dinner recipe

Soy Ginger Marinated Chicken Drumsticks

April 20, 2016 by Danielle 1 Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The a2 Milk Company™. All opinions are 100% mine.

Remember when I shared about the awesomeness of a2 Milk®? Well we’re sharing some more with this yummy soy ginger marinated chicken drumsticks. Not only is this recipe easy to make, it has a fresh and delicious flavor that’s perfect for spring. Paired with some rice and roasted veggies and you have yourself a complete meal for the whole family. You could even throw this on the grill if the weather is nice outside!

Since this recipe can serve a crowd if doubled (or tripled) using a2 Milk® ensures that all of your guests will be able to enjoy eating it without tummy troubles. As I’ve mentioned before, a2 Milk® doesn’t have the A1 protein that gives some people issues after consuming dairy. That means this would be an awesome recipe for the next family barbecue or game day event!

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As I mentioned when I shared my strawberry vanilla overnight oats recipe, my 14 month old has been drinking more and more cow’s milk. And instead of hesitating, I’ve actually been more willing to give her milk because there is no A1 protein in a2 Milk®.

And so far, so good!

We’ve noticed a smooth transition from all breastmilk to breastmilk and cow’s milk and I couldn’t be happier. That means that Grandma is happier too because she can watch Norah longer and during the day.

Do you use a lot of marinades?

Interested in more info about a2 Milk®? Check them out on Twitter and Facebook or find where you can purchase it by using their Product Locator! Or check out the great recipes they have on Pinterest. And right now you can take advantage of this a2 Milk® $1 Off Coupon.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: chicken, dinner recipe, easy recipes, grilling recipes

Easy One-Pot Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes

September 14, 2015 by Danielle 1 Comment

Feeding the family on weeknights should be easy. This one-pot pot roast recipe is the perfect way to do just that. And while the humans are enjoying the pot roast, I’m serving my dog The Nutro™ Company as part of a sponsored series with Socialstars. #HonestToDog

Sometimes the hardest part about dinner for me is coming up with a great rotation of meals that my family loves. Mixing old favorites with new recipes is always a challenge. Especially with my more ~~picky~~ choosy eaters. You know… my husband. I kid. But creating new recipes like this easy one-pot pot roast – even if they’re a spin off of an old favorite – keeps me happy because I’m not serving the same old thing (buttered noodles anyone?) and the family is well fed.

However, the easiest family member to please by far in this house is our dog, Scout. With his old age, I’ve started to see him lose the excitement he once had for his daily meals. So as I spruced up our own dinner menu, I also decided to spruce up his as well. With NUTRO™ Rotations™ I can add variety to his diet without worrying about his stomach. If we’re having Chicken and Rice, so can he. And if he’s enjoying Lamb and Potatoes, we’ll enjoy this delicious pot roast with potatoes. Confession: I’ve only had lamb in a gyro. Maybe I should try a lamb dish next week!

And I knew he’d be interested in the change when I came home to find that he had helped himself to one of the bags of NUTRO™ Rotations™ in the pantry. Yes, he’s a pretty smart dog and was able to open the pantry door to feed himself. Guess he loved the Salmon and Barley. I love Salmon too so I don’t blame him.

What I love about dinnertime is that it’s the one time of the day that the whole family is around the table – including Scout. While we can talk about our day and go over what was our favorite part, and our not so favorite part, he can eat along side us or lay down and take a rest while enjoying our company.

And as I try and feed my family the most natural food I can, I’m at ease in knowing that Scout’s getting that same quality food in his natural dog food. Real Meat, poultry or fish is the first ingredient followed along with whole grains and the finest fruits and vegetables. What I’m putting on the table for my husband and kids is what he’ll be enjoying in his dog dish.

Easy One-Pot Pot Roast

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
3 cloves garlic, whole
1/2 onion, sliced
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
2lb beef pot roast
salt and pepper, to taste
4 carrots, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
1 potato, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces

Heat olive oil in a dutch oven on the stove. Add garlic cloves, onions, and rosemary. Cook until onions are transparent.

Remove onions, garlic, and rosemary from the pot and set aside. Add butter and let melt. Season both sides of roast in salt and pepper and sear on each side in dutch oven, about 3 minutes or until browned.

Remove roast and add carrots and potatoes into the dutch oven. Cook until slightly browned. Then nestle pot roast in carrots and potatoes and top roast with onions, garlic and rosemary.

Cook in oven until roast is done, about 30 minutes. Let meat rest for about 5-10 minutes and enjoy!

How do you share the dinner table with your pooch?

