Parmesan Pesto Pasta

Ok so this recipe is a complete pantry raid meal -- but we loved it!  We had pesto and red peppers left over from some sandwiches we made a while back and needed to use them up.  The elbow macaroni we also had on hand, but you could really use any type of macaroni noodles you like.  The chicken could also be left out if you are looking for a lighter lunch salad, quick appetizer or meatless meal.  I actually whipped up a batch of this a few nights ago without the chicken because I was looking for something quick and light, and my husband had already eaten...

This Parmesan Pesto Pasta is also super kid friendly too!  My 1-year old chowed down on it!!  I honestly could not believe how simple this was to make.  Add a mixed green salad and you've got a healthy, filling dinner in under 10 minutes!!

Parmesan Pesto Pasta Recipe

Prep Time: 2 minutes 
Cook Time: 6 minutes 
Total Time: 8 minutes        

Servings: 3

Ingredients

• 1 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked
• 1/4 cup pesto (I used Trader Joes)
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, chopped (I used Trader Joes)
• 1 cup cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces (optional)

Directions  

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.  Strain and return to pot.
2. Add pesto, cheese, red peppers, and chicken (if using) to macaroni and stir to mix.
3. Serve warm or cold. 

To Freeze:
Let pasta cool completely.  Spoon pasta into freezer bag or container and freeze.

To Thaw:
Remove pasta from freezer the night before you wish to use it.

Chantilly Whipped Cream

If you have ever had the desserts at Flemings Steakhouse, then you have probably had the yummy goodness that is the Flemings whipped cream.  They serve it in a bowl next to the dessert so that you can scoop the desired amount of cream onto your dessert.  My husband and I usually divide up the whipped cream equally among our plates, and then eat it all with a spoon (oh and if we have room we eat the dessert!) 

This Chantilly Whipped Cream recipe tastes JUST like the whipped cream that Flemings serves!!  This is delicious with just about any dessert, or eaten by itself with a spoon...

Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce

This recipe came about one day when we were eating our favorite crab cakes and my husband asked "where's the dipping sauce?"  The crab cakes were so delicious on their own so I had never really thought about a dipping sauce for them, but after he mentioned it, I got to thinking... 

Busy Mom's Menu Monday 8/27

It's that time of the week again!  Time to figure out what we will be feeding our families for the week!  Our menu plan has taken the guesswork out of dinner for you, while providing you with quick, easy, and healthy recipes!!  We are trying some new recipes this week along with some old familiar favorites!  If you haven't tried this super easy Freezer Cake yet, you definitely need to try it! 

Read More about the format of Our Menu Plans Here!

Monday 

(Dinner in under 10 minutes!)
Quick Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas

Oranges
Rice

Tuesday  

(Fill your Freezer)

Heart Healthy Spaghetti Sauce - double batch
Homemade Pasta without a pasta maker
Breadsticks

Wednesday 

(Prepare chicken up to 24 hours ahead of time!)
White Barbeque Chicken

Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Fruit

Thursday

(20-minute dinner)
Bruschetta Chicken

Easy Cheesy Quinoa

Friday
(Make cake ahead of time)
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breasts with Tomatoes and Basil and Potatoes with Peppers and Onions
Cookies 'n Cream Freezer Cake

Saturday  

Out to Eat!!

Sunday  

Dinner with Family

What is on your menus this week?  Let us know in the comments!!  



Check out our menu plan on Menu Plan Monday!

Quick Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas Recipe

Do you ever have those nights where you literally just want to throw a few ingredients together and call it dinner?  With a "high-spirited" toddler and a very curious baby roaming around our house, these nights come more often than not for us!  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to cook!  It is one of my very favorite things to do!  However, when the 4 o'clock witching hour hits, all bets are off!

Recipes like this Quick Chicken & Cheese Quesadillas can be total lifesavers!! 

Cookies 'n Cream Freezer Cake

This is a very simple dessert that can be whipped up in matter of moments and put in the freezer until you need it.  Depending on the size of the platter you have, you can make this cake as big or as small as you want to.  My 3-year old was helping me make this, and of course, for every cookie she placed on the dish, she thought she should get to place a cookie in her mouth too!    Let me just warn you, once you make this cake, there is no going back!!  Who knew that something so easy to make could end up being so delicious?!!
  

