Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Easy Dinner Recipe

 

*I received this product for free from Moms Meet for review. Compensation for this post was provided and this post may contain affiliate links.

Meal Planning for 5 family dinners a week is no easy task! My husband and 5 kids have their favorites, and it seems like we fall into a dinner rut at times. I love adding new easy dinner recipes to the rotation!

My kids love pasta dinners. Liam could EASILY eat gluten free pasta with traditional sauce every single day - and often does! There's no doubt pasta dishes are easy to make, and seem to be a favorite for many. There are so many options, but we don't venture away from traditional red sauce very often. It was definitely time to try something different! 

I like pesto, but most of my family never tried it. I decided to switch our usual pasta dish up with grilled chicken, tomatoes, bacon, mozzarella, and Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto. Guess what? They LOVED it! We now have a new easy pasta recipe to add to our meal planning rotation!

Deliciously Easy Cheesy Baked Spaghetti

Did you know it's National Spaghetti Day? I didn't even know it was a thing until it showed up on my calendar! My family LOVES spaghetti...heck, Liam eats gluten free spaghetti almost every morning for breakfast!

In honor of National Spaghetti Day, I wanted to share one of my favorite spaghetti recipes. It's easy to make, it can be customized in so many ways, and it only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Although the recipe I'm sharing is vegetarian, you can add ground beef, turkey, or sausage, and you can make it gluten free by swapping out the regular spaghetti for a gluten free version.

My kids can be picky at times, but one thing I know they will always eat is spaghetti. They all love this cheesy baked spaghetti, and they don't even complain that there isn't any meat in it. When I can find something that everyone in my family will eat, I'm thankful!

The Importance of Family Dinners + Keto Low Carb Turkey Burgers

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I have a big, busy family, but one of our priorities is regular family dinners! Delicious meals just have a way of bringing families and friends together. As you can imagine, going out to eat with 7 people is expensive, so we do a LOT of cooking at home, and often invite friends and family members to eat with us!

I feel like family dinners are quickly becoming a thing of the past due to the busyness of life. I truly believe that letting this tradition slip away can be detrimental for family togetherness. Taking a brief break from the chaos, even if it's for just 30 minutes, can help families reconnect. Teaching our kids the importance of family togetherness can lead to traditions that they will carry on to their own families one day. 

My own family eats dinner together 5 days a week. We might not sit down until 8 PM or later some days, but we always eat together! Almost every Friday, we visit my parents, and have dinner with them. Over the past year, we started trying new recipes on Saturday nights that we're at home. Now that our kids are older, they do have busy social lives, too, so not everyone is here on weekends, but those who are, get to enjoy meals with family and friends, or try a new meal!

Homemade Peanut Banana Oatmeal Baby Food + The New Guidelines For Introducing Allergens

I received this product for free from Moms Meet for review. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

When Coen was born, I told myself to savor every moment, because babies don't keep. An entire year of infancy stretched out ahead of us, but I blinked and half a year was already gone. Coen is now 6 months old, and he's nothing like the helpless newborn he was just a short while ago. He's rolling, sitting, standing with support, trying to crawl, getting teeth, eating baby food, and sipping from a straw cup!

Gone are the hours upon hours I spent breastfeeding him. Now some of those nursing sessions are supplemented by solid feedings. Instead of pulling out my breast pump, I'm pulling out the blender to make homemade baby purees. So many changes happen within that first year of life. It's exciting and bittersweet at the same time!

Speaking of changes, a lot of changes have occurred since my four older kids were babies. Start solids at 4 months, start solids at 6 months, start solids between 4-6 months, skip purees and do baby led weaning, don't give eggs or peanut butter until 12 months...it's hard to keep up! Coen's wonderful pediatrician recommended starting solids at 4 months (we did) and slowly introducing foods, then adding eggs and peanut butter to his diet at 6 months old. Research shows that feeding peanuts between 4-6 months could prevent babies from developing a peanut allergy. We followed the recommendation, and it was so easy to do!

Sparkling Black Raspberry Float

This post is sponsored by Sparkling ICE but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

In a few short weeks, my crew is going to be heading back to school! My kids are starving when they get home, and don't always make the healthiest choices, so I try to plan a few snacks each week. A Sparking Black Raspberry Float is a tasty, low calorie treat that they will love!

