I love creative recipes that utilize items already in the pantry! With summer vacation almost here I am prepared to be knee deep in hot dogs, hamburger, and chicken nuggets. I got this recipe the other day from Pringles and wanted to share it with you.  It is totally flexible.  You could use another type of chip or even crushed pretzels as the breading for the chicken.

My kids love these homemade chicken nuggets that I use rice chex to make.  I usually make a huge batch a head of time and keep them in the freezer.  Not only are they healthier, but cheaper than store bought nuggets.

If you want to try making your own nuggets check this out!

Necessity is the Mother of invention. We had big storms move through the Mid-West this weekend, and while we didn’t get hit by them we have had terrible winds.  The lovely winds knocked our power out Sunday, and about the time it came back on it went off all over most of the house.  After several calls, we discovered the wind knocked the line from the side of the house loose causing us to loose power to 2/3 of our house. The only problem is I have about 5 outlets that work, and none of them are really convenient.  The stove is out, so I am working with my griddle, and crockpot.  I am also trying to use what is in the fridge.  Lucky for me my hubby grilled some chicken the other day so I had that to work with.

I had a little helper in the kitchen today helping me make these.  It really tickled her to help me make the dressing to go on them.  She enjoyed eating them even more!

Mix all of the patty ingredients together.  Form into burger sized patties, and cook in a light greased skillet or griddle over medium heat.

Once browned on one side (about 3-4 min) Flip and brown and cook through.

Serve alone or on a bun with some chili citrus mayo.

It has been awhile since I posted a dinner recipe, but this one is a winner!  I posted a great recipe for Creamy Mexicorn Risotto Yesterday that was based on a recipe that green giant sent me.

I also happened to make this yummy Citrus Chili Chicken in my crockpot at the same time.  So of course as I am standing in the kitchen looking at both of these dishes, I had the extreme urge to mix them together! Luckily I made plenty of chicken and had extra to make this casserole.

So as a great idea Make the Yummy Citrus Chili Chicken for tacos or burittos night one, and use the left over chicken to make this Mexicorn Chicken Casserole for meal 2!

Every once in a while I get an urge.  The urge to take a step back away from kid friendly food and venture in a little gourmet.  With Spring on our doorstep, I wanted to make something fresh and exciting and this is it.

I laughed with the kids in the kitchen as they watched me taste it.  They asked what I was going to call it and I said “Spinach Bacon OMG!” There are so many different textures and flavors that merry so well together it is like a little party in my mouth.  The tang of the lemon juice, the creaminess of the sauce, and the crunch of the bacon make this salad a perfect side dish for any occasion.  It really doesn’t even have to be just a side dish.  I just ate it for dinner.  You won’t regret making this recipe!

Brown bacon in large skillet over medium heat.

Add spinach and green onions until wilted down.

Add lemon zest and juice.

In a large bowl mix pasta, bacon mix, and cooking creme. Stir in Parmesan cheese and serve!

Here is the Philadelphia Cooking Creme that I used.  YUM!

This stuff is absolutely amazing!

I feel like a mess lately!  There just aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all.  I think I am running in so many directions that I just don’t have time to focus my energy on one thing for long.  So when I find a recipe for a quick, nutritious meal that I think my family will eat (or atleast pick apart and eat pieces) I am all over it.

This great Penne with Chicken & Asparagus can be thrown together practically at any time.  Most of the ingredients come right out of your stockpile and make you life a little easier!  Try this one out! It is fabulous!

Try these other easy delicious dinner recipes!

I am always looking for kid friendly meals that will please the whole family.  Let’s admit, there are only so many times a year you can eat chicken nuggets without turning into one.   So I figured I would experiment in the kitchen this afternoon.   I started pulling out some easy ingredients for a chicken dressing that was so good, the little ones asked for seconds, and so did the hubby.

This meal is super easy, and affordable which helps it earn 5 stars in my book.  Plus, dinner was on the table in 30 minutes or less. Gotta love it!

I originally posted this recipe as a side dish on Moms With Crockpots the other day.  The thing is, I wanted to turn it into a meal.  It was so good as a side dish I knew it could be easily transformed into a dinner.  I added 2 cups of cooked diced chicken breasts, but you could add 1 lb of cooked ground beef (drained).  Either way it turns this crockpot side dish into an amazing crockpot meal.

My crockpot has been such a big time saver for me lately.  Between running people to and from school, homework, and the blog I just don’t have a ton of time to spend in the kitchen. If you are like me running in 10 different directions, try this dinner. It is a winner at my house!

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I am always looking for kid friendly recipes.  My children are my biggest food critics.  I can make the fanciest dinner and be so proud…just to hear, “Do we have any chicken nuggets? I don’t like this.” ~sigh~ This is one of the hardest tasks a mom faces. Finding a meal that the whole crew will eat.

Well here is a twist on basic tacos that is sure to please! Pillsbury refrigerated rolls are on sale everywhere right now making this a very affordable and convenient meal.  You can make a couple batches ahead and freeze for a quick dinner or easy hot lunches!

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