🍽 WHAT'S FOR DINNER? ☀ VLOGUST DAY 4 🌮 FAMILY DINNER IDEAS!

[@Jen-Chapin]

If you hear some clacking in the background of this voiceover, it was Connor playing with Legos 😂

[@sarahmeyer4128]

That's awesome

[@singsongvideolover]

Hahaha! Hi Connor 😉

[@kathyconger2188]

👍Yay for Taco Johns! We love it!

[@jessicasmith7049]

Lets be real... it was you.

[@sgtwife1978]

I just love watching you. It is nice to see some easy meals that us working moms can do in a short period of time. After working 8 hours and commuting, you don't want to make a huge meal. Thank you, Jen, for doing what you do. YAY for Vlogust!!!

[@meluvs2read]

You can also make snacks from the potato peels.. after you are done peeling your potatoes, just wash the peels and dry them and put oil on them.. Put them on a baking sheet and pop them into the oven. bake until they are the desired crispness.. oh yeah don't forget to season them. so yummy.

[@hannahkayee831]

Great idea!

[@kevinharvey374]

I bet you can with the carrots too.thanks

[@amorg26]

I’m convinced you either don’t sleep orrrr you’re a robot. Another great video ✌🏼

[@lavonnep.1412]

Ikr! I think the same..😂😂

[@jessicasmith7049]

Definitely a robot.

[@bailey_reed]

really grateful for your videos. I have no idea how to cook & I’m constantly getting takeout, endless cycle of feeling inadequate as an adult for not knowing the simplest of recipes. I love that you show what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, even if your intention is not to teach. Thank you!!

[@ThePurposefulPantry]

I know you're not a fan of mushrooms, but the umami flavor you're looking for can be greatly enhanced with mushroom powder. I dehydrate it (you could put it in your air fryer without oil and come close0, get them good and crisp dried, then powder them in a coffee grinder. Then add that to dishes. You don't taste it like 'mushroom texture', but it adds a depth of umami flavor that is wonderful!

[@SavingADimeAtATime]

I tried olives for my entire life. Every year I would try both green and black olives. Around the age of 50 I started to live black olives. I continued to try green olives. About 2 years later, I started to like green olives. Never give up. Our taste buds change!

[@cathiemuraski3042]

I love Vlogust!!! ❤️ I get so excited knowing I get to watch a video a day from you and Christine!

[@denitam917]

They are my favorites, too! Watching their videos make my day better.

[@kimpinnock8859]

Loving these videos! Calm me when feeling anxious. Thanks

[@kimberlyflierl7160]

Same. There is something very calming about Jen’s voice ❤️

[@sarahgilmore9759]

So glad you like the chopper! It’s my new fave kitchen tool!

[@sharisstampinstudio9286]

LOVE Taco Johns! We get it for lunch every time we drive thru Nebraska back home to Breckenridge. Oh the Potato Oles. Yummm. Also stop and get frozen Valentino’s pizza to fill the freezer. Yummm

[@wandamckinney381]

Here where I live we have a Taco Bell and they call the hard taco inside a soft taco a double decker... love your videos

[@debracoder3596]

Oh Jen! Don't like mushrooms?! They can add so much. Love 'em!! I feel for ya gal, I feel for ya... I think you have the best, innovative, creative, fantastic looking recipes on You Tube!! You are a REAL cook and have talent. I loved cooking for my family & giving them my best. You can see the love in your cooking & care for your family. This is a lot of what motherhood is all about.

[@tammyrowland60]

I love What's for Dinner videos! I also enjoyed watching you cut up the carrots. I am always looking for new ideas and this was awesome. as always. Thank you for sharing!

[@cathyfeigert5660]

All of these dishes looked so delicious, I needed some new ideas for dinners. Thank you Jen!!!

[@cyn6964]

Taco Johns a blast from the past. Washington state had 3 but they all closed many years ago.

[@mindilove2831]

Taco John's is my awesome. Actually have one in my town. Ever heard of Taco Trio ? Used to have one here years ago and I still miss it to this day ! Love love tacos !

