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Simply Sweet Days

Simple discoveries that make every day count.

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Quick and Easy Dinners

Easy Bacon Avocado Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese was one of my favorite dishes when I was a kid. My mom would make a huge casserole pan from scratch and there was rarely any leftovers. This mama is a little too busy too for that recipe. Instead, I doctored up a box of regular mac and cheese with a Southern Cali twist. The result is easy bacon avocado mac and cheese.

bacon avocado mac and cheese recipe

The inspiration for my bacon avocado mac and cheese recipe comes from my love of a local Southern California social house, 127 West. They have some of the most amazing entrees, with mouth-watering ingredients. I wanted to bring a taste of that into my own kitchen. Side note: My original plan for this recipe was for it to include garlic aioli as one of the ingredients. Thank goodness for recipe testing! The garlic was too overpowering for me, but if you’d like to give it a true Cali kick, add a few teaspoons of garlic aioli to your bacon avocado mac and cheese.

Easy Bacon Avocado Mac and Cheese

Easy Bacon Avocado Mac and Cheese

Easy Bacon Avocado Mac and Cheese

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Taking boxed mac and cheese up a notch! Add bacon, avocado, and one egg to this easy bacon avocado mac and cheese.

Ingredients

  • 1 box mac and cheese (discard cheese powder)
  • 4 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 4 slices thick-cut applewood smoked bacon, or plain bacon if you can't find applewood (I used Smithfield)
  • 1 egg
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese (see note below)
  • 1/2 of an avocado, cut into chunks

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon and chop into crumbles. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions.
  2. Drain the water from the cooked pasta and stir in the butter and cheese. Mix well to combine. It's ok if the butter doesn't completely melt, because you'll be baking this later.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, salt and pepper.
  4. Add the bacon and egg mixture to the pasta. Stir to Combine.
  5. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven, top with avocado, and serve immediately.

Notes

Pepper Jack cheese includes ingredients that are mild, but if your palate is sensitive to spicy foods you may prefer to substitute it for Monterey Jack cheese instead.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 618Total Fat: 42gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 121mgSodium: 1072mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 21g
Category: Family Favorites

More easy family dinner ideas:

1

Chicken Divan

2

Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken

Colorful Couscous and Sausage Recipe

This colorful couscous and sausage dish is the perfect light meal on a warm summer afternoon. Couscous always gives me a satisfying, comfort-food happy tummy. When I found myself with some extra time recently, I knew I wanted to do some recipe testing with couscous. 

Why cook with couscous?

Two words, sister: BUSY.MOM. Couscous is awesome to serve for dinner on busy weeknights or nights when you just don’t feel like cooking because it’s easy to cook, it’s low-maintenance, and it’s ready in 10 minutes. 

The preparation for each brand of couscous may vary. Some cook with a 1:1 water (or broth) to couscous ratio, and others call for more liquid. Before you head to the store for ingredients, make a note on your shopping list to grab the couscous first. Then you can check to see how much broth that brand of couscous needs in order to cook to its full, puffed-up goodness. We used this kind. It called for 1 Tbsp. oil and 2 cups water or broth. I used broth.

Prep the veggies first

Since couscous cooks so quickly, and plus you’ll be tossing the carrot in with it, it’s a good idea to do all the chopping, grating and dicing beforehand. Grate 1 carrot, mince 1 garlic clove, chop up ½ cup diced onion and1 smallish red bell pepper. Quickly cut ½ cup loosely packed cilantro too. Keep everything separate because it doesn’t all go into the same pot or at the same time.  

Cook the sausage and couscous

Add the oil to a large fry pan and add the ground sausage. It wants to clump back together, so break it up with a spatula frequently. When the meat is browned, add in the onions and garlic. Saute, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. The first time I cooked this couscous and sausage recipe, I used a brand of Italian sausage that had just the faintest hint of crushed red pepper in it. Unfortunately, it was enough that my kids noticed. It was way too “spicy” for them. The next time we made this I was careful to choose an Italian sausage that was marked “mild”, and it the kids were much happier. In fact, Johnny (5) said, “Mommy I thought this was going to be yucky but it’s not!” Thanks for the compliment, kiddo… I think.  

Meanwhile, cook the couscous according to package directions, adding in the carrot when you put the couscous in the water.  

