Family Dinner Revival: Making dinner time meaningful

Ingredients: 2 jars of your favorite pasta sauce (I used tomato basil from Sprouts!) 1 lb. lean hamburger or italian sausage 1 container ricotta cheese 1/2 container (or full) of cottage cheese 1-2 cups mozarella 1 box lasagna noodles (I used gluten free/no pre cook necessary kind!) Italian spices Salt Parmesean if on hand Instructions: Meat sauce: Cook the hamburger, salting to taste and add the 2 jars of sauce Cheese combo: In separate bowl, mix the cottage cheese and ricotta, blending til smooth Place a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish Place 3-4 large lasagna noodles (not letting them overlap!) on top of the meat sauce Spoon out the cheese combo on top of the noodles Place a layer of the meat sauce on top of the cheese combo Add 3-4 more lasagna noodles Another cheese layer on top And finally the rest of the meat sauce Sprinkle with Mozarella  and parmesean (optional) on top of everything and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degree...

Everyone has their own spin on this delicious dish....here is my simple, quick and healthy version!  I have a picky eater who doesn't like tomatoes (or sauce for that matter😔) but the rest of the boys (especially my hubby!) GOBBLED it up!: Instant pot chicken spaghetti: Chicken: 1)  Grab your instant pot 2)  Throw in 6-7 small chicken tenderloins or 4 larger chicken breasts (less chicken depending on how much you like in your sauce). 3)  Add 1 cup favorite chicken broth 4)  Add salt (you can go easy here if you add salt to the actual sauce too) 5)  Close lid and set to High Pressure for 25-30 min with a Natural Release     ( you want the chicken to be tender and cooked enough to shred easily) 6)  Once done, shred chicken and leave some juices in (depending on how thick you want the sauce...mine was a little thinner so it could stretch farther) 7)  Add your favorite jar of spaghetti sauce (my was a nice chunky red sauc...

              I have a confession to make.. I love watching cooking shows while I walk or jog on the treadmill! Seems like a funny combo but it's usually the only time in my day I have for TV watching and I LOVE learning how to cook new things so it's a double win to get my workout in AND learn a good skilll! It's a balancing act isn't it?? I believe in GOOD FOOD to bring people together around the dinner table I believe in NUTRITION I believe in staying ACTIVE physically I ALSO believe in GOOD DESSERTS! And giving our bodies enough REST after physical exertion I believe in BALANCE in our lives concerning food and health I have counseled enough people to see a trend with feeling like nutrition has to be an ALL yummy or NONE yummy type of mentality.  Not so.  You really can learn to maintain a healthy balance of things that are tasty to you and things that are nutritionally NEEDFUL for your body.  You can have your ...

My good friend introduced me to this word and I'm SO glad because it's great to know there's a word associated with this beautiful tradition Definition:  The time spent around the table after lunch or dinner, talking to the people you shared  the meal  with; time to  digest  and  savor  both food and friendship This is how I picture "Sobremesa": PC: thespruce.com It is literally my FAVORITE time of the day!  I work hard on getting SOME sort of meal on the table (even if it is not the fanciest:) to have these little (or big) conversations during and after dinner.  My boys are at a stage where they like to talk about Pokemon or Dude perfect shots or superhero powers they wish they had.  Sometimes its not the most interesting topics they are talking about but my husband and I listen in hopes that they listen to us too when we share something at the dinner table.  My dream is that I'm training them NOW to learn how to sit ...