Cilantro Quinoa Corn Salad is a light and refreshing salad perfect for an easy packed lunch or a side salad for a cookout. This salad is a healthy combination of quinoa, corn, avocado and a light Cilantro Lemon dressing with a kick of spice from fresh jalapeños for a dish you will love!

Cilantro Quinoa Corn Salad

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you have the day off and that it is beautiful outside to enjoy some outdoor activities. Even if you just have a few moments to relax outside while the kids play or sip on a glass of wine in a lawn chair. It is a wonderful day to remember the people who defend our country along with spending quality time relaxing with friends and family! If you are attending a cookout and need a last minute dish to bring to the party, I have got you covered with this Cilantro Quinoa Corn Salad.

Quinoa is combined with fresh corn on the cob, jalapeños, tomatoes and creamy avocados and tossed in a fresh homemade Cilantro Lemon Vinaigrette for a light and delicious salad that is perfect as a side with some grilled steak or chicken. Personally I loved it all on it’s own and I packed up a container of this fresh goodness for lunches throughout the week!

Quinoa salads are a great lunch idea because they hold so well and can be enjoyed cold. If you need some more protein, add some shrimp, chicken or any other meat or even some black beans and cheese.

More fresh quinoa salads!

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Light Turkey Noodle Casserole is a hearty and healthy dinner idea the whole family will love! All of the traditional flavors of noodle casserole are lightened up with whole wheat spaghetti, zucchini noodles and Jennie-O lean ground turkey.

I am excited to be teaming up with Jennie-O to bring you today’s healthy recipe!

Light Turkey Noodle Casserole

Growing up my mom was the casserole queen. From pizza noodle bake, to hamburger & corn casserole to tuna hotdish and one of my family’s favorite’s of course, lasagna. They tend to be a comforting and easy dishes that satisfy the masses. I have put my own spin on casseroles over the years including this Light Taco Rice Bake and Pizza Stuffed Chicken Quinoa Bake.  For this particular dish, I took all of my favorite parts from my mom’s great casseroles and combined it into this delicious Light Turkey Noodle Casserole.

Light Turkey Noodle Casesrole is full of whole wheat spaghetti, zucchini, a creamy cottage cheese and Parmesan layer and turkey marinara all topped with cheese.

From reducing the amount of noodles and swapping in some zucchini noodles, to using Jennie-O’s lean ground turkey, I made healthy swaps for a lighter but equally tasty dinner. I kept my favorite part of lasagna, the cottage cheese and Parmesan, for some added protein and extra richness. I used to sneak this stuff from the bowl when my mom was making lasagna as a child and to this day the sweet and salty combo is one of my favorites. You can feed this Light Turkey Noodle Casserole to all those hearty meat eating men at the table and they will demolish it with a smile on their face!

Swapping fatty hamburger out for lean ground turkey is one of the easiest ways to lighten up any dish. My go-to for all my turkey is Jennie-O, a local Minnesota company. From their lean 93% ground turkey to their extra-lean 99% ground turkey or their pre-made seasoned turkey burgers for throwing on the grill, they have so many options for healthy and delicious dinner ideas!

Zucchini noodles, otherwise known as zoodles, are also a fun and healthy swap. They are simply made by spiralizing fresh zucchini with a spiralizer of your choice. Personally I have a handy dandy one that attaches to my KitchenAid mixer and it cranks out zucchini noodles like nobody’s business!

Zoodles have a similar bite to pasta when slightly sauteed but have a fraction of the carbs and calories. While some people are happy to forgo all the carbs from pasta and only use zoodles, I still like to add some spaghetti for more of a rich and classic flavor. Feel free to swap all the pasta for veggies or if you aren’t a big zucchini fan, you can certainly leave them out and just double the whole wheat pasta.

Grab a pack of some Jennie-O lean ground turkey and transform your childhood favorites or family regulars into a lighter and healthier meal! Healthy meals don’t have to mean you are sacrificing flavor and with turkey you can season and flavor it to suite whatever dish you are making. From Light Turkey V8 Chili to Breakfast Burritos, put a spin on your next meal with turkey!

More hearty casseroles!

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This post is brought to you courtesy of Aidells® Sausage & Barilla® Pasta, but all the opinions and content are mine.
Roasted Veggie & Chicken Sausage Penne Bowls are a healthy gluten free dinner recipe bursting with bold flavors and wholesome ingredients. From chipotle roasted sweet potatoes and Aidells® Chicken & Apple Sausage to Barilla® Gluten Free Penne Pasta tossed in pesto, this dish is a well-rounded and satisfying meal you will love.

