Recipes

Family Dinner Faves: Chicken Parmesan Meatball Alfredo with Asparagus & Mushrooms

May 7, 2024May 7, 2024 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hello! Hope you all are doing well. I have a new recipe to share!

Today I’m sharing one of my family favorites: Chicken Parmesan Meatball Alfredo. This is so good and comes together fairly quickly. I made my own meatballs, but you can use store bought if your pressed for time and it will be just as good. I served it alongside a bagged Ceasar salad kit for a balanced meal. Read on below to see pics & how I made this.

For the meatballs:

you will need 1lb ground chicken (you can skip this if you want to sub with readymade meatballs)

1 egg

1/4 cup. breadcrumbs

1/4 cup. shredded parmesan cheese

seasonings of choice (I used a sprinkling of Italian, Garlic, Onion, Salt & Pepper)

For the sauce:

1 jar alfredo sauce of choice

Olive oil for sautéing

1 bunch of chopped broccoli

1 cup chopped mushrooms

pasta of your choice (I used a chickpea pasta for fiber and lower carb content)

I started out with seasoning my ground chicken, then added egg, breadcrumbs, & Parmesan cheese. I mixed that up and then scooped the meatballs onto a greased pan using my cookie scoop. I cooked these in the oven about 25min or until golden brown.

While the meatballs cooked, I boiled & drained my pasta and set it aside. I then sauteed my chopped mushrooms & asparagus.

Once the mushrooms were tender and my asparagus had turned bright green in color, I added my pasta back to the pan. I stirred in 3/4 jar of alfredo sauce and seasoned to taste with salt, pepper, garlic, & onion powder. I let this simmer for just a couple of minutes to blend all the flavors together.

After the meatballs were done in the oven, I added them to the pan of sauce & stirred in the remaining sauce, and a 1/4 cup of milk to help loosen the sauce and get the meatballs coated.

Here is the finished pasta all melted together. So good and filling! I plated this up and added a little sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese & a side salad for balance. So good and comforting.

I hope you enjoy this in your home with your family! Thanks for stopping by. Until next time….

Recipes

Family Dinner Faves: Braised Bone-In Chicken Thighs with Savory Veggie Sauce

September 25, 2021 The Dimestore Gypsy4 Comments

Hey friends! HAPPY FALL!! What better way to celebrate than with a comfort food recipe. I made this for dinner the 1st day of Fall & it was a hit!! So of course, I have to share with you guys. Check out the recipe & pics down below.

Ingredients:

4 bone in, skin-on chicken thighs

1 can of stewed tomatoes

1 can of Cambpells Harvest Carrot & Ginger sipping soup

1 can of chicken broth

2 chicken bullion cubes

1 cup canned baby carrots (drained)

1/2 white onion, (sauteed)

1/2 bag of frozen french style green beans, (cooked per instructions & drained)

Olive Oil

Plain Bread Crumbs

Seasonings-(Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Cumin, Oregano, Parsley)

Cooking Instructions

First, sauté the onion with a little bit of olive oil in a large frying pan, then cook and drain the frozen French style green beans according to package. Set that aside for later.

Clean & trim any excess pieces of fat from the chicken thighs. Season with salt & pepper. Add about 1/4 cup of Olive Oil to the pan you used for onions & add your chicken. You want to get a golden crust on each side. Cook for around 8-10 minutes on each side.

Next, add the can of soup, stewed tomatoes, & chicken broth. Add your 2 chicken bullion cubes, sauteed onions, and seasonings. Stir to mix. I used a generous sprinkling of each: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, & parsley.

Bring to a boil, then cover & let simmer on low for about 45 min.

After 45 minutes, add half the bag of drained French style green beans, & the can of baby carrots. Continue to simmer on low for 15 min.

After 15 minutes, remove the chicken & set aside. Add 2-3 tablespoons of plain bread crumbs & stir to thicken the sauce. Add the chicken back to the pan. Cover and let cook for an additional 5 min. After 5 minutes, remove from heat & let cool before serving.

Dinner is served!

I served this over warm Basmati rice with a side of Brussel sprouts. This dish is so filing, warm & comforting. It’d be perfect for a cold winter night! Look at those veggies & that sauce!

