Sane Cooking ~ Tortellini Soup

This isn't a recipe really as it is just an idea.


On those days when you are so busy that dinner is not the top of your agenda, here is an idea that is both healthy and EASY!


Tortellini Soup


Ingredients:
1 package (or 2 depending on the size of your family) Buitoni Three Cheese Tortellini
6 c chicken broth
carrots diced
scallions diced
grated parmesan cheese


Directions:
Bring 6 c of chicken broth to a boil.  Add carrots for a few minutes to begin the softening process.  Add the tortellini.  Bring to a simmer.  Cook for about 10 minutes until the tortellini are tender.  Add scallions for last 2-3 minutes.  Serve hot with parmesan cheese for flavor.


You can add anything to this soup.  Some ideas are leftover chicken breast strips, celery, onions, kale, spinach.  The possibilities are ENDLESS!!




Check out more Sane Cooking ideas. 



Alexis

Healthier Lunches with Foster Farms

When you think school lunches, what do you think about?

I think of the main trifecta:  pizza,  hamburger and corn dogs.  Well, at least that was what the cafeteria was serving when I was a kid.  I loved them all!  The greasy rectangle shaped pizza with ranch dressing on top (yeah, you heard me...ranch dressing on pizza!), that skinny hamburger, and the crunchy corn dog with mustard.  MMMMMM!!!


The thought of those same foods for my kids' lunches make me cringe a little.  How on earth did my mom let me eat that stuff??  But let's face it, those are the things that kids like.  

In recent times, these lunch time favorites are being threatened in our school's lunch rooms.  Due to the need for healthier eating, the days of the pizza, hamburger and corn dog will be gone.


Foster Farms, a family–owned and operated poultry company, wants to bring the corn dog back!!  Not all corn dogs are created equal, and Foster Farms is proof of that!  





Welcome Foster Farms' 100% Whole Grain Chicken Corn Dogs!  These new whole grain, low fat, reduced sodium alternative to the kid favorite corn dog is sure to please!!  (Not to mention they have more protein than a cheeseburger on a whole wheat bun!)

Little Ricky: "The best corn dogs!"

Are you worried about taste?  Well, my pickiest eater though the Foster Farms' 100% Whole Grain Chicken Corn Dogs were (and I quote) "the best corn dogs!" 







These delicious corn dogs are now available to schools across the country.  If you want to try them for yourself, you can find them at your local grocery store.



**Disclaimer:  Foster Farms provided my family with a sample of their 100% Whole Grain Chicken Corn Dogs.  As always, all opinions are my own.


Alexis

Sane Cooking ~ Chicken Pot Pie

Wonder what to do with the second half of that rotisserie chicken from yesterday?  Thanks to my friend Amanda at AntiMomBlog.com, here is what I like to do with it! 


Homemade Chicken Pot Pie


Ingredients:


2 diced Carrots
1 can of Cream of Potato Soup
1 can of Cream of Chicken Soup
2/3 cup of Milk
1/2 cup of Peas (frozen)
8 oz chopped Chicken (you can use turkey too!)
1 package of Pillsbury Pie Crust (2 sheets come in one package)

Directions:


Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Gently place one of the sheets of pie crust in a 9 inch round pie dish. Once all the ingredients are mixed together, add it to the dish. Next, place the other pie crust on top, pinch the ends closed and put 2 slits on the top.

Bake for 45 minutes.

*Recipe and photo courtesy of AntiMomBlog.com


Alexis

Sane Cooking ~ Chicken, Spinach and Feta Pizza

After a long day at work, errands, and the many activities that my kids have, I'm pretty much too exhausted to make a home cooked meal.  As tempted as I am to just go through the local drive thru, my thighs aren't in the same agreement.  


Here is an idea that I had with a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken that I picked up from my local grocery store.


Chicken, Spinach and Feta Pizza


Ingredients:
Rotisserie Chicken
1 bag of pre-washed spinach
1 pizza dough (I like the one that I get in the bakery aisle...you could use the ones in the refrigerated aisle as well)
crumbled Feta cheese



Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Flatten the dough into an oval and place on a pizza stone or cookie sheet sprinkled with corn meal.  Spread olive oil and salt on dough.
Place dough in oven.  As bubbles form, poke the dough with a fork.  Leave in oven for approximately 10 minutes.

 
Shred half of the rotisserie chicken (save the other half for tomorrow's dinner).  Spread evenly on dough.  Add half of the bag of spinach to top of chicken.  Sprinkle Feta cheese on top.  Spread more olive oil on top.


Place pizza in oven until the top is golden brown.  Keep in mind that Feta cheese does not melt.  

So much better than take out!


Enjoy!


Alexis