Roasted Veggie & Chicken Sausage Penne Bowls (Gluten Free)

I am officially in love with bowls! From 10 Minute Beef & Broccolini Bowls to a variety of Buddha Bowls, they are such a delicious and easy way to enjoy dinner. For these Roasted Veggie & Chicken Sausage Penne Bowls, it was an easy way to combine lots of wholesome ingredients in a well balanced meal. Chipotle roasted sweet potatoes and onions are joined by sautéed asparagus, Aidells® Chicken & Sausage Sausage and Barilla® Gluten Free Penne tossed in pesto. The combination of bold and spicy flavors combined perfectly for a healthy and delicious meal you will love!

I had a friend coming over for dinner who follows a gluten free diet and I wanted to make something we could both enjoy. I ran across this Gluten Free Penne from Barilla® while shopping at Target and decided to give it a try. I have to admit I was hesitant at first, as I have never tried a gluten-free pasta before. While lots of my dishes end up being naturally gluten free, I don’t often purchase gluten free specialty items.

I was pleasantly surprised by the pasta after I cooked it! When prepared al dente, this corn and rice blend pasta had a very similar taste and texture to a traditional wheat pasta. I kept it super simple by tossing it with some pesto from a jar. If you have an abundance of basil in your garden, you could certainly make an easy homemade pesto for an even fresher flavor.

I roasted my sweet potatoes and onions with olive oil, garlic salt and chipotle seasoning for an extra kick. If you aren’t a big fan of spice, you can certainly skip the chipotle seasoning and just opt for the garlic salt or your favorite spice blend. You can also easily mix up the vegetable options with zucchini, squash, or any of your favorite vegetables that roast well.

How beautiful is that bowl of colorful goodness?! I just love preparing a wholesome meal full of a variety of healthy ingredients. This dish has a great balance of nutrition with a good source of protein from the Aidells® Chicken & Apple Sausage. I packed up a few servings of this meal to enjoy throughout the week for lunches at work. It is so wonderful to have a meal packed for lunch that you can actually look forward to!

I get very excited about a delicious protein that is easy to prepare! I can simply slice up the sausage and sauté it for a quick and easy meal ready in just 10 minutes. The balance of sweetness from the apples really balances the savory chicken sausage. Not only does it taste great, but I can feel good about the store-bought sausage that is hand crafted and nitrate free. I could happily eat this sausage all on it’s own for a quick lunch!

If you haven’t jumped on the bowl bandwagon, I implore you to give it a try! These Roasted Veggie & Chicken Sausage Penne Bowls are the perfect way to get your feet wet. They are full of simple and wholesome ingredients that can be adjusted to your personal tastes. Embrace your foodie and find a combination that is perfect for you!

Don’t forget to check out Cartwheel for great offers on your groceries at Target, including discounts on Aidells Sausage and Barilla Pasta!

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Today I am partnering with HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® meats to bring you this Parmesan Ranch Turkey BLT Pita!

Parmesan Ranch Turkey BLT Pita is an easy 5 minute lunch loaded with bacon, spinach, tomato, turkey and a delicious Parmesan ranch. This healthy sandwich recipe is perfect for a quick summer lunch everyone will love!

Parmesan Ranch Turkey BLT Pita

BLTs are a summer staple. With the fresh garden tomatoes, crisp bacon and tender baby spinach you really can’t go wrong. My husband would happily enjoy a BLT for lunch every day if I made it for him. Sometimes the old staples need an upgrade though. This Parmesan Ranch Turkey BLT Pita is just the thing.

A creamy mixture of Parmesan and ranch along with this juicy HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Oven Roasted Turkey takes it to the next level! I decided to stuff it all in a pita so it would make a quick and easy grab & go meal.

My husband and father are farmers and often seem to wander into my kitchen around lunch time looking to be fed. I keep a good stash of HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® meats on hand for just this reason. I like to keep a few different varieties in my refrigerator at all times, including roast beef, turkey and honey ham. This allows me to change up the sandwich menu on the fly.

Sometimes the guys are just too busy to stop in for lunch and need a quick fix that I can be brought out to the field. Pitas were the perfect solution and BLT was a go-to I knew my meat and potato loving men would love! The HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® Uncured Bacon is a great choice because it has no preservatives, no added nitrates and no artificial colors or flavors.  This sandwich is a nutritious lunch option from start to finish with the garden grown tomatoes to the HORMEL® NATURAL CHOICE® meats.

More great sandwich ideas!

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Balsamic Chicken with Peaches & Prosciutto is a deliciously simple and healthy dinner made on the grill in just 10 minutes! Grilled chicken is topped with fresh peaches and burrata cheese and finished off with a balsamic reduction and basil for a low carb recipe that will make everyone’s mouth water!

