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Twirly Whirly Pasta Salad

June 9, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 19 Comments

This one is for Shell.  Oh you didn’t know that I take requests? Well now you do…send ‘em on over and I’m at your service.  My girl Shell over at Things I Cant Say, oh yeah you know her, cool girl, superstar, all around homecoming queen, uh yeah, that’s her.  She asked if we had any pasta salad ideas.  Do I have a pasta salad???  Of course I have a pasta salad.  Not only do I have a pasta salad, but it’s a pasta salad served up either cold or warm, it’s easy, tastes delicious, it’s healthy and you can make it with stuff already in your house.  Oh yeah, Shell my sweet, I have a pasta salad for you…

appetizers Twirly Whirly Pasta Salad

Serves: 4                        Prep Time: 5 minutes                        Cook time: 15 minutes

1 lb Rotini (corkscrew) pasta

1 bag frozen veggies (I like mixes of broccoli, carrots, & cauliflower)

2 c  Italian dressing (bottled is fine, I like Newman’s Own)

2 c rotisserie chicken, cubed (from your supermarket)

½ c  parmesan cheese

1 can marinated artichoke hearts, drained

appetizers Twirly Whirly Pasta SaladHeat a large pot of water over high heat for pasta.  Take out your frozen veggies and let them thaw on the counter. Once the water is boiling add some salt to flavor the pasta and then pour in fusili and cook, according to package, to al dente.  4 minutes before you pasta is set to be done add in your veggies.

Drain well and pour into large pasta serving bowl.  Top with chicken and artichoke hearts.  Pour on dressing and toss to coat.  Top with parmesan cheese.  This is a complete meal in minutes and all in one bowl!  Everyone loves less dishes to clean.

Whenever I take this dish to potlucks or when I’m in charge of snack at school everyone always asks for this recipe.  I’m almost embarrassed to tell them how simple it is, but it’s so good!

Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes For Kids, Healthy Recipes For Kids, Healthy Side Dish Recipes For Kids, Kid Favorite Recipes, Lunch Ideas For Kids, Recipes For Kids, Vegetable Recipes For Kids Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Quelle Horreur – Top Ramen???

May 24, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 23 Comments

Oh yeah, I did it…I know what you’re thinking, first spaghetti tacos and now the wretched Ramen?  Has Ma lost it?  Think of the low nutritional value, think of the sodium content!  I know, I know.  You all know what a crazy week it was last week, GG’s in the hospital and I just wasn’t feeling like Supermom so I folded and gave the chillins some Top Ramen.  I tried, I added some good stuff like protein and veggies, and it’s not like I just tossed the stuff into the microwave and let them have at it on the couch in front of an episode of Sponge Bob.  You know everything said in jest is at least partly true right?  The television was paused in the other room when they came to the table and scarfed it down.  And it wasn’t Sponge Bob, it was Fanboy and Chum Chum…but come on, how do you beat a meal that costs less than $1.50 to make and takes less than 10 minutes to prepare???

dinner Quelle Horreur – Top Ramen???

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

dinner Quelle Horreur – Top Ramen???1 package chicken flavored ramen noodles

1 head broccoli cut into florets

1 leftover pork chop cut into small chunks

In a small saucepan heat 2 cups of water over high heat.  When the water boils add the noodles and cook for 3 minutes. dinner Quelle Horreur – Top Ramen???After 3 minutes turn the heat down and add the seasoning package, the broccoli and the pork.  Allow the broccoli and pork to warm through, about 4 minutes, and serve.  For the record, the hubs and the kids loved this!

dinner Quelle Horreur – Top Ramen???

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

Pizza puffs & B2B

May 5, 2010 By Alex aka Ma, What's For Dinner 18 Comments

So the other day I’m returning some wonderful comments and I stumble upon a delightful little blog known as My Pink Flip Flops, cute little name huh?  Well I’m surfing around her site and come across a recipe that I had to make right away!  So smart and easy and now you can make it too.  I made mine a bit differently but what an awesome idea.  Here it is.

kid favorite recipes Pizza puffs & B2B

1 tube refrigerated crescent rolls

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

1/4 cup fresh mozzarella

1/2 cup spaghetti sauce

16 pepperoni slices

1/4 cup baby spinach

1 T parmesan cheese

1 t garlic powder

cooking spray

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.  Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.  Unroll your crescent roll triangles and lay them on a cutting board.

kid favorite recipes Pizza puffs & B2B

Add a dollop of sauce to the long fat side of the triangle.  Top with cheese and two pepperoni slices.  Roll into a crescent.  Place on tray.  I made 4 this way then four with just fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, and baby spinach.

kid favorite recipes Pizza puffs & B2B

Switch up your ingredients and have fun with it!

kid favorite recipes Pizza puffs & B2BOnce the puffs are all rolled up on the baking sheet spray with a bit of cooking spray and sprinkle on garlic powder and parmesan cheese.  Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.  Serve ‘em hot.  Make a lot, they go quick!

Ok now on to business, Business 2 Blogger that is.  Have you all heard of them?  You can check them out right HERE.  I just signed up with these guys and so far it’s been great.  They send you an email every morning with a whole bunch of opportunities to get in touch with business who are looking for bloggers to try new stuff for them.  It’s only my first day but so far, I like what I see.  I’ll keep you all posted.  In the meantime, you should swing on over and check them out for yourself.

kid favorite recipes Pizza puffs & B2B

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