Chicken Caesar Pasta With Peas

So I couldn't wait to share this recipe with you all I love love love that my whole family loved this one. will for sure change it up with different pasta and toss it all together next time for sure! Instead of Mrs. Dash I used a garlic based seasoning mix it was so yummy and we used turkey tenders still was very tasty. The kids said it mush be added to the family rotations for sure. Also it gave us a large amount of left over pasta which sadly will not go to waste on left over day! It may also be turned into a pasta salad for punk girls lunch one day this week.

Chicken Caesar Pasta With Peas

• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Servings: 4

About This Recipe

"Recipe taken from the book Eating Forward by Sandi Richard Hit with my family!"

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
• 3 chicken breasts, boneless skinless ( 1lb 350g)
• 1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash table blend seasoning  
• 5 1/3 ounces light cream cheese ( or 83g )
• 1/2 cup Caesar salad dressing
• 1 cup 1% low-fat milk
• 12 ounces vermicelli ( or 340g)
• 4 slices bacon, fully cooked & low sodium

Directions

1. Fill a pot with water and bring to boil for pasta.
2. Heat oil in large pan on medium heat. Cut chicken into small bite sized pieces, adding to pan as you cut. Add spice. Toss until meat is no longer pink.
3. Add cream cheese, dressing and milk. Stir until cheese is melted and ingredients are combined.
4. Place pasta in boiling water, stir and cook uncovered.Cook to package directions appox 5 minutes.
5. Place bacon on paper towel in microwave. Cook for 1 minute Set aside. Gently smash croutons with a mallet. Set aside.
6. Rinse peas and place in a microwave safe dish, cover and cook on high for 3-4 mins until heated. Let stand.
7. Rinse pasta under hot water in colander. Let drain and return to pasta pot. . Cover. NO HEAT, let stand. Slice and crumble bacon. Serve pasta on plate or bowl with sauce poured over top. Garnish with croutons, bacon and parmesan cheese.

Meal Plan {January 6th - January 12th}

Well our plan kinda got thrown for a loop this week but thats ok no one died  and we can just move it around!
Meal Plan {{January 6th - January 12th}}
Monday - (Swimming, Cubs & Dance) - Hamburgers
Tuesday - (Swimming) - Chicken Stew & Dumplings - Regina Burn Unit Cook Book
Wednesday -(Swimming) - Crockpot Pork Chops - online recipe
Thursday - (Swimming, Skating & Choir) - Makeover Tater-topped Casserole - new
Friday - Left Overs
Saturday - Freezer meal - eat from the freezer...Its crammed full right now!
Sunday -Roast Beef w/ Mashed Potatoes

So with this week we are back to school but the injured child is still injured and not doing 2 of her activities the the other punk is starting swimming lessens for the next 2 weeks. So meals are going to be a little more experimenting I think!

Monday - Chicken Caesar Pasta w/peas - new recipe Eat Forward (carry over from last week)
Tuesday - New Years Eve - M&M Meats and appetizers
Wednesday - Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Thursday - ate out at Local the boys went to a WHL game
Friday -Donair-ish Wraps & Veggies - new recipe Eat Forward
Saturday - Little Caesars Pizza - both kiddos had friends sleep over.
Sunday -Chicken Caesar Pasta w/peas - new recipe Eat Forward

Next week we are down a parental unit so we will be eating weird! Shrimp, Eggs & rice, and other things! What do you eat while a certain member of your family is away???

Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

One of our favorite soup recipes that is so quick and yummy and good the next day! Everyone in our house enjoys this and gobbles it up.

 

Olive Garden Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

• Prep Time: 10 mins  Total Time: 35 mins  Servings: 8-10

Ingredients

• 3 - 4 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/2 carrots, shredded
• 1/2 onions, diced
• 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ - 1 teaspoon thyme & parsley
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• salt and pepper
• 16 ounces potato gnocchi
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)

Directions

1. Sauté the onion, celery, garlic, carrot in oil over medium heat until onion is translucent.
2. Add chicken, chicken stock, half and half (add cornstarch in half and half at this point if you want a thicker soup.), salt and pepper, thyme. Heat to boiling, then add gnocchi. Gently boil for 4 minutes, then turn down to a simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add spinach and cook for another 1-2 minutes until spinach is wilted.
4. Ladle into bowls and serve! If you have a great soup recipe please share we love trying new recipes especially tried and true family favorites!

