Main Dish Archives - Busy Moms Helper

30+ Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas

August 19, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

In just a couple weeks I’ll have THREE kids in school, which starts at 7:45 am. Yes, that early – insane, right? Not only will I have to get them out of bed, feed them breakfast, get them ready and make sure they don’t forget bags as we rush out the door, there’s lunchboxes to pack. Yikes! Luckily, I can plan ahead with this list of 30+ Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas.

We still do sandwiches in our lunchboxes sometimes, but how can I make my kids do the same stuff all the time if even I get sick of the repetition? That’s why we need some good non-sandwich ideas to get us through the coming school year.

Chicken Salad with Grapes from Add a Pinch

Pizza Bombs from Spend with Pennies

Chef Salad on a Stick by Pocket Change Gourmet

Easy Pasta Salad from Saving Room for Dessert

Apple Zucchini Muffins from Two Peas and Their Pod

Tortilla Hot Dog Wraps from BS in the Kitchen

Crescent Sloppy Joes from Pillsbury

Baked Spaghetti by The Girl Who Ate Everything

Mini Deep Dish Pizzas from Damn Delicious

Mango Chicken Tacos by Busy Mom’s Helper

Chicken Egg Rolls by Life in the Lofthouse

Cream Cheese & Tomato Crescents by Lil’ Luna

Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese by Shugary Sweets

Easy Deviled Eggs by Six Sisters’ Stuff

BLT Pasta Salad by Center Cut Cook

Corn Dog Muffins by The Pioneer Woman

Spiralized Zucchini with Roasted Tomatoes

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes from Crazy for Crust

Ham Fried Rice from The Recipe Critic

Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Parfait by Iowa Girl Eats

Chicken Tostadas by Cooking Classy

Blueberry French Toast Sticks by Busy Mom’s Helper

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pita by The Jenny Evolution

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas by Jo Cooks

Lunch on a Stick by Good Life Eats

Better than Chipotle Steak Burrito Bowls by Gimme Delicious

BBQ Chicken Pockets by King Arthur Flour

Heirloom Tomato Caprese Bruschetta by Busy Mom’s Helper

Broccoli Cheese Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes by Good Life Eats

Baked Garlic Popcorn Chicken by The Cozy Apron

Chicken Apple Wraps by Just a Pinch

Mini Biscuit Pot Pies by Busy Mom’s Helper

Spiralized Zucchini with Roasted Tomatoes

July 1, 2019 by Stephanie Kirkos 6 Comments

Just because a weeknight dinner needs to be quick and simple doesn’t mean it can’t be healthy or packed with flavor. This Spiralized Zucchini with Roasted Tomatoes is ready in under a half hour and more wholesome and healthy than traditional spaghetti and meatballs. Don’t worry, you can still twirl the noodles on your fork!

Hello, everyone! This is Stephanie from Steph in Thyme, and I’m so excited to be here sharing approachable gluten-free recipes with you as a member of the 2015 Busy Mom’s Helper Team!

Given this is my first guest post, I feel compelled to share something very personal. I’m slightly obsessed with my Spiralizer. I received a Spiralizer a year ago as a birthday gift, and it changed the way I eat vegetables. This easy-to-use kitchen tool transforms vegetables – such as zucchini, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beets – into beautiful noodles of various sizes. My vegetable intake has certainly increased thanks to this handy gadget. One of my favorite uses is fresh zucchini noodles in place of pasta, although the possibilities are endless (including hearty casseroles and sandwich wrap filling).

There’s a time for simmering homemade sauce – or gravy, depending on where you stand in the terminology debate. Like, Sunday afternoons…not busy weeknights. This short-cut recipe is one of my favorites, and frankly, I prefer it over the traditional sauce I grew up with (oh boy, hope my mom isn’t reading this). On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss grape tomatoes, thinly sliced shallots, and whole garlic cloves, then generously season with salt and pepper. After 20 minutes in the oven, the tomatoes have blistered and softened, the flavor and sweetness more concentrated.