Mix everything together  

When the couscous is cooked, add it to the fry pan with the sausage mixture. Add in the diced red bell pepper and toss everything together. Serve it alongside a simple baby arugula salad and dinner is done!

colorful couscous

Colorful Couscous and Sausage

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil, or more depending on couscous preparation instructions
  • 1 lb. ground mild Italian sausage
  • 1 minced garlic
  • 1/2 cup diced onion
  • 1 (10 oz.) pkg couscous
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (optional and depending on couscous preparation instructions)
  • 1 shredded carrot
  • 1 diced red bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 package baby arugula lettuce, optional

Instructions

  1. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large fry pan. Saute the sausage in oil until browned, breaking it up with a spatula.
  2. Add garlic and onions to the sausage and cook for 3-5 minutes. Drain the sausage and return to the pan.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the couscous according to package directions. Put the shredded carrots into the boiling water or broth when you add the couscous.
  4. When couscous and sausage are finished cooking, mix them together in a large dish, or in the fry pan if there is enough room.
  5. Stir the red bell pepper and cilantro into the couscous and sausage mixture.
  6. Serve warm and garnished with arugula lettuce, if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 461Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 21gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 717mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 28g
Category: Quick and Easy Dinners

Cracker-Crumb Breaded Chicken

This is a tasty version of breaded chicken that our whole family loves. It’s easy, no-fuss, and perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.

When I first moved out of my parents’ house, I knew how to cook 2 thing: Spaghetti and Shake ‘N Bake chicken. I thought I was pretty hot stuff for knowing those recipes down pat, too. Now, many years later (not gonna say how many), I’ve modified the Shake ‘N Bake recipe a bit. The crackers give it a sweet, buttery flavor, while the garlic salt and pepper give it some zippy seasoning.

We’ve got one picky eater in the family, and even she loves this cracker crumb breaded chicken recipe. It’s got a very kid-friendly flavor and is so easy to make! Pair it with some brown rice and steamed veggies and dinner is served!

breaded chicken

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 sleeve (about 1 ½ cups) of crushed buttery snack crackers
½ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

breaded chicken

Beat eggs in a shallow bowl.

Place cracker crumbs in a large Ziploc bag with garlic salt and pepper.

IMG_5098

Dip chicken breasts in egg, then shake (1 at a time) in the Ziploc bag of cracker crumbs. Arrange breaded chicken in a greased baking dish and bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°. Serve it with your favorite sauce or by itself-it’s got enough flavor to stand on its own 😉

IMG_5100

Seriously, how easy is that? I hope you enjoy this recipe, and don’t forget to check back for more family-friendly meals!

cracker crumb breaded chicken

21 Ways to Get the Most Out of Summer Days

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

As summer looms on the horizon, it feels like the days ahead are plentiful. But then as September starts to creep up, I always get this feeling of panic like there’s still so much I haven’t done yet! I brainstormed some ways to get the most of summer so I have ready-to-go ideas for days when we have nothing planned. So far I have 21 things we’re planning to tick off our list this summer.

After a day of summer fun, it’s nice to enjoy a hot meal at home. But when I’m on the go from sunrise to sunset, I’m in no mood to cook dinner for the family. Of course if you know me, you know that I always have a plan. Everyone at our house is happy when it’s a Healthy Choice® Cafe Steamers night! The Beef Merlot has bright, crunchy vegetables to go with the tender beef. Click the image below to shop our favorite dinner solution for busy summer nights!

I keep my freezer stocked with Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers. There are a variety of delicious recipes to fit everyone’s taste preferences. My favorite is the Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers are so convenient because they cook up in minutes. But, don’t tell the kids, they’re also packed with veggies! I love how easy they are to prepare when I’m short on time, and my family loves the variety of tasty sauces. This Chicken Marinara has a wonderful rich flavor!

When I don’t have time to run to Walmart, I add a handful of Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers to my online grocery cart. That way I don’t lose any summer play time on errands! If you haven’t tried the Walmart Online Grocery Service, I suggest you check to see if it’s available in your area. You buy online and they bring it right out to your car!   

With dinner at home taken care of, make the most of your summer days by trying some of these fun summer activities!

Go on a family bike ride. Check online for local bike trails, or take a destination ride to the beach or park.

Go stargazing and look for shooting stars. Take a drive away from the city for an even brighter lights show!