[@shericollins1619]

I don't like mushrooms that much either but my son, who loves them, served me some he had made. He cooked them with butter, Olive oil, garlic and Chardonay, salt and pepper. I have to say, they were absolutely delicious!!.... along with the steak. I don't eat them on pizza or other dishes.

[@TheSoAmySays]

I lived in Illinois for 7 years and when I moved back to Minnesota, my first meal was Taco John's because potato oles are amazing.

[@retiredbooknerd]

Another great video! AND, our town just got a Taco John’s about a year ago. I haven’t eaten there yet, but now I know what to try when I make it there!

[@barbstormo7030]

I love Taco Johns! When family from Texas come to visit they make 2 or 3 runs to Taco Johns! Potato Ole's with cheese sauce and hard shell tacos...yes please!! Taco Bravo is good too....

[@lindamcgorman5850]

Just to let you know from a woman who has lived in Philadelphia or the suburbs of Philadelphia for my whole life, you would never find green peppers on a cheesesteak in Philadelphia. We can never understand why when people from anywhere outside the area make a "Philly" cheese steak they always put green peppers on them😊 in Philadelphia it's just a cheesesteak or a chicken cheesesteak with fried onions if desired. I also put mayo on a chicken cheesesteak because the meat can be dry. Have a great day! I'm so enjoying Vlogust. I wait all day for a new video. Love from Philadelphia!!!!

[@Jen-Chapin]

Too funny! I should have put a bunch of cheese sauce on there LOL

[@lindamcgorman5850]

Or as they say in South Philly, a cheesesteak "wit"

[@suedraws4998]

I peel carrots the same way. I always sauté veggies separate from meat, because I have a vegetarian

[@DaniM1214]

I make tacos pretty frequently too,its so quick and yummy! And cleanup is a breeze which you cant beat😊

[@annettecarolherbst]

We have some type of Mexican food every week. Last week we had enchiladas, nachos and tonight we are having street tacos. Whatever is fast and easy when it is so hot!

[@brendaplans1992]

LIKED and SAVED!!! So many great dinner ideas here!!! Thanks, Jen!!!

[@lynettee6646]

You are a woman after my own heart - three taco-related meals in one video!! Chicken enchiladas happening here tonight. I've never heard them called Taco Bravos. We've called them double-decker tacos. I haven't made them in forever. I think my guys would love them!!

[@thetemporaryhousewife1550]

Yaaaas that soft tortilla over the hard taco shell is yummmm. I like to do that with tostadas too. So yummy.

[@claudiag1158]

I would suggest that you buy Zeiss fog defender for glasses and maybe you can use it on your camera! I tried it to stop my glasses from fogging when I use my face mask and it works great!

[@marcialane8235]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen cherry jam....I will have to look at Sprouts I guess because the meatballs look fabulous.

[@megand4067]

Catching up on your videos. Love Taco John's. I'm in Wyoming so we have a bunch so that's where it was founded in.

[@megand4067]

Also use to work at one in Deadwood SD

[@GrabLifebytheHeartful]

Hi Jen! Thanks so much for this very informative video! This has given me SO much inspiration. My favourite meal was the Japanese steak tacos and the cherry-glazed meatballs. YUM! I'm wondering if you've ever tried shiitake mushrooms before. They do not taste like normal mushrooms, they have a slightly chewier texture and are GREAT in Asian-style soups. I am obsessed with them! But I understand that it is hard for you to sometimes get certain ingredients, but maybe you might be able to find them on Thrive market?. Love all of your videos and I'm really enjoying Vlogust. Stay safe and take care, xx

[@Jen-Chapin]

I have not! I should try to find them :)

[@marcidrag]

Here in Michigan we don't have Taco John's, we have Taco Bob's and that taco is called a Funny Taco. I've recreated it at home and it's amazing!

[@julieclevenger7122]

We lived in Nebraska for quite a few years and taco John's was the bomb for my kids so big thumbs up to taco bravo!