Balsamic Chicken with Peaches & Prosciutto

Summer is in full swing and I am loving everything about it! From easy meals on the grill like Grilled Lemon Chicken Skillet to Grilled Pineapple and Avocado Salsa, there are so many fresh and delicious flavors to enjoy! Not only is summer ripe for amazing food, it is great for enjoying all sorts of fun activities outdoors. I have been building a nice tan spending time outdoors with family and I love it.

Sunday was Father’s Day and we started the day with an amazing brunch, enjoying Blueberry Sour Cream Coffee Cake and this awesome Crustless Quiche Lorraine from Lemon Tree Dwelling. After we all let our stomachs settle from the brunch goodness, we headed out to the lake across the road to do some boating.

We had some fun tubing and skiing behind the boat as well as playing on the little beach with the toddlers. My muscles are hurting today from a long tube ride. My brother tried his best to throw me from the tube by whipping me in circles and hitting waves but I was bound and determined to stay on top of that tube. If I fell off the tube that meant I would have to try climb back into the boat in the middle of the lake…and let’s just say that wasn’t happening. Therefore I hung on for dear life and my arms and chest are paying for it today. All in all it was a great time though.

After a long day of chasing toddlers and being on the lake, I was beat and ready to head home to my air conditioned house, take a hot shower and enjoy a delicious dinner…in a quiet house. I was too tired to slave over everything so I threw this easy Balsamic Chicken with Peaches & Prosciutto on the grill.

Recently Gourmet Garden sent me a huge selection of their lightly dried herbs and I am OBSESSED with them. I live 20 miles from any grocery store that carries fresh herbs, so it is so nice to have a fully stocked selection of delicious herbs that last for months. For this Balsamic Chicken with Peaches & Prosciutto dish, I finished it off with their lightly dried basil for beautiful color and flavor.

Now be sure to check out ten more great recipes perfect for grilling season below!

Grilled Garlic-Dijon Chicken & Grapes from Bread Booze Bacon

Grilled Apples a la Mode from I Heart Eating

Grilled Chicken Wings from Kleinworth & Co.

Grilled Peaches and Arugula Pizza from Cooking with Curls

Grilled BBQ Bacon and Shrimp Skewers from Home.Made.Interest.

Balsamic Chicken with Peaches and Prosciutto from The Creative Bite

Grilled Pineapple Coconut Sundaes from Celebrating Sweets

Grilled Watermelon Frozen Margaritas from Nomegeddon

Egg Bake Breakfast Foil Packets from Julie’s Eats & Treats

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burgers from Liz on Call

Grilled Steak with Garlic Butter Sauce from Around My Family Table

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Turkey Thai Peanut Lettuce Wraps are a light and healthy dinner idea packed with filling ground turkey, fresh vegetables and crunch peanuts. You will make this easy 15 minute recipe over and over because it is just so easy and delicious!

Turkey Thai Peanut Lettuce Wraps

Does anyone else kind of turn their nose up at lettuce wraps? I know they are an ultra healthy way to wrap up your meal for a low carb dinner, BUT many times I have had them in the past, I felt like I was really missing a certain heartiness that comes from carbs. I love light and healthy meals like Beef & Broccolini Bowls or Skinny Cowgirl Veggie Burgers but those all have a certain hearty element that makes them satisfying. So often when I have had lettuce wraps filled with nothing more than veggies and chicken and it just doesn’t do the job.

These Turkey Thai Peanut Lettuce Wraps are a whole different story though! They are full of ground turkey that is simmered in a rich and spicy Thai Peanut Sauce that is TO DIE FOR! The peanut sauce and chopped peanuts bring that hearty element to the dish that so many other lettuce cups are missing. I don’t even miss a tortilla or bread with this dish, it is perfect just the way it is!

Thai Chili Peppers are another fun element to this dish that I love. If you don’t have access to them or don’t want to run to the store for a new ingredient, you can easily swap them for dried chili flakes. You can also top them with any crunchy veggies you have on hand for some freshness and crunch. Cucumbers or bell peppers would be other great additions apart from the carrots and green onions.

Not only was this a fantastic dinner idea, but it works great for leftovers as a lunch too! I packed up the meat in one container and all the veggies in another and then just popped the meat in the microwave to heat it up. I quickly assembled my lettuce cups and I had a flavorful and filling lunch in a matter of a few minutes. That is winning in my book!

More low carb dinner ideas!

