Main Dish Archives - Page 2 of 11

23 Delicious & Nutritious Smoothie Bowl Recipes

May 5, 2017 by Christina Leaman Leave a Comment

I absolutely LOVE a good smoothie bowl recipe. I remember the first time I ever tried one – at a hotel in Beverly Hills on a press trip, and their Acai version sounded completely delicious for breakfast – and it was! Ever since I’ve enjoyed all sorts of smoothie bowl recipes, and here’s 23 Delicious & Nutritious Smoothie Bowl Recipes to add to the list!

I thought this would be a little change from the healthier chocolate smoothie bowl recipes I shared before, and give you even more choices for a tasty breakfast, snack or heck – even a dessert! Anytime is a good time for a smoothie bowl, so pick one to try and enjoy!

20 Creative Snack Ideas with Fruit

May 1, 2017 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Do you have picky eaters in your home? My kids do fairly well – but they’re still kids so of course there’s plenty of delish food that they just refuse to eat. I think it’s a trial all parents must go through – getting our children to eat a variety of foods, and hopefully some healthy ones like fruit! To help you with your battle, here’s 20 Creative Snack Ideas with Fruit – make mealtime or snacktime fun again with these clever fruity creations!

Aren’t some of these absolutely GENIUS! The berry ladybugs are totally adorable, and I personally would love to try the frozen rainbow fruit kabobs. These creative snack ideas will have your kids EXCITED for a healthy fruit snack – and leave you without an extra battle to deal with 🙂

1. Fruity Surprise Ice Lollies
2. Fruit Sushi
3. Fruit Sculpture
4. Strawberry Ladybugs
5. Fun Fruit Creations For Kids
6. Fruit Monsters
7. Rainbow Fruit Pizza
8. Fun Kids Party Treats
9. Fresh Fruit Tray
10. Beach Ball Fruit Pizza
11. Thanksgiving Fruit Turkey
12. Green Monster Fruit Pops
13. Individual Snack Portions of Mixed Fruit
14. Silly Apple Monster Bites
15. Frozen Rainbow Fruit Kebabs
16. Melon Carving For A Baby Shower
17. Apple Peanut Butter Teeth
18. Monster Apples
19. Strawberry Kiwi Icepops
20. Summer Fruit Kebabs

Which creative snack idea is YOUR favorite?

Kale Stir Fry Recipe

April 25, 2017 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Another holiday has come and gone and while it’s nice to indulge a bit (can you say chocolate bunnies?), I always feel so ready to eat a little healthier after all that comfort food, and this Kale Stir Fry recipe is perfect for a healthy snack or side dish!

If you’ve never made stir fry at home, let me tell you just how simple and delicious it is. Did you know they even make stir fry veggie kits in the freezer section of your grocery store? It couldn’t be more simple to put together a healthy meal for your family, or even a quick and easy lunch for just you!

I love this version because it’s full of yummy green veggies, bright citrus and a flavorful cheese – feta! Scroll down for the recipe.

Kale Stir Fry

Ingredients:

1 Medium Sliced Zucchini
6 Cups Kale Chopped
½ Cup Quinoa
1 Onion Chopped
½ Cup Feta Crumbles
2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
½ Teaspoon Olive Oil
½ Cup Water
½ Teaspoon Garlic Salt

Directions:

Follow directions of making quinoa.
Set quinoa aside.
On medium heat in a large pan add olive oil.
Add onion and zucchini and allow to cook until tender.
Add garlic salt.
Add kale and water.
Allow to steam for 5-10 minutes until kale is tender.
Add quinoa.
Toss ingredients.
Top with Feta and lemon juice.

Have you ever tried making stir fry at home?