[@mvhill59]

Another great video, I need some fresh idea's for dinner.

[@MrsOcie1]

Only way mushrooms are good are portobella's stuffed with crab n cheese mix or deep fried like pickles then dip them in ranch. I forgot, also saute onion in butter with a little oil, then put your mushrooms in sliced, saute them a little, don't overcook - then add a little bit of A-1 steak sauce in it, just heat through. Put that on a grilled steak, now that is good, your hubby would like it. Otherwise no shrooms for me lol

[@dorothydaniels8184]

Taco John's is the best! Love them. In the old college days we would all get the 6 pack and a pound. Mmmm, now I want some for lunch today.

[@valerieh8526]

I'm not very adventurous with the menu options at fast food taco restaurants (my go-to is Taco Bell's bean burrito no onion 🤣), but I do love churros from Taco John's. Iowa introduced me to TJ's a very long time ago but the nearest (and maybe only?) one in Michigan was 2 hours away from home. It was a drive-thru attached to a gas station and I always stopped on the way back from visiting my best friend in Wisconsin. Sadly the station and the restaurant are no more. 😭

[@DianaTx361]

Everything looked delicious nice easy summer dinners. I want to make your banana mini muffins Thursday .. I’ll look for the recipe you posted. Hope your week is going good and everyone is staying healthy. 🤗

[@prayingkitty]

I do know about Taco John's and their taco bravo!! :) As u may remember, I grew up the first half of my life it the QC area, and when I moved to Nebraska I also discovered they were there too. I need to figure out if they exist in KC. lol. I'm going to have to make these next time we do taco night. :) Always enjoy ur videos!!

[@joiviolette]

Hi jen.. I ordered the home chef box with the beef tacos with the lettuce wraps and slaw! It was sooooo good! This is my 1st meal subscription. Its been great! I got the 2 person box too. I also tweek the recipe just a bit to accommodate to the others I'm feeding. You have rubbed off on me giving inspiration in the kitchen. My family loves what I cook as well. 😉☺💖

[@TracyAMead]

Great video! Oh yes, Taco John's Taco Bravos are THE best!!! My first job (after detasseling for 3 summers) was at Taco John's! My next favorite are their taco burgers! You can never go wrong with tacos, no matter how you make them. Lots of love and stay safe!

[@terryannanderson8812]

Taco Johns rocks. I grew up in a small town in Wyoming and TJs was our fast food. Great video as always.

[@taekwon_donut5388]

Creamed mushrooms on toast is a dish from my childhood I adore. Basically sauted mushrooms in a white sauce. After much googling I'm still not sure what rice a roni is. UK viewer over here.

[@buckeyethor]

We love Taco John’s! I love their potatoes! 🤤 Hubs grew up with them in Iowa and we had it in Peoria, IL but not in OH where we are now. 🙁

[@singsongvideolover]

Tacos are my love language so this video was perfect! I've not heard of a taco bravo. I feel like a fraud🤣 I'll be making your version very soon AND will be sure to hit a Taco John's on my next roadtrip. Thanks for another great video, Jen ❤♀️🌈

[@thatswhattomorrowisfor3745]

I am so glad that my husband and I are not the only adults alive that don't like mushrooms!😉 Like you said I have tried to like them I just can't, for me the same goes with any kind of peppers and coffee.

[@sarahmeyer4128]

Thanks for sharing! Look forward to all your videos and ideas!!

[@lisapaauw9770]

Mushrooms need to be done in butter and garlic , so good !

[@elynjanes7895]

Taco Johns were the best their Potato Oles were phenomenal!!!!!

[@lin1038]

Great meal ideas Jen! Had me smiling when you said you kept trying to like mushrooms...lol...I love mushrooms...I kept trying to like mineral water! It was so disgusting to me...but I kept trying different brands...and then one day it didn’t taste too bad...a few days later...I loved it! Now I drink only mineral water...lol! Loving vlogust! Thankyou so much for all you share with us!!