Happy New Year Yummys

Sitting here waiting to ring in New Years (SO basically trying to keep myself awake) I thought I have to share some of our fav nom nom's from tonight.

 First one is Hungry Girl's Holy Moly Guacamole, if you haven't tried some of her recipes hit her site HERE or your local library and borrow one of her many books before you invest but we have yet to have a recipe bomb on us!

To find the complete recipe HERE.
Yes the main ingredient is smashed peas, gross maybe but once smashed and mixed up with everything it is so good and well quite healthy for you! ~ 1/3 cup: 78 calories, 3g fat, 320mg sodium, 10.5g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 4g sugars, 3.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 2.
I have changed it up by not having any plain greek yogurt and subing light sour cream it is looser than normal guac some times but still yummy....this time I omitted the jalapenos so the kids may try it. To my surprise the boy punk couldn't get enough in his face the girl punk we couldn't bribe her to even have the tiniest bit! Silly kids! But she did gobble up the pico de gallo. The pico is one of those things that I just throw together I will give you what we add and you can play around with it!

ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped ( I prefer a nice ripe Roma but have used may different types that all turn out great)
small white onion, finely chopped ( I use a pampered chef chopper to get it quite fine)
cilantro leaf, chopped (or more to taste!)
jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
fresh lime juice - HAS TO BE FRESH no, if and's or buts about it people!

A sample recipe is here read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/pico-de-gallo-83371?oc=linkback

Hope you all had a great New Years Eve and a relaxing New Years Day.


 

Knock Knock ~ Meal Plan {December 30 - January 3/2014}

Who's there....yeah it's just me! Wow it has been a whole year since I have posted. It has been a busy crazy year. But here we go for a fresh new start at meal planning and food and life in general!!!

 Meal Plan {Dec 30th - Jan 3rd}
Monday - Nachos - w/ground chicken & homemade seasoning
Tuesday - New Years Eve - M&M Meats and appetizers - Was invited out but with an injured child prob staying home still too much pain!
Wednesday - Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Thursday - Donair-ish Wraps & Veggies - new recipe Eat Forward
Friday -Fish & Fries
Saturday - Chicken Caesar Pasta w/peas - new recipe Eat Forward
Sunday -Roast Beef w/ Mashed Potatoes

So I have to tell you all about a new tea I got from Santa it is Zhena's Ultimate Green Tea - 22's

I have only tried this flavor and it is so yummy. I will be on the look out for different flavors now that I have been to the company website. Have you tried any? A favorite? Oh as I was looking at a local stores online store and I apparently have tried this brand before Peppermint Mocha it is yummy too! DUH! Guess I drink to much tea!

Want to know what you are looking for in recipe wise? Healthy, easy, full flavor? All of the above?

See you guys soon!

Happy New Year Happy Meal Plan {Jan 1st - Jan 6th}

Wow that year flew by and I was super busy for most of Dec.  We flew by the seat of our pants and ate out a lot as S was away!  So I have pretty must done noting since Christmas....and it was perfect. 

SO now to slowly get back into the swing here we go....

Meal Plan {Jan 1st - Jan 6th}

Monday - New Years - Appetizers from M & M Meats

Tuesday - Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry (New)

Wednesday - Tortilla Quiche (New)

Thursday - Chicken Burgers

Friday -Enchilada Rice (New) with Enchilada Sauce)

Saturday - Sausage and Perogies

Sunday -Meatloaf w/ Mashed Potatos

Meal Plan {Nov 5th - Nov 11th}

Last week was a busy week...
Monday - Chicken Burritos w/raw veg
Tuesday - Spaghetti Sauce in Slow Cooker
Wednesday - Take - out - Burger King
Thursday - Eat Out we have Dance, Soccer & a Meeting
Friday - Left Overs - Freezer eating Litter Critters aka Little Ceasers (what every one wanted on Halloween but was lined out the door)
Saturday - Meatballs
Sunday - Turkey Breast with potatoes

Monday -  Ribs & Potato casserole
Tuesday - Turkey Sloppy Joes (new recipe)
Wednesday - Hamburger Chop Suey

Thursday - Breakfast for supper
Friday - Fish and Chips (Homemade new recipe)
Saturday - Southwest Black Bean soup (New recipe)
Sunday - Remembrance Day - ????

Need all your help I need 'thee' best Chocolate chip cookie recipe........Please!  See you all next week.