Dinner

Kid Friendly Baked Caprese Chicken With Fresh Herbs from the Garden

May 8, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by Culligan Water as part of an Integrated Program for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

This baked caprese chicken is full of fresh flavor straight from the garden! And our 3-year-old helped prepare the dish from start to finish. Read on to find out how you can get your kids interested in dinner again!

Remember a few weeks ago when we were talking all things herbs and I showed how we made an indoor hanging herb garden? Well, our herbs reacted so well to our new Culligan Water filtration system that we’ve been able to utilize fresh herbs in the recipes we’ve been making.

Since my youngest has become obsessed with all things gardening, I thought it’d be fun to have her help me make a meal from start to finish wiht a few of the fun things we’re growing in both our hanging herb garden and outside raised beds. And this baked caprese chicken dish includes so many wonderful elements from what we’ve grown so far.

Speaking of elements, we couldn’t be happier with our experience with the Culligan Water system. It’s gone above and beyond our expectations so far.

One of the best parts about our new Culligan Water filtration system is the fact that it’s so easy to utilize. Not only can the kids go to the sink to get filtered water to drink, they can fill up the watering cans and water the garden so that our plants are getting the full benefits of Culligan Water as well.

And the plants aren’t the only ones perking up with the new reverse osmosis water filtration system! The kids are actually going over and filling up their reusable water bottles and cups throughout the day without hesitation. No more asking for juice or complaining that there’s only water in the house to drink. When I asked them about it, they said that the water tastes better now. I’ll take that as a win in my book!

I haven’t even gotten to the details of the water softening system and its effects on our soap usage! Did you know that by using a water softening system, you don’t have to use as much soap in your washer (dish or laundry)? Even in the shower? And without the harsh effects of the hard water we have here in San Diego, the girls’ skin seems to be seeing a benefit to having the new system in place.

Did you know that Culligan Water is a world leader in innovative water filtration systems not only in homes but in offices as well? We’ve found that Culligan Water is able to provide water solutions for our whole home by identifying the water issues we have. Those include everything from hard water to the taste of our water.

We’re lucky that Culligan Water’s goal is to provide the best possible customer service experience and have experienced this first hand! In addition to leaving users with water we can trust, they also ensure customers can provide the best in our homes for ourselves and loved ones.

With Culligan Water products every day is a “good water day.” Now let’s get to that delicious baked caprese chicken recipe!

Kid Friendly Baked Caprese Chicken Printable Recipe

Baked Caprese Chicken

2 chicken breasts, cut in half
1/2 cup fresh mozzarella
6 hothouse tomatoes, sliced
9-12 leaves fresh basil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1-2 tbsp olive oil

Lay chicken breast pieces in an oven safe dish and preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Let your kids layer the salt and pepper, cheese, tomatoes, and basil over chicken.
Bake chicken for 25 minutes or until bubbly and slightly golden on the top and chicken fully cooked.

Want to learn more about how you can be a bit more water wise?

Here are some more water-wise resources!

DIY Indoor Herb Garden

Water Conservation Tips: What Can You Do?

Adding Desert Plants to Your Garden

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Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes

Creamy Avocado Pasta with Lemon and Garlic

March 29, 2017 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This creamy avocado pasta with lemon and garlic is ready in less than 30 minutes with the help of our sponsor, Barilla, available at Walmart.

You know when you’ve been so busy the whole weekend and then realize you completely forgot to come up with a game plan for dinner on Monday night? This is the meal I make when that happens. And wouldn’t you know? it happens more often than not.

Luckily avocados are in season right now and we can go pick a few off our neighbor’s tree (after asking of course) to use when we need them. Our lemon tree is doing quite well too so pairing the two flavors together make for a pretty delicious meal pairing.

One thing I love about this meal is that it uses ingredients I either always have on hand or have readily available with little effort. We try and stock our pantry with must-have items like Barilla Whole Grain pasta and sauces. Not only are they great for meals in a pinch, but I also know that my family is getting a meal that meets their nutritional needs.