For more ideas on how to feed your pooch well, visit The Nutro Company on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

®/™Trademarks of © The Nutro Company 2015

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: beef, dinner recipe, dog food, easy recipes, Nutro, pot roast, Recipes, roast

Goldfish Crusted Chicken Tenders

December 15, 2014 by Danielle 9 Comments

This post featuring Goldfish Crusted Chicken Tenders has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GoldfishMix #CollectiveBias

As the kids get older they are more and more interested in helping me with the daily chores. But the one thing the are always bugging to help me with is dinner. While it sounds like it’d be something that would take forever with kids, having them help in the kitchen is actually … well… a help!

These Goldfish Crusted Chicken Tenders are not only absolutely delicious but the kids have a blast helping cook them. The only thing I have to do is supervise and do the actual cooking! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: chicken, dinner recipe, easy kid’s meals, Easy Meal Ideas, easy recipes, Goldfish, kid-friendly meals, kid-friendly recipes, kids food, Recipe

Pepperoni Recipe Ideas: Pepperoni Lasagna Roll Ups

December 2, 2014 by Danielle 11 Comments

This shop featuring Pepperoni Lasagna Roll Ups has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PepItUp

The one thing I love about the holidays are the meals I prepare with my family. Since we’ve hosted Christmas dinner the past few years we’ve started to change up what we serve.

A few years back I made these delicious lasagna roll ups with pancetta and spinach that were a huge hit.So for this year I wanted to try something a little different for an easy to prepare meal that was full of flavor. My change? adding Hormel Pepperoni! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: dinner recipe, Hormel Pepperoni, pepperoni, Pepperoni Recipe Ideas, Recipe

Lemon Artichoke Chicken Pasta + Pantry Staples to Save Time

October 15, 2014 by Danielle 11 Comments

One thing I depend on as a busy mom (and exhausted pregnant lady) are the kitchen hacks I’ve come to learn over the years. One of my favorites depends on a well stocked pantry and freezer. I’ve been saved countless nights from the dreaded “what’s for dinner” question by having go-to pantry meals to serve for dinner.

Now I’ve been buying Dorot frozen crushed garlic and chopped basil for years now but during a recent grocery trip I was surprised to find sautéed glazed onions next to my beloved garlic and basil. I may have shed a small tear of joy (because I wouldn’t have to chop onions anymore!!).

By stocking up on Dorot products I bypass the time it takes to chop up herbs, garlic, and now onions before preparing my meal. That’s like 5-10 minutes of savings!

I also try and keep items like marinated artichoke hearts in the pantry for my favorite fresh AND easy 30 minute meals – like this lemon artichoke chicken pasta.

Being able to simply dump out a jar of artichoke hearts into the basil, garlic and onions already cooking is far easier than adding the various seasonings needed to get the delicious flavor these marinated artichoke hearts give to the dish.

Bonus Tip: Another great time saving kitchen hack? Pound your chicken breasts into thin cutlets so they cook faster!

What I love about recipes like these is that I literally have everything I need right in my pantry and freezer! The only thing I added was a fresh squeeze of lemon but if you have lemon juice in the fridge you’re good to go!

The only thing I have to remember? To take the chicken out of the freezer! You’d be surprised at how hard this step is when you’re running around all day.

Pasta is a great go-to on busy nights. And sauces like this don’t have to be complicated. A few simple ingredients that lend themselves to one another can create a stellar dish even picky eaters like mine will enjoy.

Or you can always reach for my other pantry staple – marinara sauce. With the holidays coming up I foresee a busy time ahead and will need all of the hacks I can use!

If you’re looking for more kitchen hacks I highly suggest checking out the Hacks of Life pinterest board. So many great ideas and a TON of genius cooking hacks.

Lemon Artichoke Chicken Pasta

1 box angel hair pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 chicken breasts
flour (for dredging)
salt & pepper
1 Dorot crushed garlic cube
1 Dorot chopped basil cube
1 Dorot Sautéed Onion cube
1 jar Fresh & Easy marinated artichoke hearts
1 cup chicken broth
juice of 1/2 a lemon

Set pot of water on the stove to boil. Sprinkle in some salt.
While waiting for water to boil, place chicken breast (1 at a time) in a quart size zippered bag and pound to about 1/2 an inch thin.
Heat a large pan on medium and add olive oil.
Add salt and pepper to flour and dredge thin chicken breasts in it on each side. Place chicken in olive oil once heated and brown on both sides. Take chicken out and set aside.
By this time your water might be boiling. Add pasta and cook as directed on the packaging.
Add garlic, basil, and onions to the pan and sauté until thawed. Add the jar of artichoke hearts and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and let cook until pasta is done, allowing sauce to reduce.
Chop chicken into strips or small pieces, whichever you prefer.
Once pasta is done, drain and add to the sauce pan. Sprinkle with juice of 1/2 a lemon.Toss, serve in a bowl, and top with chicken.

