Browsing Tag

easy meal ideas

8 In food/ Recipes

Easy Pasta Primavera

Easy Pasta Primavera giant white bowl with tricolor pasta, vegetables and cheese on table

Who else love pasta? I crave pasta all year round and this Easy Pasta Primavera is light and packed with crisp vegetables so it’s perfect for spring and summer. I have a secret ingredient that makes this recipe super quick and easy to whip together. Scroll down to see what I use and for my Easy Pasta Primavera recipe.

Easy Pasta Primavera

Pasta primavera traditionally is pasta with a creamy sauce and crisp vegetables. I love this recipe because it’s a great way to use up all of those veggies that are in your fridge. You can also throw in some chicken or shrimp for some protein too!

My pasta primavera is super easy because I cheat! I use a wheel of Boursin Cheese to make that cream sauce and it’s packed full of flavor!

Here’s my recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 box pasta
  • Sliced fresh veggies – I used zucchini, squash, carrots, asparagus, red onion, peppers
  • Olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp chopped garlic
  • Boursin cheese (I used the garlic and herb)
  • Salt/pepper
  • Freshly grated parmesan

Directions:

1.) Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the pasta and cook until al dente.

2.) While the water boils and the pasta cooks, sautee the veggies in some olive oil and fresh garlic until tender.

pan of garden fresh veggies, sauteeing, zucchini, squash, asparagus, onions, carrots. Easy Pasta Primavera

3.) When the pasta is al dente, reserve some of the pasta water and set aside in a small pot, then drain the rest of the pasta.

4.) In a small saucepot, heat up the reserved pasta water and add a wheel of Boursin cheese, stirring until melted.

Boursin cheese garlic and herb pot with melted cheese for Easy Pasta Primavera melted boursin cheese

5.) Pour the veggies and drained pasta into the now empty pasta pot. Top with the melted boursin cheese, combining well. Season with salt, pepper and top with some fresh parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

 

Easy Pasta Primavera

 

3 In food/ Recipes

Back to School Meal Ideas

Back to school meal ideas

This post contains affiliate links

Back to School can be a hectic time with new routines, meetings, sports and activities. These are some of my favorite Back To School meal ideas that you can whip up in a flash. Scroll down to see some of my favorite recipes for breakfast, dinners and after school snacks. Click the links for recipes.

Breakfast

Sheet Pan Egg Sandwiches

sheet pan breakfast sandwiches

These are great for making ahead of time so that you have an easy breakfast for those busy mornings.

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
  • Prepare your egg mixture as you normally would like if you were going to make scrambled eggs. I use 10-12 eggs for my large sheet pan. I like to add in some chopped veggies like peppers, onions and spinach. You can add anything, even some chopped bacon or sausage.
  • Lightly spray a large baking pan with cooking spray.
  • Pour the egg mixture into the baking pan and bake in the oven, about 20-25 minutes.
  • While the eggs are baking, toast some English muffins.
  • Once the eggs are done, remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes.
  • Using a knife slice the the eggs into individual squares.
  • Serve each egg square in between two halves of english muffins and top with a slice of cheese.
  • Place each one separate in ziploc bags or wrap in foil.

Easy sheet pan breakfast sandwiches

Pancake Cereal

Mini pancakes served in a bowl with whipped cream, sprinkles, and fruit, what’s not to love?

Back to School Meal Ideas pancake cereal

After School Snacks/ Treats

Some of my favorites for after school snacks or a little afternoon pick me up.

Back To School Snack Mix

This is the perfect nosh of sweet and salty.

back to school snack mix in glass container

 

Banana bread

This banana bread is a favorite in our house! Perfect with a cup of coffee for mom or dad. Also can toast with some butter for a sweet breakfast.

Back To School Meal Ideas banana bread

 

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars

When you’ve got a craving for chocolate and peanut butter, these chocolate chip peanut butter bars will curb your hankering. Very rich, melty and gooey when out of the oven. Wash down with a glass of milk.

Back To School Meal Ideas Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars

Banana Split Apple Nachos

Back to school and fall time are synonymous with apples. Apple nachos are a great after school snack. And these banana split apple nachos are truly special!

Back To School Meal Ideas banana split apple nachos

Dinner

Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken

If you asked me the one dinner that everyone in our family eats, this is it! Honey mustard pretzel chicken tenders you can make in the air fryer or on a sheet pan. Serve over salad or with some roasted veggies and potatoes.

back to school meal ideas honey mustard pretzel chicken

Caprese pasta salad

This is great for a Meatless Monday or lighter option. I love the leftovers cold for lunch the next day!

Back To School Meal Ideas caprese pasta salad

Fall Sheet Pan Dinner

This dinner tastes like Thanksgiving but it’s ready in 30 minutes!!!

fall sheet pan dinner

Greek Turkey Meatball Bowls

Make in the air fryer and serve with some fresh veggies, tzatziki and feta.

Greek turkey meatball bowls

I love to see what you create! So if you happen to make any of these recipes, be sure to take a photo and tag me on Instagram @ourtiny_nest!