I absolutely love raspberries, so I'm a big fan of anything raspberry-flavored, and my kids agree! This refreshing, 4-ingredient float is made with delicious frozen yogurt and Sparkling Ice Black Raspberry. Although parents would love it, too, they just might want to opt for an extra boost of energy instead. The beginning of the school year is draining for kids, teachers, and mom and dad!

I'm not quite ready to trade our (somewhat) calm Summer days for the chaos of the school year, but it's time to start planning those afterschool snacks. I will definitely be adding this treat to the afterschool snack rotation. The Sparkling Black Raspberry Float has so much going for it - it's quick and easy to make, it's inexpensive, it's refreshing, and it's absolutely delicious!

Cheesy Potato Casserole Recipe

With five kids, we don't go out to dinner much! I'm sure you can imagine just how expensive our bill is when we do, so we stick to birthdays and big occasions. Eating dinner at home together is just a way of life for our big family. I don't LOVE to cook, but I do enjoy trying new recipes, and making delicious meals!

When it comes to finding recipes my family will love, it's all a matter of trial and error. Each of us have unique preferences and tastes, so I have to keep recipe ingredients simple. I try to make the recipe gluten-free for Liam, so I don't have to cook two meals each night. I also try to make the recipe budget-friendly, because our grocery shopping bill each week is hefty!

I don't consider myself a food blogger, but I decided to start sharing a favorite family recipe each month! Cheesy ham and potatoes has been a longtime favorite meal of ours, but eventually our favorite recipes get boring, so I decided to spruce it up a bit. This hearty Cheesy Potato Casserole recipe is gluten-free, full of some of our most favorite ingredients, and absolutely delicious! When my family goes back for seconds - or thirds - it's a keeper!

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Happy Friday! It has been a few weeks since I shared a few of my favorite things, and my love list just keeps getting longer. I have so many new favorites that I would be typing forever if I included them all, so I'll just share some today, and some more next Friday!

If I'm going to be perfectly honest, much of my focus these days is on my kids and the new baby that we were not the least bit prepared for! (And if you missed the news, here you go!) It has been 5+ years since our last baby was born, and so many things have changed since then. Plus, we have to purchase almost everything again, because we were DONE. When I'm feeling so sick all the time, I don't really love much for myself, so most of my favoites are for kids!

Here are a few of the awesome things that made my love list...

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Happy Friday, my friends! Can you believe it's the end of September already? Where did the past month go?!? Today I'm sharing a few of my favorites that I loved during the month of September!

What's Up Wednesday? ~ June Edition

It's the last Wednesday of the month which means it's time for What's Up Wednesday! Is it just me, or did June fly by ridiculously fast?!? I can't believe the month is almost over, and July is arriving next week!

On the last Wednesday of each month, I share a life lately post. It's a great way to share what my family is up to! Not just the daily recap, but the things we're eating, watching, listening to, reading, wearing, and more...

Dirt Dessert Cups for Kids

Happy Earth Day! It's not really a holiday, but I like to do something fun to acknowledge the day. My kids are all about desserts, so I decided to whip up an easy batch of Dirt Dessert Cups to celebrate! (I even made a gluten free alternative for Liam!)

Deliciously Irresistible Vanilla Bean Shamrock Shake

With St. Patrick's Day just a few days away, I figured it was time to whip up a festive treat for my family! Milkshakes are always a quick and easy option! My family loves Shamrock Shakes, but I'm not a big fan of mint flavored milkshakes, so I made a milkshake that we all would love. Vanilla Bean was the winner!

Orange Creamsicle Jello Recipe - Delicious, easy & quick to make! {Tuesday Talk}

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and I'm currently thinking about all the delicious food I'm going to eat! I mean, of course I'm going to whip up some recipes, too, but thinking about eating is much more fun. Our upcoming Thanksgiving meal inspired me to share an Orange Jello family recipe that has been a part of every holiday meal for literally as long as I can remember!

