Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Thanksgiving Recipe I’ll Be Making: Gorgeous Roasted Veggies!

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Special thanks to Reynolds for sponsoring this Thanksgiving recipe content through the Reynold Real Moms program. Parchment Paper is a total game changer, y’all!
Today I’m excited to be sharing with you the main vegetable dish I will be serving to my family on Thanksgiving Day. It is absolutely gorgeous, is loved by every member of my family (even my 4-year-old who could live on peanut butter!), and is likely going to be the easiest recipe on the table because it is so flexible. Check it out and see if you might want to try it for your family feast, or even for the next time you have company over!
Harvest Bounty Roasted Vegetables
Ingredients:
  • various in-season vegetables of your choice (great options include most varieties of squash, zucchini, sweet potatoes, new potatoes, miniature onions, brussels sprouts, eggplant, carrots, radishes)
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • other seasoning of choice (we use Italian seasoning)
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • Reynolds Parchment Paper
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Tear a sheet of Reynolds Parchment Paper to fit a baking pan with raised edges. If your sheet is too large and hangs over the edges, just grab a pair of scissors and cut it to size. Depending on the number of guests you are serving, you may need more than one pan for roasting.
Scrub your vegetables and slice as needed for optimal roasting (you will see in my example that I cut squash into bite-size pieces, cut brussels sprouts in half, and left the miniature onions and carrots whole).
In a large bowl, add roughly 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, pepper, and selected seasoning. Mix well to combine. Then add the vegetables to the bowl and toss well to ensure they are all coated with oil.
When the oven is ready, place your oiled and seasoned veggies on your parchment paper, and spread them out so that they aren’t piled on top of each other. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and flip over the vegetables. Return to the oven for an additional 15-20 minutes.
  thanksgiving recipes: harvest bounty roasted veggies
Serve immediately! The vegetables will slide right off the parchment paper with no sticking, and the cleanup will consist of simply tossing the parchment paper. One less thing to clean on a very busy day is something we all can be thankful for!
What are you thinking about serving for your veggies this Thanksgiving??? 

Comfort Food All Dressed Up for Fall: Bacon and Butternut Squash Penne

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This is a compensated post in partnership with Ronco Pasta. The recipe I created is my own. 

A few weeks ago I was really craving some comfort food, and specifically, my favorite pasta noodle (penne). So I dreamed up this recipe which is oh-so-perfect for this time of year. Also? It has bacon. And you can’t go wrong with bacon, friends!

 

Check it out, and if you like how it sounds, or if you make it and love how it tastes, could I ask for your vote? I’m facing off with another blogger in a recipe competition, and if I win there’s a $100 Visa gift card with my name on it. And more importantly, by voting for me, you have a chance to win a $250 Visa gift card. Now that’s what I call a win/win!

You can vote once a day now through December 1st. Here’s the voting link. Remember, each vote not only helps me, but gives you another chance to win $250!
https://offerpop.com/ad.psp?cid=482206&ref=blog_post

I hope you love the dish, I hope you vote for me, and I hope we both win big! Let’s do this!

Bacon and Butternut Squash Penne
Ingredients
  • 1 butternut squash, peeled and diced into bite-size pieces
  • 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp each salt, pepper, sage, nutmeg
  • 16 oz Ronco Hidden Veggies Penne Pasta
  • 8 oz turkey bacon
  • 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
Optional: fresh parsley for garnish
Servings: 4
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add the olive oil to large mixing bowl, then blend in all 4 spices. Then add the diced squash to the bowl, and mix to combine. Place the squash mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and with raised edges. Bake for 40 minutes, flipping the squash over after 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat 6 cups of water in a large pot until boiling. I recommend adding 1 tsp salt to the water for extra flavor, but that is optional. Cook the pasta for 7-9 minutes. Strain and set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, heat the bacon in the microwave, following package instructions. I cooked my bacon slices 4 at a time on a lined paper towel, with a second paper towel on top, for 4-5 minutes. After 3 minutes, I checked the bacon every 30 seconds to make sure it wasn’t getting too crisp. The end goal is crispy bacon, not burnt bacon! After the bacon has cooled a bit, use kitchen shears or a knife to cut it into strips. If some of it crumbles, that is perfectly fine.
Now it is time to add everything together! Using the pot that you cooked the noodles in, combine the penne, bacon, butternut squash and 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese. If the mixture needs some additional moisture, you can add in a bit of water, 1 Tbsp at a time. Plate your pasta and sprinkle with fresh parsley, if desired. Enjoy!