You will only need 2 ingredients to make this cake:

Busy Mom's Menu Monday 8/20

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  This week we have added a new feature to our menu plan... pictures!!!  I know how important it is, especially when trying to decide what to feed your family for the week, to have a visual of what your meal will look like!  Hopefully this is helpful!  It is definitely making me hungry!!

Read More about the format of Our Menu Plans Here!

Monday 

(Dinner in under 30 minutes!)
Auntie's Not-Cho Ordinary Mexican Pizza

Pineapples
Rice

Tuesday  

(Make double batch of bread for freezer)

Peachy Quinoa
Shredded rotisserie chicken

Crock Pot Bread

Wednesday 

(Dinner in under 30 minutes!)
Roasted Tomato Mini Pies

Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad

Thursday

Dinner Smorgasbord!

Clean out your fridge!

(Line up all of the leftover meals, fruit, and salad 

and let everyone pick what goes on their plates!)

Friday
(Prepare dressing ahead of time and refrigerate until needed)
Caesar Salad
Grilled Chicken
Fruit

Saturday  

Out to Eat!!

Sunday  

(Bake bread in crock pot ahead of time)
Slow Cooker Lasagna (from freezer)
Crock Pot Bread
Salad

What is the most important thing you look for when planning a menu for the week? 




Check out our menu plan on Menu Plan Monday!

Busy Mom's Menu Monday 8/13

Welcome to Busy Mom's Menu Plan!  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!  We are posting our menu plan on Sunday mornings to make it super easy for you to go grocery shopping and get everything ready for the week!  A lot of people are getting ready to start school, so we have tons of fun, kid friendly, easy, QUICK, and delicious recipes for you to try this week!  Happy eating!!

Read More about the format of Our Menu Plans Here!

Monday  

(Dinner in under 20 minutes!)
Chicken and Veggie Chinese Chicken with Pineapples

Tuesday   
(Stock Your Freezer: Make extra bread!) 
Bruschetta Chicken
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Crock Pot Bread

Wednesday 

(30 minute meal)
Pork Kebabs with Grilled Plums and Couscous 

Thursday 

(Prepare dressing during nap time. Ready in 5 minutes!!)
World's Best Caesar Salad w/ Chicken
Strawberries & Raspberries
Breadsticks

Friday 

(Make everything ahead of time and refrigerate)
Steaks w/ Herbed Butter Trio
Peachy Quinoa
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread

Saturday  

(20-Minute Dinner!!)
Bubble Up Pizza

Sunday 
Dinner Out!


What's on your menu this week?

Check out our menu plan on Menu Plan Monday! 

World's Best Caesar Salad Recipe

This is the best ever Caesar Salad Dressing recipe for several reasons:

• the ingredients are fresh and healthy,
• you know exactly what ingredients you are eating, 
• and it is WAY cheaper to make your own than to purchase store-bought!  

I seriously used to eat this on a daily basis when I was pregnant because there are no raw eggs or anchovies in it!  It is recommended not to eat raw eggs or fish while you are pregnant, and you don't realize how hard it is to find a salad without those two ingredients until you are really craving it!  (Even most of the bagged salads and bottled dressings that you can purchase from the grocery store contain raw egg!) 

Anyhow, this is the only caesar salad I really like to eat to this day!  We haven't found any others that even compare to this one!  Plus there is not a lot of time or prep work that goes into the salad.  I have actually done it in like 3 minutes before when I'm really pressed for time!  It is great for a side or by itself as an entree.  This salad is delicious served with croutons, grilled chicken, and a loaf of fresh bread!

World's Best Caesar Salad Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes          

Servings: 4

Ingredients

•  4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lemon, juice of
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard (I use Grey Poupon)
• 1 teaspoon tabasco sauce (optional)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• sea salt & pepper to taste

Directions  

1. In a mini food processor or blender, combine all ingredients except lettuce. 
2. In a large salad bowl, add lettuce.  Pour dressing on top and toss to combine.

* Recipe adapted from Source

Our Fun Friday Activities for Today! {8/10}

Here is what we will be doing today:

1. Magic Milk Paint - This looks super fun (and a little messy).  All you need is milk, food coloring, a toothpick, and dish soap for this activity.  My 3-year old is going to love this!!!


2.  Sprinkler/Outdoor Play/Possibly Pool Time - We didn't have time to make it to the pool yesterday, so hopefully it will make it into our schedule for Fun Friday!!


3.  Dancing up a Storm! - We just got the Tangled soundtrack... all of the songs are so good!  Perfect for dancing around in your living room!