Pesto Pasta with Grape Tomatoes & Chickpeas

March 24, 2017 by Danielle

Who’s ready for a delicious, easy dinner recipe that’ll please their whole family? I love that this is ‘simple’ enough that even the kids will be asking for more, but unique enough that it’s a refreshing change from the normal weeknight meal. Or am I the only one who gets sick of the same pasta and marinara sauce so often? Anywho, this Pesto Pasta with Grape Tomatoes & Chickpeas is such a fresh, filling meal that everyone will enjoy.

Doesn’t it look AMAZING?! I’m a huge fan of grape tomatoes, so when they can be served in a dish alongside pasta (another fave of mine), with the complimentary great taste of the pesto and chickpeas, I’m in dinnertime heaven!

Note: serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 (12 oz.) packet of Spaghetti
1 (15 oz.) can of Chickpea/Garbanzo Beans, drained and rinsed
1 (10 oz.) box of Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, halved
1 cup of Basil Pesto (store-bought or homemade)
2 to 3 fat cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
Fresh Basil or Italian flat leaf parsley to garnish
Grated parmesan to serve

Instructions

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for 9 minutes or according to package instruction. Drain and keep aside. Reserve about half a cup of the cooking water.
Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and let it sizzle for a few seconds. Add the drained chickpeas and sauté it for a couple of minutes, or till it is slightly golden.
Next add the halved grape or cherry tomatoes and cook for couple more minutes, or until the juices release. Add the spaghetti and give it a good toss. Take it off the flame.
Add the pesto and toss well to coat each strand. If needed add a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water to coat the pasta. Snip in some fresh Italian parsley for freshness.
Divide the pasta between 4 to 6 serving bowls. Garnish with grated parmesan and enjoy!

Note: Pesto tends to turn brown when exposed to heat, so before adding the pesto, take the pasta off the heat.

Sticky Finger Casserole

November 15, 2016 by Danielle

When we first started dating, my hubby was definitely the main cook in the relationship. One of the dishes he LOVED to make included an amazing, spicy-yet-sweet sauce for chicken, that we’ve since included in many different recipes. We decided to put it to the test with this Sticky Finger Casserole, and it was a huge hit! This easy recipe is super delicious, and would be perfect for a party or get-together.

One variation we did was the Spicy Jerk Chicken recipe we shared a couple years ago. It’s amazing, especially served with rice. For this one, we wanted to try it with pasta instead – and loved the combination of the spicy sauce, chicken, pasta and Alfredo! Now this has us thinking of plenty more recipes we can switch it up with 🙂

Ingredients

1 Box Penne Pasta
16 oz. Alfredo Sauce
3/4 – 1 cup Green Onions, diced
1 cup Tomatoes, diced
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded – plus some for topping
6 Medium-Sized Chicken Tenders, breaded
1 Jar (23 oz.) Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
3 cups Brown Sugar, packed

Note: if your chicken tenders aren’t already breaded, just dip them in some eggs, then flour to coat and bake as directed.

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, bake the chicken tenders on a sprayed baking sheet until cooked through (about 30 minutes at 375 Degrees F.)
In a large bowl, combine the pasta, Alfredo, green onions, tomatoes and 1 cup cheese until well-mixed. Spread into a sprayed 9×13 baking dish. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. In a saucepan, heat the hot sauce and brown sugar, stirring often, over medium-high heat until sugar is fully dissolved. Using tongs, dip the chicken tenders in the sauce to coat well, allow to drip a moment, then place chicken on top of casserole. Repeat with all tenders.
Sprinkle some more cheese over top, then place in oven and cook just until cheese is melted and casserole is warm throughout – about 15-30 minutes, depending on how freshly done the pasta and chicken was. Serve with more hot sauce mixture, if desiring more spicy!

Cheesy Sausage Pasta Casserole

October 27, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Barilla® and Johnsonville®. The opinions and texts are all mine.

Let’s be honest – whether you love cooking or not, none of us have a ton of time to spend on dinner. Between homework, soccer games, and other appointments, there’s only so much we can do – but we still want a delicious, hot meal ready for our family. I’m so glad I have some amazing go-to recipes that don’t take a ton of work, and also don’t break the bank. This Cheesy Sausage Pasta Casserole is a big winner with our family!