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Ribboned Squash & Zucchini Salad is a fresh and healthy vegetarian salad with light veggies, toasted pine nuts, creamy goat cheese and balsamic glaze. Pair it with some grilled shrimp or chicken for an amazing and flavorful dinner you won’t forget!

Ribboned Squash & Zucchini Salad

This Ribboned Squash & Zucchini Salad is such a fresh and beautiful salad, I just can’t get enough of it! From the lightly sauteed zuchini and squash to the toasted pine nuts and creamy goat cheese, it takes a basic vegetable salad to a whole different level. A drizzle of thick balsamic reduction is the finishing touch that really puts it over the top!

Did you all have an amazing 4th of July celebration? Mine was pretty low key in the world of holiday weekends. I spent the morning bumming around the house and packing for our cabin vacation, then I headed out golfing with my dad and sweated my balls off. It was hot and extra humid, but there was at least a light breeze to make it bearable. When I got home in the evening I got straight to work finishing up packing and cooking.

I baked two pans of bars for a softball fundraiser our team is hosting. I made a simple pan of blonde brownies as well as one of my favorites, these Peanut Butter & Chocolate Dream Bars. They are so insanely good and easy to make, they are an absolute must try. It made me a whole lot of sad that I was making these and wouldn’t even get to enjoy a single bite of them!

After the bars were done I got to work prepping food for my meals at the cabin. My mom and I tend to bear the bulk of the burden when it comes to providing and preparing food during family get-togethers, so for this vacation I decided to put the hammer down. I started a Google spreadsheet with all the meals we would need for the five days were were staying there. Each family had to sign up for at least 2 meals to make things a bit more fair.

I am making this Light Ranch BLT Chicken Salad for a lunch and burgers with caramelized onions and Havarti for a dinner. I also decided to add a dessert to the mix, so I am making this super easy Light Berry Angel Food Cake for a fresh treat and then I prepared a double batch of Cranberry Almond Energy Bites for a wholesome snacking option.

I am such an oinker, because the thing I am most excited for this vacation is basically all the good food I will get to enjoy! My mom is making sauerkraut and dumplings which I haven’t had in years and my sister is making Taco Pie which is a family favorite. So much goodness! I will definitely be needing to make lighter dishes like this Ribboned Squash & Zucchini Salad when I get home from vacation to balance things out!

More great side salads!

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Light & Spicy Southwest Chicken Pizza is an easy 20 minute recipe bursting with bold and spicy flavors. A thin and crispy crust is topped with shredded chicken, black beans, jalapeños and pepper jack cheese finished off with fresh tomatoes and green onions for a delicious weeknight dinner idea.

Light & Spicy Southwest Chicken Pizza

I am loving light and easy dinners these days. From this Sriracha Bacon Bleu Cheese Breakfast Toasts to Balsamic Chicken with Peaches & Prosciutto, I am all about quick and easy recipes that are loaded with bold flavors. This Light & Spicy Southwest Chicken Pizza is no exception! It starts with pre-made crust and is topped with Laughing Cow Pepper Jack cheese, rotisserie chicken, black beans and jalapeños for lots of protein and plenty of spice.

I know a beautifully homemade pizza crust and perfectly balanced sauce that you slave over would be ideal in the end, but sometimes that just isn’t what life calls for. Whether you are rushing to get something on the table before the kids make you go grey or you just don’t have the time to pour lots of energy into your dinner, shortcut meals like this are where it’s at.

While this Light & Spicy Southwest Chicken Pizza may be lacking in the time it takes to make, it certainly isn’t lacking in flavor. Layers of hearty southwest goodness are layered on this thin crust and baked to a crisp perfection and then topped with fresh vegetables for the perfect finish. This lighter version of pizza will satisfy your craving for a hearty weeknight meal all while being quick and easy. Leave out a little bit of the spice for a family-friendly meal everyone will love.

More easy weeknight dinners!

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Protein Peanut Butter Truffles are an amazing 100 calorie treat with only 5 ingredients. They are packed with 5 grams of protein for healthy a dessert you can feel good about!

Protein Peanut Butter Truffles

By now I am sure most of you have heard of Peanut Butter Buckeyes. They are an amazingly delicious treat that tastes much like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. I have made them a few different times and I promise you they are quite addictive!

One day as I was whipping up this treat, I glanced across the counter and noticed my jar of Protein Smoothie Booster and a light bulb went off. The protein mix has a similar texture to powdered sugar, one of the main ingredients in buckeyes, so I figured the mixture of peanut butter and the Protein Smoothie Booster might make for a similar consistency to the buckeyes. That is how these Protein Peanut Butter Truffles were born!