Then, the fun part. With a fork, smash everything on the baking sheet until it forms a lovely, saucy mess. After the smashing fun, stir everything together until it forms a robust sauce. The final result evokes the essence of summer, when tomatoes are sun ripened and so sweet you could eat them raw and unseasoned. This sauce, with the sweetness of the roasted tomatoes and shallots balanced by the roasted garlic, is one I can eat straight with a fork. I sometimes do, then remember the zucchini noodles (zoodles?).

The zucchini noodles only take 3-5 minutes to cook in a skillet. Faster than pasta! All you really want to do is get the zucchini noodles hot, rather than cooking through, otherwise the noodles turn wet and a bit mushy. I’ve cooked them too long way too many times, which also results in a lot of excess liquid in the pan and on the plate. We cannot have our sauce diluted! The noodles are best al dente style, softened slightly, but still with bite and texture.

Feel free to top the bowl off with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. If it’s not Meatless Monday, it will pair nicely with grilled chicken or shrimp. Hope you enjoy!

Spiralized Zucchini with a Simple Roasted Tomato Sauce l Gluten-Free and Vegetarian l by Steph in Thyme for Busy Mom's Helper

Print Recipe

Spiralized Zucchini with Roasted Tomatoes

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time30 mins

Ingredients

2 pints grape tomatoes rinsed and patted dry
2 large zucchini spiralized
1 large shallot sliced thin
3 cloves garlic peeled and left whole
1 tbsp + 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil divided
Salt and pepper to taste
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Place the grape tomatoes, shallot slices, and whole garlic cloves on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil over top, then season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
Roast the tomatoes, shallots, and garlic cloves for 20 minutes, until the tomatoes blister and start to burst open.
Remove baking sheet from oven. With a fork, smash the ingredients together, including the garlic cloves, on the baking sheet. Stir together and season with 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes, if desired.
Heat remaining 1 tsp olive oil in a medium sized skillet over medium high heat. Add the spiralized zucchini noodles and cook for 3-5 minutes, until noodles are heated through but still have bite and texture (think al dente).
Divide the zucchini into four bowls, and top with the sauce. Garnish with cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.

Easy Potato Soup & Cider Recipe

January 14, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Thank you Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soups for sponsoring this post. Enjoy the flavorful, slow-cooked taste of restaurant-quality soup at home, in minutes.

While I’m grateful to live in a place warmer than Utah now, it’s still been plenty cold here lately with a bit of freezing rain this month. I don’t know about you, but when it gets cold I have even less of a desire to spend forever cooking – but, we still have to eat, right? Luckily we can still make a delicious and comforting (aka: nice and warm!) meal with this Easy Potato Soup & Cider Recipe! with hardly any effort required, you can whip up a family-pleasing dish in practically no time at all, meaning more time you can spend wrapped up in that blanket.

Okay, so maybe us moms don’t ACTUALLY have time to just lounge around wrapped in a blanket – but you know I’m gonna try to stay as comfy and bundled as possible once the temperatures get into the 30’s and 40’s here! That’s one reason this meal is so perfect – the apple cider cooks in your slow cooker a few hours, making the house smell like cinnamon and deliciousness. Meanwhile the Idahoan Steakhouse® Soups cook in just 5 minutes, and are full of flavorful seasonings and rich cheeses – not to mention real Idaho® potatoes – giving you a creamy, hearty flavor with every bite. All you have to do is add water, making it about as easy as a quality meal can be!

Are you in for several weeks of chilly weather in your area? Don’t worry, you can enjoy more than one tasty meal that’s easy to make and brings warming comfort to your family because Idahoan Steakhouse Soups offer a variety of great flavors, such as Loaded Potato (which we enjoyed for this particular dinner), Creamy Potato, Cheddar Broccoli (my favorite!!) and Cheddar Potato. So many options to choose from, but since they’re quick to cook maybe just whip up a variety and let your family test out their favorites!