Catch an outdoor concert. There are plenty of free concerts in the park to choose from on warm summer afternoons.

Go for a swim. Take a dip in a swimming hole or hit up the beach or pool. We pull out our Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers to help us refuel after a day at the beach. The Beef Teriyaki is my favorite!

Stroll through a farmer’s market. Bring reusable bags and fill up on fresh local produce!

See an outdoor movie. Pull in to a drive-in or catch a movie in the park. Some public pools also have “Float n’ Flick” events where you watch a movie while swimming! Volunteer. Lend a helping hand with park cleanups or offer to help at a soup kitchen or pet shelter.

Take a spin in a kayak. Hot tip: This is a great way to work out your abs and the life vests cover up your tummy.

Go on a geocaching adventure. This is also a great way to find off-the-beaten-path local spots.  

Play at a splash pad. Everyone loves to cool off in these creative sprinklers.

Visit the museum. Play tourist in your hometown!

Put a pause on TV-time. Go on a fast from watching TV and instead play board games or read books.

Visit the fair. Make some time while you’re there to look at the cool exhibits and animals, in addition to the rides and attractions.

Go fishing. No poles? No problem! Bring a bucket to the creek and try to catch a crawdad!

Take a summer reading challenge. Libraries usually have a full schedule of summer activities, so we always make sure to take advantage of them.

Compile a Summer Photo Album. Don’t forget to snap a photo of each adventure. At the end of the summer put your pictures together for a homemade yearbook of summer family fun.

Have a late-afternoon picnic and watch the sunset. Rejuvenate your mind and soul with some fresh air and peaceful scenery.

Rearrange your living space. Give your living room or bedroom a fresh new look by switching around the furniture. Every time I do this it makes me feel like I moved into a new place!

Write a letter to a relative or friend. Break out the old-fashioned pencil and paper and let a loved one know you’re thinking of her.

Roast S’mores. In the backyard or at a campground, these tasty treats are easy to make anywhere you go!

Go for a nature walk. Bring binoculars and step silently. You’d be amazed at the wildlife you might find!

While it is a good idea to make the most of your summer days, I do not recommend taking on too much in one day! Give yourself a break. After a long day of summer fun, you can bet you won’t be in the mood to cook. I suggest having a quick and easy frozen meal on hand to fill hungry bellies after a busy day of summer adventures.

Since 1989, Healthy Choice has been offering healthy options with delicious gourmet flavors. They are easy to prepare, and cooked with steam for freshness you can taste. Find them at a Walmart near you!

Ground Turkey and Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes

Have you noticed how much easier it is becoming to find organic, all-natural products in the grocery stores? In my local market, they size of the “organic” section in the produce department has doubled in the last few years! I decided to whip up a dinner for my family that uses all-natural, organic ingredients. I was inspired by this organic, free-range ground turkey that I found at my local market. I had this $2 off coupon, so the price perfect. The dinner turned out pretty tasty, and was ready in under 45 minutes! Here’s what I came up with:  

Ground Turkey and Heirloom Tomatoes with Broccolini

This dish is super easy to put together. It uses heirloom tomatoes, which are commonly found in late summer and fall. I love the funky coloring and awkwardly lopsided appearance of these tomatoes. A side of broccolini, asparagus, or some other green can give an added dose of veggies to the meal.

We are a busy working-parent family, so this worked well for me on a weeknight because it didn’t require a lot of monitoring.

Here are the basics. As I said, the veggies are locally-grown. Even the ground turkey was local! I so much prefer serving California-grown poultry to my family than a product that was probably frozen and flown in from Minnesota. 

Start by setting the oven to 450. While it’s heating, prep and chop the veggies and get the pasta pot started.

Place the tomatoes, garlic, bell peppers, and 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a medium sized bowl and toss to combine.  Spread the mixture out evenly on a baking pan. I line mine with tin foil to make cleanup a little easier 😉 If you’re serving turkey and heirloom tomatoes with broccolini or asparagus, you can add them to the roasting pan too. Roast the veggies for 11-14 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and the broccolini is crisp-tender. The tomatoes may get kind of juicy, and this will help add flavor to the pasta and the broccolini in the pan. 

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling water for 5-7 minutes or until al dente. Angel hair pasta cooks quickly, so this doesn’t take long!

