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Buffalo Chicken Pasta

January 19, 2012 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 1 Comment

Baby it’s cold outside…

And that means comfort food to me!

So this pub favorite has gotten a make over…

So good, you’ll make this a new staple.

Big shout out to my girl, Shell over at Things I Can\’t Say !

She blogged about how much her kids liked this dish and it sounded so amazing I had to make it immediately.  Let’s just say we were ALL licking the plates clean.

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

dinner Buffalo Chicken Pasta

Serves: 4  Prep Time:  5 minutes  Cook time:  20 minutes

1 pound penne

2 t salt

1 ½ t pepper

1 T  garlic powder

1 T Cajun seasoning

1 pound chicken, diced

2 T oil

3 T hot sauce, Frank’s or Tobasco, divided

1 cup mayo

1/2 cup ranch dressing

¾ cup milk

1 cup chopped celery

½ cup chopped scallions

shredded mozzerella

chopped blue cheese

Put on a pot of water to boil and when it does toss in some salt to season it and add in your pasta and cook until al dente.

Season chicken with the spices. You can pour it all into a ziploc bag to shake it all up. Heat oil over med-high heat and cook chicken until it’s cooked, about 5 minutes or so.  Next add 2 T hot sauce and cook for an additional minute or so.  This part always makes me cough, but I use A LOT of hot sauce, I like mine extra spicy!

Combine mayo, ranch, and milk and mix. It will be lumpy, then stir in additional T of hot sauce.  It depends on how hot you want it.  Add this to the skillet with the chicken. Cook a few minutes, until heated.

Pour over pasta and stir to combine.  Top with fresh celery, scallions, mozzarella and crumbled blue cheese.  Sooo good!  Thanks, Shell!  This one is going into permanent rotation!!! dinner Buffalo Chicken Pasta

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

Quick and Easy Pasta Week – Whole Wheat pasta with meat sauce

July 15, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 4 Comments

I love this dinner.

It’s quick.

It’s cheap.

It’s delicious.

It’s Whole Wheat Pasta with Meat Sauce

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Whole Wheat pasta with meat sauce

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 box whole wheat pasta

1 T extra virgin olive oil

1 lb ground turkey

1 small onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 jar Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy Garden Vegetable Tomato Sauce

S&P

Chopped basil

Grated Parmesan Cheese

WHAT TO DO:

Heat a large pot of water over high heat.  Once boiling, salt your water and cook pasta to al dente.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add your oil to the pan.  Once the pan is hot, toss in your turkey.  Brown the turkey, about 6-7 minutes.

Toss in your onions and garlic and season the mixture with S&P.  Let the veggies cook for about 5 minutes.  Pour in the pasta sauce and mix well.

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Whole Wheat pasta with meat sauce

Let the sauce simmer until your pasta is done.

Add the cooked pasta to the sauce.  Top with basil and parmesan cheese.

Delicious dinner in no time!

Filed Under: Dinner Recipes For Kids, Dinners on a Dime, Featured, Kid Favorite Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Quick and Easy Pasta Week – Spicy Chicken Sausage and Veggies

July 13, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 8 Comments

It’s quick pasta week…

Part Deux!

How about an organic chicken sausage and whole wheat deal for ya?

It’s delicious…

Good for you…

And quick!

How’s that for a slam dunk?

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Spicy Chicken Sausage and Veggies

Spicy Chicken Sausage and Veggies with Whole Wheat Pasta

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 package Organic Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage, sliced (I used Bilinsky’s)

1 T extra virgin olive oil

1 large zucchini, sliced

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

S&P

1 jar Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy Spicy Marinara Sauce

1 box whole wheat pasta

Chopped basil and oregano for garnish

Grated parmesan cheese for garnish

WHAT TO DO:

Set a large pot of water to boil over high heat.  Cook pasta to package directions.  Be sure to salt your water before you put your pasta in!  Cook to al dente, then drain water and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat.  Toss in your sausage and cook until nicely browned.  About 7 minutes or so.

 

Once your sausage is nice and browned, add in your zucchini, onions, and garlic.  Season with S&P.  Allow to cook for about 5 minutes or so, until your veggies start to soften up.

After your veggies are soft add in your pasta sauce and bring mixture up to a boil.  Once it boil, knock it back to a simmer and wait until your pasta is ready.

Combine your whole wheat pasta with the sauce and serve.

Top with chopped herbs and cheese.

 

 

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

Quick and Easy Pasta Week – Gnocchi Bake

July 11, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 5 Comments

Yes…

I like homemade sauce.

Yes…

I like to spend all day Sunday making it.

Yes…

I have a life.

So…

Sometimes I don’t have time to make a homemade sauce.

That’s when I go with my stand by…

This week is all about quick and easy pastas using some of my favorite go to sauces.

Today is a weakness of mine…

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Gnocchi BakeWhen you’re looking for something fast and delicious and a bit out of the ordinary…

Reach for a jar of Francesco Rinaldi Premium Vodka Sauce!