Apple Cider Recipe

Ingredients

Large Container Apple Juice
3-4 Cinnamon Sticks, plus some for garnish as desired
Caramel Syrup, if desired

Directions

Pour the apple juice into your slow cooker.
Add 3-4 cinnamon sticks.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally to spread the cinnamon flavor throughout.
When serving, add a bit of caramel syrup as desired – enjoy!

When your cider is close to done, grab your flavor choice of Idahoan Steakhouse Soup and follow the directions on the back. For our Loaded Potato, I simply had to boil 4 cups of water (for 1 package), whisk in the contents of the pack, lower heat and simmer (uncovered) for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove it from the heat and let cool about 5 minutes. That’s all it takes, guys!

I’m a huge fan of things that help make our busy lives easier, so of course I not only love the great, slow-cooked, full-of-flavor taste of Idahoan Steakhouse Soups – but also being able to give my family restaurant-quality soup right in our home in just minutes! They really help make comfort easy, despite the chilly temps outside.

What’s your favorite cold-weather drink recipe?

Spicy Thai Chicken Wraps

January 11, 2019 by Danielle 2 Comments

My Hubby is a Google+ addict. Not over-the-top crazy, but it’s the social media he prefers. I’m often found browsing Pinterest and Facebook, he’s on G+. What’s awesome, though, is when he comes across a good idea for a recipe on there, and we can add it to our menu. That’s what happened with these Spicy Thai Chicken Wraps!

I’m so glad he found the inspiration for this recipe because it was totally delish! He’s a spicy-lover, and I’m not…yet it was just the right amount for both of us. Not sure how it worked out that way, but it was perfect! These Thai Chicken Wraps are a great meal, or just serve the chicken alongside some pasta or veggies.

Ingredients – Sauce

8 tbsp. (1 jar) Red Curry Paste (found in the aisle near soy sauce and such)
8 tbsp. Sugar
4 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar (regular Cider Vinegar is fine)
4 tbsp. Tomato Soup
4 tbsp. Water
4 tsp. Sesame Oil
4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1-2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

Ingredients – Other

6 Chicken Breasts, cut into strips
1 cup Tomatoes, diced
1 cup Mozzarella, shredded
Tortillas for Wrap (I used Spinach & Herb Tortillas)
Toppings: Tomatoes, Cheese, Lettuce, etc.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line a large baking pan. Place Chicken strips in pan.
In a medium bowl, mix all of the sauce ingredients well. Pour over chicken in pan.
Sprinkle the Mozzarella and Tomato dices over the top of the chicken. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until cooked through.
Make wrap as desired, and enjoy!

Chocolate Lovers BBQ Sauce

December 8, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FlavorYourWorld #CollectiveBias

As many of you know, there’s a divide in our house when it comes to chocolate – I absolutely love it, hubby doesn’t. So far the kids are on my side, which I’m quite pleased about. As such, sometimes I find fun ways to incorporate that flavor into foods that you wouldn’t normally find it in, such as the Chocolate Lovers BBQ Sauce I tried the other day! Not only does it have incredible flavor, but also just a hint of chocolate goodness that really makes it special. It works amazing as a marinade for chicken, a dip, or even as a sauce to put on your burgers. You’ve got to give this unique and tasty recipe a try!

The secret to making this chocolate BBQ sauce work so well is the TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce, which really enhances the flavors with overpowering them. Being a family who has varying tastes, TABASCO® Sauce is one of the best ingredients to stock up in your kitchen (and when you run low, just restock on your next trip to Walmart!) because it’s perfect as not just an ingredient, but also as a condiment that lets each person personalize our food how we like best. Since it’s found anywhere in the world (it’s TABASCO® Brand’s 150th anniversary, so they’ve been around quite a while), you can use it to add or enhance flavor to practically any type of cuisine! So whether you’re whipping up this tasty BBQ sauce or preparing another dish, TABASCO® Brand’s variety of flavors has a bit of something for everyone. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Ibotta offer to save $1 off of 5 oz. or larger TABASCO® Brand Sauce in any flavor now through 12/31/18!

