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No matter whether you need healthy shrimp pasta recipes for you and your sweetie or the whole family, you can rely on these two dishes. Not only are they swimming in luscious, creamy sauces, but they are a breeze to whip up! Garlic shrimp pasta will become your new go-to weeknight meal.

Garlicky Buttered Shrimp Pasta

This dish is as easy as boiling the fettuccine and shrimp. You can’t go wrong with a garlicky and buttery sauce. Some herbs add just the right touch of Italian flavor to this shrimp pasta!

Ingredients:

• fettuccine, 8 oz.
• medium shrimp (peeled and deveined), 1 lb.
• salt, to taste
• black pepper, to taste
• unsalted butter (divided), 8 T
• garlic (minced), 4 cloves
• dried oregano, ½ t
• crushed red pepper flakes, ½ t
• baby arugula, 2 c

• grated Parmesan, ¼ c
• fresh parsley (chopped), 2 T

Directions:

1. Boil salted water in a large cooking pot; cook fettuccine to desired doneness and drain.
2. Sprinkle salt and black pepper over the shrimp; reserve.
3. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the butter, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes over medium-high. Stirring frequently for about 1-2 minutes.
4. Continue to stir as you place the shrimp in the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes; remove shrimp and place in separate bowl.
5. Add the rest of the butter to the skillet and then add the pasta, arugula, and Parmesan. Cook for about 2 minutes to wilt the arugula, then add the shrimp.
6. Top with parsley and serve immediately.

Garlicky Creamy Tomato Shrimp Pasta

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Your grocery list already includes the ingredients needed for this shrimp pasta recipe. If you thought you had to spend hours in the kitchen to make your own tomato sauce, think again!

Ingredients:

• olive oil, 2 T
• shrimp (peeled and deveined), 1 lb.
• crushed red pepper, to taste
• paprika, to taste
• salt, to taste
• small onion (diced), 1
• garlic (minced), 4 cloves
• canned crushed tomatoes, 2 c
• water, ¼ c
• chicken bouillon, ½ cube
• basil, 1 T
• oregano, ¼ t
• heavy cream, ½ c
• penne, 8 oz.

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and shrimp. Cook over medium-high for about 3 minutes. Add crushed red pepper, paprika, and salt.
2. Place shrimp on a plate, reserve oil in skillet.
3. Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook over medium-high for about 2 minutes (onions should get soft.)
4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, water, and chicken bouillon cube, dissolve. Add basil and oregano, stir thoroughly, bring to a boil, and then lower to simmer. Let ingredients simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally while crushing tomatoes into a thick sauce. Thoroughly stir in the heavy cream and take skillet away from the heat.
5. Place the shrimp and penne into the skillet, combine thoroughly.
6. Garnish with crushed red pepper; serve.

Fall is here and that means many of us will be looking forward to staying indoors and eating good meals. Comfort foods are great, but why not give these salad ideas a try? Not only are they healthier, but they make the most of fall produce. These salad ideas for dinner are hearty, nutritious, and very delicious, so grab your shopping list and give them a try today!

Chicken, Pomegranate, and Goat Cheese Salad Combo

Salad ideas like this one can take a starring role on your dinner table! Chicken, cheese, and seasonal produce? What’s not to love?

Ingredients:

• Cooked chicken breast, 5 oz.
• raw baby spinach, 2 c
• goat cheese, 2/3 oz.
• pomegranate seeds, 2 T
• apple (sliced), ½
• kale sprouts, ¼ c
• balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions:

1. Add the spinach to a large bowl. Slice the chicken and arrange it on top of the spinach.
2. 
Garnish the salad with the pomegranate seeds and goat cheese (optional).
3. Add the kale sprouts and apple slices on top.
4. Pour the balsamic vinaigrette; serve immediately.

Awesomely Autumn Orange-Pecan Salad

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Adding pecans and autumnal lettuce makes for great salad ideas. This recipe provides a tangy twist to a great side dish.

Ingredients:

• Bibb or Boston lettuce (rinsed and torn), 3 heads>
• 
navel oranges (peeled and sliced), 2
• toasted pecans (chopped), ¾ c
• goat cheese (crumbled), 4 oz.
• orange juice, ¼ c
• white wine vinegar, 1 T
• shallot (minced), 1
• extra-virgin olive oil, 1 T
• salt, ½ t
• black pepper, ¼ t

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, oranges, pecans, and cheese (optional).
2. In a separate small bowl, combine orange juice, vinegar, shallot, oil, salt, and pepper; whisk. Pour dressing over the salad; toss thoroughly. Serve immediately.

Salad Ideas for Dinner – Starring Couscous!

For a globally-inspired meal, try this couscous delight. The combination of dried fruit and squash is a surefire hit!

