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Lighter Stove-top Mac and Cheese topped with Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic Breadcrumbs

Lighter Stove-top Mac and Cheese #SundaySupper #FamilyDinnerTable

Lighter Stove-top Mac and Cheese

Lighter Stove-top Mac and Cheese is an easy, cheesy pasta recipe made without any butter, yet remains smooth and creamy.   Roasted tomatoes, with a hint of balsamic and garlic, as well as garlic breadcrumbs are an optional topping to give this basic dish a grown-up twist!

This week, Sunday Supper has teamed up with American Family Insurance again as part of their Back to the Family Dinner Campaign.  The theme is ‘meals made with cheese.’   I could not think of a more perfect theme for my family of cheese lovers!   While I had several cheesy recipes in mind, nothing beats a basic macaroni and cheese.  Well nothing, except for this Lighter Stove-top Mac and Cheese recipe with a grown-up twist made in less than 30 minutes!  In fact, this recipe is one of the first meals we have been able to enjoy as a family, with everybody eating the same thing.  This Back to the Family Dinner Campaign is working!!…

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Lighter Frosted Pumpkin Cake

Frosted Pumpkin Cake

Frosted Pumpkin Cake

Frosted Pumpkin Cake is a classic pumpkin sheet cake topped with cream cheese frosting.  Delicious and made on the lighter side!

In case you haven’t noticed by now, I love baking with pumpkin!  While it is always fun to get creative, there is something to be said about the classics.  This Frosted Pumpkin Cake is absolutely a classic.   The moist cake is filled with pumpkin and warm spices of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice ~ the epitome of Fall pumpkin baking.  Topped with a cream cheese frosting,  Frosted Pumpkin Cake is a favorite classic combination…and it is made on the lighter side!     …

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Three Bean Vegetarian Chili from Alida's Kitchen

Three Bean Vegetarian Chili #WeekdaySupper

30 Minute Three Bean Vegetarian Chili from alidaskitchen.com

Three Bean Vegetarian Chili is so good, carnivores will not miss the meat!  This healthy chili takes only 30 minutes to make, and leftovers reheat well. {vegan, gluten free}

Three Bean Vegetarian Chili, also known as “Veg Head” Chili, is one of our favorite recipes to make during the cooler months. This chili is hearty enough to satisfy meat eaters and vegetarians (and vegans!) alike…due to the addition of the third bean ~ refried beans!  The refried beans are an unexpected addition that thickens the chili perfectly and gives it a the nice hearty texture.  Combined with the other beans and all of the vegetables and spices, this chili has quickly become a family favorite….

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Vegan Lentil Marinara Pasta Sauce

Lentil Marinara Pasta Sauce #SundaySupper

Lentil Marinara Pasta Sauce - heatlhy, vegan, delicious from Alida's Kitchen

Lentil Marinara Pasta Sauce is a protein-packed, thick and hearty pasta sauce, made vegan using lentils in place of meat. {vegetarian, vegan without cheese, sauce is gluten free}

Lentil Marinara Pasta Sauce a thick and hearty, like a meat sauce, using lentils instead of meat.  I love using lentils as a meat substitute in recipes.  They are very meat-like in that they are high in protein, take on flavors in a sauce (or salad) and are very versatile.  Unlike meat, lentils are high in fiber and easy on the budget.  They do not require soaking or long cooking times, making lentils a wonderful choice for quick, easy and healthy meatless meals.

Lentil Marinara Pasta Sauce is very easy to make and takes roughly an hour to get a thick, hearty meatless pasta sauce.  The first step is sauteing the onions and garlic.  The next step is to add the lentils and broth to cook the lentils.  The last step is to add the tomatoes and the remaining ingredients to make the pasta sauce and let it simmer for about 40 minutes, letting the flavors come together.  The result is a healthy, protein-packed,  hearty meatless tomato pasta sauce made with lentils that is delicious, nutritious and suitable for a variety of dietary needs.  Lentil Marinara Pasta Sauce makes a generous amount of sauce, and leftovers reheat nicely….

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Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili #SundaySupper

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili from Alida's Kitchen

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili is a chunky, spicy chili with a hint of sweetness that combines two superfoods into an easy, healthy, one-pot meal.  {vegan, gluten-free}

As the temperatures get cooler, we tend to gravitate toward warm comfort foods, such as baked pastas, soups, and chili. This is one of the many reasons that Fall is my favorite time of year for cooking and baking!  On Sundays, I love to make a big pot of chili or a pan of baked tortellini to have leftovers for lunches or easy dinners throughout the week.