The reason I chose TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce as the perfect flavor for our chocolate BBQ sauce is that the flavor of smoke-dried jalapeno peppers brings a rich balance of smoke and heat to the sauce. It really pairs well with any type of protein dish, but I think it’s particular excellent for chicken. You can use this sauce flavor for plenty of marinade recipes, or as a condiment over prepared meats. Another great trick – combine it with pineapple for a sweet-savory dish!

This dish is super easy to make, just mixing some ingredients over the stove, letting them simmer to really bring out the flavor, then adding the melted chocolate. Love it!

Ingredients

1 can (15 oz) Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup Water
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 tbsp. Onion Powder
1-2 tbsp. TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce
1 tbsp. Cinnamon
1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips

Directions

In a saucepan, mix all of the ingredients except the chocolate chips over medium-low heat. Once it begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes.
When almost done, melt the chocolate chips carefully, then stir into the sauce mixture until smooth.
Enjoy as a marinade, dipping sauce or even a sauce for your burgers!

What could be really fun is to try it with other TABASCO® Brand Sauces, such as their original TABASCO® Brand Pepper Sauce (hubby’s personal favorite), or the milder TABASCO® Green Jalapeño Sauce. Then we could see how the flavors in this chocolate BBQ sauce are changed – maybe making your next favorite dip to serve on game day!

The possibilities are practically endless when you have incredible, flavor-enhancing sauces to help you out! Just don’t tell anyone your secret ingredient, so you can stay the hero chef at your next party 😉

Which TABASCO® Brand Sauce is your favorite?

Perfect Grilled BLT

November 29, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EasySqueezy #CollectiveBias

I can’t remember the first time I had a BLT sandwich, I just always remember loving them. The crunch of the bacon, the juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce – and it’s always made better with some turkey slices. I’ve since learned to up my sandwich-making game by trying new sauces, and finding a way to make the Perfect Grilled BLT. Not only is this toasted just right, it also has a delicious basil mayo sauce that really completes this classic lunch recipe!

First, let me tell you our secret to getting a perfectly toasted sandwich Every. Single. Time. The trick – adding some NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread onto the outsides before placing on the heated grill! This is super easy to spread on, in a convenient, easy to squeeze bottle which means less mess to deal with. I wasn’t sure this would really make much of a difference at first, but after using it OH MY GOSH – I love it, and now keep some constantly handy in my fridge – kind of like having squeezable convenience right at my fingertips in the fridge! Stock up on this fabulous NEW product, made with real butter, during your next trip to your local Kroger store. Because we could all use a little something extra special, you can even Save $0.75 off ONE (1) Land O’Lakes Soft Squeeze® Spread with their current promotion – score!

It’s awesome to be able to save money – and also to enjoy a super delicious and easy to make BLT sandwich! Now that we don’t have to deal with crumbs or mess while making out meal, thanks to NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread, we can really focus on just making it and enjoying EATING it.

Ingredients

Slices of Bread
Bacon
Lettuce – washed & cut into strips
Tomatoes – washed & sliced
Turkey Deli Meat
NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread
1 cup Mayo of Choice
1-2 tbsp. Basil
1 tsp. Garlic Powder

Directions

First, use a bit of NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread to grease a skillet for your bacon. Grill it crispy, then set aside.
Whip the mayo, basil and garlic powder until creamy.
Gather the ingredients, then build your sandwich – spread some of the basil mayo onto the inside of each bread slice, then add your desired amount of turkey, lettuce, tomatoes and bacon.
Spread some easy-to-squeeze NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread onto the outside slices of bread, then grill your sandwich over medium-low heat until perfectly toasted.
Serve warm – ENJOY!