Barilla Whole Grain pasta is a great source of fiber and is made with 100% whole wheat. My family is getting 56g of whole grain in each serving of pasta. It also pairs perfectly with lean proteins like salmon or chicken but can hold it’s own as a full meal as well, just like this recipe.

Normally we make creamy avocado pasta and pair it with salmon when we have it on hand, but if we don’t, we can forgo the lean protein and just eat this dish as a full meal. I’ve also been known to throw some shrimp into the dish as an alternative option. The creaminess of the avocado adds to the delicacy of the seafood. And who doesn’t love the flavor of garlic and lemon with salmon and shrimp?

Creamy Avocado Pasta with Lemon and Garlic

6 ounces Barilla Whole Grain Linguini
4 tablespoons olive oil (divided in half)
1/4 cup onion (diced)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tablespoons Barilla pesto
1/2 avocado (diced & mashed)
salt to taste
Saute onions and garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Set aside.

Saute onions and garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Set aside.
Cook Barilla Whole Grain Linguini according to package directions. Drain and add to a heated pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Add sauteed onions and garlic and Barilla pesto to pasta and cook 1-2 minutes.
Add mashed avocado and stir to combine. Remove from heat and serve.

Serving size: 1/2 cup of pasta

What’s your favorite springtime flavor to pair with pasta?

Looking to save a little more than time on this quick and easy dinner? Grab a coupon from Ibotta to use at Walmart when you’re stocking up on your favorite Barilla pasta and sauces!

Find more great recipes to enjoy with your Barilla pasta and sauces by following this Pinterest board for simple, delicious pasta dishes inspired by Barilla.

Love this recipe? Check out a few more:

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Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: 30 Minute Meals, avocado, Barilla, Dinner, easy dinner, easy recipes, lemon, Pasta

Homemade Turkey Instant Pot Tamales + How To Battle Heartburn

November 11, 2016 by Danielle 7 Comments

This shop featuring Homemade Turkey Instant Pot Tamales has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ad #MakeHeartburnHistory #CollectiveBias

With the holidays right around the corner, we’re already planning our Thanksgiving meal. Since my mother in law will be out of town, I’m trying to think outside the box and am considering a few alternate main courses for our Thanksgiving dinner table. And these homemade instant pot tamales totally fit that bill! Paired with some rice, beans, and some bunuelos for dessert, our whole meal could take less than an hour to prep with family and make instead of the full day of cooking it normally takes.

Every year my mom would make enchiladas for Christmas so why not tamales for Thanksgiving, right? Tamales are the perfect meal to get the whole family involved with. Everyone can help make tamales. Plus you can use a turkey filling for the traditional turkey meal! And when you can make them in the instant pot, it’s even better! Because they cook a lot faster than the stovetop steaming method. But for those who may suffer from frequent heartburn, this meal may not look so appetizing.

Heartburn sucks. As someone who’s suffered from heartburn since I was a young teen, I’m very familiar with the symptoms and issues that come with frequent heartburn. Not being able to enjoy my favorite foods because they trigger heartburn would take the joy out of family meals. And as someone who’s grown up eating Mexican food on a regular basis, not having my favorite spicy foods just isn’t going to work! Luckily I have Nexium® 24HR 42ct Tablets* in my medicine cabinet.

Homemade Turkey Instant Pot Tamales

36 corn husks
3 cups of masa harina
2 cups low sodium chicken stock
8 ounces lard (manteca)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 cups shredded cooked turkey

Soak corn husks for about 1-2 hours in water. Mix 3 cups of masa harina with 2 cups chicken stock and let rest, covered, for 15 minutes.

Combine lard, salt, and baking powder in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat on medium-high speed until well whipped, about 1 minute.

Add one-fourth of the masa at a time to the lard, beating between additions until thoroughly incorporated. Add chicken stock and continue beating until dough is light and has a soft and spreadable hummus-like texture. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Remove tamale dough mixture from the fridge.