I set to work mixing up peanut butter and the protein mix and began taste testing. I realized quickly this was going to work out very well! If you aren’t a big sweets person, you can leave this as an easy four ingredient treat. If you prefer to sweeten things up a bit, a little bit of honey will do the job.

Furthermore, if you don’t feel like making a batch of the Protein Smoothie Booster, you can simply substitute four scoops of store-bought whey protein booster with one teaspoon of chia seeds.

These little Protein Peanut Butter Truffles are simple to make and store well refrigerated for a couple of weeks. To make the truffles, simply add the peanut butter, protein powder and honey to a food processor. If you don’t have a food processor you could use a hand beater instead.

Once the mixture is well combined, roll it into 15 small balls. Arrange the balls on a baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Once the truffles have chilled, coat them in a mixture of dark chocolate and coconut oil and return to the refrigerated. Once the chocolate is set in a matter of 15 minutes, they are ready to enjoy!

More healthy treats!

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Pressure Cooker Turkey Verde & Rice is an easy 30 minute recipe made in your Instant Pot with only five ingredients! This healthy dinner idea is packed with bold flavor from salsa verde and full of wholesome brown rice and tender turkey tenderloins for a quick and delicious meal you will love.

I am excited to be teaming up with Jennie-O to bring you today’s healthy recipe!

Pressure Cooker Turkey Verde & Rice

Turkey tenderloins are such a healthy protein with only 100 calories and 1g of fat per serving. They are the perfect way to make a light low-fat meal while infusing your flavors of choice. For this Pressure Cooker Turkey Verde & Rice l I used a jar of salsa verde to add some bold flavor to this quick and simple meal in my 5-in-1 cooker. I bought my pressure cooker about five years ago and never really used it much seeing I originally bought it just for it’s slow cooker function. At the time I bought it, I didn’t really know how to use it, so it sat in the closet and collected dust.

Now that Instant Pots are all the rage, I have taken it out of the closet and it’s been put to good use. I have made everything from Thai Peanut Chicken and Noodles to BBQ Pork and now this healthy turkey and rice dish. There is basically nothing better than an easy meal all made in one dish! One of my favorite things in life is cooking while making very few dishes and this dish is a real winner in that department, not to mention how great it tastes!

The absolute best part about pressure cooking is that it leaves your meat beyond tender. You will be amazed at how juicy and tender this turkey loin is when you slice into it. The flavors of the salsa verde infuse the turkey lightly for a little kick along with the brown rice. Add a bag of steamed veggies and you have a complete meal deal that the whole family will enjoy.

If you haven’t jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon yet, I highly recommend you give it a try! There are countless ways you can make delicious 30 minute meals in this fantastic cooking device.

More great turkey recipes!

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Fig & Orange Chicken Asparagus Bake is an easy and healthy one pot recipe with fresh and flavorful ingredients. Oranges, ginger and goat cheese compliment the tender chicken breasts and asparagus for a wholesome gluten-free meal you will love.

Fig & Orange Chicken Asparagus Bake

I have been obsessed with the combination of figs and goat cheese lately. You know I am always in love with all things goat cheese, but figs compliment the creamy cheese especially well. Unfortunately for me I don’t have access to fresh figs anywhere near me, so I have to use the next best thing, fig spread. I know it isn’t the same, but it still adds a nice robust flavor to this low-carb Fig & Orange Chicken Asparagus Bake.

Other ingredients I have been using as a convenient alternative to the fresh stuff, is herbs and spices. Gourmet Garden generously sent me a bunch of their lightly dried herbs and stir-in pastes. Living in a small town in the middle of nowhere, sometimes it is impossible to access the fresh options, so having a full herb and spice collection in my fridge that lasts for months is amazing!

I use the chunky garlic stir-in paste all the time and the ginger isn’t far behind. For this dish, instead of buying fresh ginger and grating it, I used the easy and convenient stir-in paste with all the same great flavors.

This Fig & Orange Chicken Asparagus Bake is literally as easy as throwing everything in a dish and baking it for 30 minutes. You really can’t beat that for a fresh and healthy weeknight meal. The best part of all, is that it makes for great leftovers to pack for lunch at work!

More low-carb chicken recipes!

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Pressure Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles is the best 30 minute Pressure Cooker recipe you will make! Lean chicken breasts are cooked in a homemade spicy Thai peanut sauce and finished off with rice noodles and peas for an easy and healthy one-pot meal made in your Instant Pot.