What creative ways would YOU use NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread in your cooking or baking?

Make sure you eat, Mom!

September 24, 2018 by Danielle

This post is sponsored by Tai Pei Food. All opinions are mine alone.

How many of you forget to eat sometimes? I miss meals quite often, unfortunately, and it’s not because I’m not hungry (anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE food), but I simply forget to feed myself. I use to think I was losing my mind, but after talking with several other parents – especially moms – out there, I realized that my problem was actually quite common. We’re so focused on taking care of the kids and everything, that we tend to put ourselves last. Sometimes this results in running out of time for our own things – like eating. Luckily there’s things we can do to make sure we’re prepared with a backup plan for those moments we just don’t have much time to spend on our own hunger, like with these easy meals for moms. Because unlike we do for the kids, there’s nobody telling us ‘Make sure you eat, Mom!‘

First of all, don’t plan something that requires a bunch of preparation or cooking time if you aren’t REALLY going to get that time. Be realistic, mommas! I’ve found that having a variety of Tai Pei entrées available in my freezer really helped out. Not only can you spend less money, but you wait less for a meal that has healthy, filling ingredients – plus it’s ready in just minutes, making them super easy meals for moms.

During that stressful noon hour of feeding the kids, doing dishes, probably tackling a load or ten of laundry, just pull out one of Tai Pei’s delicious offerings (like hubby’s favorite General Tso’s Spicy Chicken, or my top pick Sweet & Sour Chicken) that include REAL ingredients and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Pop it in the microwave for the time it says on the new perfect-portion-sized packaging – maybe tackle a few of your other tasks while it cooks – then enjoy a hot, delicious meal full of Asian flavors with hardly any time or effort at all.

Another trick to make sure I don’t end up a hangry mom by mid-afternoon? I pop my Tai Pei entrée of choice-for-the-day into the microwave while I start prepping my kids’ meals. Right about the time I’m serving them their food, mine’s ready to go, as well. A bonus is that I then can sit WITH my kids and we can eat together. This way everyone can get fed and happy all at once, plus you’re having some quality time together. Now THAT’S multitasking 🙂

Guess what? These easy meals for moms are also enjoyed by the entire family, so you can cook some for the whole crew and have lunch or dinner done in a breeze! That’s a definite lifesaver on those crazy weeknights when you just don’t have time (or let’s be honest – energy) to spend forever on a meal.

Easy meals for moms can be for breakfast, too – check this recipe out!

Easy Chicken Fried Rice with Egg – 2 Servings

Ingredients

1 Package of Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice
1-2 Large Eggs

Directions

Cook Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice per package directions. Set aside.
Heat skillet with oil and fry one or two eggs until whites are set and yolk is still runny.
Transfer fried rice on a plate and top with fried eggs. Enjoy!

Learn more about Tai Pei entrees & where to buy them at www.taipeifood.com/dragon or www.taipeifood.com/find-tai-pei

Busy Weeknight Dinner Ideas

September 14, 2018 by Danielle

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of RAGÚ®. All opinions are my own.

Not to say that summers aren’t also crazy, but once school’s back in session it seems like weeknights get even busier. Between picking up the kids, homework, karate or dance (or whatever activity is that evening), it can be a real challenge to get a delicious, quality meal on the table for the family. That’s why I love keeping a list of tasty, family-friendly Busy Weeknight Dinner Ideas handy – just like this cheesy chicken pasta recipe!

My favorite trick for whipping up a tasty meal that the whole family will love is using New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces, because not only is it made with 100% Olive Oil and contains no added sugar (so I can feel good about serving it to my family), but it also has an incredible flavor.

For this recipe I used the NEW RAGÚ® Simply Chunky Marinara Pasta Sauce, with plump tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices bringing great flavor to every bit – proving that simple recipes can bring tons of flavor. That means less time in the kitchen, prepping fewer items to add in to your recipes, still with a delicious taste for your family meal.