Working one at a time, grab a corn husk and place 2-3 tablespoons of tamale dough on larger end of husk and spread into a rectangle approximately 1/4 inch thick, leaving a 1-inch border around edges of husk. Place a heaping tablespoon of turkey in a line down center of dough. Fold over sides of husk so dough surrounds filling, then fold bottom of husk up and secure closed by tying a thin strip of husk around tamale. Repeat with remaining husks, dough, and turkey.

Fill Instant Pot with 1 cup of water and add steam basket or rack. Rest tamales upright in Instant Pot above the water level. Cover and cook on manual for 20 minutes. Use the quick pressure release method to release pressure in the Instant Pot. Once the silver pin has dropped and it’s safe to open the lid, remove tamales from Instant Pot and let rest until dough firms up, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately with salsa verde or store in refrigerator for up to a week or freeze for up to four months. Defrost and reheat tamales in Instant Pot using the same timing.

Makes 3 dozen tamales.

Getting together for the holidays is about the experiences we create with our loved ones. Sharing a meal doesn’t have to mean we stick with our traditional ideas of Thanksgiving dinner. Consider stepping out of the box yourself and trying something new this holiday season! Instead of spending hours in the kitchen while the family is in the living room, cut it down to 30 minutes of cook time and spend that extra time with your friends and family making tamales.

Don’t want to skip the traditional bird for Thanksgiving? Enjoy these tamales the weekend after Thanksgiving and use up the leftovers! Perhaps host your own friendsgiving and have friends come over to help make them with you.

And if frequent heartburn hits, don’t let it ruin your holiday! Nexium® 24HR provides protection from frequent heartburn so everyone can enjoy the best flavors of the holidays. Did you know just one pill a day provides all-day, all-night protection from frequent heartburn – no matter what triggers it?* Pretty awesome!

You can save now on Nexium® 24HR at Walgreens! Just head over to the aisle with the acid reducers and check out these savings:

November 13, 2016 -National FSI – $5.00 coupon on Nexium 24HR (28 ct. and 42 ct.)
November 1 – 30, 2016 – In-Store Walgreens coupon – $2.00 off Nexium 24HR (48 ct.)
November 1 – 30, 2016 – Special price in-store – Two Nexium 24HR (28 ct.) for $40.00

*May take 1 to 4 days for full effect. Use as directed.

What’s your favorite holiday meal?

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes Tagged With: Instant Pot, Instant Pot Recipes, tamales, Turkey

5 Tips for Making Weeknight Dinners Easier + A Southwestern Steak + Sweet Potato Bowl Recipe

September 22, 2016 by Danielle

These 5 tips for making weeknight dinners easier were inspired by our sponsor, Terra’s Kitchen. Read ahead to find out how you can save time and money in the kitchen while still getting delicious dinners on the table during the week!

We are now in the throes of school life and as we near the busiest time of the year, I’ve really started planning ahead. That means keeping up with my calendar, staying on top of our budget, and making sure I have dinner on the table every night. Sometimes that last challenge is harder than you’d think!

In an effort to not only stay on top of our budget (eating out is expensive!) but also make sure I have dinner ready nightly, I’ve come up with a few ways that I can cut a few corners by planning in advance and using tools like Terra’s Kitchen to make my week a LOT easier.

5 Tips for Making Weeknight Dinners Easier

1. Meal Delivery

I’ve tried out a few frozen or prepared meals out in the past but I just can’t get over not being able to cook my own food. Now don’t get me wrong, I do love my microwave for things like popcorn and microwavable bacon (the kids can make their own and there’s no mess!). But cooking my meals in the microwave from the freezer just isn’t as tasty.

So when I heard about Terra’s Kitchen and looked at the weekly menu offerings they had, I was excited to try out a few of their meals through their meal delivery program. Not only is it not frozen, it comes in a climate-controlled vessel straight to your front door. When I unloaded the vessel, I simply removed the removable shipping label, placed it back outside, and it was picked up the next day and on it’s way to shipping more food to someone else. These vessels can be used up to 100 times! Waay better than the styrofoam packaging I was used to for previous services.

