Chicken, Chicken, Winner, Dinner….again?

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I can’t be alone in have the dreaded shudder attack when asked, “What’s for dinner?” “Chicken?” I mean seriously, do they REALLY need to eat dinner every.single.night? The truth of the matter is my older son has a constant rotation with a few special add-ins and my younger son invariably wants what’s on everyone else’s plate. My husband is “easy going” as long as it’s a meat based dish, preferably with buffalo sauce.

As a working mom on a budget, I try to meal plan on the weekends and not waste too much time, money or energy, in that order. I love my crockpot and use it a lot, especially during the winter, but there are some days, I forget, have a bad night’s sleep/morning, or just simple mommy brain and need to make dinner ala Rachael Ray “in 30 mins or less.” 

dinnerRecently I asked my Mommy Army for some new go-to recipes and these were the winners:

1. What would a good dinner round-up be without at least one chicken dinner? I ALWAYS have a rotisserie chicken in the fridge. It’s just so versatile and makes life that much easier. Some of my friends make their own in the crockpot or oven. One of my favorite go-to dinners is a barbecue chicken flatout pizza. Honestly, if I don’t have this wrap, I use whatever we have in the house.  My husband doesn’t like red onions or cilantro, so we skip those, but to each their own, right?

2. My friend who is a working mom of 3 can’t stop raving about Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis These cook fast and freeze beautifully. Plus, who doesn’t need a new meatloaf recipe?

3. Taco Tuesday anyone? For those who are gluten free, here’s an easy taco recipe for you. You can keep it easy and buy pre-made taco seasoning, but this mama raved about her homemade taco seasoning.

4. Remember the incredible edible egg commercials? I am a big fan of breakfast for dinner, but the rest of my family isn’t. If you are lucky and your family is, here’s a quick and easy revamp of leftovers. Scramble eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper, add cooked pasta or rice to it and pour it on a hot pan with some olive oil (or any oil you prefer). Cook until the eggs are cooked throughout. It becomes a pasta omelet. BAM! 

dinner6. And lastly, anyone love a good burrito bowl? If so, here’s a perfect and pretty clean recipe for you:

  • Cauliflower cilantro lime rice at bottom
  • Pulled chicken on one side (rotisserie chicken for the win again!)
  • Black Bean & Corn Salad on other side
  • Any other veggies (lettuce is good)
  • 1 15oz can black beans (drained & rinsed)
  • 2 15oz can whole kernel corn (drained)
  • 8 green onions chopped
  • 1 green pepper chopped
  • 1 4oz jar pimentos drained and chopped
  • 3 plum tomatoes seeded & chopped
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 jalapeño (seeded & minced) OR 1 small can green chilies
  • 1 avocado pitted, peeled, diced
  • 1 lime, juiced

Mix all together in one bowl and (optional) refrigerate for at least an hour.

Do you have an easy and fast go-to dinner recipe to share? We’d love to know!

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Maria Sette
Maria is a full-time mom, teacher, wife, daughter, and sister, who feels pulled in too many directions! Her older son Michael took over 24 hours to be born, and at six-months-old was diagnosed with allergies to dairy, eggs, nuts, soy, shrimp, and wheat…all after exclusively nursing because she was SO SURE that would help him be a healthy kid. Luckily at age 1, he began to outgrow some of his allergies. Fingers crossed the others will soon follow because that plus a husband who doesn’t eat any veggies and Maria always battling her weight makes for three meals to prepare every night. Luckily, Christopher, her younger son, is a cooperative eater! As someone who has always been committed to making positive change, Maria uses her privilege and position as an educator and mom to work toward a most anti-racisit, equitibile, and inclusive world. Recently, Maria has even started getting up at 5am to workout in her basement. (Thank you pandemic living!) She is addicted to reading chicklit on her Kindle app in the dark, most Trader Joe’s products, and watching TikToks.

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