Drop Off Meal Gifts | New Babies

There seems to have been an uptick in new babies around our world lately.  I always jump at the opportunity to bring someone dinner that has a new baby at home.  It is so fun to put together a gift meal for someone, knowing/hoping that it will be just the thing to make their day go a little easier.  Of course, it doesn't have to be a new baby, it could be any reason - a kitchen under construction, a recent move, a loss, an elderly neighbor, teachers or just someone that needs a lift.



There are many components that need to work for it to be successful.  I follow these rules :

Freezer Freindly : I love to stock someone else's freezer, because I love stocking my own.  I think it is really utilized by most.  I always let them know that they can throw it in the freezer if they already have dinner plans that night.

Single Portion Options : When you are a new mom at home, being able to eat lunch with a fork from the refrigerator is nice.  I make sure it is an easy thing to make/reheat in individual portions.


Assembly Required :  I'm not a big fan of casseroles... I'm not really sure what is in it and they usually aren't that healthy or light.  I love meals that can be put together and customized (build your own tacos that can also become a salad or a bowl... or nachos, for example).

Dessert : Of course, don't forget dessert!

Wrapping Paper, Ribbons & Tags, here.

Spaghetti & Meatballs Gift 

Since our favorite comfort meal around here is Spaghetti & Meatballs, this is often my go-to meal to give.  I think it works because they can freeze the meatballs and just get them out as needed (like we do at home).  If they are going light on the gluten, they can do meatballs and sauce with a salad.  If they are doing no meat, they can do a salad and pasta with red sauce.  Lots of combinations to suit a hungry, diverse family.

I included :

• Meatballs : (about 8 so they have extra to freeze), I put them in a large Plastic Container
• Tomato Sauce : (I made one batch and split it into two medium containers, one to eat, one to freeze)
• Spaghetti : Precooked.  I want to make sure she can easily make it for herself without turning on the stove.  Not freezable, but that's ok.
• Salad : Always a good idea to include something fresh.  This also makes a good light lunch option, too.
• Homemade Vinaigrette : Always better than the bottle.  I made it right in the small container and shook it up.  I'll share recipe in a separate post. 
• Baguette
• Salted Caramel Brownies packaged in a Large Cello Bag

I labeled everything with a sharpie so they would know what's inside.

In the cooler months, I turn to Braised Beef & Vegetable Stew.  During the summer, I like to give Tessa's Tacos (braised brown sugar beef) + Guac, Pico and Mango Slaw.

I used all of my cute To-Go Packaging to make it look like it was just picked up from a cute bistro down the street.

Supplies Used :

Kraft To-Go Boxes (with condiment containers included)

Plastic Kitchen Containers

Baking Basket (for Brownies)

Wrapping Paper, Ribbons & Tags

Tote Bag (I used a brown Kraft bag, but a tote back makes a really nice secondary gift)

Shop all Kitchen Essentials, here >

Goat Cheese Stuffed Lemon Chicken & Vegetables | Sheet Pan Supper

 

I love this system for weeknight dinners.  This dinner took me 5 minutes to prepare - I sliced the potatoes and radishes in half, then I put some goat cheese under the skin of the chicken.  I drizzled everything with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of salt.  It went in the oven at 400 for 30 minutes (except for the asparagus, I actually took it off before baking and put it back in for the last 10 minutes so it didn't get burnt to a crisp).  While it cooked, I cleaned up the cutting board, unloaded the dishwasher, put the groceries away and set the table.  All of this started at 5:30 immediately after we'd gone to the grocery store.  By 6:00 dinner was ready, the kitchen had already been cleaned up (during the 30 min cook time) and Mike walked in the door for dinner.

I used two Large Baking Sheets ($10) with Parchment Paper ($10) you can find in my store, here >

This isn't the dinner anyone would request for their birthday, and it is definitely on the list of "lighter" dinners I make, but it is very yummy.  Mike LOVED this dinner.  He is always in the market for fresher, healthier, and simpler dinners without so many sauces and seasonings.  The goat cheese cooked under the skin of the chicken is just enough of an indulgence to make it satisfying.  I actually prepared two identical pans (4 chicken breasts) and baked them at the same time so we had enough for lunch leftovers the next day.    

