Dinner Tonight: Pronto Pasta Italiano

 

This is a quick and easy dinner courtesy of Kraft Food & Family magazine.  I had some cooked ground beef in the freezer which made it even more quick and easy!

Pronto Pasta Italiano (from Kraft Food & Family)

1 pkg Kraft Deluxe Mac & Cheese dinner
1 lb ground beef
1 cup pizza sauce (I used some spaghetti sauce)
1/2 cup shredded three cheese blend

Prepare dinner as directed.  Meanwhile, brown ground beef in large skillet.  Add dinner and sauce, mixing lightly.  Sprinkle with cheese; cover and cook about 2 minutes or until cheese melts.

Healthy Snacks For Kids: Smoothies

 

Today’s snack was nice and simple, but yummy and filling.  I put some cheese cubes on crackers, and made a smoothie for the drink.  Here’s the smoothie as I make it.

Pineapple Mango Smoothie

1 cup Orange Peach Mango juice 
1 container vanilla yogurt
1 cup frozen pineapple chunks

Blend and serve. :)  I use Dole juice in a carton, it’s delicious, but any citrus juice would do.  I’ve also added frozen or fresh strawberries as well…let’s face it, smoothies are very customizable.  :)

Healthy Kid Snacks: Crunchy Apple Rings

 

My boys are pretty good about eating a variety of foods…ds2 will eat cherry tomatoes as snacks and ds3 does the same with salad.  Ds4…not so much.  Recently he has been on a poor eating run and I’m trying to ease him out of it.  I usually let the boys pick their own snacks but have decided to take over for a while until ds4 gets back on track.  Here is what we served for snack today.

These are so simple but so good!  I cored and sliced some yummy red delicious apples, spread on some peanut butter, and sprinkled them with Cascadian Farms Cinnamon Raisin Granola.  Yum!  Now hopefully those little tummies will survive until dinner time. :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Need I say more? :)  This recipe is our favorite, it makes soft, chewy, chocolaty cookies that stay soft even after they have set.  The recipe comes from Crisco…I use it so much I keep it taped to the inside of my spice cabinet.

 

I actually did adapt the recipe ever so slightly…I am going to post my version.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies  (adapted from a Crisco recipe)

3/4 cups butter flavored Crisco shortening
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
2 tbs milk
1 tbs vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups milk chocolate chips (we prefer Hershey brand)

Cream shortening and sugar.  Beat in milk, vanilla and egg.  Stir in flour, salt and baking soda until combined.  Stir in chips.  Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 375 for 11-13 minutes or just until set.  Don’t let these brown much…gooey is good lol.  But believe me, even a day later, these babies are still good and soft.

Now I know there are tons of chocolate chip cookie recipes but these are our faves for a good old cc cookie…I am not against adding nuts or other types of chips. :)

Delish!

Baking Day: Cookies!

 

I spent the afternoon baking.  I made up three different cookies, but only baked two before my back said “Enough!” lol.

Baking Day Tip:  Set out all your refrigerated ingredients before you begin so they can come to room temperature.

The first is my favorite sugar cookie.  They are simple yet just delicious.  The hint of nutmeg is subtle, but really makes them special.  I got the recipe from Betty Crocker.

No-Roll Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 egg
2 1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
sugar for rolling

Cream butter and sugar.  Stir in vanilla, nutmeg and egg.  Stir in flour and baking soda.  Shape dough into balls, and roll balls in shallow bowl of sugar.  Place on parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 375 for 10 minutes or until set.

Aren’t they cute?  But how do they taste?

It’s a thumbs up!  And yes, my boys are naked 24/7, 365. :P

The next recipe I got from Bakingblonde’s site.  It’s a great source of good recipes and she gives honest opinions of the results.  These cookies are good, but the peanut butter flavor is not strong enough for me.

Peanut Butter Crinkle Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup powdered sugar (or more as needed for rolling)

Cream butter and peanut butter.  Beat in sugar and brown sugar.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  In another bowl whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Gently add to creamed mixture.  Chill dough for 10-20 minutes.  Roll into balls and roll balls in powdered sugar.  Place on parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until set.

Both batches made plenty for snacking on now, and even some for freezing for later.  Tomorrow, chocolate chip!

Menu Plan 3/5-3/12

 

I don’t put specific meals to specific days, I just plan out meals for a week (or so) and choose what to make that morning.  Works for me!

 

Crescent dogs, chips, fruit

Baked ham, potato salad, corn

Ham and bean soup in slow cooker

Spaghetti, salad

Chicken Noodle Stew

Sensational Sloppy Joes, veggies and dip

Breakfast for dinner

Dinner Tonight: Best Slow Cooker Pot Roast

 

I got this recipe somewhere off the internet.  It truly is the best pot roast!  It makes lots of yummy gravy that tastes super over rice.  :)

Best Slow Cooker Pot Roast

2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg pot roast seasoning
1 1/4 cups water
5 pounds beef chuck pot roast

Place ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low for 8-9 hours.  Gets better the longer you cook it.  I usually mix the water and seasoning pack, then stir in the soups and pour it all over and around the roast.  Yum.