You don’t have to be sick to enjoy a good bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. I’ve been craving this soup for a while. I made a version of it last week for a friend and I just couldn’t help myself today. I had to make it. Ingredients: One Rotisserie Chicken, you can find this at your grocers deli counter. Cube your chicken pieces and set aside. 8 cups / two boxes of salted chicken stock (Rachael Ray is safe) 1 carrot, peeled + thinly sliced 3 ribs of celery, halved + thinly sliced 1/2 white onion, diced small (can also use 1 palm/tbsp powdered onion) 3 garlic cloves, minced…
Gigi's Weeknight BBQ Ribs
Growing up, my parents worked a LOT. Dinner was always about fast, simple and easy. There were no frills. The spice cabinet contained salt, pepper, Lawry’s season salt and italian herb mix. Basic. In fact, many of our meals were hamburger helper, over cooked chicken stir-fry or sweet and sour meatballs. My parents didn’t come from families that cooked a lot, so all of the things we had, they learned how to make themselves. They did a pretty good job for having little cooking experience. I still LOVE my mom’s BBQ ribs. Ingredients One rack of ribs One bottle of favorite BBQ sauce, like sweet baby Ray’s One extra large…
Italian One Pot Pasta
If you don’t like to cook, don’t think you can cook, don’t want to cook, have a case of the Mondays (Tuesdays – Fridays for that matter) or just need something to feed your family or yourself, this is it. It’s super fast, and packed full of flavor. We made it on a Monday and it was amazing. Plus, if you have fresh herbs growing, it’s a great way to use up LOTS of basil. If you don’t grow basil, pick up one of those little plants in the produce department at your grocery store. It’s worth it! Ingredients 1 pound spaghetti 1 (12oz) smoked andouille sausage (any sausage will…
Cilantro Lime Chicken (Crock pot)
Cilantro Lime Chicken did not disappoint last week – and the good news is that it made a lot of food to eat several different ways. We had two dinners from it and lunch leftovers. This dish can be eaten plain, over jasmine rice, with tortillas chips, as a huge nacho plate with extra olives, cheese and fixins, as burritos, tacos, and quesadillas with red onion and sour cream. This recipe is flexible. It can be frozen for a few weeks if you’re planning on making this ahead of time. Our family loves easy slow cooker meals that are full of flavor. Clean up is simple and I didn’t have…
Quick Meals
Hey there – it’s been a Monday! Today was full of crazy, but I’ve found the silver lining. I was able to talk to not one, but two of my cousins today. It’s been a while since I’ve talked to them and it was nice to catch up, connect. It’s nice to know family always has your back. Even if it’s been a while since the last time you talked, it’s family, and family is #1. This week I’m behind. Of course. My usual weekend planning didn’t happen since we were out of town so here’s what I’ve come up with for quick meals in the past 15 minutes while…
Minestrone Soup + Italian Chicken Meatballs
Tonight, you get my chicken scratch. I made the soup in 15 minutes and cheated on the meatballs. They are in the Fresh Market at Hy-Vee , organic , all natural chicken meaballs by Chef Bruce Aidells. I’ve had these before and they are delish. Adding to the soup gives it a little protein. I hate heavy meals on hot summer days. A light soup sounds good. Can you tell my lack of blogging guilt has set in?
Chipotle Chicken Bowls
The end of the school year is quickly approaching and I feel like my organizational skills are in a downward spiral. Food menu planning is sporadic at best, our calendars are jammed full of activities, get-togethers, parties, volunteer activities, the list goes on. All fun stuff, just a lot all at once. This week my body has been mad at me for having so much going on – and I could tell. I’ve had a dull headache for two days that turned into a full blown migraine late last night that kept me awake until 3am. I haven’t been eating right, I’ve been working out too hard, too fast, and…
Comfort Food for a Full Moon
When you work in healthcare, you know that a full moon is like Friday the 13th. The crazy come out of the woodwork. So what better to have for dinner, after a super long day, than a comforting meal of homemade meatloaf, sauteed parmesan zucchini and creamy mashed potatoes?! Nothing. There is nothing better. This is the kind of heavy meal that fills in all the cracks and does not need dessert to follow. Everyone cleared their plates, Carter had 3rds, and there are zero left overs. I have meat and potatoes kinds of kids. Meatloaf Ingredients: 1 pound grass fed organic beef 1 palm full of Penzeys powdered garlic…
May the 4th Be With You!