Goat Cheese Stuffed Lemon Chicken & Vegetables on a Sheet Pan

2-4 chicken breasts, bone-in skin on
goat cheese
asparagus*
colorful radishes
small or fingerling potatoes
green onions
olive oil
lemon
sea salt
3 tablespoons of butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line Large Baking Sheets with Parchment Paper ($10),  Place chicken breasts on the pan, place a generous slice of goat cheese underneath the skin of each.  Slice potatoes in half.  Trim asparagus ends.  Slice green onions in half, slice radishes in half.  Arrange all on baking sheet - except asparagus.  I put the asparagus on for the last ten minutes of baking so it doesn't get burnt to a crisp.  Drizzle with olive oil, squeeze lemon and sprinkle salt all over the entire pan.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Add asparagus and bake all until chicken is 145 degrees.  Remove from oven.  Place another tablespoon of butter on each chicken breast.  Let rest for 5 minutes, then serve.  Pour juices out of pan and pour onto chicken and potatoes on plates.

I love a colorful dinner!  Emma loved these radishes - when roasted they tasted like carrots and obviously the color palette is amazing.

Sorry, closeup photos of raw chicken isn't always the best, but I wanted to show you how easy it is to slide a slice of goat cheese under the skin of a bone-in, skin-on chicken breast.

 Are you interested in more sheet pan dinner ideas?  I love that minimal dishes/pots/pans are required and that cleanup is so simple.  It is also a fun challenge to see what I can come up with on just a sheet pan!

Chicken Piccata with Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes & Angel Hair

Chicken Piccata with Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes & Angel Hair

We have this for dinner probably about once a week - one of everyone's favorites.  It is one of my very favorites because it takes 20 minutes to make (seriously - I timed myself!) and everyone in our family loves it.  It is fairly healthy with lots of spinach, chicken and tomatoes and not too much pasta.  It also feels light, but still filling and very flavorful.  I love that I can stop by the store and have this on the table so quickly and everyone is excited about dinner.

I haven't done a new dinner recipe in a while - a really long time.  I think I've fallen into the same trap of most moms... feeding people every single day.  Emma's tastes are simpler than ours, and though she is a fairly good eater, she doesn't want to try something new every night and, frankly, neither do I.  We take comfort in our favorites - pasta, tacos, burgers, roasted chicken, soup, etc.  So, when I realized this "favorite" of ours wasn't on the blog, I thought it was a good one to add.

I've resolved not to cook quite as much this year - ha!  We eat at home probably 5-6 night a week, which is a lot.  And while I still love cooking, I find myself a burnt out when I have extra time to make something fun, because I've spent the entire week making basic simple kid-friendly dinners.  My goal is to do more like 4 nights a week at home, 1 night easy takeout (pizza, sushi...) and two nights out.  

I would say I'm also going to "resolve" to do more recipe posts, but no promises ; )   It is always my intention, but creating new products for the store has become my new job (instead of writing blog posts), and after working all day, I don't always want to share what we have for dinner.  Like you, I want to turn off "work" and just enjoy family time.  I do miss writing and sharing our days here.  I found it therapeutic, almost, to create this little utopia of living well.  Emma has become very interested in baking lately and has really started to experiment in the kitchen.  I'm not talking cake mixes and decorating cupcakes, but things like pate a choux and sponge cakes thanks to our new favorite show, The British Baking Show.  So, you can look forward to new inspiration from that : )

With all of that said, the store and the School House has become so much more streamlined than it has been in the past.  My helpers are so good at taking responsibility off of my shoulders that I'm finding myself with more free time, so I do hope to be here more often to share.     I also have big garden plans I'm already working on for this spring.  The best part of being a gardener is dreaming and planning in the winter!

Chicken Piccata with Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes & Angel Hair

4 chicken breasts (about 1 medium per person)
Garlic Salt
2/3 pounds of angel hair pasta
Sea Salt
3 tablespoons of olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup of capers
1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
5 oz box of baby spinach
6 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of cream



Start a pot of salted water to boil.  When water boils, add pasta and cook for 2-3 minutes, then strain and give a quick rinse with cold water.*

*We've all been taught to not rinse pasta lately and to put it directly into the sauce, so it can absorb the sauce and flavor.   However, I've learned that with this super light sauce, it seems to all disappear into the pasta and then there is nothing to enjoy with the chicken.  So, when I started rinsing with cold water, this recipe became so much better, but do what you want : )



Butterfly the chicken breasts by slicing them down the side, leaving the center intact.  Our grocery store does this for me.

