Spinach Mac & Cheese Casserole

Its the very last day of March and we will say farewell to the "What's For Dinner?" series. Tomorrow will bring a new series and the winner the Heroes of the City giveaway. I am so excited for all that "new"!!! I do have to apologize that there is no Bento today. The kids ended up not having "baby school" and things slipped away from me. However, I do have one last dinner to share... so enjoy!

Spinach Mac & Cheese Casserole 

Ingredients

• 1 can of spinach
• 2 boxes of mac and cheese
• milk & butter (to make mac and cheese)
• handful of crackers
• 1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese

This is another simple recipe! First, boil mac and cheese as directed. While its cooking, drain the spinach. After draining, pour into a large bowl and set aside. Take crackers and put inside a plastic bag and crush. Pour into a small bowl and add Parmesan to crackers and set aside.

After noodles are finished, strain and pour into the large bowl with the spinach. I often like to use sour cream to replace milk. Remember, you will need a lot less milk because of the spinach.

Mix everything (including cheese packets) well. and pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle with cracker mixture and place into oven for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

As you can see, my son gave me some lovely "flowers" to thank me for cooking dinner!

Shepherd's Pie Burgers

Shepherd's Pie Burgers, basically what is sounds like-it is. Shepherd's pie, made with a burger instead of ground beef. It was a popular dinner at my house so I figured I would share!

As many of you already know, I like to hide some extra veggies where I can with my cooking. My husband is not the biggest veggie eater, so its more for him than my children!

You will see how I used this technique in this meal especially!

Shepherd's Pie Burgers

Ingredients

• 4 cooked burgers
• 1 bag of mixed frozen veggies (or just peas would work)
• boxed mashed potatoes
• a handful of baby carrots (or one large carrot)
• sour cream
• milk and butter (for mashed potatoes)
• bacon/bacon bits

As I mentioned in the ingredients list, you must start with cooked burgers. I cooked these specifically for dinner, but it would be a good use for leftovers. Place them on a baking sheet. Heat oven to 350 degrees.

First, shred carrots. Make 6 servings of mashed potatoes, replacing a 1/4 of the milk for sour cream. It gives it a creamy, delicious flavor. Stir in the shredded carrots. Not only does this give it some color, it adds to the veggie intake!

Next, put a large spoonful of potatoes on each burger and press down the middle with a spoon. This should leave a little "bowl" in the middle of the potatoes.

Add veggies to the "bowl" and cover with more mashed potatoes.

After your burgers are covered, sprinkle them with bacon and place into the oven. Bake for 10-20 minutes until golden.

This is bested served with all the left over veggies you have from filling them! *wink*
It ended up being a hit at my house, which is always a pleasant surprise!

"The Chicken"

Without a better name for what I created today, I have labeled it "The Chicken" due to the fact it is so versatile. This shredded chicken dish can be used on toast, rice, salad, even as a sandwich. It is just that versatile! Since it was made in a crock pot, it was easy too!

"The Chicken"

Ingredients

• 1/2 Cup of vinaigrette or Italian dressing
• 1 sliced pepper
• 1 bag of fresh mixed carrots and broccolli
• 1 can of Italian diced tomatoes
• 3 boneless chicken breasts, from frozen is fine.

In the morning place chicken, vinaigrette, and fresh broccoli and carrots in the crock pot on low.Stir so that the dressing covers everything. Add a little extra water or dressing if it seems dry.


Later that day use a fork to shred the chicken. An hour before serving stir in the can of tomatoes and the peppers. When ready to serve, stir once more.

See, easy!

I made some extra crunchy, baked and buttered toast to go with it. I also tried it on my salad, both delicious.

Chicken and Dumpling Turnovers & Broccoli Casserole

This one came completely out of my head, so my ingredient measurements are estimated. This is probably the dinner I'm most proud of this month!

Chicken and Dumpling Turnovers

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups of flour
• .5 cup of butter or margrine
• 1/3 cup of milk
• tablespoon of olive oil
• cream of chicken soup
• can of chicken breast
• 1 cup of shredded cheese
• season to taste ( I used basil and oregano, onion powder, and salt)

1. Preheat oven to 375. Mix flour, butter, milk, and seasoning in a bowl. As if firms kneed with hands, adding olive oil until the dough can be rolled.

2. In a bowl mix cream of chicken soup, chicken, and shredded cheese.

3. Roll the dough into 2 inch balls and flatten into larger circles.

 4. Place a spoonful of the chicken mixture onto each one and fold over.

5. Push down the edges of the turnovers with a fork.

6. Bake in oven for 10-14 minutes until bread begins to golden.

Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients

• Leftover mixture from the turnovers
• bag of frozen broccoli
• 1tablespoon of butter or margrine
• breadcrumbs

Mix the broccoli and chicken mixture and place in casserole dish. Lightly cover with breadcrumbs and drizzle with butter. Bake.

 Enjoy!

Decked Mac & Cheese

I won't lie, I LOVE macaroni and cheese. The cheap boxed stuff especially! However, it would get boring if I made my family eat just that on a regular basis. I don't. I make mac and cheese into lots of things! That is where today's recipe comes in!

Decked Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 boxes of mac and cheese
• 2 tablespoons of sour cream
• 1 tablespoon of butter or margrine
• 2- 3 of you favorite frozen or canned veggies (I used peppers, kidney beans, and green beans)
• 1 precooked chicken breast- cut into bite size peices
• Milk as needed

First, you place all frozen foods in pot with water for pasta. Bring to boil.

 Second, cook noodles according to box directions. Drain and remove from the heat. Add the cheese packets, sour cream, and butter. Stir until mixture completely covers the noodles. It may be thick at this time. The veggies will add some liquid.

Next, stir in the canned veggies.

Add milk if needed. Serve immediately. This can be served with some extra shredded cheese or breadcrumbs on top.

It was another hit for my family!

Kid Kabobs & Dr. Seuss Bentos

When you have a lot of leftovers, its sometimes hard to be creative. This meal was created out of my need for a main dish to use with all my leftover sides.

Kid kabobs can be made with any kind of meats you like, but its always best to use what ever you already have waiting in the refrigerator.I also added some extra veggies and fruit to my kabobs as well. This recipe is simple and easy.

Kid Kabobs

Ingredients

• 1 can of mandarin oranges 
• precooked chicken
• precooked hot-dogs
• cooked veggies
• kabob sticks

1. Create Kabobs mixing veggies and meat. 
   
   
   
2. Heat in the oven 350 degrees and cook until hot
3. Serve with left over sides!
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
    School today ended up being canceled today, but I had already made a few bentos. That is good news for you!
   
   
   
   
   

Sick Kids: Garlic Pasta with Veggies

Once again my children are sick this winter. We are on like round four over the span of three months. It is pretty widely accepted that garlic has natural healing properties. So, I figured getting a little more into my family's system wasn't a bad idea.

Garlic Pasta with Peas & Carrots

Ingredients 

• 1 box of pasta
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• 1 dash of  onion powder
• 1 dash of basil
• 1 can of mixed peas and carrots, drained
• Parmesan cheese to taste

 In a skillet heat butter, garlic, onion powder, and basil. Do this until the butter melts. Add drained can of vegetables and stir. Heat for several moments until completely covered. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a pot, cook pasta by directions on the box. Drain completely but don't rinse. Quickly place pasta back into pot and add the butter mixture. Stir until pasta is coated. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Enjoy!