 

Some of my kitchen must haves:

kitchen aid kitchen must haves kitchen aid ceramic bowl

bakeware set beautiful by drew barrymore air fryer viral tik tok chopper

 

For more back to school ideas check out

My Back To School Basket

This fun back to school countdown

My back to school must haves

 

 

Pin for Later

Back to school meal ideas

Easy Sheetpan Breakfast Sandwiches

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1 In favorites/ food/ printables

Twenty of My Favorite Trader Joe’s finds

My Favorite Trader Joe's Finds and a free shopping printable

So if you’ve been following for awhile, you know that I am a huge fan of Trader Joe’s. I first became a fan when I was in college living in Boston and I could get a bottle of wine for $2. (I wish my local store sold the 2 Buck Chuck). As I’ve grown into an adult, I love the whole shopping experience there – from the minute you walk through the door being wooed with flowers, free samples, and their variety of seasonal items. I typically hit up my local TJ’s every other week to stock up on my favorites.

Below I am sharing 20 of my favorite Trader Joe’s finds. And be sure to scroll to the bottom and print out my shopping list that I’ve provided for you!

20 of My favorite Trader Joe’s finds

Trader Joe's mandarin orange chicken and vegetable fried rice

1.) Mandarin Orange Chicken – turns out, this is the most popular item at Trader Joe’s. I love it for an easy weeknight meal.

 

2.) Vegetable fried riced – I pair this with the mandarin orange chicken and some steamed broccoli for a healthier version of Chinese takeout and a quick weeknight meal.

Trader Joe's cauliflower gnocchi and chicken apple sausage

3.) Cauliflower gnocchi – another favorite for an easy weeknight meal. I saute this with some butter and throw in their chicken apple sausage for some protein.

 

4.) Chicken apple sausage – love this in the cauliflower gnocchi. My son also loves to wrap them wrapped in crescent roll dough for lunch.

Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

5.) Everything but the bagel seasoning – I recently just bought this for the time as I’ve been craving bagels with this pregnancy. For a healthier option that still curbs your bagel hankering, slice some cucumbers, top with cream cheese and sprinkle some EBTB seasoning! I also hear it’s great on avocado toast.

 

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

6.) Dark chocolate peanut butter cups – ummmm chocolate and peanut butter need I say more? I don’t buy these every time I go, but

 

7.) Spinach artichoke dip – I love having this in the house for anybody that stops in and I can serve it quick with some tortilla chips. I also like to spread it over chicken and bake in the oven for a yummy spinach artichoke chicken bake.

 

8.) Riced cauliflower – Whenever I’m trying to cut back on my carbs, we do riced cauliflower a few times a week. My favorite way to eat it is in a burrito bowl topped with a protein, cheese, salsa and guac. I love the fresh version in the produce section but they also have it frozen too!

 

Trader Joe's Zucchini Noodles

9.) Zucchini noodles – Another favorite carb free subsitute, we do zucchini noodles at least once a week served with marinara and turkey meatballs.

 

10.) Turkey meatballs – We usually make our own, but I love to have these in the house in case I forget to take the ground turkey out of the freezer 🙂

 

Trader Joe's vegan kale cashew and basil pesto

 

11.) Vegan kale cashew & basil pesto – What I love about the T.J.’s version is that it’s not oily compared to other pestos. I love to top it on their cauliflower pizza crust or sautee into some of their pasta and add some fresh veggies.

 

Trader Joe's baby spinach salad

 

12.) Baby spinach salad – baby spinach, cranberries, pecans, blue cheese and raspberry vinegarette ready to serve. I top it with their grilled chicken for an easy lunch to take to work.

 

Trader Joe's ready to serve grilled chicken

 

13.) Grilled chicken – this is so convenient. I love to have this in the house to make salads for work. I get about 3-4 salads out of it.

Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Chunky Guacamole

 

14.) Reduced guilt chunky guacamole – I never met a guac I didn’t like, but I love this one especially made with greek yogurt.

 

Trader Joe's Roasted Plaintain Chips and Joe Joe's

 

15.) Roasted plaintain chips – these are a huge family favorite in our house for when you want something crunchy.

 

16.) Joe Joe’s – These are Maxwell’s fave! He even named his Elf on the Shelf Joe Joe. When we pick up a box, it never fails, he has to open them and snack on some while we shop.

Trader Joe's Mini Hold the Cone

 

17.) Mini hold the cone – these are perfectly portioned little ice cream cones when you want a sweet treat but not over-do it. And they’re perfect for my toddler.

Trader Joe's Rose Water Facial Toner

 

18.) Rosewater facial spray toner – I find this to be pretty comparable to other well known brands. I love to apply it as soon as I get out of the shower before I apply my moisturizer.

 

Trader Joe's Tee Tree Tingle Shampoo and Conditioner

 

19.) Tea tree shampoo and conditioner – Made with peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus, this smells amazing and it gives your scalp a nice refreshing tingle too!

 

Trader Joe's flowers

 

20.) Flowers – I love their fresh flower selection! My favorites are their eucalyptus and hydrangeas but I also love their other seasonal blooms they have throughout the year. I also love their smaller potted plants like their succulents and lavender. They make perfect little hostess gifts.

 

What are some of your favorites?

Click here to download my free Trader Joe’s Shopping List printable

 

My Favorite Trader Joe's Finds and a free shopping printable