You can whip up this tasty dish for less than $10, and easily grab all the ingredients you need at your local Kroger store. The main stars of this particular recipes are the Barilla Pasta (look for the Barilla Blue Box), Italy’s #1 brand of pasta, and the Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage (ground). You CAN use the sausage links instead, but it works best with the ground so you can have some in every bite of the casserole.

The Barilla pasta makes the perfect Al Dente texture, making dinner not only quick and easy, but versatile! We moms can sure appreciate versatility, right? The Johnsonville Sausage is convenient and full of flavor – the spices are built in, making recipe prep super simple. Since we want to provide the best for our families, we can definitely appreciate that they’re packed with protein, and a great flavor ‘swap’ for ground beef and/or ground turkey.

Makes One 9×13 Casserole

Ingredients

1 box Barilla Blue Box Pasta – Penne, Rotini or similar
8 oz. Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage Ground
2 tbsp. Olive or Vegetable Oil
16-20 oz. Barilla Pasta Sauce of choice
2 tbsp. Basil, ground (plus some for topping)
1 cup Tomatoes, diced
1 1/2 tbsp. Minced Garlic
1 cup Cheese, shredded (combo of Romano, Asiago & Parmesan, as desired)
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, for topping
Salt, to taste

Note: The Johnsonville Sausage comes in a 16 oz. pack, so you can make a double batch and freeze the extra casserole for later!

Directions

Bake Barilla Pasta according to package directions, to al dente. Meanwhile, heat the olive/vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the Johnsonville Sausage until cooked through, stirring often to prevent burning.
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line a 9×13 baking dish (or two if you’re doubling the recipe), set aside.
When the sausage is done, add the diced tomatoes and minced garlic to the skillet and continue cooking, still stirring often, about 2 minutes or until fragrant.
In a large bowl, stir the Barilla Pasta Sauce with the basil. Add a little salt, to taste. Mix in the shredded cheese trio (the Asiago, Romano and Parmesan combo) until well-combined.
Add the pasta and sausage mixture to the bowl and stir until everything is well-mixed. Spread into the prepared baking dish. Top with shredded mozzarella and a bit more basil for garnish. Cook, uncovered, about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted. Serve and enjoy!

You’ll love the cheesy, meaty flavor in this pasta casserole – plus it makes putting a crowd-pleasing dinner on the table a breeze! Swing by Kroger and grab your ingredients, then get cooking for a delicious meal your whole family will love!

Homemade Chicken Ranch Pizza

October 25, 2016 by Danielle

I’m a huge fan of homemade pizza – well, all pizza really – but homemade pizza gives us a lot more control to customize it however we want! More tomatoes? No problem. A few slices without onions because the kids don’t like them? Sure thing. This Homemade Chicken Ranch Pizza is a perfect combo of tasty garlic, rich ranch and juicy tomatoes – it’ll please the whole family!

I’ve mentioned a few times before, but I grew up in a pizza restaurant – my parents owned Pony Express Pizza growing up, so many days were spent there while they made pizza dough, cut toppings, spread sauces and more. I love it! It also gave me a love for REALLY GREAT pizza – this one’s a definite winner!

Ingredients – Pizza

1 Large Pizza Crust, uncooked (recipe here)
2 Cups Mozzarella, Romano, Asiago and Parmesan Mix
1 cup Chicken, cooked & shredded or diced
1-2 cups Tomatoes, diced

Ingredients – Sauce

2 tbsp. Sour Cream
3 tbsp. Mayo
2 tbsp. Milk
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Dill Weed
1/2 tsp. Parsley
1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
1 tsp. Garlic, minced

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 Degrees F. Spread some Cornmeal on your pizza pan, then place your rolled out pizza dough on the pan. Spread a little bit of olive or vegetable oil along the edges of the crust, to avoid burning.
For the sauce, mix all of the ingredients well. Spread on pizza, not quite to the edges.
Top with 1 1/2 cups of the cheese mixture, then the chicken and tomatoes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. If desired, add some crumbled bacon!
Bake for 18-25 minutes, or until crust is fully cooked and not doughy, cheese is melted and edges are started to lightly brown. Remove and cool slightly before cutting and serving.