Recipes My Family Loves

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I can’t believe the last day of 31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes is here! I have had SO much fun sharing some of the great recipes I have discovered, and introducing you to other bloggers who have shared some of their top finds, as well. I think it is safe to say that I have enough recipe ideas to last me for the next year (or three!).

Even so, I still have a few more gems I wanted to share with you. These are “winning” recipes according to my family. We’ve tried them all, and loved every single one. I haven’t shared any of these dishes with you yet this month, and a few of them may surprise you (hello there sandwich with beets in it and muffins made with squash!). But they all have earned regular spots in my meal prep rotation, even with fairly picky eaters in our home, so I encourage you to give them a try for yourself! Please come back and tell me what you tried, too!

recipes my family loves

Cream Cheese Cannoli Dip, Stuff Parents Need

Yellow Squash Muffins, Taste of Home

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake, How Sweet It Is

Broccoli Cheese and Cracker Casserole, The Pioneer Woman

Peanut Butter, Strawberry and Banana Quesadillas, The Nutrition Twins

Polenta Pudding with Blueberry Topping, Stuff Parents Need

Yummy Pork Sliders, Stuff Parents Need

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos, The Girl Who Ate Everything

Freezer Caramel Drizzle Pie, All Recipes

Grilled Cheese with Beets, Arugula and Goat Cheese, BS in the Kitchen

 

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18 Easy Snack Ideas!

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Since I work from home, being hungry at the office is never a problem. My full-sized kitchen and pantry is just one room over.

That’s also a bit of a problem, as it turns out. You see, I have pretty much ZERO self control when it comes to keeping my hands off sweet treats. And I’ll be the first to tell you that there’s nothing wrong with getting a chocolate fix every now and again. But not 6 times a day! Part of my problem is that I don’t have enough snack ideas on hand, so I just reach for what is ready to go. That’s why I’ve got a list of delicious snack ideas that require minimal cooking and can help satisfy cravings! Enjoy!

18-easy-snack-ideas

  1. Game Day Snacks Cereal Treat by Occasionally Crafty
  2. Cinnamon Roasted Cashews by Slap Dash Mom
  3. Healthy Peanut Butter Hummus by Slap Dash Mom
  4. Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dip by A Night Owl
  5. Chocolate Banana Bites by Glued to My Crafts
  6. Fig & Walnut Energy Bites by Wonky Wonderful
  7. Candy Corn Sweet & Salty Chex Mix by Mom Endeavors
  8. DIY Smucker’s Uncrustables by The Pinning Mama
  9. Popcorn Ball Treats by The Pinning Mama
  10. Sierra Nevada Mountain Trail Mix by The Freshman Cook
  11. Chocolate Chip S’mores Bars by Love Bakes Good Cakes
  12. Slow Cooker Apple-Pear Butter by Stuff Parents Need
  13. Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels by Hot Eats & Cool Reads
  14. Spiced Peacans by A Family Feast
  15. Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes by Robyn’s View
  16. Strawberry Cake Muddy Buddies by What’s Cooking, Love?
  17. Copycat Kashi Granola Bars by Call Me PMC
  18. No Bake Oatmeal Fruit Cookies by Food Done Light

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Easy Italian Dinner and a Free Trip to Italy

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This post brought to you by Michael Angelo’s. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’m hoping that I caught your attention by promising an easy Italian dinner, but even if it took “free trip to Italy” to get you to click over, you won’t be disappointed by what you find below. But before we jet-set, let’s fill out tummies with something yummy, ‘k? 

Michael Angelo’s® is my family’s personal favorite brand for convenience Italian foods. We love this brand because the food tastes fresh and authentic. I think they achieve their great flavors thanks to making their food in small batches, using the best ingredients possible, and leaving out junk like preservatives, additives and fillers. When you take a bite out of a Michael Angelo’s® dish, you get to enjoy great Italian family recipes made with love. Want to learn more about the people behind the brand? 

So how about that easy Italian dinner? Sam’s Club is now offering one of my all-time favorite Italian dishes, Parmesan Crusted Stuffed Chicken Breasts, in packs of 6, which is so perfect for busy families. 
photo Parmesan_Crusted_Stuffed_Chicken_3D_zpsf40759a9.jpg

My family eats at home most every night of the week, largely due to how expensive it is to go out to eat. But sometimes I am not able to spend the time it takes to make an awesome homemade meal from scracth, so I let Michael Angelo’s do that for me. My family gets the best of everything: delicious food that tastes homemade, and more time for me to work on other projects! 

Ok, so now how about that free trip to Italy? Every single year, Michael Angelo himself, along with his mom, Sara, give away a trip to Italy, and they come with you! You get to go on a culinary tour and enjoy amazing food and learn more about the inspiration behind the brand. What an opportunity of a lifetime! Entering is very simple, just click here and you are on your way. Buona fortuna!  