Grab a bag of these organic gluten free gnocchi

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Gnocchi Bake

From my pals over at Caesars Pasta!

And some veggies from your local CSA or farm stand and toss ‘em in a pot!

You won’t be disappointed.

Let’s make a Gnocchi Bake!

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Gnocchi Bake

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 package Caesars organic gluten free gnocchi, cooked to package directions

1 jar Francesco Rinaldi Premium Vodka Sauce

1 T extra virgin olive oil

1 lb ground chicken

1 large onion, diced

8 ounces sliced mushrooms

1 large zucchini, chopped

1 large red pepper, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 bunch kale leaves, chopped

1 large ball fresh mozzarella, sliced

S&P

WHAT TO DO:

Heat a large pot of salted water over high heat.  Cook gnocchi to package directions.  Usually about 3-4 minutes.  Drain and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a large ovenproof saucepan or dutch oven over medium high heat.  Add in olive oil.

Once the oil is hot, add in your ground chicken and cook until browned.  About 6-7 minutes.

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Gnocchi Bake

Once the chicken is nicely browned, add in mushrooms, onions, zucchini, red pepper and garlic.  Season with S&P and cook until veggies start to soften, about 5 minutes or so.

Once the veggies have softened up stir in your kale.  Allow a few minutes for the kale to wilt and season again with S&P.

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Gnocchi Bake

Next add in your pasta sauce and stir well to combine.

Toss in your gnocchi and gently combine.

dinner Quick and Easy Pasta Week Gnocchi Bake

Top with sliced mozzarella and place in oven and bake at 375 for 20 minutes.

Turn up the oven to broil and cook an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and browned.

Serve with a side salad.

 

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

Light n Lively Meatballs

June 29, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 6 Comments

Ever make chicken or turkey meatballs and have them end up all dry on you?

Well check this out!

These meatballs are good for you and your waistline….

They are totally juicy and delicious.

Best part is that you cook them in their own sauce.

You’ll never eat regular meatballs again!

dinner Light n Lively Meatballs

Light n Lively Meatballs

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 pound ground chicken breast

1 small eggplant

3 T chicken stock

1/2 small onion, grated

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 egg white

1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

S&P

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling

1 jar store bought spaghetti sauce (We use Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy Tomato Basil Sauce)

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 box whole wheat pasta cooked to al dente

WHAT TO DO:

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and set a pot of water on high for your pasta.  Season your water with salt and cook pasta according to package directions.

Cut your eggplant in half and place on a baking sheet.  Cook on 425 for about 10 – 15 minutes until soft.  Allow to cool a bit then scrape out the yummy eggplant from it’s skin and add to a large bowl.  Knock back the heat on your oven to 375.

To the bowl with the eggplant add in your chicken, chicken stock, grated onion, chopped garlic, egg white, bread crumbs, parsley, parmesan cheese, and S&P.  Mix well to combine.

Grab a muffin pan. Yes a muffin pan!  Place a healthy spoonful of sauce into each muffin well.

dinner Light n Lively Meatballs

Next, form your meat mixture into golf sized meatballs and place on top of the sauce in the muffin wells.  The boys each took a row for themselves and made their share.

Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.  I like to flip the meatballs mid cooking process so they get all covered with sauce.

Serve on top of pasta and with a side salad and you’ve got a meal everyone will love and feel good about!

dinner Light n Lively Meatballs

 

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

It’s a Miracle Pasta Salad

March 4, 2011 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 13 Comments

My kids were afraid of shrimp.

Weird huh?

They’ve eaten lobster.

They love salmon.

Why are they not feeling the shrimp love?

I decided to try it in a pasta salad.

Voila!

It’s a Miracle…

With the help of a little Miracle Whip that is.

dinner Its a Miracle Pasta Salad

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 box fun shaped pasta

1 bag frozen shrimp (you could use fresh, but who can afford that these days?)

2 T extra virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, chopped

chopped parsley

1 bag frozen steamable veggies

1 cup miracle whip

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 shallot chopped

1 clove garlic chopped

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 T minced sun dried tomato

S&P

WHAT TO DO:

Heat a large pot of water for your pasta.  Cook to al dente according to package directions.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.  Pour in your olive oil and garlic.  Let the garlic heat up and flavor the oil.  Add in your frozen shrimp and cook until shrimp are pink.  Sprinkle with parsley and set aside.

Meanwhile in a medium sized bowl add your Miracle Whip, buttermilk, red wine vinegar, shallot, garlic, and sun dried tomato.  Stir to combine and set aside for the flavors to marry a bit.

Steam your veggies in the microwave according the package directions.

When the pasta is ready, drain well and return it to the pot.  Toss in your shrimp and veggies and toss to combine.  Pour your dressing over the top and toss again.

Voila!

dinner Its a Miracle Pasta Salad

So delicious the kids gobbled it up.

And so easy!

FYI – The powers that be at Miracle Whip have in no way compensated me for this post.  Miracle Whip just really makes this pasta salad sing!

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