Pressure Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles

I’m not going to lie, I am quite proud of this recipe! It is so good on so many levels. The idea came to me after using my Instant Pot for a bit realizing that the extra liquid was always boiling after cooking the meat. I put that together with the fact that rice noodles are cooked by letting them set in boiling water as opposed to how traditional noodles are boiled. That resulted in this Pressure Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles recipe where you cook the chicken in a thai peanut sauce, open your electric pressure cooker to add the noodles and peas and then cover it back up and leave it on the slow cooker mode.

The end result is the most tender and flavorful chicken with a rich Thai peanut sauce with just enough noodles for a healthy and semi low-carb recipe. The peanuts and peas are optional, but they add a nice crunch and color to the otherwise brown dish. This wholesome meal is something that you will not only feel good about eating, but you will keep coming back for more, because it tastes so good!

While I love making simple roasts or chicken in my Instant Pot, it is fun and challenging for me to come up with complete one-pot meal. Whether I am cooking up Pressure Cooker Turkey Verde & Rice or this Pressure Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles, the electric pressure cooker is hard to beat in the convenience it provides as well as the tender fall apart meat it produces!

More delicious Thai Peanut recipes!

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Skinny Spaghetti Squash Chicken Parmesan is a healthy twist on the traditional classic. Lightly breaded chicken breasts are baked and served with low-carb spaghetti squash and marinara  for a comforting dinner your family will ask for again and again!

Skinny Spaghetti Squash Chicken Parmesan

Our family didn’t enjoy many Italian meals growing up apart from Chicken Cacciatore and Lasagna. Heck, we didn’t even eat spaghetti much at all?! We were a decidedly German and Norwegian family, enjoying a whole lot of red meat and potatoes for the most part. Those meals didn’t appeal much to me as a child and still don’t that much today. I much prefer the fresh flavors and cuisine of Italian and Greek fare to the heavy casseroles and roasts. I would have loved a good Chicken Parmesan, but sadly the first time I ever enjoyed it was in a restaurant!

This Skinny Spaghetti Squash Chicken Parmesan is a lighter twist on the traditional Italian favorite. Instead of heavy pasta, we are using a light spaghetti squash and instead of frying the chicken in lots of oil we are baking it for a crunchy and tender chicken breast. The combination of the two together prepared on a sheet pan is an easy, hearty and healthy meal the whole family will enjoy.

For added fresh flavor, I used Gourmet Garden’s lightly dried basil and parsley in the light Panko breading. It adds a vibrant flavor to this Skinny Spaghetti Squash Chicken Parmesan that you just can’t get from old dried herbs sitting in your cupboard. I just love the Gourmet Garden products and in particular their lightly dried herbs. I can store the little containers in my refrigerator for weeks on end and have the fresh flavors of herbs in all my meals without having to deal with the hassle and expense of the quick spoilage you get from the fresh store-bought herbs. It’s a win-win in my book!

More healthy and hearty meals!

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Fresh Tomato Basil & Burrata Salad is a healthy and easy salad made with simple ingredients for a side dish ready in just 5 minutes!

Fresh Tomato Basil & Burrata Salad

Garden tomatoes are still in season here in Minnesota. They are at the end of their season, but I am still enjoying every last bit of it with the classics like Ultimate BLTs or something a little different like these Fried Goat Cheese & Heirloom Tomato Toasts. You could do like my husband, and just eat the fresh garden tomatoes like an apple all by itself with a little salt and pepper. That isn’t my jam, but I do LOVE them in this Fresh Tomato Basil & Burrata Salad.

For this particular salad, I used some store-bought multi-colored cherry tomatoes, but garden tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes would both be great in this salad. I made this dish for a bachelorette party that I was responsible for the food at. I picked dishes that could be made ahead of time and packed up in a cooler for dinner at a later time. This included some Italian Beef, a cheese plate and a fresh fruit platter with some phallic chocolates. You have to throw a little cheesiness into a bachelorette party no matter how hold you are!

I made far too much of this Fresh Tomato Basil & Burrata Salad for the party because I had so many beautiful tomatoes to use up. I enjoyed this for lunch the next few days, because lets be real, tomatoes in balsamic with fresh cheese is ALWAYS a good thing!

More great side dishes!

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Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken is an easy four ingredient weeknight dinner idea made in your slow cooker that you can serve with everything from rice and veggies to lettuce cups for a healthy and delicious recipe!

Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken

I promise, if you come home from a long day of work to this Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken, you will be drooling from the flavorful aroma! This light and healthy chicken has a rich flavor from a homemade Thai Peanut Sauce that whips up in your blender in no time. This chicken is wonderful served with a side of rice, used to top a pizza or rolled up in a wrap for lunch. You will find all sorts of amazing ways to enjoy the leftovers if there are any!