[@teamlucki2390]

I found tasty taco seasoning at Fareway. My daughter thought it was too salty but all the rest of us loved it! Who knows, maybe it was her chips that were too salty for her! When we went to Taco John’s we would get the “old ladies”! Did you call them that?!😂

[@barbiedoll6530]

Another home run Jen ! I'm a huge mushroom fan. We have taco bell here (Chicago)….I'm with Kiera love bean burritos!

[@retaharrison724]

We have a Taco John's next town over...love it.

[@lyndaemge3486]

TACO BRAVO>>>>>YES, it's the OG of Iowa and local midwest!

[@1268mbeth]

Jen, you are a legend. Thank you for your mashed potato tips...that’s one thing I haven’t been able to master.

[@evelyncape4180]

I fondly remember Taco John’s from a million years ago when I lived in Kansas--yummy!👍🏻

[@wendelinharrison9571]

Mushrooms..bleah! Like eating erasers!! Ok..I always wrap a flour tortilla around my crispy tacos to catch the dripping juices and meat that fall out of the crispy...never thought to put beans in between? Do you put your refrieds in the oven after you fry them?? Or do you mash them in the baking dish? Also..how do you wash your lettuce wedges without them falling apart?? Umm I wonder how those beautiful meatballs would be with a splash of a Cherry liquor? A million questions, Jen!! Really enjoying your scene changing graphics (?)..the spinning and rotating boxes! Very classy 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@Jen-Chapin]

No they were just canned Refried beans :)

[@carolyneastman6095]

I’m with you on the “rooms”.....I used to eat them, then one day I said “self, what are you doing, you’re eating fungi!”.....from then on they had a yuck factor for me.....kudos to Adam for liking them, certain mushrooms have real health benefits......as usual, Jen, another great video!

[@brynb1325]

Yep, grew up eating taco johns

[@jennifercooper4925]

I’m not the biggest fan of refried beans but when I make them I do it on the stove top and add just a little bit of sour cream and cheddar cheese and it’s a game changer...a must try

[@Goldiebear63]

Jennifer Cooper I add green chili’s and taco seasoning and cheese in mine...yummy!

[@jennifercooper4925]

Sassy Lady I’ll have to try it tks... I bet that would make an awesome burrito too

[@h2oworld123]

Hi Jen! Thanks for the dinner meal ideas. By the way can you link the citrus press you used? What brand? Thanks!

[@Jen-Chapin]

The specific one I have isn’t available anymore I would just look on amazon for one with good reviews :)

[@jackistemper1419]

We have Taco John's & Taco Bell about 40 miles away ....love the taco bravo.... when I make tacos at home I always have both shells ...gotta have the crunch with the soft ! 🌮🌮🌮

[@SallySkellington84]

I LOVE TACO JOHNS!! Potato ole's are the best thing ever! When I moved to Montana I found the glory of Taco Johns and they are far superior to taco bell! And i love taco time! I miss Montana! Nobody ever talks about either one of those 😍😍😍💙💙💙 made my heart flutter

[@jennifercooper4925]

Everything looked delish 😍

[@mizsuzee]

I love to saute` mushrooms in butter, salt, and either white or red wine. YUM!

[@christeenprice4428]

Everything looks so yummy thanks

[@wyHarlo]

I live in Cheyenne, home of Taco John's!

[@megand4067]

I'm in Casper!

[@darellescott9012]

What kind of mushrooms do you use? I never know what kind to buy

[@maureendavidson8264]

Never heard of Taco Bravos but it looks delicious. Love watching you cook. Great recipes. Makes me hungry. I better go make supper.

[@bethlewis9981]

Do you use convection when you roast veggies or potatoes in the oveen?

[@cherylm4867]

Great meals, Jen! Love your channel 💕 And Murphy is such a cutie!

[@kellybush5503]

I had no idea what taco John’s was until we moved to Iowa about 2 years ago.