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28 Date Night Recipes For Romance at Home!

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If Tim and I waited to spend time together until we hired a babysitter, our marriage probably would not have survived the past 4 years. We do spend money on sitters on occasion, but we can’t afford to do it as often as we need to in order to get sufficient quality time together. That’s why we sometimes create our own date night at home after we put the kids down for the night. It’s cheap, it’s relatively easy, and when you make just a little bit of fuss over the food and light a few candles, it honestly does feel special.

Here are 28 of my favorite date night recipes to help inspire you. I hope a date night with your significant is in your immediate future!

date night recipes

  1. Thanksgiving for Two & My Favorite Stuffing Ever by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  2. Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Dijon Cream Sauce by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  3. Boeuf Bourguignon | Beef Burgundy by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  4. Slow Cooker Salmon Swiss Chard Artichoke Dip by Farm Fresh Feasts
  5. Chicken Saltimbocca Stuffed With Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese by Farm Fresh Feasts
  6. Skillet Mushroom Dip for Two (Quick Take) by Farm Fresh Feasts
  7. Spiced Sirloin Roast for Two by An Edible Mosaic
  8. Chocolate Lover’s Cake by Noble Pig
  9. Pepper-Crusted Filet Mignon by Hezzi-D’s Books & Cooks
  10. Italian Herb Sautéed Chicken by Hezzi-D’s Books & Cooks
  11. Skinny 4 Ingredient Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse by Back for Seconds
  12. Tropical Chocolate Mousse Parfaits by Back for Seconds
  13. Deep Dish Hot Fudge Brownie Sundaes For Two by Chocolate Moosey
  14. Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce by Chocolate Moosey
  15. Mini Deep Dish Lemon Meringue Pies by Chocolate Moosey
  16. Nutella Ganache Dip by Wine & Glue
  17. 6 Date Night Ideas Under $20 & 2 Hours by Frugal Foodie Mama
  18. Easy Chocolate-&-Honey Fondue by The Kitchen is My Playground
  19. Thanksgiving Meatballs by Jew Hungry
  20. Coconut Milk Southern Fried Chicken by Jew Hungry
  21. Homemade Fettuccine with Pesto Cream Sauce by Jew Hungry
  22. Deep Breath Chicken by Jew Hungry
  23. Champagne Chicken & Mushroom Pasta by Snappy Gourmet
  24. Dark Chocolate Coconut Muddy Buddies by Jen’s Favorites Cookies
  25. Morocccan Chicken Bastilla by Thirty-One 10
  26. Taco Truck Tacos by Thirty-One 10
  27. Beef Sosaties by Food Done Light
  28. Seared Scallops with Blood Orange Glaze by Food Done Light

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20 Beef Recipes to Get You Out of a Cooking Rut

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So for me, preparing beef recipes is a bit of a novelty. My family doesn’t eat a lot of red meat (we tend to mostly eat chicken, turkey and pork). But when I did my Paleo Diet stint a few months back, I didn’t have too much choice, and starting experimenting with beef again. I realized that there was SO much more to it than fatty ground beef, you guys! And not everything has to taste just like a hamburger, either. Not even close. So here’s a collection of 20 fantastic beef recipes that my family is going to be trying in the next handful of months. Check it out and see if you can find something to get you out of your cooking rut!

20 beef recipes

Garlic Lemongrass Beef Skewers, Shrinking Kitchen

Paleo Plantain Beef Pie, Stupid Easy Paleo

Beef and Potato Empanadas, Pillsbury

Chorizo-Apple Hamburger, Stuff Parents Need

Corned-Beef Hash with Eggs, Raley’s

Beef and Black Bean Burrito Bowls, Mommy’s Kitchen

Irish Beef Stew with Guinness, Housewife Notes

Slow Cooker Hickory BBQ Beef, Very Culinary

Beef and Brussel Sprout Breakfast Bowl, Leaf Parade

Beef Tostadas, Dine and Dish

(Not Your Regular) Roast Beef Sandwich, Bell’alimento

Beef and Cheese Foldover, Babee Love

Beef Taquitos, Elan The Blog

Pennsylvania Dutch Meat Pies, My Recipes

Slow Cooker Beef Tamale Casserole, Chef This Up

Korean Beef Bowl, Damn Delicious

Sweet Teriyaki Beef Skewers, All Recipes

Hamburger Pie, Taking on Magazines

Garlic Mustard Beef Skewers, Giving Up on Perfect

Beef Crostini, Simply Jolleen

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Kid-Friendly Recipes! (31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes)