Ingredients

1 box pasta of choice
1 jar New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces
1-2 cups Shredded Cheese (I did a Mexican Style blend)
1-2 cups Tomatoes, diced
2-3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and diced

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook the tomatoes over medium-high heat in a large skillet until softened, then add in the chicken and mix well. Put to lowest heat.
Once the pasta is done, add to the skillet and mix in the New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces until everything is covered. Add in the cheese and mix until it’s melted and gooey.
Serve with a little more cheese sprinkled on top, and enjoy!

See, it’s just that easy to serve your family an amazing meal with very little time spent in the kitchen! And with New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces, you can whip up dishes like Quinoa Penne with Savory Tomato-Basil Sauce, or even a Cauliflower Crust Mix & Match Pizza. The possibilities are nearly endless with RAGÚ pasta sauce!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What’s YOUR favorite recipe to use RAGÚ® Sauce in?

Grilled Pork with Tinfoil Fried Rice

July 9, 2018 by Danielle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RealFlavorRealFast #CollectiveBias

Hubby is absolutely LOVING his grill from father’s day, and will use about any excuse to heat it up for cooking. When I told him I bought a delicious marinated pork loin, there was no doubt in my mind that he’d want to grill it – and I was right! For a little extra fun for our meal, we wanted to do a more unique side dish – fried rice, but on the grill. It turned out amazing, and was super easy to make. So break out your own grill and enjoy this tasty Grilled Pork with Tinfoil Fried Rice!

Several years ago I shared hubby’s favorite marinated pork loin – we all loved the incredible flavor and the ease of cooking (because we’re all about easy meals here!), so when I saw the Smithfield Roasted Garlic & Cracked Black Pepper Fresh Pork Tenderloin while I was placing my Walmart grocery pick-up order, I knew that it would be a hit. I made sure to get enough of the pork loin, then also the ingredients I’d need for the tinfoil fried rice side dish, as well. The next day, I picked up my order quickly – gotta love saving time on errands, right?! If you haven’t tried Walmart’s grocery pick-up service, I highly encourage you to give it a try and see how it works for yourself.

One of the reasons we all (especially hubby) love Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork is because it provides real fresh, real flavor, real fast – providing real solutions for real life. It’s 100% fresh pork, so you can have a delicious, hassle-free meal in no time! It’s perfectly marinated and seasoned, making it great for any night of the week. I love the flexibility – try it grilled, roasted, sauteed or even slow-cooked. Try it YOUR way, and I’m sure you’ll love it!

Ingredients

1 1/3 cup Instant Rice
1/2 cup Water
1/2 cup Vegetable Broth
1 cup Vegetables of Choice, diced
1/4 cup Onion
Garlic Powder, to taste
Black Pepper, to taste
6 Sheets of Tinfoil (roughly 12″ squared)
Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork

Directions

In a bowl, combine the rice, water, broth, vegetables, and onion until well-mixed. Allow to sit just a few minutes to start absorbing the liquid.
Divide the mixture (use a ladle or similar so you also scoop the liquid) between the 6 sheets of tinfoil. Season with garlic powder and pepper to taste.
Fold two sides of foil together twice, making sure it’s secure. Fold over and roll up the other two ends.
Heat grill to medium heat, about 350-400 degrees F. Remove the pork loin from the packaging. Spray or rub your grill with olive oil (to prevent burning and sticking), then place the pork onto the grill and cook carefully – turning often to avoid burning. Cook the pork, covered, about 20-30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F.
After the pork has been cooking about 5 minutes, place the tinfoil packets on the grill and cook, covered, about 15-20 minutes, or until rice is soft.
After done, CAREFULLY open the tinfoil packets (away from grill) – the steam will be extremely hot, so use caution. Fluff with a fork and transfer to plates.
Cut the pork loin into strips or cubes (your choice!) and serve on top of the fried rice.

That’s all it takes – it’s super quick to make, and the flavor is AMAZING!