Hope you enjoy this recipe. Let me know if you decide to give it a try!

Thanks for stopping by,

Recipes

My Family Dinner Favorites: Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole

July 11, 2018 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a family dinner favorites recipe so I thought I’d share one today. It’s a good one… Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole!! Can we same yum?!

It’s pretty simple and comes together quickly , and you can lighten it up by using low-fat/no fat ingredients. Serve with a side of cilantro white rice and you’ve got a complete meal. These are my favorite kind of week night dinner recipes!

Check out Liz over at realhousemoms.com for this delicious, printable recipe!

This casserole was a big hit and has become a week night favorite of ours. I hope you enjoy it too!

Thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

Croissant Breakfast Boats

June 21, 2018 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Well hello friends! It’s been a mighty good time since I’ve updated my blog…

Summer is here and it has been a busy time. In addition to my teen and toddler, I am now watching my 2 school age nephews…(phew)….I’m exhausted already 2 weeks in!! LOL. When does school start-up again?

Any who, I’m not a big breakfast eater, but I’ve heard it’s one of the most important meals of the day. To be honest, I feel a difference when I have breakfast vs. when I don’t…more energy. So I figured I’d try something better than the old “cereal and milk” bowl to keep up with these kiddos.

I happened to come across these delicious looking croissant boats when I was searching online for “batch” breakfast ideas. You know, things I can make more than one of to last for the week.

Don’t these look yummy in all their toasty, buttery, glory? They were super simple, quick and easy to make. I got the croissants on sale in the bakery at the grocery store, and with a few simple breakfast staple ingredients, they were ready in no time.

Bakery worthy right? Just zap in the microwave for a few seconds, and breakfast is served. The kids enjoyed them too!

You can find the recipe here at tipbuzz.com. There’s even a tutorial video to show you exactly what to do! Hope you enjoy these!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

Fall Comfort Food: Shepard’s Pie with Cheesy Tator Rounds Topping

October 20, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hey guys! We had our first cold front blow thru this week and I must admit, I’m loving it! I thought I’d share with you one of my recipes I made this week for dinner. It’s Shepard’s Pie with Cheesy Tator Round Topping instead of the traditional mashed potatoes.

You’ll need:

1 lb. lean ground beef (can use regular, just drain fat after cooking)

1 bag frozen mix vegetables

1 small jar brown gravy

1 small can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup

1/2 bag of tator-tot rounds

1-2 cups of reduced fat shredded cheese

seasonings of your choice for meat and filling mixture

Cooking:

Cook the tator rounds as per instructions on the bag. While these are in the oven, you can brown the beef and season to your liking.

2. Next, add your mixed vegetables, brown gravy, & cream of mushroom soup. Season and stir to mix. (I used a sprinkling of garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, & pepper) Remove from heat.

3. Place the beef mixture in a casserole dish & top with the tator rounds.

4. Add 1-2 cups of cheese, depending on your liking. (I used about 2 cups)

5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 min. or until cheese is melted. Dig in and enjoy!

I hope your family enjoys this as much as we did! Thanks for stopping by!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

My Family Dinner Favorites: Slow Cooker Shredded Salsa Verde Chicken

May 25, 2017July 11, 2018 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Hey guys, today I’m sharing the easiest crock pot recipe you’ll ever need! It’s slow cooker Salsa Verde Chicken.

This recipe is simple with only two ingredients…that’s right! Two!

Start by adding 3 frozen chicken breast to your crock pot. *(This recipe is for a family of 4 and you can tailor it to your needs adding more chicken and sauce if need be.)

2. Add seasonings of your choice. I used a little salt, black pepper, onion powder, and cumin.

3. Pour about 1.5-2 cups of Salsa Verde over the top and let cook on high for about 4 hours, or on low for 8.

4. After the cooking time, pull the chicken breast out and shred. Add the meat back to the sauce and your ready to eat.

Serve over steamed rice & black beans, then add shredded cheese, lettuce, and pico for a DIY burrito style bowl.

Hope you enjoy this recipe and thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

My Family Dinner Favorites: One Pan Cheesy Pasta Skillet

April 21, 2017July 11, 2018 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Friday is here and it’s a beautiful day! Today I’m sharing this one pan, cheesy pasta skillet recipe. It’s so quick and easy, and you only need a few ingredients. This is one of my quick, go-to meals on game nights.