[@dustiboring5006]

Taco bravo is equivalent to a double decker taco here in Tx.... yummmm my family prefers the double deckers... Great idea on baking the refried beans.... Great video, thank you! Btw, one of our favs is also Philly cheesesteak pizza.... that is great for make your own pizza night

[@marilynziesmer287]

I live in Tennessee, we have a Taco John's and the Taco Bravo is my favorite , I also have the potato ole.....yummy.

[@melissahartsfield6289]

Taco John's is my FAVE!!!!!! Yaaaaasssss....

[@crowdedisolation]

Taco Johns is fantastic. They have great tater tots that I loved to order along with sour cream after work every night way back in 1989. I gained 20 lbs doing that. LOL no kidding. Their taco bravo is AMAZING! and I make my tacos like that on occasion still to this day. There is something about Pizza Hut's sauce that tears my stomach up. I'd eat there more but it's not worth the agony. Have a great week, Jen!

[@Jen-Chapin]

Haha yes! Potato oles with sour cream is the bomb.

[@kevinharvey374]

I came from frugal fit mom.I really like you style . I subscribed.thanks for sharing.

[@kayjhoselin]

Love the dinner ideas 😍😍😍😍

[@m0ngie2]

Do you know what brand your new meat chopper is? I have a pampered chef one but the dishwasher never gets it clean, and I like the looks of the end of that one. Would love to buy through an affiliate link. 🙂

[@michellebemis4488]

I love taco johns. I'm from Iowa and I have been eating there for years.

[@madewithlovebymari]

Thank you for the dinner ideas. Not sure why I never make oven fries? Will make fries that way next time.

[@katrinalynn6]

if you have any steak left over cut it thin use a hawaiian roll or some kind of bread little bit of cheese and melt like a grilled cheese

[@sallyyoungsma2432]

I’ll have to try Worcestershire sauce in my shrooms. Sounds really savory & yummy. I’ve always just used soy sauce or broth & garlic powder to bring out the umami flavor. Everything you make looks good. 😊👌 Also, my hubs was asking this week if I could try making wedge salads do maybe the Universe is telling me to get after it. Ha ha Thanks for killin’ it during Vlogust (Vlaugust?)🤘

[@joannaedwards7325]

Hiya Jen great recipes love your videos loving vlogust bless you all xx

[@ValTheMakeUpGal]

PS I love that you BBQ!! My husband won’t let me near the bbq 🤣

[@catherine175]

Love 💕 all you’re video’s 😘

[@HannahMattox]

Turns out it's taco night here at my house, and I'm watching this while making said tacos 😂

[@Jen-Chapin]

Tacos 4 everrrrrrrrr 🌮

[@lifewiththegfam]

Those meatballs look so good!!!! Def gonna try them 😊

[@lavonnep.1412]

Good evening Jen! How are u? Luv the dinners!!!!! Yum!!😍😍😍😍 and I luv cuisinart pans, my mom gave me one (from someone whose house she clns lady didn't want it) I love it!! But would liek a deeper one! Will have to get that one!😍😍😍

[@DioneN]

I love mushrooms, but hate peanut butter and boiled eggs. I’ve also tried to make myself like them but nope, isn’t gonna happen.

[@sandraareias2871]

So excited for vlogust

[@Itsashleyskitchen]

What camera do you use?

[@ShesInLosAngeles]

Love this music!

[@marshakoepp6770]

Loved these meals.

[@keepyourheadup9183]

I’m the same way about mushrooms. Every now and then I try to like them, but I just don’t get any joy from them. They are distracting inside of other dishes.

[@kristenchavez2201]

Looks so delicious 🤤 but I’m so jealous that you are wearing a long sleeve being in AZ right now feels like a oven 110 but yesterday 117 🥵 so awful and super dry

[@jenhoffman3327]

I worked at Taco Johns for 10 years 😬

[@ValTheMakeUpGal]

I love Vlogust 😍

[@DejaGrow]

Is it just me, or does every flavor of Rice-a-Roni tastes the same? From chicken to Mexican to Asian style - it all tastes the same to me. Delish still for sure. Tell me it isn’t just me!