healthy recipes

Chicken Parmesan Bites – The Perfect Toddler-Approved Meal

February 27, 2018 by Danielle

These chicken parmesan bites are the perfect toddler-approved meal for busy weeknights! They come together in less than 30 minutes and pair perfectly with spaghetti and marinara sauce and vegetables.

I have been trying to come up with healthy, fun dinners that my preschooler would be more interested in. Lately, all the kids want are carbs and sweets so turning a typical chicken dish into more kid-friendly meals is my goal. I’m pretty sure I’ve succeeded in that goal with the help of some inspiration from Lady and The Tramp.

A craving for chicken parmesan hit when we were watching Lady enjoy a big bowl of pasta with Tramp and it hit me! Why not turn chicken parmesan into chicken parmesan bites!? Put a side of noodles and sauce on the plate and I had a meal that all of the kids would enjoy. Including the preschooler. Right? Right!

So the next night as we were watching Lady and the Tramp again for the 3rd time since receiving it to review, I plated up these delicious chicken parmesan bites for the kids to enjoy with a side of spaghetti noodles topped with marinara sauce and a scoop of broccoli florets. I placed the plates of dinner in front of the kids and they went to town! And the best part? I used only 2 chicken breasts to feed the whole family dinner. Isn’t that awesome? And budget friendly! Plus the kids will love helping put this meal together.

Chicken Parmesan Bites

2 chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
4 tablespoons 1% milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg white
1 cup Italian-Style Breadcrumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Place chicken breast pieces in a bowl and cover with milk. Let soak for a few minutes while prepping the other ingredients. Place 1/2 cup of flour into a gallon size zippered plastic bags. Measure out 1 cup of breadcrumbs and place into a container with salt and pepper. Grate 1/2 cup parmesan cheese into the same container, stir to combine and set aside. Place egg white in a small bowl.

Take chicken and place in bag with flour. Shake vigorously until the chicken is well coated. Put coated chicken in the bowl with egg white and stir to coat chicken. Place bread crumb mixture in the bag you just used for flour. Put chicken back in the bag and shake again coating the chicken with breadcrumbs.

Heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Add coated chicken to the pan and cook until golden brown, about 15 minutes. When chicken is cooked thoroughly remove from pan and serve with spaghetti and marinara sauce. Add some steamed veggies or a nice salad to make this a complete meal.

How are you getting your little one involved in different foods?

Make sure to pick up your own copy of The Walt Disney Signature Collection Lady and The Tramp now available on Blu-ray and enjoy your own pasta experiences with the family!

For some fun activities to do with the kids, click on the button below:

Love this recipe? Try these other toddler-friendly meals, tips, and ideas!

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Filed Under: Disney, DIsney Movies, Recipes Tagged With: chicken, Cooking with a Toddler, healthy recipes, Pasta, picky eaters, toddler meals

No Cook Chocolate Avocado Pudding: A Healthier Alternative

January 25, 2016 by Danielle

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

Dessert is one of my family’s favorite parts of our meal. And most of the time when we all get together for a family meal, dessert is served. However I’ve noticed a few relatives who’ve declined dessert over the past few get togethers. After chatting with one of them about the reason, I found out that they’ve realized that they have an issue with lactose and since most of the desserts served have some sort of milk product, it’s easier to say no than deal with the consequences later. While they haven’t been formally diagnosed with lactose intolerance, by avoiding dairy they’ve reduced their tummy troubles.

Because I hate seeing people feeling left out I figured I’d play around with one of my favorite pudding recipes and replace the dairy with a2 Milk®. Then I went a step further and figured out a way to make it thick and creamy without cooking it! Since I already use bananas and avocados in my smoothies to make them creamy and thick, I thought they’d be amazing together in this pudding recipe as well. And the best part? I mix everything together in the blender! Takes less than 5 minutes for everything to come together.

