• Blog Posts,  Happy Little Chefs,  Main Dishes,  Recipes

    Simple and Delicious Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

    Like most moms, I am always looking for ways to get more veggies into the kiddos. This is an awesome recipe to get some sweet potatoes into them. It uses their absolute favorite food vehicle, Mac and cheese. Which they could live on breakfast, lunch and dinner if I let them. This recipe comes together super quickly and easily and my girls gobbled it up. It was also yummy enough that I would also eat it any day of the week! The kids can make this one with you or for the little bit older ones, they can make this for you. We do the sweet potato in the microwave, so just be…

  • Blog Posts,  Entertaining Tips and Tricks,  Main Dishes,  Recipes,  Side Dishes

    White Bean Ragout

    I absolutely love Fall food and flavors for so many reasons. The biggest reason is though that they are so bold and hearty and stew and braise and simmer for hours. This creates amazing complex flavors in so many ways. It was a rainy chilly day here in Chicago land and so it was the perfect day for some hearty, bold flavors and this white bean ragout was the absolute perfect thing. You can pair this with meats, sausage would be amazing with this. I paired it with some perfect filets of Chilean Sea Bass. The recipe for the Chilean Sea Bass is below and it was a match made in heaven. To…

  • Blog Posts,  Main Dishes,  Recipes

    Summer Seafood

    So, here is Illinois, we are obviously land locked. However, that does not mean that we cannot have and make some amazing seafood! We are so lucky today to be able to get wonderful, fresh seafood anywhere in the country. Now that the weather is warming up it is awesome to eat lighter and fresher than ever! Seafood is a great way to do that. Also, right now, you may not be able to get to your Summer vacation because of what is happening in the world. It’s ok, you can bring the sea and the seafood to your backyard! These are three of my favorite Summer seafood dishes. The first one is…

  • Blog Posts,  Main Dishes,  Recipes

    Beef and Pepper Stir Fry

    I love Chinese take out and this was like we ordered Chinese in!! You will not miss the delivery when you make this! It is so simple and takes just like your favorite! I used the little sweet bell peppers in this dish, but you can use the regular sized bell peppers as well. Whatever you have on hand or can grab at the store. Just use slightly less if you use the large ones. I love the addition of the other veggies her as they add to the flavor and cut through the sauce nicely. I served this with plain white rice and crispy rice noodles and it was awesome. You can…

  • Blog Posts,  Happy Little Chefs,  Main Dishes,  Recipes,  Sauces

    Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

    We go to a lot of big Italian family parties, (well, pre-Covid we did)! These parties are for baptisms, first birthdays, weddings, baby showers… you know, the BIG events! Being that we are a BIG Italian family we usually have some sort of pasta course at these events. More often than not, it will be vodka sauce, which I love!! My hubs always just wants marinara.. but the girls have grown to really enjoy the vodka sauce,(alcohol cooks out!!)! I normally don’t make other sauces at home because my the hubby doesn’t like the cream sauces. Well, about a month ago we celebrated our wedding anniversary and my mom sent us dinner in…

  • Blog Posts,  Happy Little Chefs,  Main Dishes,  Recipes

    Donut Holes

    I have made a bunch of different recipes/versions of donut hole between work and home. This was by far the simplest and quickest recipe I have ever made. They were also delicious! The girls loved making them with me and loved eating them even more!! Donuts or Donut Holes?? I love me an amazing, like artisan style donut that I can enjoy slowly with a great cup of coffee or hot tea. There are specialty donut shops all over the city of Chicago and suburbs with some incredible artisan donuts!! We are spolied with being able to get a great donut!! I will say though, for the kiddos and for the “everyday” in…

  • Blog Posts,  Main Dishes,  Recipes

    Shredded Chicken Tacos

    If you don’t like spicy, but you want great flavored chicken tacos… THIS RECIPE IS FOR YOU!! I came up with this recipe because my husband likes everything very plain. I am a trained chef and don’t do plain!! This is a great way to make super simple, but super flavorful chicken for tacos. What I even love more about this is that you can marinate it the night before or the same day. It needs anywhere from 1 hour to overnight to get the flavor. You can roast it off early in the day when you have time and shred it up and then just reheat it in the cooking liquid! You…

  • Blog Posts,  Main Dishes,  Recipes

    Weeknight Chicken Dinner

    This is the easiest, most delicious, one-pot wonder that I make. The whole family loves it and it is great for a weeknight meal or a fast warm weather weekend meal. You do it all in one skillet and it is a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies. Hidden Veggies- Always a good idea Kids for the most part do not willingly just eat their veggies, even if they like them. They want to challenge you, push the envelope and test where they can. So, this dish is an awesome way to get them to eat carrots, onions and broccoli!! All in one dish! My girls both love this…

  • Blog Posts,  Happy Little Chefs,  Main Dishes,  Recipes

    Nutella Stuffed Croissant French Toast

    Are you looking for a quick and easy breakfast recipe that can be made the night before? If so, this is it. We are all busy, even in times of quarantine. We still have the kids, the house and everything else to take care of and keep us running around. The best way to make a delicious and comforting breakfast is to make it before you go to bed the night before. Why French Toast Casseroles? These are super simple, feed your whole family and can be made ahead. What can be wrong with made ahead, ummm… nothing! This will save you time in the morning and get an amazing breakfast on the…

  • Main Dishes,  Recipes,  Side Dishes

    Shrimp Scampi

    This recipe is classic and delicious. You can pair it with steak, put it over pasta or eat it on its own. Any way you do it, you cannot go wrong! Chef’s Tip- Always buy your shrimp and seafood from a reputable vendor. Always clean your shrimp well by peeling and devaining them and then run them under cold water to make sure all the yuck is out. This is a classic dish that is just amazing over steak, pasta or even on its own.