Cooking with ground turkey on a busy weeknight is a cinch because the meat cooks rather quickly. While the veggies are roasting, heat the remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a pan. Add the turkey and cook until beginning to brown. Add the onions and cook another 3 minutes or until the onions are translucent and soft. 

The Foster Farms ground turkey I’m using is lean, and doesn’t leave a lot of fatty liquid in the pan. Even so, you will want to drain off the juices that accumulated during cooking.  

By now your kitchen should be smelling pretty amazing as the different smells from the roasting veggies start to permeate the room. Toss the turkey and heirloom tomatoes with the cooked pasta, top with some shredded cheese and basil and enjoy! 

I saw on Facebook that there is also a chance to win free Foster Farms turkey if you leave a comment on this Foster Farms Facebook post. There will be multiple drawings, so good luck to all who enter!

What’s your favorite way to enjoy ground turkey? 

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Yum
Ground Turkey and Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes and Broccolini

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

4 servings

Ground Turkey and Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes and Broccolini

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. angel hair pasta
  • 4 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • 16 oz. Foster Farms Organic Ground Turkey
  • 2 large heirloom tomatoes (about 1 lb.), cut into chunks
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
  • 1 small onion, diced (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1 bunch broccolini (about 2 cups)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 Tbsp. (about 8 leaves) torn fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°.
  2. Cut up vegetables and trim broccolini.
  3. Place tomatoes, bell pepper, 2 Tbsp. olive oil, and garlic slices into a medium bowl and toss to combine.
  4. Arrange the tomato mixture and broccolini in a baking/roasting pan and cook at 450° for 11-14 minutes, or until broccolini is crisp-tender.
  5. Meanwhile, cook pasta in boiling water for 5-7 minutes or until al dente.
  6. While pasta and veggies are cooking, heat the remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a pan on medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook for 5 minutes or until beginning to brown, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
  7. Add the onions and cook another 3 minutes.
  8. Combine roasted tomato mixture, pasta, and turkey mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir together well.
  9. Top with a sprinkle of basil and parmesan cheese and serve immediately with a side of broccolini.
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Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken

This is a crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside version of oven baked chicken that our whole family loves. It’s easy, no-fuss, and perfect for a busy after-work dinner!  Our family's favorite recipe for oven baked chicken uses simple breading made from crushed cracker crumbs! It is a fast and easy dinner, perfect for busy weeknights.

Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken

We eat chicken a lot in this house. It cooks up quickly for weeknight meals and it’s tender enough for the little ones to enjoy. I usually don’t like oven baked chicken but this recipe is one of my favorites. The breading helps seal in the flavor, so the meat is juicy yet falls apart easily. Since it kind of resembles chicken nuggets, my kids love dunking it in their favorite dipping sauces.

When I make this oven baked chicken for dinner, I usually pair it with some cooked brown rice and steamed veggies. I start cooking the rice while preparing the chicken. Then while the chicken is in the oven I steam the veggies. The whole dinner is ready in under 45 minutes, which is pretty good for a healthy, home cooked meal!  

Oven Baked Chicken Ingredients:

2 eggs
1 ½ – 2 cups of crushed buttery snack crackers
½ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

YouTube Preview Image

Beat eggs in a shallow bowl.

Place cracker crumbs in a large Ziploc bag with garlic salt and pepper. Shake it well to mix the seasonings with the crumbs.

Dip chicken breasts in egg, then shake (1 at a time) in the Ziploc bag of cracker crumbs. 90’s friends, this might remind you of the Shake ‘n Bake dinners from back in the day. 😉 Arrange the breaded chicken in a greased baking dish and bake at 375° for 30-40 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°. Serve it with your favorite sauce or by itself-it’s got enough flavor to stand on its own!   Our family's favorite recipe for oven baked chicken uses simple breading made from crushed cracker crumbs! It is a fast and easy dinner, perfect for busy weeknights.

Seriously, how easy is that? I hope you enjoy this recipe, and don’t forget to pin it for later! Follow my Family Dinner Recipes board on Pinterest for hundreds of kid-friendly dinner ideas, like oven baked chicken fajitas and this zesty pasta casserole.