Haven’t heard of a2 Milk® before? It’s pretty awesome. Originally, all milk contained only the A2 protein. Over time a genetic mutation occurred in cows and a new type of protein developed called A1. This A1 protein causes digestive discomfort and is in all cows’ milk in-stores today, even organic milk. a2 Milk® is the only fluid milk on the US market that is guaranteed A1 protein free.

How do they do it?

The a2 Milk Company™ has partnered with U.S. family dairy farmers in upstate New York and the Midwest to expand the a2™ herd. Their cows naturally produce milk with only the A2 protein. And their farmers are certified in the humane treatment of animals, their cows are fed a vegetarian diet and never given hormones or rBST, and the milk is antibiotic free and contains no artificial ingredients or additives. Pretty cool huh? And it tastes no different than regular milk! My kids love it and haven’t caught on that it’s any different.

No Cook Chocolate Avocado Pudding

1 avocado
1 banana
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup honey* (or other sweetener)
1/2 cup a2 Milk®

Add all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Process until completely blended. Serve right away with some berries or chill in the fridge if you prefer cold pudding.

* If you’re making this for children under 1, use an alternative to honey like agave or maple syrup.

The results are an amazingly creamy and chocolaty pudding that the kids (and adults) all gobble down! I call that a success.

What’s your go-to dessert when family come over?

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: Desserts, Health & Wellness, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: A2 Milk, avocado, Banana, chocolate, Chocolate Pudding, Dessert, dessert recipes, easy recipes, healthy recipes, pudding

10 Ways to Cook Carrots {From Garden to Table}

January 4, 2016 by Danielle

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

Quick And Easy Meal: Marie Callender’s Pot Pies + Apple Feta Walnut Salad Recipe

December 14, 2014 by Danielle

This shop featuring Marie Callender’s Pot Pies and a Apple Feta Walnut Salad Recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EasyAsPotPie #CollectiveBias

One thing I always keep in my arsenal of meal ideas is something that’s quick and easy for the weekdays. Whether it’s a 10 or a 30 minute meal, as long as the family approves I’m happy!

The whole family definitely approves of Marie Callender’s pot pies. Not only do they taste like homemade but they’re so quick to make. I can use the microwave or the oven depending on how much time I actually have or need.

And when paired with a deliciously fresh salad, this meal is the perfect way to end a winter day. Plus I end up having more time to connect with my family around the dinner table since it’s so easy to throw together. [Read more…]

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Recipes, Soups & Salads, Uncategorized Tagged With: Easy Meal Ideas, easy recipes, healthy recipes, Recipes, salads

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Drink Recipe

October 8, 2014 by Danielle

This pumpkin pie smoothie drink recipe was created as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #SweetNLowStars

Fall was in the air. For about a week. And then the high temperatures hit yet again. So in an effort to enjoy Fall without sweating to death I tested out a few pumpkin pie smoothie recipes to cool me down and still give me the pumpkin fix I was looking for.

Plus this smoothie is perfect as a quick breakfast for the kids. I threw it all together and blended up in less than 5 minutes! Much faster than pancakes or waffles.

With the natural sweetness of the banana and added guilt-free sweetness of Sweet’N Low I think I’ve found a winner with this one!

Mandarin Orange Cream Pops

December 15, 2013 by Danielle

This mandarin orange cream pops recipe is brought to you by Halos.

One of my kids favorite snacks are Halo mandarin oranges. There’s something about the small size, how easy they are to peel, and the amazingly sweet taste that those little oranges pack that make my kids go nuts over them. But sometimes I’m a little zealous in purchasing and we can find ourselves with too many. That’s when these delicious mandarin orange cream pops come into play.

As a sweet treat to reward the kids for good behavior after their naps last week, I made these naturally sweet, protein packed mandarin orange cream pops from a few Halos that the kids hadn’t gotten to yet.

