having things on-hand without worrying about running to a store. I look for any reason to spend more time with my kids; mealtime is always a good time to chat about the day and hear what’s happening with them. I often talk about how my parents always prioritized dinner together, and it is still one of my fondest childhood memories. Dinner was always about connection, which I want to preserve with my kids as well.

Head over to Wildgrain to customize your box today!