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground beef (can sub lean turkey) *seasoning to taste

1 jar red pasta sauce of your choice (I used Classico four cheese red sauce)

1/2 box uncooked rotini pasta (about 2 cups dry) (can sub a similar shaped pasta) *I used garden vegetable rotini.

3/4 cup low moisture, part skim, shredded mozzarella cheese

To Make:

You’ll need to brown and season the meat to your liking. While browning the meat, boil the pasta according to the package directions. (I like to cook these at the same time so your pasta is ready to go as soon as the meat is done).

After the meat is browned, set your cook temp to low and add your cooked, drained pasta.

Now, add your pasta sauce and stir together to mix.

After it’s all mixed up you can turn the burner off and sprinkle your cheese on top. Pop a lid on for a few minutes and let the cheese melt. Once it’s all melted, your ready to serve.

To complete your meal, add a side of steamed veggies or a leafy green salad.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! It’s a weeknight staple in our home.

Thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

The Best Banana Bread Ever

April 5, 2017April 5, 2017 The Dimestore Gypsy1 Comment

Hey guys…happy Wednesday! I always buy tons of bananas to snack on and we don’t always get to them fast enough. They start to ripen too quickly on the counter and then I’m over here searching for a recipe to get rid of them without having to trash them. I think I secretly do that just so I can make banana bread. lol!

Today I’m sharing this delicious Banana Bread recipe I found on cookinglight.com. I’ve tried quit a few recipes before and OMG, let me tell ya…this one is my fave! It’s so moist and full of flavor.

You’ll need a few staple ingredients from your pantry and one you may not use so much when baking…plain yogurt! That’s what makes this bread so moist.

I followed this recipe exactly, with the addition of 1/4 cup of chopped pecans right before I poured the mix into my baking pan.

If you have a few ripe bananas on your counter or just want to try this loaf, I would definitely recommend you try this recipe out. You won’t be disappointed!

Happy baking,

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Holidays · Recipes

St. Patrick’s Day Rice Crispy Treats

March 17, 2017September 22, 2017 The Dimestore Gypsy3 Comments

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Are you wearing your green? I am!

I don’t really decorate for this holiday but I love to make a green dish or treat in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. This year I made green rice crispy treats! They’re super fun, easy to make, and a hit with the kids.

What makes these so fun is the green color you get from adding food coloring to the mix! Here’s the classic “Rice Crispy Treat” recipe I used. After the marshmallows are melted, add a few drops of green food coloring to the mix (you can use the liquid or the gel coloring). Be sure to stir it well, then continue with the rest of the instructions. After I smoothed the mix out in my 13 x 9 , I sprinkled a little green colored sprinkles on the top for some sparkle!

I hope you enjoy this simple, fun treat!

~The Dimestore Gypsy

Recipes

Quick & Easy Weeknight Chicken Fajita Tacos

March 7, 2017March 15, 2017 The Dimestore GypsyLeave a comment

Last night I was totally stumped on what to cook for dinner. Does that ever happen to you? Well if it does, you should definitely try this recipe out! It comes together in about 10 minutes and tastes so good. It’s perfect for those late nights when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen or just needing a quick fix.

For this recipe, you’ll need:

1 green bell pepper (sliced in 1/4 strips)

1/2 white onion (sliced in 1/4 strips)

1 half bag of fully cooked, frozen diced chicken breast

8 tortillas

(seasonings of your choice)

*serves 4

kroger.com

Cooking Directions:

Place about half the bag of chicken and 1 tbsp. of water in a microwave safe dish. Cover and heat for 3-4 minutes.
While the chicken is warming, slice your veggies and add to a large frying pan with 1-2 tbsp. of olive oil.
Stir-fry the veggies on high heat until the onion is opaque, about 5 min.
Now add your chicken right to the pan and season with what you like. ( I used a sprinkling of each: salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin)
Stir-fry the chicken for just a few minutes to brown, about 2-3 min.

There you go…just warm your tortillas and serve! Add a side of rice for a complete meal.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did. Let me know if you decide to try it. I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading,

~The Dimestore Gypsy