I love how easy this treat is to make and how quickly it comes together. And since getting our new Zoku pop maker, making these pops are so much quicker than the alternative (which we also did with the leftover pop mix). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Desserts, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Dessert, desserts, frozen treats, Halos, Halos mandarin oranges, healthy desserts, healthy recipes, mandarin oranges, oranges, pops, popsicles, Snacks

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

October 8, 2013 by Danielle

So maybe it’s become an obsession. But I’m pretty darn in love with pumpkin about now. The one thing that makes the cool crisp weather better are these healthy pumpkin muffins with a cup of hot coffee.

Simple to make, tasty, and a favorite amongst my playgroup, these muffins really hit the spot.

I drizzled a simple mix of powdered sugar, milk, and pumpkin pie spice over the top for a little extra sweetness. It definitely made the muffins tastier. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Breakfast, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Baking, healthy recipes, muffins, Pumpkin

Learning the Benefits of Juicing with the NutriPro Juicer

July 10, 2013 by Danielle

I’ve been considering purchasing a juicer for quite a while. After hearing wonderful things about juicing and watching Fat Sick and Nearly Dead on Netflix a few months back I decided to get serious about researching great juicers. And that’s when I found NutriPro!

I received a NutriPro juicer for review and have fallen in love with the ease in which I can make fresh, delicious juices at home whenever I’d like. Plus i have the control over what I put in my juices as I make them.

By learning the benefits of juicing as I learn the ins and outs of my NutriPro juicer I hope to continue my journey to a healthier me and increase the amount of veggies I’m getting in daily.

How to Make a Panini Without a Panini Press

June 14, 2013 by Danielle

This recipe and post is sponsored by Unilever.

A few weeks ago I posted about my shopping trip to Walmart and the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® light spread I picked up. I was able to use an awesome website called It’s Good To Know and found some great recipes that used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® in them.

Since then I’ve made a few dishes and have incorporated our secret ingredient -I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® – without any fuss from my husband. His favorite recipe so far has been a simple panini I made for him and the kids for lunch one day. And we don’t have a panini press.

Being able to use the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!® spread instead of butter has made these paninis even easier to make! No crumbs everywhere or hard, cold butter stuck to one corner and not budging. Just smooth, easy spreading! If you’re interested in finding out how you can make a panini without a panini press check out my YouTube video tutorial below.

The kids like to call them “fancy sandwiches” and love that I can switch up the ingredients inside to make different combinations. Served with a tasty side of veggies or a nice garden salad and it’s the perfect healthy meal! Plus it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare!

Sweet Potato Zucchini Latkes

June 11, 2013 by Danielle

So this morning I was pulling out all of the veggies in our raised bed to make room for new plants. Our swiss chard and parsley were taking over one side of the bed and a weird plant I couldn’t identify was taking over the other.

I had pulled out the swiss chard and parsley and was just getting ready to pull out the weird plant when I found something… a sweet potato!

Now that was pretty weird because we hadn’t planted sweet potatoes in like 2 years. Somehow this little guy was buried under there and the unidentifiable plant was indeed a sweet potato plant!

So I did what any good gardener would do and thought of the perfect way to consume this awesome find. Sweet potato zucchini latkes! These ones are pretty healthy and I made them fit into my Nutrisystem plan. How awesome is that?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegetarian, weight loss Tagged With: healthy recipes, sweet potato, vegetarian, zucchini

Chicken Parmesan Bites – The Perfect Toddler-Approved Meal

How are you getting your little one involved in different foods?

No Cook Chocolate Avocado Pudding: A Healthier Alternative

No Cook Chocolate Avocado Pudding

What’s your go-to dessert when family come over?

10 Ways to Cook Carrots {From Garden to Table}

10 Ways to Cook Carrots

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

Quick And Easy Meal: Marie Callender’s Pot Pies + Apple Feta Walnut Salad Recipe

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Drink Recipe

Mandarin Orange Cream Pops

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins

Learning the Benefits of Juicing with the NutriPro Juicer

How to Make a Panini Without a Panini Press

Sweet Potato Zucchini Latkes

[Read more…]

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