2. Meal Planning

With Terra’s Kitchen, I can input the meals I’ll be making from them into my weekly meal plan. That means I’m only shopping for breakfast and lunch (and a few items for snacks). I don’t have to worry about dinners because I’ll be making healthy meals in 30 minutes or less with my Terra’s Kitchen orders!

Meal planning really does help for more than just dinner. And it’s a great way to stay on track with our budget because we only buy what we’ve planned to eat. It also allows me to keep an eye out for weekly specials and coupons in the paper. It may sound daunting to take this time on the weekend but it does pay to plan ahead when there are PTG meetings, soccer practice, and homework looming over our heads during the week.

Terra’s Kitchen includes the ingredients list and recipes of each of their meal items and it’s conveniently printed on a 3 hole punched piece of card stock so you can easily add it to your meal planning binder. If you love a recipe, you’ll know exactly what to purchase to recreate the meal again and again in your home!

3. Prepping Ahead

When I meal plan for the week, I also try and get all of my prep work done in advance on Sundays. That way I don’t have to think about cutting and chopping during the week. I also pre-package the kids snacks for lunches as well so they’re easy to grab.

Well, Terra’s Kitchen does the same thing! All of the ingredients I received were pre-portioned and pre-chopped ready to go straight to the fridge. And the containers they were in fit perfectly on top of one another. It was kind of fun playing Tetris in my fridge to get everything to fit perfectly! Plus there was still room for the essentials we always keep in the fridge.

Tip: You can use the containers your food comes in as seed starters for your garden! We’ll be sharing our seed starting tips next week so stay tuned!

4. Freezer Meals

Now I know that things do come up and sometimes we don’t even have the mere 30 minutes to cook a meal. So I prep ahead and turn leftovers from one meal into freezer meals for a meal in the future. I turned the leftovers from this amazingly delicious Southwest Steak and Sweet Potato bowl into mini pot pies to gobble up in the near future when all I have time for is turning on an oven and sticking a freezer meal in to bake. By prepping freezer meals for the oven or the slow cooker, I can make sure the days we don’t have a Terra’s Kitchen meal are covered!

5. Time Management

My biggest enemy during the week is time. The time between picking the kids up from school and dinner is a big black vortex that seems to disappear before my eyes. No, seriously. I have NO idea how time goes so quickly between then.

So in an effort to be better with time management, in addition to meal planning, shopping, and prepping on the weekends, I also set a timer to go off 30 minutes before my husband normally comes home from work so I know when I have to start cooking dinner. It’s so easy to get sucked into working just a little longer when you work from home so setting limits and timers is important.

By setting aside this time and scheduling it for these tasks, I’m able to stay on top of feeding the family. And a fed family is a happy family!

Southwestern Steak and Sweet Potatoes Bowl

Recipe courtesy of Terra’s Kitchen

16 ounces sweet potato chunks
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon canola oil
1/4 teaspoon cumin
.7 ounces jalapeno slices
.3 ounces minced garlic
12 ounces skirt steak
2.25 ounces sliced scallions
1 avocado

1. Preheat the oven t o450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil.

2. Cook the Potatoes: Pour sweet potatoes onto baking sheet. Pour 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of cumin (optional) over sweet potatoes and toss with your hands to coat. Place in the oven and roast until browned and tender (approximately 20 minutes). In the last 5 minutes of cook time, chop the remaining jalapeno and use a spatula to stir it into the potatoes along with the remaining garlic and all of the scallions.

3. Make the Steak Rub: Pour half of the jalapeno slices, half the garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper into a small pile on a cutting board and keep cutting through the mixture with your knife until the jalapeno releases juices and you have made a wet paste. Rub mixture over steaks.

4. Cook the Steaks: Rub a grill pan with 1 teaspoon of canola oil and place over high heat. Once grill starts to smoke, add steaks and cook to medium rare, turning once (approximately 3-4 minutes per side). Remove to a plate and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Slice against the grain and make sure to save the juices on your plate to use later.

