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Spicy Stuffed Potatoes
My children love it when I make baked potato bar for supper. I am not sure why, but I think it has something to do with the fact that they have all of the ingredients out on the counter, and they get to choose what they want to make their own creation. Our November recipe of the month, Spicy Stuffed Potatoes, is perfect for your own baked potato bar.
MyPlate Series – Jody
The past two weeks Christine and Katy have shared how they use MyPlate at home when thinking about meals and snacks. Today it’s my turn!
MyPlate Series – Christine
We’re kicking off a series of blogs about MyPlate this week. MyPlate is a simple guide to help us think about food groups at meals and snacks. A few of us Spend Smart. Eat Smart. blog authors will share how we use the MyPlate ideas at home.
Salsa Verde Chicken
Occasionally a recipe comes along that is so simple and tasty I wonder; how did I never make this before? Salsa Verde Chicken is just that. It is a dump-and-go slow cooker recipe that is delicious, easy and flexible. And would you believe you only need five ingredients to make it?
Sweet Snacks for Sweet Moments
Recently a friend of mine welcomed their third baby. When my husband and I brought our oldest home from the hospital six years ago, we had several friends and family drop off meals and snacks as we transitioned to becoming new parents. Not having to worry about meal planning those first few weeks was so helpful as we navigated sleepless nights and new routines. With my friend bringing home their third, figuring out what to feed their two older children could have been quite the chore!
Try Something New
I do not eat a lot of dried fruit besides dried cranberries mixed into recipes or stirred into oatmeal. It has never been a food I am interested in eating. I think the problem is that I do not like raisins and so I have told myself I do not like other dried fruit. It might be time for me to branch out and try something new.
Granola
This summer I’m enjoying yogurt parfaits for breakfast. My favorite combination is vanilla yogurt, granola, and a fresh, chopped peach. Our Spend Smart. Eat Smart. granola recipe works great in my parfaits. Here are a few things I like about this recipe:
I Need Energy (Drinks)!
Recently my 14-year-old son asked me to buy him energy drinks to give him an extra boost of energy for school and football practice. This didn’t surprise me since nearly one-third of teens aged 12-17 regularly consume energy drinks. These beverages promise enhanced focus and athletic performance, making them appealing to teens facing the challenges of school and extracurricular activities.
Summer’s Perfect Side, Topping, Sandwich…
This month’s recipe is truly a jack of all trades. Broiled Tomatoes are so flexible, you can use them as the basis for a sandwich, sauce or appetizer. Here are some of the ways I have used this recipe.
Whole Meal Salad
This is our final week highlighting some of our Spend Smart. Eat Smart. salads, and, in my opinion, we saved the best for last. Whole Meal Salad is a hit at my house every time I serve it. My family loves this recipe because they each get to make their own perfect salad. The Whole Meal Salad recipe is written for one, but I easily adapt it for my family by setting all the ingredients out on the counter and letting each person choose what they would like. Earlier this summer, my youngest child separated all of the ingredients on his plate and then individually decorated each spinach leaf with his favorite toppings because he wanted every bite of his salad to be perfect.
Chicken BLT Salads
This week I am continuing our summer series on salads with one I have not made in a while. As tomatoes begin to ripen in gardens and become available at the Farmers Market, this is a recipe we can add to our meal plan. One thing I really like about this recipe is that it has great leftover potential. You can both use up leftovers when making this recipe or create leftovers for meals later in the week. Either way, this is a win because no food gets wasted.
Giving New Life to Leftovers
I am a big fan of eating leftovers for lunch. I find that most dishes even taste better the second or third time after they have had a chance to marinate in the fridge. If you have been following Spend Smart. Eat Smart., you likely know that I am a fan of both pizza and tacos. I almost always have the ingredients for those dishes on hand, and I rarely get tired of eating them.
