Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

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!

kid favorite recipes featured 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.

kid favorite recipes featured dinner    Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

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

kid favorite recipes featured 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.

kid favorite recipes featured dinner    Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Pour over pasta and chicken;  toss lightly.

kid favorite recipes featured 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!

Clam & Corn Chowdah Soup Week

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!

veggies soups recipes for kids kid favorite recipes featured 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  veggies soups recipes for kids kid favorite recipes featured 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.

veggies soups recipes for kids kid favorite recipes featured 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.

Get Healthy Week – Quinoa with mozzarella and sundried tomatoes

I love pasta.

I love rice.

I love starch.

But apparently, not always the best option for you to eat…

Whatever…

Sooooo,

I’ve found this!

vegetarian veggies kid favorite recipes side dishes healthy eating for kids featured dinner    Get Healthy Week   Quinoa with mozzarella and sundried tomatoes

Quinoa!

It’s like rice or pasta – that’s really good for you!

And the boys LOVE IT!!!!

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 cup quinoa, rinsed

2 cups water (or chicken stock)

2 t olive oil

1 portabello mushroom, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 jar sundried tomatoes

15 pitted kalamata olives, chopped

10 basil leaves, torn

1 8 ounce package fresh mozzarella, diced

S&P

WHAT TO DO:

In a medium sauce pan bring quinoa and water to a boil.  Cover and knock heat back to simmer.  Cook for 15-18 minutes.

Meanwhile in a larger sauce pan add olive oil and garlic to the pan.  Allow the oil to warm until just before the garlic begins to brown.  Toss in your mushrooms and add a bit of S&P.  Cook for 5-7 minutes, until the mushrooms brown up.

vegetarian veggies kid favorite recipes side dishes healthy eating for kids featured dinner    Get Healthy Week   Quinoa with mozzarella and sundried tomatoes

Knock the heat back and add in your tomatoes and olives.  Remove from heat and add in cooked quinoa.

Toss in your mozzarella and basil.  Season with more S&P if needed.

Trust me, you’re going to LOVE this dish!!!

Get Healthy Week – Chicken with whole wheat penne and veggies

It’s spring time!

That means summer is coming.

You know what that gets me thinking of?

Bathing suits.

I’m so not ready to start slipping into a bikini!

So we’re getting healthy this week.

And eating delicious at the same time.

Check out this quick and healthy meal….

CHICKEN WITH WHOLE WHEAT PENNE AND VEGGIES

healthy eating for kids featured dinner    Get Healthy Week   Chicken with whole wheat penne and veggies

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 box whole wheat penne

2 T olive oil

2 zucchini, halved and sliced thin

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

1 clove garlic

4 scallions, diced

2 chicken breasts, pounded thin and sliced into bite sized pieces

1/2 t red pepper flakes

1 lemon, zested and juiced

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts

1/2 cup chicken stock

10 basil leaves, torn

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

S&P

WHAT TO DO:

Bring a large pasta pot of water to boil.  Add the penne and cook to al dente.

While the pasta cooks heat a large saucepan over medium high heat.  Add 1 T of your olive oil.

Toss in your zucchini, mushrooms, garlic, scallions, lemon zest and red pepper flakes.  Season with a bit of S&P and let your veggies soften up.

After about 5 minutes, remove veggies to a plate and set aside.

Add remaining oil to the pot.

Season your chicken with S&P and add it to the hot pan.  Cook chicken on both sides until brown and cooked through, about 8 minutes or so.  Squeeze lemon juice over the chicken and add the veggies back in.  Add in your artichoke hearts and chicken stock scraping up any brown bits left on the bottom of the pan.

Drain your pasta (reserve a cup of the pasta liquid in case you’d like to add more to your sauce) and toss pasta with the chicken/veggie sauce.  Sprinkle on your parmesan cheese, basil, and pine nuts.

Viola!  Quick easy healthy meal!

Salad Week – Beet Edamame and Goat Cheese Salad

So the calendar says spring.

Though the thermometer doesn’t agree.

Looks like here in the Northeast we’re going to be going straight from winter…

To summer.

At least that’s what they’re telling me.

Time to get back in bathing suit shape.

So I hereby christen this…

SALAD WEEK

My boys love the salads!

This one comes together quick and easy.

Add some grilled chicken or shrimp for a more filling meal

Beet, Edamame, and Goat Cheese Salad with Raspberry Vinagrette

vegetarian salads healthy eating for kids featured dinners on a dime 2    Salad Week   Beet Edamame and Goat Cheese Salad

WHAT YOU NEED:

2 heart romaine lettuce, torn

1 small can sliced beets, drained

1/4 cup shelled edamame

1/2 small red onion

4 ounces goat cheese crumbled

1 t oregano

2 T raspberry jam

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

S&P

WHAT TO DO:

In a large bowl toss together lettuce, beets, edamame, red onion and goat cheese.

In a smaller bowl combine oregano, jam, and vinegar.  Stir well to thin out the jam.  Slowly stream in your olive oil while whisking the dressing.  Season with S&P.

Pour dressing over salad and serve.

Rapunzels Rainbow Tangled Angel Hair

It’s week three of our Disney Princess competition!

This week features the beautiful and brand new

Rapunzel from Disney’s new Tangled

vegetarian veggies vegan recipes for kids kid favorite recipes side dishes featured dinner contests    Rapunzels Rainbow Tangled Angel HairThe hubs took the boys to see this flick.

They all loved it.

But all I could think of when trying to come up with a recipe was…

Rapunzel, Rapunzel throw down your….

ANGEL HAIR!!!

So here it is…

This is a super delicious quick dish that comes together in a flash.

vegetarian veggies vegan recipes for kids kid favorite recipes side dishes featured dinner contests    Rapunzels Rainbow Tangled Angel Hair

Rapunzel’s Rainbow “Tangled” Angel Hair Pasta

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 lb box angel hair pasta

2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 T butter

1 zucchini cut into ribbons

2 carrots cut into ribbons

1 yellow squash cut into ribbons

1 box grape tomatoes

3 cloves garlic, sliced thin

1 t crushed red pepper

S&P

parmesan cheese

WHAT TO DO:

Heat a big pot over hot water for your pasta.  Cook according to package directions for al dente.  Angel hair cooks very quickly!

Meanwhile in a large skillet heat extra virgin olive oil and butter over medium high heat.  When the oil is warming add in your garlic and crushed red pepper.  Be sure to keep a careful eye on it.  As soon as it begins to brown add in your vegetables.  Season well with S&P.  Let the veggies soften up while your pasta cooks.

When your pasta is done, drain well and add to the skillet of veggies.  Toss well to coat and add grated parmesan cheese.

Serve and enjoy!

Now it’s your turn…

vegetarian veggies vegan recipes for kids kid favorite recipes side dishes featured dinner contests    Rapunzels Rainbow Tangled Angel Hair

If you want this adorable Magical Glow Rapunzel doll to call your very own…

Send in your Tangled recipes!

Contest ends Friday at midnight!

Can’t wait to see what you come up with.

Improve Your Life, Go The myEASY Way™