While I have several favorite old standby recipes, I am am always looking to find new recipes to try.  This Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili will definitely become part of the regular rotation.  Sweet potatoes and black beans are two of my favorite superfoods that go so well together; there are lots of vegetables; there is plenty of spice to warm you up; and this recipe is very simple to make in under 45 minutes using just one pot.  (which also means easy clean up!)

The theme for Sunday Supper this week is one pot recipes.  Since one pot meals are typically easy recipes, this theme is right up my alley!  The group is sharing recipes for slow cookers to desserts and everything in between that can be made in one pot or pan or dish, you get the idea.  Be sure to check out what everybody made below.   …

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English Muffin Grilled Cheese

English Muffin Grilled Cheese

English Muffin Grilled Cheese

English Muffin Grilled Cheese sandwich is a fun twist on a traditional childhood favorite…and a clever solution for my picky eater! 

Kids’ tastes in food are one of life’s great mysteries. Take cheese, for example. For the first three years of Adam’s life, cheese was one of his favorite foods.  He had cheese broiled on an English muffin for lunch almost every day.  These days, he has a ‘thing’ about cheese.  He says he doesn’t like cheese, but sometimes he wavers.  He still loves English muffins though.  So I decided to try an experiment….

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Garlicky Spaghetti with Roasted Broccoli

Garlicky Spaghetti with Roasted Broccoli #WeekdaySupper

Garlicky Spaghetti with Roasted Broccoli

With 10 cloves of garlic, Garlicky Spaghetti with Roasted Broccoli is garlic lovers dream!  This easy recipe is quick to make, healthy and perfect for a weeknight.

When pressed for time, pasta one of our go-tos for a quick and easy dinner.  While it can be simple,  pasta is also versatile enough to allow for creativity…or at least some variety.  Whenever I try a new recipe, I look at the garlic amount and typically double it.  Not necessary with Garlicky Spaghetti with Roasted Broccoli.  It has 10 cloves of garlic!  I wondered if the garlic might be overwhelming, but it is tempered when sauteed and nicely balanced with the cheese and crushed red pepper.  Roasted broccoli adds a wonderful little crunch as well. …

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Tortellini Primavera - a quick and healthy pasta dish made on the lighter side!

Tortellini Primavera #WeekdaySupper


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Tortellini Primavera is a creamy, cheesy pasta dish made with with lots of vegetables.  It is quick, easy and healthy ~ perfect for a weeknight!

Like most people, we are always looking for quick and easy recipes for weeknight dinners.  While frozen pizza or takeout seem like a quick fix for those busy nights, we always prefer something healthier, tastier, and homemade.  But like I said, it has to be easy, right?  This Tortellini Primavera is all that, plus it’s super tasty!  With all the vegetables, the cheese, the creaminess, the cheese-filled tortellini, and being easy to make, you really can’t go wrong.  …

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Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup #SundaySupper

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup is smooth, creamy and a little spicy!  This delicious and health soup is easy to make and pure comfort food.

Since today is officially the first day of Fall, the Sunday Supper theme for this week is “Fall Foods.”  I had several ideas for this one, but after making Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup, it was the obvious choice to celebrate the season.  A warm soup made with sweet potatoes, that is smooth and creamy, is perfect comfort food for when the temperatures start to get cooler.  A little spice from the chipotle chile adds just enough heat and depth to make it interesting.   Made as-is, this Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup is vegan and gluten free….

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Sweet Potato Hummus - sweet, spicy, vegan, delicious!

Sweet Potato Hummus #SundaySupper

Sweet Potato Hummus is a little sweet, a little spicy and a lot delicious! This hummus is healthy, quick and easy to make, and vegan.

Sweet Potato Hummus from Alida's Kitchen

With Football season means it is tailgating time!  Whenever I’m tailgating, at a barbecue, picnic or party, the first thing I look for is something healthy, like fresh vegetables.  And if there is something healthy to go with them, such as hummus, I am a happy girl!  It just so happens that ‘tailgating’ is the theme for this week’s Sunday Supper, and I am bringing to the party a healthy treat to go with that ~ Sweet Potato Hummus!

Who would have thought the addition of sweet potato to a basic hummus recipe, along with some spice and some heat, would result in such a tasty (and healthy!) dip.   Paprika and chipotle seasoning really enhance the sweet potato and are otherwise complementary to the traditional hummus flavors.  Sweet Potato Hummus is also very easy to make and a wonderful accompaniment to a vegetable tray, pretzel crisps or whole wheat pita chips. It would also be great on a wrap or as a sandwich spread.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Sunday Supper group brought to our Tailgate party!

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