What’s YOUR favorite type of pizza?

Copycat Disneyland Monte Cristo Sandwich

October 24, 2016 by Danielle

In preparations for my awesome Walt Disney World trip, I couldn’t help but look back at all the great times I’ve spent at it’s sister, Disneyland. The rides are exciting, the characters hilarious and fun, and the whole atmosphere makes it a truly magical vacation. The FOOD is another thing that I can’t help but get really hyped about and remember – like the famous Disneyland Monte Cristo Sandwich! This copycat version is much easier to make at home that you’d think, and maybe it’ll help tide over the cravings until the next big Disney vacation.

Contains affiliate links that help support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure.

Now, don’t worry if you don’t have a deep fryer – I just used a pot and tongs. Yes, tongs are your best friend with this recipe if you want to avoid getting burned! Just use common sense and be careful, especially if pets or children are anywhere nearby. If you’ve never tried a Disneyland Monte Cristo before – it’s such an interesting blend of a typical sandwich, fried outside, then served with powdered sugar and jam. I know, sounds weird, right? Just trust me – and the countless other people who rave about it – that it’s a must-try recipe!

Ingredients – 2 Sandwiches

6 Slices Bread
2 Slices Swiss Cheese
2 Slices Provolone Cheese
2-4 Slices Sliced Deli Ham
2-4 Slices Sliced Deli Turkey

Ingredients – Batter

2 Eggs
1 cup Water
1 cup Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tbsp. Sugar

Also: Vegetable or Olive Oil (for frying), Powdered Sugar (for sprinkling) and Raspberry Jam served on the side

Directions

Make your 2 sandwiches. It goes: slice bread, slice swiss, slice turkey, slice bread, slice ham, slice provolone, slice bread. Repeat with second sandwich. Press down to flatten each of them. Cut in half diagonally.
Heat the oil in either your deep fryer or a pot. Make sure it’s deep enough it’ll cook up the sides of each sandwich, too.
Mix the batter ingredients until smooth. Dip each sandwich half into the batter, flipping so all sides are coated. Use tongs/etc. to place in hot oil and cook about 2-3 minutes each side, or until a golden brown. Remove and cool slightly.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with raspberry jam. They’re best warm.

Now you can whip up these delicious Disneyland favorites in your own home! And when you DO want to make another visit to Disney, be sure to check here for the best prices. Use Promo: BMHDisney for $10 off your vacation package!

Meal Plan on a Budget: Feed Your Family for Less than $5 Per Person a Day!

September 8, 2016 by Danielle

Nobody wants to spend a ton of time or money at the grocery store, right? Yet it can be frustrating each week creating a meal plan! Now we’ve got you covered with the Meal Plan on a Budget: Feed Your Family for Less than $5 Per Person a Day! A Full 52 weeks of meal plans WITH recipes on a budget!

Contains affiliate links that help support this blog at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure for more info.

PDF: $8 – that’s less than $1/month for a complete meal plan!

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That’s right, a WHOLE YEAR of weekly meal plans right at your fingertips, with all the recipes! Talk about easy, right? The weekly plans average to less than $5 per person per day – well, technically under $4 per person per day, but that leaves you room for buying snacks, drinks, desserts, etc.

The meal plans rotate, so you get a large variety of meals and it doesn’t get repetitive. No, you won’t be having steak for dinner every single night, but you won’t be eating ramen noodles every week, either. It’s all about balance – and that’s where this is super helpful! The work is already done for you, so you just need to make your shopping list, get the supplies, and create the tasty recipes according to the plan.