What are you all doing today??  

Looking for more activities to do today? Check out more ideas here!

Crock Pot Peach Cobbler

Okay, oh my is this a tasty treat!  After my mother made us the most delicious peach pie a few weeks ago, we have all been seriously craving it!  After realizing that if I tried making the pie, it probably wouldn't even taste half as good as my mom's did, I came up with this yummy, simple crock pot version of it!  Plus, it is still way to hot to even come close to thinking about turning on the oven, so the crock pot is a great alternative!  We also had a ton of peaches to use up so this was just perfect!  (Hey, it is still peach season for a little while longer!!)

So... back to the cobbler...  My absolute favorite part of a pie/cobbler is the ooey, gooey, buttery crust (sorry, peaches!)  If you are like me and love the crust the best, you will absolutely LOVE this recipe! If you love the peaches or ice cream the best, don't worry, you will love this too!  My three year-old daughter (who helped make this) actually asked for a bowl of cobbler JUST so she could get some ice cream!  And our almost 1-year old just loves the peaches!  See... all-around crowd pleaser!!  Enjoy!!!

Crock Pot Peach Cobbler Recipe

Prep Time: 5 min          
Cooking Time: 3 hrs
Servings: 8-10
 

Ingredients

• 2-3 cups sliced peaches (fresh, canned, or frozen)
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cup baking mix
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions  

1. Add peaches to crock pot.  Sprinkle peaches with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together baking mix, oats, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon.  
3. Add melted butter to mixture and stir.
4. Pour mixture over peaches and spread to evenly cover the peaches.  
5. Drizzle vanilla over mixture.  Sprinkle with sugar.
6. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
7. Top with large scoop of vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Herbed Butter Trio

As I am sitting here typing this post, my mouth is completely watering just staring at this picture...  These butters are THAT good!  It's no secret that I am obsessed with this butter.  However, my adorable and incredibly talented sister was having dinner with us on steak night one night when she mentioned that she wasn't the hugest fan of rosemary (strange, I know!)  Thus, the Herbed Butter Trio was born!  Three mouth-watering butters, each with very unique (and very delicious) flavors!  This is great if you are having guests over for dinner but you aren't sure exactly what each person likes... Plus the presentation of the butters is super fun!  Did I mention it takes about 5 minutes from start to finish to create this entire platter?  Definitely one of those dishes that looks like it took you hours to prepare!  (I won't tell if you won't!)

Oh, but these butters aren't just scrumptious on steaks.  Bread, of course, is another perfect compliment to these tasty morsels (just don't be like me and eat it by the spoonful, ahem...)  For double yumminess, spread Herbed Butter Trio butters on a fresh loaf of Crock Pot Bread!  Yummmm!!!

Herbed Butter Trio

{Butter #1: Garlic Basil Butter}

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
  
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh basil, chopped
• Sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions  
In a small bowl, add butter and fluff with fork.  Add remaining ingredients and stir.

{Butter #2: Red Pepper Parmesan Butter}

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
  
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red peppers
• Sea salt and pepper to taste
  

Directions  
In a small bowl, add butter and fluff with fork.  Add remaining ingredients and stir.

{Butter #3: Rosemary Butter}

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
  
• 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon rosemary, minced
• Sea salt and pepper to taste
  

Directions  
In a small bowl, add butter and fluff with fork.  Add remaining ingredients and stir.



To Store: 
These butters can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, although I seriously doubt they will make it that long before being completely gobbled up!!


*Rosemary Butter recipe adapted from Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast Weeknight Cookbook

Busy Mom's Menu Monday 8/6

Hello everyone!  Hope you had a great weekend!  We were busy, busy, busy!!  This week's menu plan has got lots of great crock pot recipes, as well as quick and easy meals!  Hopefully we can all make an extra batch (or two) of some meals this week to keep in the freezer for quick lunches or dinners on the fly!  Crock pot bread is a super easy one to triple the recipe and freeze as dough or cooked bread!  The Italian Salad Dressing is also a great time saver, since you can make a lot of it at once and store it in the fridge for months!  Talk about saving TONS of money on store-bought salad dressings!!  Hope you all enjoy the menu this week!!!

Read More about the format of Our Menu Plans Here!

Monday  

(Easy Crock Pot Dinner!)