The whole family loved the grilled pork – full of flavor and very tender. The rice was super fun, because how often can you say you cooked rice on a grill? Something more unique for your summer BBQs!

Want even more fun? Be sure to check out the Hero of the Grill Contest & Sweepstakes at SmithfieldGetGrilling.com where you can share & nominate who inspired YOU to get grilling for a chance for your hero to win $5,000! Not to mention, you can enjoy great grilling content and enter for a chance to win prizes DAILY.

What would you serve Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork with?

One Pot Cooking: a Busy Mom’s Best Friend!

April 25, 2018 by Danielle

Thank you to Craftsy for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone.

We all know that life’s full of to-dos, especially for us parents. Luckily, having a healthy, delicious & EASY meal for our family is possible with One Pot Cooking (it’s a busy mom’s best friend!). And if you’re not quite sure how to get started with this amazing life hack for cooking, be sure to check out Chef Ryan Scott’s 10-part series to get you all set to make one pot cooking a helpful part of your life!

It’s absolutely no secret that I completely LOVE one pot meals – whether it’s my slow cooker, pot or sheet pan – because it’s often the only way my family will get a full meal that’s tasty and healthy with my crazy schedule. As I write this, I can smell the amazing seasoned pork with potatoes I have cooking in my slow cooker right on the counter in our hotel room, and am grateful for such a great invention 🙂

Some of us have been relying on one pot cooking for years and consider ourselves pros (for the record, I’m definitely not a pro yet!), while others aren’t quite sure how to make anything really great without some guidance. If you’re in the latter group, you’ll be thrilled to hear that Craftsy and TODAY Food have launched a new digital cooking series called “One Pot Cooking” featuring Ryan Scott, an Emmy-award winning chef, as well as NBC News weather anchor Dylan Dreyer. This online class is a LIFESAVER for us busy moms!

What is this “One Pot Cooking” series, you ask?

It’s a 10-part series (online, making it super convenient) that offers a fresh perspective to making healthy and delicious one pot meals. That means ONE cooking piece – from slow cooker (my personal fav), to frying pan, to sheet pan and more. This is great, because it means you don’t get stuck with ONE style or way to do things!

Check out the trailer to see some of the tastiness in store:

Don’t you think chef Ryan Scott and Dylan are super fun?! And did you notice – it’s not JUST great dinners like lasagna or salmon, but there was also dessert (pineapple upside-down cake, anyone?) and I even saw what appears to be a french toast with fresh fruit. Yum!

I’m eager to check out “One Pot Cooking” and really take my easy meals to a whole new level! If you’re wanting to get a ‘taste’ for it, too, it’s available on Craftsy for a one-time fee of just $40 (for the whole 10-part series!).

Or if you’re a foodie who wants even more, you can sign up for Craftsy Unlimited, Craftsy’s video subscription service, and get a free trial of “One Pot Cooking” as well as unlimited PREMIUM access to thousands of hours of exclusive video tutorials and classes – and it’s just $14.99/month or $120 for an annual subscription (that comes out to just $10/month – wow!)

You can find more details on Craftsy.com and be sure to enjoy all the deliciousness and fun they have to offer!

Check out these other tips that chef Ryan Scott has for busy moms!

Q: What are your top five tips for moms on-the-go who want to make creative weeknight meals?

Have fun
Be creative!
Know how to use your kitchen staples
Utilize leftovers
Make sauces in batches that are universal and delicious

What are three kitchen must-haves for easy to make recipes?

Slow cookers are great
One pan meals are my favorite you. There are many vessels that can be used as your “one pan” from cast iron skillets, to roasting pans, to sheet pans, they all work for different uses!
A well stocked pantry is essential to making easy recipes. Use ingredients that are versatile and shelf friendly.

What can viewers expect from your “One-Pot Cooking” class on Craftsy?

My crash course on how to make the easiest MEALS. Yes full meals!