Are you starting to say your sad goodbyes to fresh summer veggies? I know we are on the last of our garden tomatoes right now and I am trying to enjoy them in everything! I have been making this Fresh Tomato Basil & Burrata Salad over and over. BLTs are at the top of my list as well!

If you are moving on to heavier fall flavors but still want something healthy for dinner, this Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken is a must try! You can finish it off with some fresh cliantro and you will have a bright dish with hearty flavors you will love. My personal favorite way to enjoy this chicken is by tossing it on a naan bread topped with some cheese for a flatbread or mixed in a salad. No matter what you do, be sure and top it with fresh chopped peanuts for a great crunch!

More Thai Peanut Chicken Recipes!

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Light Thai Peanut Chicken Flatbread is a quick and healthy recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner! A thin and crispy flatbread is topped with Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken, cheese and crunchy vegetables and peanuts.

Light Thai Peanut Chicken Flatbread

I actually made this Light Thai Peanut Chicken Flatbread a few months ago and just looking at it makes me drool! It really is dinner perfection with the crispy thin crust topped with this creamy Crock Pot Thai Peanut Chicken, a little bit of cheese and some crunchy carrots, peanuts and green onions. Absolute perfection! I’m pretty sure I will be making some of that slow cooker chicken to make this again ASAP. It really doesn’t get much better than this.

Life has been crazy lately, but in the best ways for the most part. Our family got selected from our email application to audition for the Family Feud this weekend. My parents and all four of us kids drove 3.5 hours to Minneapolis for the weekend to try out and it was an absolute blast! Our family is crazy competitive so we didn’t have to fake any enthusiasm.

My mom jumped about five feet off the ground and started screaming when she got her answer right. It was absolutely hilarious! I will have to fill you in some more on our audition in the next installment of Life Lately. There was just too much fun and excitement to share in this post! 

More Thai Peanut Chicken Recipes you will love!

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Pressure Cooker Shredded Italian Beef is an easy no fuss Instant Pot recipe made with simple ingredients! Serve this beef along with your favorite veggies for a healthy low-carb dinner idea or pile it high on fresh buns for a delicious sandwich!

Pressure Cooker Shredded Italian Beef

This Pressure Cooker Shredded Italian Beef came to be after a work lunch my boss hosted. She brought lunch for the whole office and it was nothing short of amazing. She served a shredded Italian beef with buns and Dijon mustard along with a couscous salad and more. It was such a healthy and delicious meal I was craving it for days afterwards! I decided to make my own version in my Instant Pot to speed things along and still get all the great flavors of the peppers and beef.

It turned out so great that I decided to make it again when I was in charge of food for a friend’s bachelorette party. I was able to make it ahead of time and then serve it in a small Crock Pot. You could also just bring it to a gathering immediately after it is done cooking and turn your Instant Pot on the warming setting as soon as you arrive at the party.

I am so in love with my Instant Pot and how easy it makes a quick weeknight meal. This Pressure Cooker Shredded Italian Beef is no exception! Some of my other favorite dishes include Pressure Cooker Turkey Verde & Rice and Pressure Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles. They are all so easy and flavorful, I promise you can’t go wrong!

More great beef recipes!

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Light Crock Pot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs are an easy recipe made in your slow cooker. Lean ground turkey is studded with bleu cheese crumbles and coated in a spicy buffalo sauce for an irresistible appetizer. Enjoy them on game day, at your next party or pair them with a side of rice and veggies for a flavorful dinner.

I am excited to be teaming up with Jennie-O to bring you today’s recipe!

Light Crock Pot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs

We have talked about it countless times before, but my love of buffalo sauce is STRONG! From Cheesy Buffalo Chicken French Bread to Crispy Buffalo Chicken Salad, there are never enough ways to enjoy the spicy goodness! I am here to tell you that chicken isn’t the only player in the buffalo game though. Turkey pairs just as well with the hot sauce! These tender and flavorful Light Crock Pot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs are an absolutely perfect canvas for my favorite sauce.

These meatballs are also so easy, you will want to make them again and again! I tossed together the Lean Jennie-O ground turkey with some oatmeal, egg, onions and crumbled bleu cheese and formed them into medium meatballs. I quickly browned them in a skillet and then tossed them in the slow cooker with buffalo sauce. I set them on high for 2 hours and forgot about them until the spicy smell of buffalo was wafting throughout my house!

I made these up on Sunday morning and right before game time they were ready to go. At the first bite I was in love. The turkey meatballs were so tender and flavorful, they were absolute perfection! I hate when meatballs get overcooked and they are dry and hard rocks. That is never appealing.