Available here as a PDF Download – only $8

Also Available here on Amazon as a printed book

This is designed for 8.5×11, so the text and photos are beautiful and large. The printed book has a shiny soft-cover, perfect binding. Nab your copy from Amazon or a PDF download today!

This is included in our Busy Mom Bundle, along with other fabulous printable packs!

Note: prices were based on averaging a few regular grocery stores, without coupons or big sales. Your price may vary on store, season, and preferences (generic vs. brand name, organic, gluten-free, etc.) This is not nutritional or allergy advice. Use your own best judgement when feeding your family.

Check out our other products HERE

Family Home Binder

Unofficial Disney Activity & Autograph Books

2018 Planner & Calendar

Summer Camp Kits or Kid Activity Packs

Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette Kabobs

July 25, 2016 by Danielle

There’s quite a few things that make me think ‘summer’, and one delicious thing on that list is kabobs. Seriously, I LOVE a good kabob! Variety, grilling, and a great fun way to let the kids ‘help’ make their own dinner. Win! I especially love it when I find a delicious marinade for them, and today I’m sharing my absolute favorite: Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette Kabobs!

We don’t have a normal grill. I know, that’s insane, but we don’t. We do have a little countertop electric grill I got Hubby our first Christmas together (and it still works…amazing!), so that’s what we use for now. It’s just not the same, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that by next summer we can be enjoying a REAL grill for delicious foods like this!

The marinade on these kabobs is super easy (add ingredients and blend….can’t get much easier than that!) and is so delicious! You can even use it for a yummy salad dressing, if you want. These kabobs become so juicy and full of flavor when you add the Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette, you’ll be making them again and again!

Ingredients – Marinade

1-2 cups Sundried Tomatoes
1/4 cup Red Win Vinegar
1 tbsp. Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tbsp. Basil
1/2 cup Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper, to taste

Directions – Marinade

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and mix until it’s well combined.
Ya, it’s that easy!

For Kabobs

Choose your items you want for your kabobs. Some ideas may be: Chicken or beef, peppers (green, yellow, red, orange), mushrooms, pineapple, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, onions, etc. Get creative and mix it up!
Use a basting brush to spread the Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette all over your food on the kabobs (or before putting them on, doesn’t really matter). Grill (or bake at 350 Degrees F) until meat is fully cooked through.
Enjoy this lick-your-fingers-good meal!!!

One-Pot Spicy Noodle Soup

July 22, 2016 by Danielle

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

School starts next month – NEXT MONTH guys! While this summer’s been full of plenty of fun, family visits and outings, and lots of playtime with the kiddos, I’m still in shock that soon we’ll be waking up early (well, earlier), hurrying to pack lunches and race kids out the door. Then afterwards it’s homework, maybe sports or dance lessons and hoping we have time to fix a quality meal for everyone. Crazy, right?! Luckily there’s some quick dinner recipes you can rely on, like this One-Pot Spicy Noodle Soup – it’s not only fast with minimal dishes, but it’s bursting with delicious flavor!

The key to this is using ingredients that are already part-way there to a great meal, like the Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup. Adding in the Pace Salsa adds a nice kick, while the chunky adds to the overall dimension and texture of this tasty dinner. Just nab these and the other ingredients at Wal-Mart, then you’ve got the making of a quick and easy meal!

Ingredients

3 Large Cans (22.2 oz each) Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup
1 Glass Jar (16 oz.) Pace Thick & Chunky Salsa
1 Can (15 oz.) Diced Tomatoes – do not drain
1 Bag (12-16 oz.) Frozen Corn
1 Can Kidney Beans – drained
For Topping: Diced Fresh Tomatoes, Diced Avocado, Shredded Cheese, sour cream

Directions

In a large saucepan, mix all of the ingredients (except toppings) over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then simmer about 5 minutes.
Scoop into soup bowls, then top as desired with fresh tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese and even sour cream if you’d like!