Can one-pot cooking also be healthy? If so, how?

Absolutely! I find people only consider one-pot meals as crock pots or slow cookers which is not true. A one pot meal is simply using one vessel to cook your food. Use good nutritional ingredients and don’t go crazy with unhealthy ingredients.

What’s YOUR favorite one pot recipe?

17 Italian Slow Cooker Recipes

March 20, 2018 by Danielle

I absolutely LOVE Italian food – it’s one of my favorites! Being able to whip a great meal in the crockpot is also a love of mine, so this list of 17 Italian Slow Cooker Recipes is the best of all worlds! From cheesy pastas, to creamy soups and more, you’re bound to find the ideal busy weeknight meal to please your whole crew.

I can’t wait to try these, especially the beef sandwiches or the broccoli ranch chicken – they sounds super tasty! Take a look through and pick one of these easy, slow cooker recipes to whip up for your family on those nights when life’s just a little too busy (isn’t that almost EVERY night?) 🙂

1. Italian Chicken with Tomatoes
2. Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage
3. Zesty Italian Shredded Chicken
4. Italian Pork Roast
5. Zuppa Toscana
6. Chicken Stroganoff
7. Italian Turkey Stew
8. Italian Beef Sandwiches
9. Italian Chicken and Broccoli Rabe Chili
10. Italian Sausage Wedding Soup
11. Italian Beef
12. Italian Two Bean Chili Soup
13. Broccoli Ranch Chicken
14. Cheesy Crockpot Tortellini
15. Italian-Seasoned Potatoes
16. Italian Swiss Steak
17. Italian Chicken

Which Italian slow cooker recipe do you want to try first?

20 Warm & Comforting Lasagna Recipes

January 12, 2018 by Danielle

I know that other states are MUCH colder than here in Texas – I mean, I grew up in northern Utah until I was about 27, so I KNOW how freezing it can be! But having now lived in Texas for five years, it feels super cold to me and while I try not to complain, it really sucks. To kind of help make the most of this weather, I’ve been cooking up more hot meals that we all enjoy, like lasagna! If you’re feeling the same way, give one of these 20 Warm & Comforting Lasagna Recipes a try, and hopefully make the colder weather not quite so miserable.

There’s a variety of delicious and easy lasagna recipes to choose from, like roll ups, or in the slow cooker – some with chicken or vegetables, others more classic. Whatever your preference, here’s hoping to a warm and enjoyable family dinner!

Lazy Crock Pot Lasagna (ravioli) from spendwithpennies.com
Easy One Pot Lasagna from damndelicious.net
Quick Lasagna Soup from busymomshelper.com

Easiest Lasagna Ever from damndelicious.net
Pesto Lasagna Roll Ups Recipe from twopeasandtheirpod.com
Creamy Tomato Lasagna Florentine from pinchofyum.com
Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats from pinchofyum.com
Extra Cheesy Classic Homemade Lasagna from halfbakedharvest.com
Healthy Recipes: Zucchini Lasagna from thirtyhandmadedays.com
Quick And Simple Springtime Skillet Lasagna With A Mediterranean Kick. from halfbakedharvest.com
Polenta Lasagna from weelicious.com
Mini Lasagna Cups from damndelicious.net
3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Lasagna from slowcookergourmet.net
Rosemary Chicken Lasagna from feastingathome.com
Spinach Artichoke Lasagna Roll Ups from twopeasandtheirpod.com
Caprese Lasagna from busymomshelper.com
4-Ingredient Ravioli Lasagna from twopeasandtheirpod.com
Creamy Chicken Florentine Lasagna from thecozyapron.com
Chicken Lasagna Alla Bolognese from jocooks.com
Sweet Potato Mexican Lasagna With Tortillas from veggiebalance.com
Naked Spinach Quinoa Lasagna Casserole from fitfoodiefinds.com
Puerto Rican Lasagna (pastelón) from kitchengidget.com