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CSA Special – Pasta with turkey bacon, peas, and dandelion greens

June 27, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 10 Comments

I was so excited to see dandelion greens in our Stone Gardens Farm CSA box this week.

I love to pair them up with a pasta.

Then my aunt mentioned her quick go to pasta was with turkey bacon and peas….

Hmmm, sounds like a match made in heaven!

This is a delicious and quick dish that’s good for you and tastes great!

The boys loved the sweetness of the peas and I love the smoky turkey bacon and whole wheat pasta.

Make a big batch and keep it in the fridge…

Makes a great quick lunch with a salad!

Super easy…

Super quick…

Super delicious!

dinner CSA Special Pasta with turkey bacon, peas, and dandelion greens

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 box whole wheat pasta (I like fusilli)

1 t extra virgin olive oil

4 slices organic turkey bacon (We use Applewood Farms)

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 cup english peas (you could use frozen, I had fresh on hand)

1 bunch dandelion greens

S&P

1 cup of pasta water (if necessary)

parmesan cheese

WHAT TO DO:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Season with salt.  Add your pasta and cook to al dente according to package instructions.  When you have about 2 minutes left to cook grab a cup of the cooking water and set aside.

While the pasta cooks, heat a large saucepan over medium high heat.  Add in your olive oil and then toss in your bacon.  Cook til crisp, about 7-8 minutes.  Toss in your garlic and let cook for another minute.  Add in peas and dandelion greens, and season with S&P.  Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes and then add in your pasta water.

Drain your pasta and toss in the sauce.  Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve.

YUM!!!

 

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Featured, Healthy Recipes For Kids, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kids Fun Food Week – Chicken Surprise Bundles

May 11, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 13 Comments

I say it all the time…

The easiest way to get a kid to eat,

Is to involve them in the process.

These little bad boys are so much fun to make…

And even better to eat.

Check out our Chicken Surprise Bundles…

baking with kids Kids Fun Food Week Chicken Surprise Bundles

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 tube Pillsbury refrigerated dough

1 cup grilled chicken, diced

1 cup shredded swiss, cheddar or mozzarella cheese

8 sliced cooked chopped bacon

1 cup baby spinach

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Spread out your dough on a cutting board.

Cut it into 8 equal squares

Place the rest of your ingredients in an assembly line and call the kids into help.

baking with kids Kids Fun Food Week Chicken Surprise Bundles

Let them decide what goes into the center of each of their bundles.

Keegan built his with bacon and cheese and chicken.

Brady and Cooper loaded up on the spinach.

You can get creative and add whatever you think your kids will like!

Next wrap up your bundles.

Take each corner and pull it up towards the center.

Pinch together at the top and place on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 for 12-14 minutes.

baking with kids Kids Fun Food Week Chicken Surprise Bundles

Serve with a side salad or soup or veggie sticks.  Make a bunch, these bundles go fast!

Filed Under: Baking Recipes For Kids, Dinner Recipes For Kids, Featured, Getting Kids To Eat, Kid Favorite Recipes, Lunch Ideas For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Bow ties with spring veggies and bacon

March 23, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 15 Comments

Happy Spring!

Though it’s snowing here today.

Anyway, this will make you feel like spring…

A delicious and quick pasta that the kids will adore!

Mom and Dad too!

Feel free to add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a heartier dish.

dinner Bow ties with spring veggies and bacon

Bow ties with spring veggies & pancetta

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 box bow tie pasta

4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped

1 1/4 pounds asparagus, trimmed, cut on diagonal into 1-inch pieces

1 scallions, thinly sliced

8 ounces crimini mushrooms

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup heavy cream

3 T extra virgin olive oil

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 T lemon zest

1/4 cup italian parsley, chopped

1/4 cup basil, torn

WHAT TO DO:

Heat a large pasta pot over high heat.  When boiling add salt and cook pasta until al dente. Drain, but reserve 1 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crispy. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Set aside.

Pour off all but 1 teaspoon drippings from skillet. Add mushrooms to the drippings.  Cook for 3 minutes.  Add asparagus, scallions, and garlic to the mushrooms in skillet and cook for 3 more minutes minutes.  Remove from heat.

Add veggies, 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid, 1/2 cup Parmesan, cream, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, basil, and S&P to pasta.

