Tag Archives: dinner

How I Got My Daughter To Try Zucchini and Zucchini Noodle Dishes I Love

8 Oct

 

I never thought I would be able to get my girls to eat zucchini.  Not long ago my mom gave me a Veggetti™ Spiral Vegetable Cutter. It’s been the best gift.  It turns Veggies into thick or thin “spaghetti” noodles.  I use it almost every day for lunch and dinner, mostly with Zucchini. One day my youngest, who won’t touch zucchini when its cut into chips or sticks, saw me eating the Zucchini Noodles. She loved zucchini noodles. She prefers the simple version with olive oil, garlic, salt and a little parmesan cheese or in vodka sauce.

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Below are some of my favorite creations that I put together using simple ingredients:

Simple; with olive oil, salt, garlic.  Topped with parmesan cheese.

Simple; with olive oil, salt, garlic. Topped with parmesan cheese.

 

Sautee noodles with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, red onion, adding tomatoes at the end.  Top with feta cheese.

Sautee noodles with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, red onion, adding tomatoes at the end. Top with feta cheese.

Sautee with chile olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper, adding heirloom tomatoes a few minutes later.  Top with goat cheese.

Sautee with chile olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper, and carrots. Add heirloom tomatoes a few minutes later. Top with goat cheese.

Zucchini Noodles topped with Whole Foods pre-made Eggplant Balls that were simmered in Cucina Antica Vodka sauce.  One of my favorites.

Zucchini Noodles topped with Whole Foods pre-made Eggplant Balls that were simmered in Cucina Antica Vodka sauce. One of my favorites.

Sautee Zucchini Noodles with salt, pepper, olive oil, crushed red pepper.  Heat two Whole Foods ready-made Turkey Balls and mix in.  Top with parmesan cheese.

Sautee Zucchini Noodles with salt, pepper, olive oil, crushed red pepper. Heat two Whole Foods ready-made Turkey Balls and mix in. Top with parmesan cheese.

 

Cook Pancetta and roast butternut squash first.  Cook Zucchini Noodles.  Add pancetta and butternut squash, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic. Top with goat cheese.

Cook Pancetta and roast butternut squash first. Cook Zucchini Noodles. Add pancetta and butternut squash, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and garlic. Top with goat cheese.

 

 Veggetti™ is available at Bed, Bath, & Beyond for $14.99.  It is top rack, dishwasher safe

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  I am not a professional chef by any means but I love mixing simple ingredients together to come up with something delicious.  I also love to share products that help my girls eat more vegetables.  I’m still working getting my oldest to try them because I know she will like them if she does.

 

 

 

 

Fun Food Friday: An “Apple” Tree

11 Oct

My girls love apple picking. Unfortunately, we didn’t go this year but I heard picking wasn’t great. My youngest has brought home lots of apple projects from school the past few weeks, reminding my oldest we didn’t go picking. I have tried to think of fun ways to incorporate more vegetables into their meals and since there was a lot of apple talk in our house I came up with an “Apple” Tree.

What you need:

Leaves: Steamed Broccoli

“Apples” in tree: Cherry Tomatoes (halved)

Tree Trunk: Half of Apple, Ham, Cheddar Grilled Cheese, cut into two strips.

Ground: Sliced Apple

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Zucchini Parmesan Quesadilla

2 Oct

A few weeks ago the pediatrician told my four-year-old she needed to try a new vegetable a week. The first vegetable we tried was a zucchini, mostly because we had one that needed to be eaten and also because it looks like a cucumber, which she loves. We had a little tomato sauce and some parmesan cheese left from dinner the night before. We also had a few tortilla’s left from tacos a few nights before. My girls love quesadilla’s so why not make one with the ingredients we had. My girls did not help make it but it is an easy meal for kids to make if you set out all the ingredients for them.
Directions:
1. Slice Zucchini into long slices.
2. Suatee Zucchini in a little oil with salt in pepper until it is a desired texture
3. Place 1 tortilla on a plate
4. Place zucchini on half the tortilla.
5. Spoon a desired amount of tomato sauce on top of the zucchini.
6. Sprinkle fresh parmesan on top of sauce.
7. Fold tortilla over, and ENJOY!
Optional: My girls love their FunBites Luv It bite size cutter, so we used that to make a heart shape with bite sized peices.