Generously sprinkle garlic salt on one both sides of the chicken breasts.  In a saute pan, heat the olive oil.  After about 1 minute, add the chicken.  Cook on medium for about 6-8 minutes on each side, or until they are cooked all the way through.





Add the butter, cream and lemon juice the the saute pan.  Add the spinach, tomatoes and capers.



Toss everything together until the spinach cooks and wilts down - it can be easier to take the chicken out during this part if your pan is too full.  



Add the pasta and toss it all together, making sure the pasta gets reheated from the sauce.  Taste for seasoning - add more butter or lemon, if needed.

Summer Refrigerator Food | Pasta Salad, Lemon Chicken, Cucumber Salad

At some point over the last few weeks, Spring completely and abruptly merged into Summer.  It is hot here.  Hot!  There is nothing I detest more than super hot days than cooking in a hot kitchen on super hot days.

For this week, I'm planning to stock our refrigerator with cool, flavorful and simple things that we can easily turn into lunch or dinner.  Its our favorite way to eat during the summer.  I usually marinade something for the grill like chicken, steak or shrimp, then we make up the rest of the meal with refrigerator favorites.

See all of the my Summer Inspiration Posts & Recipes, here >

Here are some of the recipes I'll be whipping up this week to keep in the fridge : 

Chicken Salad, recipe here >

Emma LOVES chicken salad, so I usually make a big at the beginning of the week for our lunches.  She takes it in a small kitchen container to eat with ritz crackers and I usually have mine with a half of an avocado or as a sandwich.  

Lemon & Squash Orzo Salad >

Roasted Lemon & Thyme Chicken

This works hot out of the oven as a comforting supper, or kept in the fridge for slicing and putting on top of or with anything.

Green Pasta Salad

Super flavorful, great with sliced grilled steak or shrimp.

The BEST Couscous

OMG, this is so good.  Addicting!  And pretty healthy for you.

Classic Cucumber Pasta Salad

Cool, crunchy, fresh.  This is a family favorite and so good with anything from the grill.

Panzanella

I'll wait until the tomatoes are really good to make this, but OH MY, I'm ready for it.

See all of the my Summer Inspiration Posts & Recipes, here >

Family Dinner Goals : This Week's Menu & Forcing Spring Bulbs Inside

Happy Monday : )  It feels like a Monday - in the best way.  It is slightly warmer than usual outside (but getting colder by the minute), grey and misting.  The warm, wet weather over the weekend made it feel like Spring should be just around the corner, but I know it isn't.  In the meantime, I am bringing some spring inside.  I finally got all of my paper whites cleaned out over the weekend - they were definitely on their last leg.  I replaced them with some spring bulbs.  I so enjoy growing something inside during the holidays months (paper whites and amaryllis), that I like to keep it going until spring.

These, on our dining table, are muscari.  On our baking counter I have a large urn planter filled with daffodils and a small terra-cotta planter with tulips.   I have a couple of more terra-cotta pots on my office bench with more tulips.

Emma and I also cleaned out my dead boxwoods in the windowboxes (DIY link) over the weekend (insert eyeroll).  I did it again.  I did not water properly through the fall and did not plant them in the ground before winter and now they are dead.  Again!  Two years in a row.  Twelve small boxwoods, gone.  Ugh!  I'm going to install a watering system to the boxes as soon as it thaws this spring.

Instead of boxwoods this year, we filled our window box planters with tulip and daffodil bulbs.  All of these bulbs, that we're forcing inside and in the windowboxes, have been chilling in our garage for the last two months.  As in, I bought them to plant in the yard this fall, never got around to it, so they've been in the garage - cold and dark.  Bulbs require 6 weeks of dark, cold space before they'll be ready to bloom.  

And on a fun note, and completely uncharacteristic of me, Emma and I picked a crazy assortment of every different type of tulip and daffodil bulbs.  So, we'll be surprised when they bloom - she's excited to see what they are!  We should have lots of different colors, shapes and varieties.   Normally, I would have picked a mass of the same, but I got a wild hair this year, I guess.   I'll transplant them into the ground after they bloom this spring, so I'm sure I'll sort them out when they go in their permanent places.

So, our family dinners will be around these bulbs for the next month or so.  I think they'll be a fun centerpiece and conversation piece each night as we watch them grow... and I think they'll be easy to keep moist, since we'll be staring at them at least once a day.  I'm going to guess that they will be watered by Emma's leftover water each night at dinner.