5. Dice the avocado by cutting in half, removing the pit, using a pairing knife to cross hatch the flesh and scoop out flesh with a spoon.

To Serve: Divide sweet potatoes between two bowls and drizzle the steak pan juices over each. Fan sliced steak over potatoes and top with diced avocado.

Do you have any tips for easy weeknight dinners?

Want to try Terra’s Kitchen for yourself? Use code SIMM30 at check out and save $30 off your first order (no expiration). The only condition is a minimal order of $64.99 (which is always the minimum to ship). Enjoy!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Terra’s Kitchen. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Uncategorized Tagged With: 30 Minute Meals, budget friendly meals, Easy Meal Ideas, family meals, home delivery meals, meal, Terra's Kitchen

Low Carb Fish Tacos + a Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

July 20, 2016 by Danielle 2 Comments

It is summer and I just do not feel like cooking big, heavy meals. So when I grabbed a box of salmon fillets from Costco a few weeks ago, I was dying to try them out. The fillets go in the oven (boo) but cook really quickly and what you can do with them afterwards is even better!

We had been just serving the fillets with some veggies or over a salad but I decided to get a little creative and create some mock fish tacos that fit my low carb lifestyle. I’ve been low carb since the beginning of June (actually started last year but that lost steam around the holidays). With my new lifestyle, I also started a blog because… why not? It’s a local blog that covers local restaurants and how to eat low carb around San Diego but it’s also going to be chocked full of the LCHF recipes I try out. Like this lettuce wrapped mahi mahi taco with low carb tartar sauce.

I’ll make sure to share a snippet and photos of my recipes here with a link over to the full recipe on each post so you can stay in the loop! And if you’re living a low carb lifestyle already, I’d love to hear your go-to food ideas!

Grab the full recipe here:

LETTUCE WRAPPED MAHI MAHI TACOS WITH LOW CARB TARTAR SAUCE

Filed Under: Dinner, Health & Wellness, In the Kitchen, LCHF, Recipes, Uncategorized, weight loss Tagged With: fish, Low Carb, low carb high fat, Low Carb Recipes, Low Carb San DIego, tacos

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

10 Ways to Cook Carrots {From Garden to Table}

January 4, 2016 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I know winter just arrived but I’m already thinking about my garden and what I am going to plant in it as soon as I find the time! Now that we’ve moved our chickens to another part of the yard, I can get my garden going again without the fear of them eating just about everything in there. One thing that the kids love to plant is carrots.

Not only are they super easy to grow, they’re also delicious in many different ways. From pulling them up and eating them right out of the ground (after a little washing) to cleaning and chopping them up into our favorite soups, to throwing them in the new Vitamix I got and juicing them!

There are quite a few ways to cook carrots but sometimes you just go with what you know. I find myself just roasting them up or steaming them but I could be doing so much more! Below are 10 ways to spruce up how you’re using carrots. And I’m pretty sure my kids wouldn’t think twice if I put a few in their mac and cheese!

10 Ways to Cook Carrots

Maple Glazed Carrots with Bacon | Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Shredded Potato, Beet and Carrot Latkes for Easter Brunch | Handmade in the Heartland
Steamed Honey Glazed Carrot Medallions | It Happens in a Blink
Carrot and White Bean Veggie Cutlets | Amuse Your Bouche
Sneaky Carrot Mac and Cheese | White House Black Shutters
Carrot and Bok Choy Slaw | Confessions of an Overworked Mom
Carrot Orzo Risotto | Food Done Light
Carrot and Sage Soup | Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen
Cucumber, Carrot and Edamame Salad | Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Fresh Carrots with Butter and Dill | A Family Feast

What’s your favorite way to incorporate carrots into a meal?