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Fresh Peaches

Tuesday  

(Dinner in under 20 minutes!)
Auntie's Not-Cho Ordinary Mexican Pizza

Pineapples

Wednesday 

(Stock Your Freezer)
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad- (double batch)
Rotisserie Chicken
Fruit
 

Thursday

(Prepare dressing during nap time. Ready in 5 minutes!!)
Large Salad w/ Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing
Grilled Chicken
Fresh Bread

 

Friday 

(20-Minute Dinner!!)
Chipotle Sliders
Chips
Fruit

{No Bake} Chocolate Buttercup Bars - make 1 hour ahead

Saturday  

Dinner Out!

Sunday  
Bruschetta Chicken
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Crock Pot Bread
Fruit Buffet (use up all leftover fruit!)


What's on your menu this week?

Check out our menu plan on Menu Plan Monday! 

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread

Yuummm!!!  This is my new obsession -- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread!!!  This makes a great breakfast, lunch, and (midnight) snack!  If you are looking for something a little sweet after putting the kids to bed, make a double batch of this to have on hand in your freezer!  Skip the twinkies and fruit roll ups in your kids' (or husband's) lunch boxes and pack them a piece of this!  They will definitely thank you! 

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon (1 packet) yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)

Directions  

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, oats, salt, and cinnamon.
2. In a small bowl, combine yeast, honey, vanilla, butter, and water.  Mix until yeast is dissolved.  Let sit until mixture begins to foam up.
3. Add yeast mixture to flour mixture and stir.  Add chocolate chips.  Knead mixture for 5 minutes.  
4. Place in a greased bowl and cover with a towel.  Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. (Around 45 minutes)
5. Place dough into a greased loaf pan (I use 9x5)
6. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  (To bake in the Crock Pot, follow these directions, starting at #2)

To Freeze as Baked Bread: 
After bread is completely cooled, place in freezer bag and stick in freezer for up to 6 weeks.  You can also cut bread into slices, wrap in plastic wrap, and put slices into a freezer bag for serving size frozen portions.

To Thaw Frozen Baked Bread:
Remove bread from freezer the night before you want to use it.  For individual slices, remove 1 hour before needed, or remove immediately and microwave for 30 seconds.

To Freeze as Dough:

Wrap dough ball in plastic wrap.  Place in freezer bag and store in freezer for up to 6 weeks. 

To Bake Previously Frozen Dough:

Remove dough from freezer and thaw at room temperature for 4 hours before baking.

Our Fun Friday Activities for Today! {8/3}

Here is what we will be doing today:

1. "Olympics-themed" paper flower bouquets - We are going to be making tons of these in the "Olympics" colors for an Olympics watch party!!!


2.  Library Story Time - Our books are due so it's time to get some new ones for the weekend.  Plus, anything inside with air conditioning is always a plus!!


3.  Puzzles - We found tons of great 48-piece puzzles from the dollar store... all different themes.  We may even try to do a few outside before it gets too hot!

What are you all doing today??  

Looking for more activities to do today? Check out more ideas here!

How to Make a Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet

Making tissue paper flower bouquets is a really fun activity for kids to do and you will probably have everything you need already laying around your house somewhere!  When they are finished, you will have a beautiful centerpiece for dinner!  Save money on real flowers... these are way cuter and made from the heart!

These Tissue Paper Flower Bouquets also make great Back-to-School gifts for teachers (save the apple for your kids' lunch box and give the teacher a fun flower bouquet), mother's day gifts, and party favors decorations!  They can really be customized to fit any occasion by changing the colors, adding ribbon or beads to the jar, or even adding lettering to the outside of the jar!

To get started, you will only need 3 things!  (Well, 4 if you include a pair of scissors)

You will need:

• Tissue paper - We always save tissue paper from gifts.  Even if it is crinkled or torn... it comes in handy for things like this!

• Container - We used an old Marie's salad dressing jar that I had saved.  You can use anything you have laying around -- jars, plastic cups, vases, etc.

• Twigs - Send the kids outside to gather these!

To make tissue paper flower bouquet:

1.  Cut tissue paper into strips (from 1 to 2 inches wide and 3 to 5 inches long).

2.  Wrap the tissue paper strip around the branch and carefully twist until secure.

3.  Once the "flower" is formed, you can do as many or as little flowers on each branch as you like.

4.  Stick the finished branches into your container and arrange.

5.  Ta-da!  (Feel free to add ribbon, beads, letters, and as much bling as you want!)