Mix well.  Add more pasta water if necessary.  Sprinkle with bacon and more cheese if desired.

Tasty Tidbit – Kids not asparagus fans?  Try this dish with frozen peas!

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Featured, Kid Favorite Recipes, Lunch Ideas For Kids, Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Clam & Corn Chowdah Soup Week

March 10, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 3 Comments

It’s Soup Week here at Ma, What’s For Dinner.

It’s a cool cloudy day around here.

We’re expecting a boat load of rain this weekend.

This yummy soup will hit the spot!

dinner Clam & Corn Chowdah Soup Week

Serves: 6  Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 T butter

1 T Olive Oil

4 slices thick cut bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 T fresh thyme

S&P

2 T flour

2 cups half-and-half  dinner Clam & Corn Chowdah Soup Week

2 cups chicken stock

1 bag diced potato (near the hash browns in the meat section)

2 cans whole clams and their juice

1 10 oz bag frozen corn

WHAT TO DO:

In a medium pot over medium high heat sauté bacon with 1 T olive oil.  When just crispy add in butter and onions, celery and thyme. Season with S&P and cook 5-7 minutes. Add flour and cook for two more minutes.

dinner Clam & Corn Chowdah Soup WeekAdd half-and-half and stock and bring to a bubble, then stir in potatoes and clams. Season again with S&P.  Bring soup back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, until potatoes are cooked and soup has thickened up nicely.  Stir in frozen corn and cook for an additional 5 minutes.  Serve with garlic bread and salad.

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Featured, Kid Favorite Recipes, Recipes For Kids, Soups, Vegetable Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

February 23, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 11 Comments

Surfing around bloggie land a couple weeks back and I happened upon a chicken noodle casserole dish on my girl Anne’s Annie Bakes.  It looked so good I knew I had to grab the boys and throw together a version.

If you’ve been following along then you all know how I have recipe OCD so we switched things up a bit, but Anne is the inspiration behind this one…

Thanks Anne!

dinner Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

WHAT YOU NEED:

1/2 T olive oil

1 onion diced

1/2 pound cubed bacon slab

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts

3 cups water

2 cubes beef bouillon

1/2 cup white wine

1 spring thyme

1 package cooked ziti

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup dry sherry

S&P
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 T melted butter

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray 2-quart casserole with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan heat olive oil and bacon until bacon is crispy.  Add in onions and cook for about 7-9 minutes, until onions are soft.  Set aside to cool while your chicken cooks.

dinner Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Place chicken, water, wine, thyme and bouillon cubes in large saucepan over medium high heat.

dinner Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Cook 20 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center.  Drain liquid and discard;  cut chicken into cubes.

Combine cooked ziti and chicken in prepared casserole dish.

Combine soup, sour cream, Asiago cheese, mayonnaise, sherry, onion, bacon, and S&P in medium bowl:  mix well.

dinner Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Pour over pasta and chicken;  toss lightly.

dinner Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Toss Panko, Parmesan cheese and butter in small bowl.  Sprinkle over casserole.  Bake 30 to 45 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Serve with crusty bread and a big ol’ salad and everyone is happy!

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Featured, Kid Favorite Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Superbowl Countdown – Fitzpatrick Irish Nachos

January 28, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 26 Comments

How do you make nachos Fitz style?

With potatoes of course!

appetizers Superbowl Countdown Fitzpatrick Irish Nachos

2 russet potatoes, washed and dried

1/2 T olive oil

S&P

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 lb bacon bits, cooked and drained on paper towels

scallions, chopped

jalapenos, sliced (optional)

sour cream

I like to think of this as a healthier version of potato skins, since you bake them and not fry them, but round these parts we just like to call them good!  Here’s how you make Fitzpatrick Irish Nachos….

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Slice your potatoes into either round disks or long planks depending on what your favorite shape is.  Just make sure the slices are about 1/4-1/2 an inch thick.

Put the slices on a sheet pan and douse with olive oil, and S&P.  Mix with your hands to coat well.

Bake for 25 minutes.

Remove from oven and top with shredded cheese.

Bake for an additional 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Top with bacon, scallions, jalapenos, and sour cream.

Enjoy at kick off!

appetizers Superbowl Countdown Fitzpatrick Irish Nachos

These are soooo easy and sooo good!

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes For Kids, Featured, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes, Snacks Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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