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Soups & Salads, Uncategorized, Vegetarian Tagged With: carrot, carrots, easy recipes, healthy recipes, vegetables, vegetarian

Keto Friendly Cheesy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

December 14, 2015 by Danielle 1 Comment

We’re whipping up more LCHF goodness over at Low Carb San Diego! You can find this deliciously easy low carb broccoli and cauliflower cheese soup recipe posted today. Not only is it minimal ingredients, it takes less than half an hour to make. Plus you can double the batch to heat up later and enjoy all week. Talk about an easy meal plan!

You can find the full recipe here.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Lunch, Recipes, Soups & Salads, Uncategorized

Keto Friendly Grilling Meals: Hatch Green Chile Chicken Drumsticks

November 13, 2015 by Danielle 2 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LegendaryTailgate #CollectiveBias

So it’s been a little over a month since I’ve switched over to a low carb high fat lifestyle (LCHF) and I’m starting to get the hang of things. I’m a bit obsessed with experimenting in the kitchen and love to find great meals that I can tweak. One of my favorite recipes to make over and over again is mashed cauliflower. I don’t know why… maybe it’s the heavy whipping cream and butter? Yeah, it’s definitely the heavy whipping cream and butter!

But I can’t just eat mashed cauliflower for dinner. Or serve it to the family. They might riot.

This weekend I was doing my grocery run sans kids (yay!) with coffee in hand (double yay!) and I headed down the marinade and sauces aisle. It’s one of my favorite aisles to peruse for help for dinner. Not only are there plenty of lower carb/sugar options, but they help make tasty meals in little to no time. This time around I found a delicious green chile marinade in Stubbs Anytime Sauces. Paired with the Foster Farms drumsticks I picked up on sale, I was ready for grilling!

One thing I love about grilling, even in November, is that I can prepare just about anything on the grill. What’s not to love about a full meal being cooked outside while I don’t have to dirty up the kitchen? Less dishes in my sink. With the help of some foil, I was able to cook up the asparagus and the cauliflower right on the grill along side the drumsticks as they cooked.

And? It’s perfect for tailgating meals too. When we head out to watch our team play on the field when they’re here in town we love enjoying a meal on the grill before heading into the stadium. Or when we’re hosting family over to watch the game on TV. Grilling makes it easier for us to host our family and enjoy time with them while they’re visiting with us.

Hatch Green Chile Chicken Drumsticks

1 jar Stubb’s Anytime Sauces in Green Chile
1 package (24oz) Foster Farms Fresh & Natural Chicken Drumsticks
Olive Oil

Place the drumsticks in a 9×13 baking dish. Pour Stubbs Anytime Sauces over chicken. Cover dish with saran wrap or lid and marinate for 4-24 hours.

Preheat grill. Grab a paper towel and blot with olive oil. Rub on grates to prevent meat from sticking.

Once grill is heated, add drumsticks to the grill. Barbecue for 30-35 minutes or until completely cooked.

Let rest for 5 minutes and serve with veggies.

Serves 8 | Nutritional Info: 123 calories, 2 Net Carbs, 2g Carbs, 5g Fat, 16g Protein, 0g Fiber

What’s your favorite thing to grill on the barbecue?

Looking to make grill time easier? Check out Stubbs anytime sauces at Vons! I found mine in the BBQ Sauce and Vinegar aisle.

When you’re in the store, check for an Instant Redeemable Coupon that can be found in-store on the Foster Farms chicken packaging for a discount on Stubbs BBQ sauce so you can save instantly. The coupons expire on 12/31/15.

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, Dinner, In the Kitchen, LCHF, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: grilling recipes, Keto Friendly, LCHF, vegetables

Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna

November 4, 2015 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Finding an alternative to comfort foods has never been easier. I’m getting creative with making my favorite dishes with help from our sponsor Foster Farms and their Sauté Ready chicken like this Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna recipe.

For months I’ve felt trapped in my post partum body. While I knew having a third baby would change me yet again, I didn’t realize how much harder I’d have to work after my c-section to get my body back. And when I was finally ready to tackle my weight once Norah turned 6 months old, I got hit with a gallbladder attack and my interest in starting a LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) way of eating was curbed. High fat isn’t good when your gallbladder is full of stones. I’d much rather wait it out than feel the wrath of another gallbladder attack.

