Chicken parm in a rice bowl format with crispy chicken, cheese, and a veg – everything you need! Continue reading
Tag Archives: dinner
Sausage & Peppers Hot Wrap
Sausage, caramelized onions, peppers get paired with rice and cheese before being tucked into a wrap! Continue reading
Chicken, Bacon & Ranch Meatballs
Chicken, bacon, ranch meatballs have great flavor and go with anything. Continue reading
French Onion Burrito
French Onion Soup but hand held as a burrito. This has melty cheese, mushrooms, and arugula for something fresh that isn’t brown! Continue reading
Fast 5-Ingredient Meals
The countdown to Christmas is on and now’s the time for fast dinners that that are crowd pleasers and most importantly, take minimal thought. I assume you have takeout and regular freezer favorites and pasta covered. These may help bridge the gap of some balance but not magic.
1. Grilled cheese & tomato soup
1 can tomato soup + 1 (28 oz) can of kitchen ready tomatoes + 2 tablespoons cream/half & half
sliced bread + cheese
One can of basic tomato soup and one large can of kitchen-ready tomatoes. Blend it if your eaters want it smooth (like mine!) and a drizzle of milk or cream at the end and it will be perfect. Add anything you like to the grilled cheese. Cut into sticks for easy dipping if you’re feeling fancy.
2. Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Biscuits/Crescents
Rotisserie chicken + ranch dressing + bacon + tube of biscuits or crescents
serve with salad/veggies with more ranch
Chicken, bacon and ranch can take a bunch of formats – as crescents, they’ll assemble & go into the oven. The last time we had them, I tossed the shredded chicken in ranch and put onto biscuits like a sandwich. The kids were both into it! Or serve as loaded fries. Or make a Greek turnover.
3. Pizza Beans
2 cans of white beans + tomato sauce + cheese + any other pizza toppings you like
We have pizza beans regularly – anyone can top as they’d like and it comes together in 10 minutes. These are a good way to use some small amounts of ingredients or sauce from the freezer. Or give a Mexican twist for Taco Beans!
4. Corn Quesadillas in Herb Butter
Tortillas + corn + butter + herbs
These corn and cilantro butter quesadillas are so good and anything added to a quesadilla will turn dinner into a meal. Swap the corn for black beans or butternut squash or mushrooms or chorizo, or any-thing. Serve with black beans or corn (whichever isn’t inside!) and poof! Dinner!
5. Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Popcorn chicken + pasta + blue cheese or ranch dressing + hot sauce + greens
I most often have this buffalo chicken pasta as a cold salad but it’s fun hot too! Use crispy chicken or rotisserie chicken. I go with arugula but spinach works too!
Need one extra? Breakfast for dinner is perfect. Pigs in Sleeping bags (maple sausage in crescents) is a hit here and pairs well with some eggs.
Fed is best, regardless of what’s on the menu in a busy season. You’ve got this.
Lasagna Bowls
Think lasagna but the fast and custom way as a bowl! Continue reading
Honey Mustard Lettuce Wraps
Honey Mustard Chicken with a pickle & tomato topping in lettuce wraps were a quick dinner after a lot of pool time. Continue reading
Tomato Basil Chicken
{originally published in 2015 and updated in 2023}When I originally made this, I breaded the chicken and this time around I wanted to update it with grilled chicken. I served it over pasta (these kids love love love pasta) and … Continue reading
May Recap 2023
May is full – we come to life when spring is here. We’re back full-swing into baseball (see what I did there?) and we were kept on our toes for our first dance recital (haha, I can’t stop!).
In the kitchen, I was obsessed with these taco beans and they’ll be on repeat for sure.
I made a dairy-free lasagna because I’ve somehow become the go-to person for recipes accommodating dietary restrictions for my volunteerism at Lasagna Love and this option is so cheap and easy without unfamiliar ingredients.
We went with lots of toppings on Sesame Noodle Bowls as a new way to see pulled pork.
Again with the beans, what can I say…these Greek Beans were a fun dish and good alternative to a lettuce-based salad.
I have been thrilled to have comfortable weather and get outside more. Work has been very busy with reunion. We got to see Thomas’ art at the school art show. I wish some of these cool school events fell in March or April too. There’s a culture night, fun run, parent-teacher conferences, a book fair, and so many end of the year festivities. I’m off for a girls weekend and cannot wait. June will bring a special birthday burger!
The big kid:
He had a field trip (and did not get carsick…winning!), and several more birthday parties, and baseball. He took an after school class for building with all different materials. He’s thoroughly into Plants versus Zombies. He followed along with NBA playoffs and it really makes me love the juxtaposition of imaginary play seeming so cute and little with a mature knowledge of pro basketball player names.
The little one:
Her dance recital was so cute! She loved the rehearsal and did so great. Then the recital night came and she was so worried – tears! – and I was shocked. We watched the video clips I had from the night before, talked about what it would be like, and made a plan that we’d get ready and go but if she decided not to do it, we’d just clap for her class. She was all set when we got there. They were very long nights, but she loved it and wears the ballet costume regularly. The tap one was tight and harder to get on so we haven’t played in that one.
Goals:
Year of workwear! I got a 3/4 length sleeve shirt which helps bridge the spring workwear gap. Working all weekend for Reunion at work was a good reminder of what other clothes I’m looking for!
Salads or side-dishes: Greek bean salad!
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays: I made some savory waffles and they’re one of my fav on-the-go breakfasts. During a busy week at work I had quiche ready which was so helpful.
Monthly dates: We didn’t really make this happen.
Declutter/cleaning: I bagged up lots of tiny 18 month shorts and 2T swimsuits.
Workouts as a routine: Yes! I did a Sweat & Sculpt series that has been great.
What I’m reading: I read Coronation Year which was only ok, especially after how amazing I thought her book ‘The Gown’ was. I enjoyed a memoir Fatty Fatty Boom Boom by Rabia Chaudry. The best one I read was The Measure by Nikki Erlick.
Taco Beans
I took our love for beans, especially pizza beans, and gave them a taco twist. They were such a hit – especially with our littlest eater. The toppings and customization make it easy for a win.
Taco Beans:
Ingredients: (serves 4)
2, 15-oz cans of seasoned black beans (or see alternative below)
1 cup corn
1/2 chicken breast (optional)
1 avocado
cilantro
cheese
pickled onions
any condiments: salsa, hot sauce, salsa con queso, sour cream
chips
Directions:
Warm the beans through, over low heat for ~10 minutes. (Alternative if using plain canned beans: drain, rinse, and add to a pot with 1/2 cup veggie broth and a sprinkle of cumin, chili powder, and salt to taste).
While beans are cooking, slice the avocado, chop cilantro, and prepare all the toppings
Assemble bowls with beans and any toppings, as you wish.
Enjoy!
Mr. J and I went with almost all the toppings, but the kids loved their beans with cheese, avocado, sour cream, and salsa.