What’s your favorite kitchen hack?

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: 30 Minute Meals, artichoke, chicken, dinner recipe, lemon, Pasta

Budget Friendly Meals: BBQ Ranch Chicken and Rice Casserole

September 23, 2014 by Danielle 7 Comments

This shop featuring budget friendly meals and my bbq ranch chicken and rice casserole recipe has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RollIntoSavings

Budget friendly meals are a must for this family. After purchasing a new house and the added expenses of having a child in private school and another in preschool, I prefer to plan a little and make the most of my pantry staples and weekly grocery trips to create meal plans each week.

Keeping dinner under $20 is especially important in between paydays. Times can be tight before the 1st and 15th of the month so a well stocked pantry and a plan have allowed me to save big without losing on well-balanced meals for my family. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: budget friendly meals, casserole, casseroles, chicken, chicken casseroles, dinner recipe

Grown Up Mac and Cheese with Bacon

July 23, 2014 by Danielle 2 Comments

This adapted mac and cheese has been a favorite of mine since I first started making it back when I was pregnant with my son. It’s the ultimate comfort food and is something I know will always please a crowd.

With the addition of bacon, and the panko crust, this mac and cheese is taken from ordinary to extraordinary. But I really think that the secret ingredient is the pinch of nutmeg. It really does change the flavor for the better!

If you’re a huge fan of mac and cheese I highly suggest you try this grown up mac and cheese with bacon. It’s well worth it. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: bacon, dinner recipe, mac and cheese, Pasta

Easy Summer Dinners: KRAFT Chopped Grilled Chicken Salad

June 13, 2014 by Danielle 2 Comments

This post brought to you by KRAFT Natural Shredded Cheese and Safeway. All opinions are 100% mine.

During these hot months the one thing I love are easy summer dinners. Meals that I can prep in advance and throw together in minutes for the whole family to enjoy as well as meals that are tasty and perfect for when we have company over.

We’re in the midst of moving right now but still want to have friends over so this weekend we kept things simple and made this delicious Chopped Grilled Chicken Salad. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dinner, Drinks & Refreshments, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: 30 Minute Meals, dinner recipe, Healthy Quick Dinners, KRAFT, Summer

Easy Weeknight Dinner: Leftover Pot Roast Pot Pies

December 4, 2013 by Danielle 18 Comments

I created my Pot Roast Pot Pies using Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauce as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars. #CampbellsSkilledSaucers

I have a love-hate relationship with my slow cooker. Because sometimes I have these amazing, awesome creations that everyone raves about. And other times I’m calling the pizza guy before my husband gets home because what’s in the slow cooker is definitely inedible. Luckily since I’ve found Campbell’s Slow Cooker sauce I can create an easy weeknight dinner AND create a second dinner for another night in the week with the leftovers.

Each time I’ve used these sauces I’m left with an absolutely delicious meal that the whole family loves. Lucky for me I’m stocked up on all of my favorite flavors. I love the Tavern Style Pot Roast: roasted garlic, mushrooms, cooked in it’s own gravy. Delicious. And the leftovers? They make these awesome leftover pot roast pot pies!

Creating a simply amazing weeknight dinner that can be turned into two meals is simple and easy! First you grab one of your favorite Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces. Then grab the meat you want to use. Feel free to add veggies as well but I prefer the texture of roasted veggies with my crock pot meals. In as little as 5 minutes your whole dinner will be prepped with the help of Campbell’s Slow Cooker Sauces.

In order to get a great texture on my roasts, if I’m cooking beef or pork I like to sear the sides of the meat first before placing it into the crock pot. 2-3 minutes per side in some olive oil should be more than enough time. But if you don’t have the time, or simply want to keep things as easy as possible, this step is not required.

When my slow cooker meal is about an hour away from being done I prep the sides. Small potatoes, carrots, and parsnips go great with the Tavern Style Pot Roast. I left the potatoes whole and cut the veggies into sticks.

Then coated everything in olive oil and tossed with some salt, pepper, fresh rosemary and roasted garlic. Throw the veggies and potatoes in the oven to roast about 30-40 minutes on 375 degrees or until slightly golden and tender.

