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broccoli pea pesto pasta from Alida's Kitchen

Broccoli Pea Pesto Pasta #WeekdaySupper

Broccoli Pea Pesto Pasta

Broccoli Pea Pesto Pasta is a creamy pasta dish made healthier with broccoli, peas and Greek yogurt.  The peas add a freshness to the sauce and crushed red pepper  gives it a little kick.  This is a delicious way to eat your veggies and quick to make for a weeknight!  {can be gluten free based on pasta choice}

On my quest to perfecting this Broccoli Pea Pesto Pasta recipe, I made several batches of broccoli pesto pasta (no peas).  Then I tweaked the broccoli, the yogurt, the cheese, used onions, didn’t use onions, used raw garlic, sauteed the garlic.  Finally I had it – the perfect broccoli pesto pasta recipe.  The only problem was when I went to make this ‘perfect recipe,’ we had only half a stalk of broccoli.   I couldn’t go to the store because Greta was napping, yet I promised Adam broccoli pasta for dinner (and we all know how easy it can be to explain such things to a 3 year old).  Clearly I had to come up with something.  So I tried to get into a 3 year old frame of mind – we have peas, Adam loves peas, peas are green – this should work, right?   I measured out the amount of broccoli I had and then made up the rest with peas to equal one pound.  I finished the recipe according to my plan and crossed fingers that Adam a) wouldn’t notice it’s different and b) would like it.  Obviously since I am telling you this story, you know the outcome – he loved it!…

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Quick and Easy Salsa Chicken

Quick and Easy Salsa Chicken #WeekdaySupper #FamilyDinnerTable

Quick and Easy Salsa Chicken

From busy weeknights to inexperienced cooks and everything in between, Quick and Easy Salsa Chicken is a simple yet tasty recipe that everybody needs to have in their recipe box.

Quick and Easy Salsa Chicken is a great choice for when you’re looking to make something fast that is healthy too.   It can be made in less than 15 minutes, and this recipe is very hands off, just put everything in the pan and cook.   Cutting the chicken into bite-size pieces inevitably speeds up the cooking process for the chicken.   While I listed the measurements for what I used in the recipe below, this recipe is very flexible and these amounts are not strict.  Just make sure the salsa covers your chicken and you’re good to go!…

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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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Chicken Marsala with Parmesan Orzo

Chicken Marsala with Parmesan Orzo #campbellsauces

15-Minute Meal: Chicken Marsala with Parmesan Orzo

Chicken Marsala with Parmesan Orzo is a delicious and easy dinner favorite made in less than 20 minutes.  A weekend-worthy dinner made with weeknight-level effort!

As we get closer to the Holidays and life gets more and more busy, quick and easy dinner recipes are always welcome.  This Chicken Marsala with Parmesan Orzo takes less than 20 minutes to make a complete dinner….

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#shop-chicken-fajita-pasta #kraftrecipemakers

Chicken Fajita Pasta | quick family meals

#shop #kraftrecipemakers

#shop Chicken Fajita Pasta #kraftrecipemakers

Chicken Fajita Pasta is a healthy and quick family meal made delicious using a Kraft Recipe Makers meal kit!  

After a long day of  juggling two kids, their activities, naps (or no naps), the big question is ‘what’s for dinner tonight?’  While we often have big ideas of recipes to try, what we really end up needing is a quick, easy meal.  We want something healthy too.  This Chicken Fajita Pasta is just that – healthy, easy and delicious!  It is made with fresh chicken, vegetables, cheese and a delicious sauce, which is actually my new secret weapon.  This little secret of mine is Kraft Recipe Makers!

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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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Barbecue Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes from Alida's Kitchen

Barbecue Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato #WeekdaySupper #FamilyDinnerTable

Barbecue Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato is a delicious combination of tangy-sweet barbecue chicken with a sweet potato, topped with green onions (and optional cheese).   This super easy dish is perfect for a weeknight! 

Barbecue Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato | Alida's Kitchen

One of our favorite summer meals is to grill barbecue chicken, served with a side of sweet potato fries and a green vegetable or side salad.  Barbecue Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato is kind of a spin on the meat and potatoes of that meal, only simplified.  Instead of peeling and cutting the sweet potatoes, just scrub, poke and bake.  For the chicken, I typically utilize one of three go-to options:  1) The easiest option is to use any leftover Baked Barbecue Chicken; 2) Poach and shred chicken breast; or 3) Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store and shred it.  With whichever method is used, just toss the shredded chicken in a sauce pan with additional barbecue sauce to warm up and moisten the chicken.

Last Sunday, the Sunday Supper Movement partnered up with American Family Insurance as they launch their Back to the Family Dinner Campaign.  The theme was big Sunday Supper meals that make leftovers to be reinvented into Weekday Suppers.  Barbecue Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potato is one of my favorite recipes for using up leftover Baked Barbecue Chicken, and I am pleased for the opportunity to share this with you for this Weekday Supper!…

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Lean Cuisine Honestly Good

Honestly Good Meals

 This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Lean Cuisine, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #HonestlyGood #ad http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Lean Cuisine Honestly Good

With Fall schedules in full swing, between school and activities for Adam, and Greta’s new favorite hobby of walking all over the place (with assistance, but yikes!), life is bizzzzy!  Add in Mike traveling for work, and it can be downright exhausting.  By the end of the day, sometimes it is hard to muster up the energy to cook a dinner for one.  While I have a long list of quick and easy dinner recipes, it seems like a lot of work to cook for just me (especially since Mike typically does the dishes).  It is important to set a healthy example for the kids, however, so frozen pizza (or just ice cream!) just won’t do.

LC-collage

For my latest dinner for one, I was standing in the frozen foods section at Target trying to find something quick and easy, but healthy too.  One of my friends recommended Lean Cuisine’s new collection of Lean Cuisine Honestly Good meals.  Having been underwhelmed by frozen meals before, I admit I was skeptical.  But I was willing to take her word for it.  Since they are full of 100% all natural, wholesome ingredients with a sauce you add yourself, it was worth a try!

There are six different varieties to choose from:   Honey Citrus Chicken, Lemongrass Salmon, Pineapple Black Pepper Beef, Plum Ginger Grain-Crusted Fish, Pomegranate Chicken, Roasted Red Pepper Chicken.

I chose Roasted Red Pepper Chicken, and in just 5 easy minutes, I had…well look at the picture first, then I will tell you about it….

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Baked Barbecue Chicken ~ easy and healthy!

Baked Barbecue Chicken #SundaySupper #FamilyDinnerTable

Baked Barbecue Chicken ~ easy and healthy!

Baked  Barbecue Chicken is a quick and easy recipe for enjoying a classic favorite, made in a healthy way.  For some reason, Barbecue Chicken always makes me think of summer, but we enjoy this dish no matter what the weather is outside – even when there are several feet (!!) of snow on the ground!  Perhaps it’s a little too early to be discussing snow…

The concept of Baked Barbecue Chicken is not new to the blog.  I have made a few tweaks to the previous recipe to simplify the process and yield a shorter cooking time ~ all with great results.   This recipe is very easy.  You can make your own barbecue-style sauce (like this easy pantry sauce or this one if you like some spice).  If you prefer, a store-bought sauce also works great.  The recipe can easily be adjusted to yield more or fewer servings to fit your needs.   I like to make plenty of extras because barbecue chicken is so versatile  and leftovers can be transformed into something different for a quick and easy weeknight supper….

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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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