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Simple Yet Festive Meals For July 4th!

3 Jul

Instead of signing the girls up for camp this summer, we packed up the car and headed to Virginia for a few weeks to visit family. The girls have spent almost every day at the pool and when they aren’t there, they have played with their cousins. They were having such a great time we decided to extend our stay through the Fourth of July.
We have attended so many family BBQ’s lately and we have one next weekend so decided on something different than burgers and dogs.  Here are some simple, yet festive meals we will have to celebrate Independence Day:

Breakfast: See my post Memorial Day/ July 4th Sailboat breakfast.

Lunch: We plan on packing a lunch and heading to the pool for their Fourth of July celebration.  Star Sandwiches: Make your favorite sandwich and use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut it out of the bread. On the side: Cherry tomatoes and Blueberries to keep with the Red, White and Blue theme.  We will also be making a trip to the ice cream truck when he makes a visit.  🙂

Dinner: While my mom was at Costco she came across festive Four Cheese Ravioli by Nuovo. Add a little butter or olive oil and fresh garlic, then serve with your favorite veggies on the side.  You can even use a small bowl or cup of tomato sauce on the side and the kids can dip their ravioli.  The girls are SUPER excited to try them tomorrow.

Drinks:  To get the girls to drink more water during this heat wave, I have frozen blackberries, raspberries and blueberries to put in their water.  They love it and when they start thawing they add a slight hint of flavor to their water.  They call it “special water”.  The frozen fruit gives a festive look and Mommies can add it to a glass of wine or prosecco while watching fireworks!

Dessert: Flag Graham Crackers the kids can make.  In a separate cup add cool whip. Cut strawberries into thin lines and place on plate with blueberries and raspberries for decorating.  Give each child a graham cracker.  Use a spoon to spread the cool whip and then decorate.  We did a practice round today.  I had to help my younger daughter, but my older daughter had a great time making it and eating it.  My older daughter did her own interpretation of the flag.

Ready to decorate!

Ready to eat!

Happy Eating and Drinking This 4th of July!

“Eat Your Heart Out” Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Chicken {Recipe}

14 Feb
I got this recipe from my mom a few years ago.  I have no idea where she got it from but it is one of my favorites. I make it when we have people over for dinner, when I bring dinner to friends after they have a baby, and every once in a while for the four of us.  Anyone I have made it for has loved it.  The girls love it too, especially when we use fun shape pastas.  If you decide to stay in tonight this recipe is easy and delicious.  It would be great with a bottle of wine for the mommies and daddies and some sparkling cider for your little Valentine(s).
*When I make it for the four of us I cut the recipe in half and it still makes a lot.  I have also used shrimp instead of chicken in the past and it is just as good.
Ingredients:
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts, cut bite sized
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 (9oz) jar sun-dried tomatoes, julienne cut
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 Tbl oil from sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 (1lb) box farfelle pasta (or any other pasta you like), Since it is a special Valentine’s dinner we used “Eat Your Heart Out” Pasta by The Pasta Shop: Pastabilities (see my post about Pastabilities)
Directions:
  1. Saute chicken pieces with garlic, basil, oregano, garlic powder, and salt in the 2 Tablespoons of sun-dried tomato oil for 5-7 min, or until chicken is cooked.
  2. Drain tomatoes and add to chicken, reduce heat and sauté for 3 minutes longer.
  3. Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on box.
  4. Toss cooked pasta with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes
  5. Add parmesan cheese on top.

Serve with a salad or veggies.