I like having seasonal, low-maintanance centerpieces on our dinner table.  It makes our family dinners feel like more of an occasion, without them feeling fancy or stuffy.  I love a casual, comfy table.  Here are some other easy centerpiece ideas :

Potted Herbs

Potted Violet (super low-maintanance)

Bowl of Oranges, Lemons or Cuties

Taper Candles (these are 6")

Forcing Bulbs Tips :

Chilled Bulbs : Buy chilled bulbs, or chill them yourself in a paper bag in a cold, dark spot.

Pea Gravel : I put a plastic container in the base of the pot (you want it to be able to hold water), then fill it with pea gravel.  Place the bottoms (where the roots are) of the bulbs in the gravel, then cover with moss.

Water : Add enough water to be just below the bottoms of the bulbs.  You don't want them to sit in water or they will rot.  You want to keep the water accessible for the roots to grow down and reach it.  The moist moss helps wake up the bulbs.

Sun : Place them in a sunny window and keep the water level just until the base of the bowl.  Really watering once a week or so it usually fine.

Alleluia, Mike is home all week!  For the last two months, he's been traveling a lot for work, usually 2-3 nights a week.  It feels like such a treat for him to be here for the entire week... which means I need to step up my dinner menu.  

Tonight, we're having pasta.  At least one night a week, I need a big bowl of pasta.  It is a rainy day, so today is the day.  This Penne All Vodka (plus shrimp) is a house favorite.  Lick your plate good and quick and easy.

I don't know why, but every January this comes into rotation.  It makes a ton, it reheats for easy lunches and dinners and is the perfect thing to make early in the week for busy nights.

Beef Drip Sandwiches

I can't get enough citrus lately.  I'm going to make this tomorrow during the day and have it ready to go after Emma's busy after school activities tomorrow night.  Yum, those roasted lemons....

Tessa's Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup

This is one of those comforting dinners that has a lighter, more springy feel.  The rosemary broth is out of this world.   More of a Sunday night supper recipe... on our docket for the weekend.

Rosemary Braised Pork

Family Dinner Goals | A New Series

Family Dinner Goals
No matter what time of year (beginning or otherwise), I am always looking for a way to make our family dinners easier, more interesting, healthier and more frequent.  Aren't we all?  
I'm going to start a new Family Dinner series on the blog.  Wish me luck sticking to it - ha!  Seriously, though, I'm so passionate about our family sitting down together 3-4 nights a week.  The ritual of sitting down to a family dinner is my favorite part of the day.  I know that lots of kids and busy schedules can get in the way, but we are in charge of our homes and our families.  The time we spend across the table from one another, talking about our days is so key for keeping a strong family connection.  So, I'm going to come up with some great ideas for making Family Dinners easier, give ideas on fun  kid friendly table settings and recipes.  
Last Fall, I wrote a lengthy post about our commitment to Family Dinners, here>

For family dinners to actually happen at our house, having lots of easy dinner ideas is key.  Sometimes our meals are labor intensive (if I'm in the mood to spend time in the kitchen), and sometimes they are out of the freezer (maybe soup or meatloaf).  There are so many ideas on my Dinner Planning Tablet that are easy to prepare in 30 minutes or less - Beef Stroganoff, Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled Lemon Chicken, Vegetable Soup, etc.

All of my recipes are included on my Dinner Tablet.  I sit down at the beginning of the week and schedule all of our meals from this list.  it helps remind me of things we haven't had for a while and helps me plan for some balance throughout the week (meat, fish, chicken, pasta, etc.). 

If cooking isn't your thing but you still want your family to experience family-style dinners, focus on the table instead.  The food really isn't all that important, anyway.  Set a pretty table with a simple glass of fresh flowers or lit candles, with folded napkins and placemats.  It is the sitting around a table all together for conversion that is what is important - with a frozen pizza in the middle.  Totally fine!!  A pretty setting always helps put everyone in the mood to relax and enjoy.

Here are some of the essentials that I depend on for Family Dinners in our home.

Check Napkins & Placemats >

Classic Hemstitch Cotton Linens >

Is there anything easier than lighting some candles?  Instant ambiance and instead "relax" setting.  We get out a new set of seasonally colored tapers every couple of weeks.  

Shop all of my Table Setting Essentials, here >