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Thank you, Erica, for sharing these fantastic kid-friendly recipes that I know my little girls are going to love!
Hi y’all! I’m so excited to be here on Stuff Parents Need sharing my top 2 favorite “Kid-Friendly” recipes. My little one is extremely picky and it’s a chore to get him to eat fruits and vegetables, but if your kids are like mine, they love cake and cupcakes. So, today I’m going to share with you 2 recipes that are sure to please the pickiest eater. And you can make the choice to tell them what it’s in the recipe or not 😉
RECIPE #1: Blueberry Banana Muffins

Ingredients: 

2 Ripe Bananas
1 cup of applesauce
1/2 cup apple juice
2 cups flour
1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tbsp. pumpkin spice
1 egg
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup brown sugar
Directions:

 *Preheat oven to 370 degrees
1. Grease a muffin tray (I tried using muffin cup paper, but the muffins stuck so you’re better off using a greased tray here)
2. In a big bowl combine mashed bananas, melted butter, egg, apple sauce, apple juice, and brown sugar. Whisk ingredients.
3. In another bowl, sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon,  pumpkin spice together.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
5. Add in frozen blueberries.
6. Mix batter together well.
7. Spoon into greased muffin pans
8. Bake 20-30 minutes until golden brown.
Yield: 12-16 muffins
Suggestions for Substitutions:
*Use gluten free flour
*Use a binding agent such as soy yogurt or canned pumpkin to replace egg
These muffins are a HIT with my little one. They are moist and delicious and packed with all those good nutrients from the fruit. They are great for breakfast or desert. Spread a little cream cheese on them for extra yummy taste!
RECIPE #2: Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 cups grated zucchini
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup salad oil (vegetable oil or corn oil)
3 1/2 cups pre-sifted flour
1/4 cup dry cocoa
14/ tsp. salt
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 cup raisins or 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Directions:

*Preheat oven to 325
1. Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla, and oil until thoroughly mixed.
2. Add zucchini to mixture.
3. Mix together flour, salt, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and ginger, then add to the zucchini mixture.
4. Beat mixture together for 2 minutes.
5. Add chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate chips.
6. Pour into 2 greased loaf pans.
7. Bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out dry.
8. Cool about 10 minutes before removing from pan.
Yield: 2 loaves
Suggestions for substitutions:
*Use gluten free flour
*Use binding agent, such as applesauce to replace egg
*Use brown sugar to replace white sugar
This is another great recipe to get your kids to eat their vegetables. My little one would never touch a zucchini, but if you hid it in this bread, it’s “deceptively delicious”. We call it “Chocolate Bread” in our house. I make no mention of the zucchini.
I hope you all enjoy these recipes and remember to invite your kids to join in and help you!
Thanks for having me!
Erica Leggiero
Erica’s shop eLeMeNO-P Kids offers toys for the learning child.
Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and her Blog. You can also shop
her Website.

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Turkey Recipes: Think Outside the Bird (31 Days of Unforgettable Recipes)

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Thanksgiving is in 33 days. That means that in 34 days you are going to start looking for turkey recipes for all those leftover! But my friends, if you typically only eat turkey around the holidays, I want to encourage you to really think outside the bird this year, and try some dishes that use turkey in creative and very delicious ways. I’ve got a list of 12 below that are sure to surprise, delight and please your family.

turkey recipes round up

photo credit: Jennie Ivins via photopin cc

Just look at all the great turkey recipes waiting for you! And you are going to totally flip when you see all the gorgeous food behind these links. Get ready to gobble up some great new dishes (hee hee!).

1. Turkey and Avocado Grilled Cheese, Katie and the Kitchen Door

2 Turkey Sausage with Yummy Sautéed Veggies, Stuff Parents Need

3. Turkey Chili Hand Pies, King Arthur Flour

4. Sweet Potato Turkey Shepherd’s Pie, Skinny Taste

5. Thai Turkey Meatballs, Minnesota Monthly

6. Chipotle Apple Turkey Chili with Honey Cornbread, Pass the Sushi

7. Teriyaki Turkey Burgers, Appetite for China

8. Turkey Salad with Indian Spices, Lemon and Cilantro, Kalyn’s Kitchen

9. Turkey Enchilada Meatloaf, Sweet Basil

10. Mediterranean Stuffed Squash, Bev Cooks

11. Turkey Cranchiladas, Pink Parsley

12. Sweet and Sour Sloppy Joes with Sesame Slaw, Real Simple

Please share these ideas with your friends (sharing buttons are over on the left for your convenience). Let’s spread the word that turkey is for much more than Thanksgiving!

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31 days of unforgettable recipes