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Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken

Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ - 2 cups of crushed buttery snack crackers
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

Instructions

  1. Beat eggs in a shallow bowl.
  2. Place cracker crumbs in a large Ziploc bag with garlic salt and pepper. Shake it well to mix the seasonings with the crumbs.
  3. Dip chicken breasts in egg, then shake (1 at a time) in the Ziploc bag of cracker crumbs.
  4. Arrange the breaded chicken in a greased baking dish and bake at 375° for 30-40 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°.
  5. Serve it with your favorite sauce or by itself-it's got enough flavor to stand on its own!
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Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

We’ve officially hit summer in the our home. 3 weeks ago I envisioned my summer days being spent in the kitchen, spending hours dishing up elegant meals made with love and care. In reality, I’m having way too much fun soaking up the Southern California sunshine to bother with cooking dinner every night. But, the kids gotta eat (who knew?), even though it’s summer. I’d like to share with you one of my one-dish meals that take very little effort besides cutting veggies and chicken: Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas.    

Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate. quick dinner idea for busy families: oven baked chicken fajitas
Fajitas are one of my favorite things to order at Mexican food restaurants. I love how they always come out steaming on a hot iron skillet like this one. But on busy evenings, you can still get that traditional fajita taste without all the hassle of grilling and sautéing.

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas  

Ingredients
4 small chicken breasts
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 white onion
1 packet fajita seasoning such as McKormick
Tortillas
Optional toppings: Lime, cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, beans
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375.
Thinly slice the veggies and spread them evenly on the bottom of a greased roasting pan. We use this Cuisinart pan  for everything, and it worked great in this recipe.
easy dinner idea: oven baked chicken fajitas
Sprinkle some fajita seasoning over the veggies, to taste.
Thinly slice the chicken and layer the pieces over the veggies. Sprinkle with more seasoning.  
Place the roasting pan in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, then mix the veggies and chicken up. Return the pan to the oven for another 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (you can check if it’s cooked by making sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165 F).

To assemble the fajitas

Line the center of a tortilla with the fajita mixture and your choice of toppings. Squeeze lime over the filling, fold your tortilla up like a taco and enjoy!

Even though I love baking, on a beautiful summer day I’d much rather be enjoying some of our favorite staycation activities than sweating in the kitchen making dinner. Thankfully, this oven baked fajita recipe takes about 30-45 minutes from start to finish.

Are you a fan of fajitas? What’s your favorite fajita topping?

  

Italian with a Twist | Gnocchi and Sausage is Tasty and Easy to Make!

I am a huge fan of Italian dinners. Anything I can that involves tomatoes and pasta is a win in my book. If it were up to me, we’d be eating Italian dinners every night in our house. This recipe uses gnocchi and sausage, with brightly-colored veggies thrown into the mix, to create a belly-filling dinner that is big on flavor and small on cook time.   One of my family's favorite easy Italian recipes that you can make for dinner tonight! This recipe combines classic gnocchi, sausage, and vegetables in a simple meal. A quick sprinkling of parmesan cheese gives it a taste of Italy! You could easily swap out the meat for chicken or meatballs, or leave it out entirely for a nice vegetarian dish.

One of my family's favorite easy Italian recipes that you can make for dinner tonight! This recipe combines classic gnocchi, sausage, and vegetables in a simple meal. A quick sprinkling of parmesan cheese gives it a taste of Italy! You could easily swap out the meat for chicken or meatballs, or leave it out entirely for a nice vegetarian dish.

Ingredients for Gnocchi and Sausage:

1 package (about 1 lb.) Gnocchi Italiani
2 tablespoons butter
1 package (about 12 oz.) Sweet Italian Sausage, sliced crosswise
2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced crosswise
2 cloves garlic
1 package (about 2 cups) of grape or cherry tomatoes
? cup grated parmesan cheese      One of my family's favorite easy Italian recipes that you can make for dinner tonight! This recipe combines classic gnocchi, sausage, and vegetables in a simple meal. A quick sprinkling of parmesan cheese gives it a taste of Italy! You could easily swap out the meat for chicken or meatballs, or leave it out entirely for a nice vegetarian dish.

Set a large pot of water to boil and cook gnocchi according to package directions (about 2-3 minutes at a rolling boil). Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pan. Sauté the sausage in butter until it begins to brown on both sides. Add the sliced zucchini and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for another 3 minutes or so.
Stir in the tomatoes and let them cook for a few minutes to heat through. It’s ok if they split open, this adds flavor to the dish. I used a package of “mixed medley cherry tomatoes” because it had a beautiful variety of color!
Add the cooked gnocchi to the pan and mix everything together well. Top with shredded parmesan cheese and step back to admire your pretty gnocchi and sausage dinner!