Pumpkin French Toast Bake with Cream Cheese Glaze #BrueggersBunch

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Bruegger’s Bagels, but all content is 100% my own.

Fall is in the air and pumpkins are everywhere! Pumpkin decor is lining the store shelves, and pumpkin-flavored foods and drinks are in every aisle of the grocery store and in every restaurant. It’s a booming business, and consumers are loving it!

I am not one of those people who obsess over all things pumpkin flavored. I prefer just a hint of pumpkin flavoring with minimal spice, but it seems like most things are more heavily flavored. When I can’t find what I want, sometimes it’s just easier to make it myself!

French Toast is one of our favorite breakfast foods, so I came up with a delicious pumpkin french toast bake with a pumpkin cream cheese glaze, inspired by the pumpkin bagels and pumpkin cream cheese that Bruegger’s Bagels is currently offering through Thanksgiving. Both are lightly flavored, which is exactly what I like. The end result is delicious pumpkin french toast that tastes just like a freshly baked pumpkin roll!

I promise. It's THAT good!

Pumpkin French Toast Bake with Cream Cheese Glaze

INGREDIENTS:

French Toast Bake

• 1/2 dozen Bruegger's Bagels pumpkin bagels
• 6 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp butter, softened
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Glaze

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tub (6.5 oz) of Bruegger’s Bagels Pumpkin Cream Cheese, softened
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• 4 tbsp vanilla almond milk

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Lightly grease a 9x13 glass baking dish.

3. Chop the 6 pumpkin bagels into 1 inch pieces and place in the baking dish.

4. Mix the eggs, milk, vanilla almond milk, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon in a large bowl.

5. Pour the egg mixture over the bagel pieces, and gently mix to make sure all pieces are covered.

6. Place in fridge for 15 minutes.

7.Meanwhile, mix the brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon and softened butter until it is blended and crumbly.

8. Take the baking dish out of the fridge and spoon the brown sugar mixture over the top.

9. Bake for 50 minutes.

10. While it’s baking, prepare the glaze. Mix the softened pumpkin cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and vanilla almond milk until blended.

11. When the french toast bake comes out of the oven, immediately spoon the pumpkin cream cheese glaze over the french toast bake.

ENJOY!

Not only is Pumpkin French Toast Bake quick to prepare, but it’s also a crowd pleaser! It has the perfect hint of pumpkin flavoring, and the cream cheese glaze is a delicious alternative to syrup. If your family loves pumpkin, this recipe is destined to be a hit!

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Breakfast Made Easy On Busy Mornings #BrueggersBunch

DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored by Bruegger’s Bagels. All thoughts expressed here are 100% my own.

Mornings in my home during the school year can only be described as incredibly busy! We have six family members waking up and eating breakfast at five separate times, and leaving the house at four different times. From the time the first person wakes up until the last person runs out the door, it’s a whirlwind!

Quick breakfasts are the only way to go, but relying on cereal, instant oatmeal or frozen waffles each day gets boring. There’s a simple and delicious solution that all of us can agree on: bagels! Our favorite bagels come from our local Bruegger’s Bagels, which has bagel and cream cheese flavors that we all love!

Finding time to run extra errands in a family of six is often a struggle, so I have even ordered the small bagel box online from the catering menu, and asked my husband to pick it up when he leaves the office. It has enough bagels for two days and comes with plain and honey walnut cream cheese, and it’s waiting for him ready to go when he arrives.

I’m the first person awake each morning, bright and early at 6 AM, but preparing breakfast for our busy morning ahead is an easy job with Bruegger’s on the menu. I simply slice each bagel in half, sit out our favorite cream cheese flavors and add a few pieces of fruit. Thanks to Bagels A La Carte, each family member can choose exactly what they want!

At Bruegger’s Bagels, there is a flavor that everybody in my family loves, but most of the time we stick with plain, so we can jazz them up with our favorite toppings. My 12 year old son Dylan is the first to leave on school mornings, his bus picks him up at a painfully early 6:43 AM. He’s not always in the mood for a full breakfast but willingly eats bagels, so we purchase them often. Although he is our most creative eater, he usually opts for a plain cream cheese bagel sandwich and a piece of fruit to start his day!