Okay, does it get much easier to make a filling, tasty dinner that whole family will love? Not really! Now you can whip this up for those busy school nights when you’re in a hurry, but your family still wants a quality meal. I love having recipes like this on-hand all the time, but during the school year it’s especially true!

And what goes great with saving time and stress during the hectic school year? Saving money, of course! Right now you can nab this coupon to save on the Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup, Pace Salsa and even Prego Italian Sauce and V8 + Energy drink, so you can save more on the products you love.

Check out more Back to School Greatness from Campbells HERE!

All American Hot Dogs

May 27, 2016 by Chellie Schmitz

It is back yard barbecue season! Hosting an outdoor gathering is always so much fun. Why not beef up your bbq with these All American Hot Dogs? Take it up a notch, add some fun!

All American Hot Dogs

So, let’s talk about hot dogs for a moment shall we? Do you love’em or hate’em? I remember being a kid and thinking they were the best things ever! Well, my tastes have changed, slightly, to say the least.

Since I’m a much healthier eater now than when I was a kid, I have a hard time buying hot dogs. Simply because they are processed and often loaded with things that aren’t the best for you. I’m continuously trying to make the best possible version of whatever I’m making. So, while I don’t think there is such a thing as a “healthy” hot dog, there are better for you options.

I love to keep entertaining simple but delightful. So these All American Hot Dogs really do bring the norm to another level with added barbecue pork and creamy cole slaw. But, it doesn’t take too much more effort. And, I’m using all beef, no nitrates, blah blah blah… they’re better for you! 🙂 I’ll also use an all natural barbecue sauce, and broccoli slaw instead of cabbage.

What you need~

all natural, beef hot dogs (or regular hot dogs do just fine)
season all
Pork shoulder
all natural barbecue sauce
broccoli slaw
mayonnaise
dijon mustard
apple cider vinegar
honey
salt
poppy seeds
hot dog buns

What to do~

Season the pork shoulder generously with season all or some other all purpose seasoning. Cook the pork shoulder, low and slow until you can shred it with a fork.
Shred the pork with a fork and place into another pan or container. Add barbecue sauce and stir well.
Make the slaw~ combine mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, honey, and salt and stir well. Add a 12 oz package of broccoli slaw and toss to combine. Top with poppy seeds.
Put it all together! After grilling your dogs, top them with bbq pork and slaw and enjoy!

Notes~

I used the slow cooker to cook the pork shoulder. It needed a good 10 hours on low. For sure prep this beforehand. If you’d prefer to use your oven, see this shredded pork recipe.
You can use regular cole slaw if you prefer, or chop up your own green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots. I chose broccoli slaw to add some more nutrition.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did. It was a nice way to change up the regular routine without too much more effort.

All American Hot Dogs

Ingredients

1 package of all nautral all beef hot dogs no nitrates added.
1 pork shoulder
seasoned salt
1 bottle of all natural bbq sauce or homemade
1 12 oz package broccoli slaw
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbs dijon mustard
2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
2 Tbs honey
1/2 tsp salt
poppy seeds for garnishing
8 hot dog buns

Instructions

Prepare the pork, by seasoning generously with seasoned salt.
Cook in the slow cooker for 8-10 hours on low, or until you can easily shred with a fork.
Shred all the pork, place it in a pan on low heat to maintain warmth.
Add barbecue sauce (about 2 1/2 cups, or to taste) and stir to combine.
For the slaw:
Combine mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, honey and salt together and stir well.
Add the broccoli slaw to the dressing and toss to coat.
Garnish with poppy seeds.
Grill hot dogs until hot throughout and plump.
Top each hotdog with bbq pork and creamy cole slaw, garnish with more poppy seeds if desired.

https://busymomshelper.com/all-american-hot-dogs/

Looking for more back yard bbq ideas?

BLT Salad on a stick

All natural Go-gurts