Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

 

This one is from Inside Bru Crew Life and is a keeper! It was perfect for a busy weeknight when we are on the go-I was grateful I had cooked up a bunch of shredded chicken for this very thing! I went ahead and doubled this recipe and made it in a 9x13. The leftovers saved well and my kids ate it for lunch the next day! We served this with salad and garlic bread.

Ingredients

• 2 cups (8 ounces) uncooked, penne pasta (or substitute cooked cauliflower)
• 1 - 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup ranch dressing
• 1/3 cup hot sauce
• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (or 1 - 12.5 ounce can chunk chicken breast)
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• green onions, for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.
2. Cook the pasta noodles, according to the package directions. Drain and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to keep them from sticking.
3. Stir together the cream cheese, ranch, and hot sauce until creamy.
4. Add the chicken, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, and cooked pasta noodles to the cream cheese mixture and stir to combine. Spoon into the prepared dish.
5. Combine the remaining two cheeses and sprinkle over the top of the pasta. Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese on top is melted.
6. Remove and serve immediately with green onions, hot sauce, and ranch drizzles. Serves 6.

Healthy Chicken Salad with Grapes

 

This one is from Mary's Whole Life (and her picture) and it's a staple for lunches! Super easy and quick and my  kids loved dipping crackers in it!

Ingredients:

3 cups shredded, cooked chicken Rotisserie or make your own poached chicken breasts (instructions above and below!)

1 cup sliced grapes

1/4 cup chopped pecans raw or dry roasted

3 stalks celery diced

1/3 cup mayo

1/2 tsp sea salt more or less to taste

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp celery seed

1/2 tsp paprika

Instructions:

Add all of the ingredients into a large bowl. Mix well until combined. Refrigerate until ready to eat! Can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

This was such a yummy treat! It will definitely be made a lot this summer! Our whole family gobbled it up like it was candy! Sooo good!

1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
1 medium navel orange, peeled and finely chopped
3 medium kiwifruit, peeled and finely chopped
1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, drained
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1-1/2 teaspoons sugar

CINNAMON CHIPS:
Flour tortillas (8 inches)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

*In a small bowl, combine the first six ingredients. (I actually pulsed my chunked fruit in my food processor a few times until it was a real salsa-y consistency). Cover and refrigerate until serving.
*For chips, brush tortillas with butter; cut each into eight wedges. Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over tortillas. Place on ungreased baking sheets.
*Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or just until crisp. Serve with fruit salsa.

French Dip Crescents with Au Jus

These were brought to our freezer exchange, too, in a gallon freezer bag, the Au Jus in a quart freezer bag. These are the perfect lunch for kids or even as appetizers for a party!

2 packages crescent rolls, 8 count
1 pound deli roast beef, thinly sliced
4 ounces Swiss or provolone cheese, cut in 16 equal sized pieces
*Unroll crescents onto a large cookie sheet.
*Spread a small dab of horseradish on each crescent, then place a slice of roast beef and a piece of cheese on each crescent.
*Roll crescents starting from the wide end and ending at the narrow end. (Freeze at this point if you are freezing, then when ready to serve, bake, frozen, at 375 for 11-13 min)
*Bake at 375 degrees for 11 to 13 minutes, until crescents are a golden color.
*Serve with Au Jus and enjoy! 

Au Jus Sauce
Olive oil, just enough to sautee
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, minced (I use jarred)
1/8 cup white wine
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 1/2 cups beef broth
1 teaspoon flour

*Caramelize the onions in a small amount of olive oil. Add garlic and cook for a minute or two more.
Deglaze the pot with white wine, then add Worcestershire sauce and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
*Add beef broth and bring to a light boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.
Strain broth and then return it to pot. Add flour and simmer an additional 5 minutes.

Cookie Dough Dip

 

I have seen lots of sweet cheese balls lately, but we were already having a normal cheese ball, so I decided to combine some of the recipes I'd seen and make a smooth dip to eat with our graham crackers. Anyway, it's so so yummy and you could serve with graham crackers, pretzels or fruit!

2 - 8 oz pkgs  cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons brown sugar
1 1/2 cup Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup finely chopped nuts

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add sugars; beat just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. 

Mini Won Ton Tacos

Saw this idea on Pinterest and we loved it! My 4-year-old ate 5 for lunch today and my 2-year-old ate 3! So I'd say this recipe is definitely a keeper!

1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey
1 can corn, drained (optional)
1/4 cup taco seasoning
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Won Ton wrappers

*Spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray and place a won ton wrapper in each. Cook ground beef/turkey until no longer pink; add corn and seasonings. Add about 1/4 cup meat mixture to each won ton wrapper and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. That's it! Enjoy!

Pizza Fries

Okay my kids seriously went NuTs over these! So good!

1 bag (2 lb) frozen french fries
2 cups traditional spaghetti sauce
2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 cup pepperoni, cut in half (I used turkey pepperoni)

*Prepare french fries as directed on package. Pull out of oven and drizzle with sauce. Add cheese and pepperoni and place in oven for 5 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Cheese Ball

Best cheese ball ever. My mother-in-law is amazing and this is what she gives out to neighbors each year as a New Year's treat. I am going to steal her idea because this tastes amazing and is so easy!

16 oz. cream cheese
2 bottles old English cheese (small glass jars of cheese as shown in above picture)
1/2 bottle Real Bacon Pieces
1 c. finely grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
Chopped pecans (about 2 cups)

*Mix ingredients in mixer until smooth. Roll in chopped nuts to cover outside. (Makes one large or three small balls). Store in refrigerator.