My husband leaves for work about an hour later. He eats his breakfast during his long commute or at his desk, so his breakfast has to be simple. An egg and cheese bagel sandwich along with fruit and almonds makes for a healthy, well-balanced breakfast that satisfies his hunger until lunchtime!

Lexie and Lily are the only ones who have the same schedule, they wake up and eat breakfast together every morning! Lexie likes to keep things simple, so she usually chooses a half of a bagel with plain cream cheese, however Lily still needs a smile to start her day! (Sometimes it really is fun to play with food!)

Liam is the last person to wake up each morning. He likes to spend some time playing before devouring his breakfast! Eating a full bagel is still a bit difficult for Liam, so I slice it into small wedges to make it easier for him, then give him a spoonful of softened cream cheese for dipping. Serving it with a side of fruit and a yogurt drink gives him a healthy start!

Mom, of course, is always the last person to eat! I used to have a bad habit of skipping breakfast, and I would only remember when hunger pains hit in the afternoon, but now I make sure to grab an easy breakfast to take with me as I run out the door. I prefer a bagel with Strawberry, Honey Walnut or Greek Blueberry (the summer special at Bruegger’s Bagels) cream cheese, some almonds and a yogurt drink! And my breakfast is literally eaten on the run!

Getting used to our new morning schedule has been an adjustment, but (I think) we’re rocking it! Thanks to the help of our Bruegger’s Bagels breakfast, our mornings have been easier. As a busy mom of four kids, I’m a fan of ANYTHING that saves me time!

We are really looking forward to a break over Labor Day Weekend! Starting today, visit http://bit.ly/2v3vEoy and head to your local Bruegger’s Bagels to enjoy $3 off their Big Bagel Bundle!

Pineapple Love: Frozen Pineapple Whip & Adorable Pineapple Style

DISCLOSURE: The clothing from French Toast that is featured in this post was received complimentary.

My family loves pineapple! It's one of our favorite snacks year round, and any recipe that features pineapple is an instant hit. At the beginning of the Summer, we tried Pineapple Dole Whip for the first time, and my kids begged me to duplicate the recipe. After some trial and error, we found a homemade recipe that we love!

This recipe is simple to make and absolutely delicious! The first time I made it, my family devoured it in one sitting and immediately requested more. It's an incredibly refreshing treat that is perfect for Summer days!

This 3-ingredient recipe is so easy to make that even Dylan and Lexie can quickly whip it up on their own! It can be served straight from the blender for those who prefer a softer frozen dessert (ME!), or placed in the freezer for a few minutes for those who prefer a more frozen dessert (like my strange husband). Either way, everybody wins!

FROZEN PINEAPPLE WHIP

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, frozen
• 3 cups vanilla ice cream
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• OPTIONAL: pineapple chunks for garnish

The great thing about this recipe is that it can be easily adjusted for personal taste. Although the recipe above is a family favorite, some family members occasionally like to add a bit more pineapple punch! Sometimes, I bump up the crushed pineapple measurement to 1 cup.

We have also made it more like a milkshake by using crushed pineapple that isn't frozen, and bumping up the pineapple juice to 1 cup!

MAKE IT:

1. Place all 3 ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. 
2. Pour into dessert cups and serve immediately, or place in the freezer for 30 minutes for a more frozen dessert.
3. OPTIONAL: Garnish with pineapple chunks.

It really is as easy - and DELICIOUS - as it sounds!

While we're on the topic of pineapple love, let's talk pineapple style! This year, pineapples seem to be everywhere, including on clothing. My girls adore their pineapple outfits from French Toast!

French Toast offers mix and match clothing in styles that kids love! Not only is the clothing affordable, but it's also comfortable. It's perfect for school (hence why they specialize in uniforms) or the playground!

Lexie and Lily loved their pineapple leggings, but they were even more excited about their coordinating styles! 

They really DO love each other! (Most of the time!)

Pineapple Love is strong with my family! Frozen Pineapple Whip is one of our new favorite treats. Not only is it incredibly delicious, but I love how I can make it in just a few minutes and make my entire family happy. Enjoy!

Have you tried Pineapple Whip?

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TUESDAY TALK

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