If you have small children, they may not love the gnocchi because its texture is a bit surprising. I think kids are expecting something sturdy because they look like little potatoes, but cooked gnocchi is really kind of squishy. I remember my oldest turning his nose up at it when he was little. At 13, however, he loved it and asked for seconds. The 3-year-old twins, who have to be eased into trying all new foods, were apprehensive and only ate what I told them to (“Ok, fine. Eat 2 pastas and then you can be done.”). The baby, who eats anything not nailed down, loved his gnocchi and sausage. So, in our house the gnocchi and sausage dinner went over about as well as anything else does: The boys loved it and the girls weren’t impressed. But what else is new? 😉

Save Time and Money-Do a Leftovers Night!

Before I had three kids, I meticulously planned breakfast, lunch, dinner-even snacks for each day of the week! Well, I don’t have time for that anymore. And, really, it’s not one of my priorities anymore either. Some weeks it’s all I can do just to crank out that dinner menu and accompanying grocery list.

Once a week, I make a double batch of at least one of our dishes. Then on Thursday or Friday (the two nights I’m the most exhausted and don’t want to cook!) we do a leftovers night. If there are several family favorites on the weekly menu, even better! I always make extra of the favorites. On leftovers night , family members get a few meals to choose from and we also get the freedom to not have any meal prep to clean up!

My big kid loves spaghetti, I like this quick chili recipe, and bless his heart my husband will eat anything that’s put in from of him. But I understand that this is not the norm, and there are some husbands who will flat-out refuse to eat leftovers. In that case, here are some ideas:

  • On leftovers night, add new life to the leftovers. For example, use last night’s cooked chicken breast, dice it up, and add it to quesadillas or something else. It would involve some cooking, but it’s easier than a whole meal from scratch.
  • Only use favorites for leftovers night. That mediocre meal may have a lot of leftovers for a reason. If the leftovers are something your husband really likes, maybe he will be more prone to eat it.
  • Consider reheating in the oven, on the stove, or in a crock pot instead of in the microwave. My grandpa would refuse to eat anything cooked in a microwave (although that might have been a result of his not trusting modern appliances). Food tastes better when reheated on the stove.
  • Tell your husband to fend for himself on leftovers night. He’s a big boy, he knows how to make a sandwich. ;-)

When you have a busy family, getting a healthy meal on the table each night can be a challenge. Using a meal plan that includes a leftovers night can save time and money, especially if you make careful choices about what to serve each night. By the way, have you checked out my meal plan template? It’s a great resource for getting your meal ideas organized.

  Keep your busy family on a tight budget, save time and save money when you plan a leftovers night

Chipotle Lime Chicken Recipe

 

This is a super easy and citrus-y dinner. This chipotle lime chicken recipe is quick to throw together on a busy night. Just pair with some steamed veggies and instant rice and you’re good to go!

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts*
2 limes, halved
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
Ground chipotle chile, about 2 tsp. **
Salt and Pepper to taste

Place chicken in a bag. Squeeze the juice from the limes into the bag of chicken, seal, and allow it to marinate in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. Chipotle Lime Chicken Recipe

During this time you could trim some veggies and get them ready to steam or start a pot of white rice.
Remove the chicken from the bag and sprinkle with chipotle chile, salt, and pepper. chipotle lime chicken recipe

Heat olive oil in a large fry pan and add chicken. Cook for about 6 minutes on each side or until internal temperature reaches 165. Chipotle Lime Chicken Dinner

Bon apetit!

*If you pound the chicken to an even thickness, it cooks more evenly (and faster!)

** The chipotle chile I use, by McCormick, is medium-to-mild heat. Sprinkled lightly over the chicken, it gives flavor with very little heat. My 10-year-old and toddler twins didn’t even notice the spice.

 

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Hi, I’m Nikki!

I'm Nikki, a lover of coffee, chef for 6, elementary teacher, and expert in the art of wrangling twins. I'm also a working mom with a passion for having fun and keeping a cozy home. Come along with me on the journey of a joyful mom! Learn More…

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