However I did finally have it removed and felt amazing afterwards. After having my gallbladder removed I was finally able to hop on board and start eating healthier. While I was twiddling my thumbs waiting until my surgery, I read everything I could about keto friendly diets and why butter and cream are actually good for me. During my pregnancy I didn’t care much for sweets. In fact, they made me feel sick. After I had Norah, that didn’t go away. Anytime I ate sweets or carbs I would feel gross and sluggish. So when I finished reading this book, I was able to change my way of thinking and have laid off the carbs and increased my fat intake. Boy does my body prefer this way of eating!

I stay focused and on plan with the help of planning. I keep a simple list of foods that I call my “go-to” menu stocked up in the pantry, fridge, and freezer to stick with a keto friendly diet. And with Foster Farms Sauté Ready Chicken in my freezer I can make a delicious dinner that’s on plan while still appeasing my family. They’re the perfect high-protein (21g protein/serving) option to keep on hand for quick, healthy mid-week meals. Plus the chicken is 100% natural and cooks in about 10 minutes with no thawing required. Talk about a time saver! And it takes the guesswork out of dinner – it’s homemade made easy.

But when cravings hit and all I want is comfort food, I don’t mind taking a little more time to create a delicious dish. And this Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna sure does hit the spot! All of the flavors of my favorite chicken lasagna with a considerable decrease in carbs. Plus, it’s something the kids would actually try. Like one bite. Hey! It’s better then them turning their noses up, telling me that it’s gross, and then demanding that dad go take them to get chicken nuggets. Yes… that has happened. And yes, dad did give in.

What I love about this recipe is that it really isn’t that difficult. It just has a few extra steps. But if you aren’t watching your carbs you could totally use jarred marinara to make it easier. It’s protein packed, delicious, and full of cheesy goodness. Exactly what I was hoping for when I started cooking. And since I only use 1/2 of the spaghetti squash in this dish, I have more for other recipes throughout the week.

Spaghetti Squash Chicken Lasagna

1 spaghetti squash
1 tablespoon butter
salt and pepper
1 15 ounce can of Italian diced tomatoes
1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1 cup whole milk mozzarella
1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning plus more for sprinkling
6 ounces Foster Farms Sauté Ready Garlic Herb Marinated chicken

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Grab your spaghetti squash, a cutting board, a large knife and your muscles (depending on the squash). Cut your squash in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds (toss or save a few to plant in the garden next year). Put the squash on the foil flesh side down. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until squash is cooked.

While squash is cooking, take 1/2 of the tomatoes and blend until pureed. Set aside. Mix together the ricotta and cottage cheese with the Italian seasoning. Grate the mozzarella.

Once the squash is done, remove from oven and turn around. Reduce heat to 375 degrees. Grab one half of the squash and, while using a fork, scrape out the “noodles” into a bowl. Mix in butter and salt and pepper into the squash.

Add back in 1/2 of the squash. Cover with 1/2 the ricotta/cottage cheese mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of mozzarella. Pour some of the tomato sauce over the cheese and sprinkle with diced tomatoes. Add the chicken. Repeat and cover with remaining mozarella. Sprinkle with Iralian seasoning and bake for 20 minutes.

Serves 4 | Nutritional Info: 309 calories, 8 Net Carbs, 9g Carbs, 19g Fat, 25g Protein, 1g Fiber

Looking to save a little on dinner? Simply download and print the coupon you can find here to get $1 off any 1 ONE (1) package of Foster Farms Sauté Ready, or share the coupon with a friend (via Facebook, Twitter or email) for get $2 off any ONE (1) package of Foster Farms Sauté Ready.

What’s your comfort food?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Foster Forms.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: chicken, Foster Farms, Keto Friendly, lasagna, Low Carb, spaghetti squash

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