We enjoyed them as an easy finger food throughout the game, snacking on them with some ranch dipping sauce. We kept the Crock Pot on warming and they were good to go for the afternoon.

There weren’t many of these meatballs leftover as they were so good, but the ones that were I tossed in the refrigerator for leftovers the next day. I packed up a few meatballs with some rice and vegetables for an easy lunch to bring to work the next day. It was a great way to change up my lunch routine with something so spicy and flavorful!

These Light Crock Pot Buffalo Turkey Meatballs would also be great in lettuce wraps paired with some shredded carrots and diced celery topped with this Light Greek Yogurt Bleu Cheese Dressing. Heck, I might even try them in a salad next! There are countless ways to enjoy these meatballs as an appetizer or entree, so be sure and give them a try.

More great turkey appetizers!

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Pressure Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup is a healthy and easy 30 minute soup recipe made in your Instant Pot that is bursting with bold and spicy flavors!

Pressure Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup is my family’s favorite soup recipes for the winter. When I make this Crock Pot version, I typically package some up in these deli containers and bring it over to my parent’s house so they can enjoy it. My mom hates cooking and really doesn’t like making anything outside of her old school hot dishes and roasts, so although she loves the soup, she rarely ever makes it for herself. She is happy when I make it for her though! Recently I wanted to make it last minute so I made us some of this Pressure Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup and it turned out just as amazing but with a fraction of the time.

The Instant Pot electric pressure cooker is so wonderful for making last minute weeknight dinners. One of my all-time favorites is this Pressure Cooke Thai Peanut Chicken & Noodles. It is such a flavorful and hearty dish that I keep making it over and over, very similarly to this chicken tortilla soup!

You can also throw a pot roast, some chicken breasts or pasta in the Instant Pot for and easy and amazing dinner. It has so many great uses apart from pressure cooking, such as slow cooking or yogurt making, that you really can’t go wrong with having this gadget in your kitchen.

More great pressure cooker recipes!

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For the holidays, take all of the guess work out of the main dish with the Easiest Roasted Turkey & Gravy recipe. This pre-packaged, seasoned and Oven Ready Jennie-O Turkey goes straight from the freezer to the oven and results in moist and flavorful meat with a perfectly crispy skin!

I am excited to be teaming up with Jennie-O to bring you today’s meal!

Easiest Roasted Turkey & Gravy

Let’s talk turkey! I’m sure I am not alone in my feelings towards cooking whole birds and large roasts. From a young age, they have always felt overwhelming for some reason and I rarely make them outside of the holidays. Whether I am stressing about taking the turkey out to thaw in time or cringing at the thought of pulling the insides out of the turkey cavity, it’s not a lot of fun. That is until I discovered these Jennie-O Oven Ready Whole Turkeys!

These turkeys make life so much easier, so I can focus on making some of my other favorite aspects of the holiday meal like Crock Pot Cranberry Pecan Stuffing, Poppy Seed, Grape & Chicken Pasta Salad and Caramel Apple Mini Pie Cups!

Let me explain just how easy a turkey dinner is with these Jennie-O Oven Ready Turkeys. When you are ready to start cooking, about 4.5 hours before you plan to eat, simply rip open the outer bag and preheat your oven. The turkey is all seasoned and nicely tied up in a fool-proof oven bag with a pop-up timer already inserted.

Toss the frozen turkey, still in the oven bag in a roasting pan and make a few small slits at the top of the bag. Throw it in the oven for about 4 hours and just keep an eye on it for the last 30 minutes. When the red pop-up timer pops up, you know it’s time to take out the turkey and let it rest for 15 minutes.

As for gravy, which I know to be scary for many people, it is just as easy at the turkey! There is a small bag included with your turkey that you leave out to thaw while your turkey is roasting. After your turkey is cooked and rested, drain off the juices from the pan and add it to a saucepan with the gravy pouch. Cook over medium-high heat until the gravy is bubbly and thickened.

I made this for my husband who is a huge fan of all the gravy, and he thought it was amazing. It tastes just as good as the homemade stuff the old ladies in the cafe taught me how to make when I was younger!

I can’t even begin to tell you the number of people I have excitedly told about these turkeys. I’m pretty sure I will now be making whole roasted turkeys on a monthly basis instead of just for the holidays. My husband is going to be one happy camper, because he loves nothing more than turkey and gravy!

If you are like me and like a little spice with your meals, go for the Cajun Style Oven Ready Turkey. It has amazing spice and flavor you will love! If you are like my parents and husband, who prefer a simple old fashioned turkey, you can opt for the traditional style. Whichever route you go, I promise that you will never go back to making turkey and gravy any other way!

Holiday Sides Perfect with Turkey!

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