Star Wars day was awesome. My kids are really into Star Wars right now, as is the hubs, so when we we were menu planning on Sunday, the kids REALLY wanted to do something fun for May 4th. (Side bar: I’m drinking Valentine Coffee right now with 1 tsp of Nestle Quick Bunny Chocolate powder, and it’s amaze. You should try it. Seriously. 20 calories, but it has vitamins and tastes like a skinny mocha from Starbucks. No lie.) Star Wars Day is also my mother-in-laws birthday! So we celebrated big time! Here is the menu: May the 4th Menu Obe-Wan Kebabies: skewered watermelon balls, strawberries, blackberries and grapes Darth…
Red Pepper Couscous
Have you ever had your credit card number compromised? I’m too familiar with this process. By now, I’m mostly annoyed. Last year our credit card number was stolen 4 times. This year, our bank has changed our number once already (last month) out of “an abundance of caution.” I’m super annoyed. Naturally, I make lists. However, I haven’t made a list, YET, for all of the vendors linked to automatic bill pay with this specific card. Now I am. The time it takes to re-enter all of my billing information for all of these companies blows my mind. Some websites are easier than others. But some are difficult to navigate…
Going Green Wraps
I live in wild college town, super hippy and very liberal, Madison, WI, and now I’m a tree hugger. It’s true. City girl turned into granola-hipster + Birkenstock lover. Most of the time, when I’m cooking especially, I pretend I’m in SoCal feeling the warm sun beaming down, smelling fresh, ocean breezes, and eating uber healthy like it’s affordable and around every corner. Truth. Most of our produce here in the mid-west is very expensive and it’s hard to keep up with which grocery store’s produce is the best each week and cost friendly. In addition, our local restaurants are mostly pubs that serve big burgers (nothing wrong with a…
Korean Beef Bowl
I decided to spice it up tonight for dinner – and it turned out to be a winner! My little guy has never eaten so fast, so I’m going to share what we made. Korean Beef Bowl Ingredients 1 cup brown rice 2 cups packed fresh spinach 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced 4 scallions 1 inch of fresh, peeled ginger, minced 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce 2 tsp sesame oil 1 squirt of sriracha (the rooster, as my Dad calls it!) + extra for garnish 1 pound grass fed organic beef 4 eggs Directions In a non-stick sauce pan, prepare the brown rice according…
Perfect Pilaf
Rice is one of my favorite things to make. Now that I know how to make it. I used to suck at making rice. Then I tried a different brand and method, and it clicked for me. We don’t use instant rice – because I can’t make that kind. I always mess it up! We use jasmine rice. Typically, I buy it in bulk since we go through so much. The brand is Rice Select and we use both the Orzo and Jasmati Rice. They come in nice plastic, resealable containers. The kids use the containers for projects when they are finally empty. Good stuff. So here’s what we made…
Sunday Funday
After hanging up my bunny ears for the year, it is time to start thinking about SUMMER! Seems like we have waited a long time to enjoy nice weather. Winter in Wisconsin is no joke. This year wasn’t as snowy as most, nor as cold, but it was still cloudy, cool and depressing outside. Sunshine is here today and we are planning home improvement projects and our big summer parties. Since party planning is once again at the forefront, I’ve started a list of nut-free, healthy snack party ideas: Chex Mix (check label, muddy buddies are NOT safe) Hummus and vegetable sticks Giant sliced water melon with sea salt and…
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