Lemon Cilantro Chicken Skewers

This was a super easy and delicious dinner we had with brown rice and garden green beans. The kids ate it all! YAY!
I adapted the recipe a little bit from here. Her pictures are better too, so check it out.

I didn't grill mine, I just put them on a sheet pan with foil and broiled them for a few minutes on each side. I also just used about 6 chicken tenders for 4 of us.

We made it again yesterday and had friends over and they said they loved the chicken (and 1 of them isn't much of a meat eater).

Pesto Chicken Stuffed Shells

Another new recipe find that my family really enjoyed it. The pasta was a bit crunchy, but we are going to try to fix that.

1 pkg. jumbo pasta shells

8 oz. cream cheese

1 c. parmesan (freshly grated works best) + 1/4 c. for topping

1/4 c. pesto

2 c. shredded cooked chicken

1 tsp. garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil and prepare pasta shells as directed on package. Drain pasta and set aside.

In a bowl combine the rest of ingredients (except 1/4 cheese for topping). Fill the pasta shells with the mixture (about a tablespoon each shell) and place in a baking dish. Sprinkle the cheese on top.

Bake for about 30 minutes. It says uncovered, but that made ours crunchy, so next time I am gonna try to cover it and see what it does.

*I don't really like pesto and I really liked this dish. I, of course, changed it slightly to meet my family's needs. I used low fat cottage cheese and parmesan cheese and only used real shredded parmesan on top.

Mini Lasagna Cups

No one has posted in a while. I found this recipe here and it was a huge hit so I thought i would share.

Mini Lasagna Cups

1/2 ground meat (beef, turkey, sausage)

2 c. spaghetti sauce

1 1/2 - 2 c. cottage cheese

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

24 wonton wrappers

1 c. Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brown meat in a skillet and drain. Add spaghetti sauce to meat and stir to combine.

In a bowl combine cottage cheese with salt and pepper.

Coat a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray and arrange a wonton wrapper in each cup. Take 1/2 the cottage cheese mixture and divide it among the cups (1-2 tsp.). Top with half the meat mixture (again 1-2 tsp.) and sprinkle some mozzarella on top of that. Place another wonton wrapper over the cheese and repeat the layers cottage cheese, meat mixture, top with cheese.

Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the wonton wrappers are golden. Cool in muffin tin for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps them keep their shape.

Makes 12 mini lasagnas or 3 servings.

*The recipe called for ricotta but since it is too pricey I tried cottage cheese and it worked. Also, I used Hunt's spaghetti sauce and eliminated the browning meat step. I will definitely be using this recipe again.

Easter Cookies

This week my children have Spring Break. It is the perfect time to focus on the last week in our Savior's life. (I hope to share what we do on my blog.) I found this recipe when I was searching for ideas and I thought it was a great idea. Though I have never made it before I wanted to share it in time for Easter. Those with young children I thought of especially.

To be made the evening before Easter

• 1cup whole pecans
• 1tsp vinegar
• 3 egg whites
• pinch salt
• 1 cup sugar
• zipper baggie
• wooden spoon
• tape
• Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important, don't wait till you're half done with the recipe!)

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was Beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.

Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.

Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli

I finally found a homemade alfredo sauce I like! Hooray! Find it at Our Best Bites here. This is a quick meal and so good! A pasta of your choice, steam some broccoli, and pour on the white cheese sauce.

 Does anyone else want to  post their dinner sometime? Please?  :-)