If there are any leftovers from this quick and easy slow cooker recipe (and there were for my small family) save them! Because this is where the magic happens. Two dinners from one slow cooker meal! Pot roast turns into pot roast pot pies for a meal a few nights later.

The only difficult thing about this second meal is the fact that I made the dough from scratch. But guess what? My food processor did all of the work!

Homemade dough takes less than 5 minutes to put together if you do have a food processor. I’m pretty sure it’s cheaper than store-bought dough too but I won’t judge if you opt to use that! Crescent roll dough would be tasty on these as well.

Grab our delicious savory dough recipe here!

Leftover Pot Roast Pot Pies

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups chicken stock
2 servings leftover pot roast
2 servings leftover potatoes & veggies
salt & pepper to taste if needed
pot pie crust

Heat butter on medium in a small sauce pan until melted. While whisking butter, add flour. Make sure to break up any lumps.
Cook until butter and flour mixture starts to smell nutty and is a golden brown color.
Slowly add stock while whisking continuously until everything is combined. Let cook another 2-3 minutes or until sauce is thickened. A good way to check this is to dip a spoon into the sauce and put a line down the spoon. If the line fills up, it’s not thick enough!
Once sauce is thickened, add diced meat, potatoes, and veggies. Let cook until heated thoroughly. Add salt and pepper if needed.
Grab pie dough from the fridge and roll out to about 1/4″ thick. Trace a circle in the dough with a butter knife using the dishes you’re baking the pot pies in as a guide.
Fill each dish with equal amounts of pot pie filling and cover with pie dough. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until top of pie dough is golden brown.

There are a total of 5 different Campbell’s Slow Cooker sauces available on store shelves including Tavern Style Pot Roast, Sweet Korean BBQ, Hawaiian Luau, Moroccan Spiced Stew, and Mexican Red Chile Taco.

I’m definitely trying the Sweet Korean BBQ next. How amazing would that taste over rice? And maybe Korean BBQ tacos later on in the week! Yum. What would you try?

What’s your favorite slow cooker meal?

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: beef, Campbell's, Campbell's Slow Cooker sauces, dinner recipe, pot roast, Slow Cooker, Socialstars

Caprese Salad Pasta with Chicken Sauté {Quick Dinner Recipes}

October 28, 2013 by Danielle 21 Comments

I’ve always been a huge fan of quick dinner recipes. Ones that don’t take a lot of time to prepare and just fall together easily. No worrying about if I remembered the vegetables or started the rice. My favorite quick fix meals are easy chicken recipes that my kids will eat.

Since the weekends are usually my time to kick back, relax, and enjoy some family time, I make sure I have some quick dinner recipes up my sleeve to make mealtimes easier. And luckily now I have Land O’Lakes Sauté Express® Sauté Starter to help me out.

The caprese salad pasta I made took less than 15 minutes to prepare and all I chopped up were the tomatoes and cheese. Nothing hard or time consuming about that. I didn’t even add salt and pepper before putting the chicken in the pan.

Quick Dinner Recipes

As a busy mom with two little ones I have a few 30 minute meals up my sleeve that take little to no thinking on my part. Except for the fact that I need to have all of the ingredients on hand.

But now my life has been made easier… finding these Sauté Express® Sauté Starter packages from Land O’Lakes has allowed me to keep making delicious and tasty meals for the family but has cut the cooking time in half.

Another lifesaver? Chicken tenders! They take like a third of the time chicken breasts take to cook and are just as good. Plus the kids love the size.

Caprese Salad Pasta with Chicken Sauté

2 servings spinach linguini pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup mozzarella, diced
1/2 cup basil pesto
1 Land O’Lakes Sauté Express® Sauté Starter in garlic & herb
1/2 pound chicken tenders

Fill a pot with water and bring to a boil. Add spinach linguini and cook until al dente as per the instructions on the packaging.

While water is coming to a boil, cut the cherry tomatoes and toss with the diced mozzarella and pesto in a small bowl. Set aside.

When pasta is cooking, grab a saute pan and add Sauté Express® Sauté Starter. Cook on medium low heat until bubbling. Add chicken to the pan and cook until browned on each side, about 7-10 minutes. Place cooked chicken on a plate and remove from heat.

Once the pasta is done cooking, add the noodles to the caprese salad mixture (tomatoes, mozzarella, and pesto) and toss well. Serve pasta on a plate and top with sauteed garlic & herb chicken.

What’s your favorite quick fix meal?

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: 30 Minute Meals, Dinner, dinner recipe, quick dinner recipes