Ingredients:

• couscous, 8 oz.
• olive oil, 1 T
• shallot (diced), 2 T
• 
fennel bulb (diced), 1 c
• butternut squash (peeled, seeded, and diced), 2 ½ c
• fresh sage (chopped), 3 T
• dried cranberries, ¾ c
• dried currants, ½ c
• apple juice, 1 ½ c (plus ¼ c cooked juice reserved)
• canola oil, ¼ c
• red wine vinegar, 3 T
• 
salt and pepper
• parsley (chopped), 1 T

Instructions:

1. In a medium pot, boil one cup of water. Add the couscous, lower heat to medium, and cook 8 minutes. Drain, transfer to bowl, and set aside.>
2. Heat large skillet over medium-high, add olive oil and shallot. Cook 1 minute, stirring. Add fennel, cook 5 minutes. Add squash, sage, cranberries, currants, and apple juice; cook 15 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; transfer to bowl of couscous (reserve ¼ cup of juice for dressing).
3. Thoroughly combine couscous and ingredients. Add reserved juice, oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley. Set couscous aside for 30 minutes; serve.

We all know that planning meals ahead of time can be a huge time-saver. Yet what about saving money, too? Even if you’re trying to be as frugal as possible, you can still save time and money while planning great weekly dinner ideas.

Foods and Recipes That go Further

It’s important to know which foods and recipes will really stretch your dollar. Just because an item is cheaper doesn’t mean it has to skimp on nutrition. Add these foods to your grocery list and cook up some delicious and satisfying dinner ideas for the week:

• Sweet potatoes
• Lentils
• Eggs
• Squash
• Beans
• Brown rice
• Mushrooms
• Tofu

These items work overtime and can play a starring role in so many great dishes. Poultry is another versatile ingredient.

Use Sales to Plan Dinner Ideas for the Week

Check out supermarket sales and create a meal game-plan accordingly. You will find certain items are cheaper in any given week. When shopping for fruits and veggies, always go for those that are in-season. There are also online resources that help you create a menu based on the ingredients you have, so go for the on-sale items and you’ll have plenty of weekly dinner ideas! Even breakfast and lunch can become opportunities to be creative and adventurous, so try exploring different types of cuisines!

Use up Those Ingredients

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Maybe you have a dozen eggs or loads of squash. It may be hard to use up all the ingredients in one recipe, so try incorporating them into other dishes rather than let them go to waste. When trying to make the most of your food, start with the largest meal and work your way to the smallest meal. A large breakfast may include 8 eggs, and then lunch could incorporate the remaining 4. Remember to shop for foods that form a substantial base for your dishes. Think chicken, potatoes, and spinach. These foods can be cooked multiple ways so you don’t get bored.

Set Yourself up for Success

Before you hit the supermarket, determine which meals you need to prepare for the week and which ingredients you need. There are apps (such as “Buy Me a Pie!”) that can help. Sometimes people like to shop around at different markets to find the most inexpensive products. However, be sure that the time and money you spend on travel doesn’t outweigh the benefits. Also, keep in mind that stores have peak shopping times, and you should not hit the supermarket on an empty stomach!

Waste Not, Want Not

Finally, it’s important to make use of all the food you buy. Store newer products in the back of the fridge or pantry so you use the older things first. Replant produce if you can. Every little bit helps, so use these tips to keep your wallet and your tummy full!

When planning a kid’s birthday party, you can’t forget the food. Rather than stress out over appealing to each child’s distinct taste, try these meal planning ideas that are sure to please. These tips will become the superstars of the food table, and they are made of items you already include on your grocery list. Just remember these main points to have a party menu the kids will love.

Meal planning ideas for a perfect party:

• Make sure your meal planning considers any dietary restrictions or allergies.
• Make health a priority.
• Keep it clean with no-stain food.
• Meal planning includes creating a schedule for make-ahead snacks.>
• Have your spouse or friend help you with the prep.

Now for the fun part! Here are some super-easy meal planning ideas that will excite your little guests.

Kids Kabobs

Treats on a stick are always more fun, and an excellent way to incorporate meal planning on a budget. Kids kabobs look pretty and they’re a blast to eat, plus you can really branch out and be creative. Make them with skewers, popsicle sticks, straws, whatever! Try using fruit for a healthy dessert.

Do-It-Yourself Dessert

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Meal planning doesn’t have to be boring. When it’s time for cake, change things up and have a cupcake or muffin decorating contest. Kids can use sprinkles, icing, and candies to dress up their mini sweet. Give them napkins or bibs (and an adult assistant) to help things stay clean!

Grilled Cheese Sliders

Kids love grilled cheese, so try sliders for meal planning on a budget. To make things easier, prep the sliders by buttering and toasting bread before the party. Then the kiddies can just add the cheese and bake them in the oven for a few minutes.

Sushi Rolls

Want meal planning ideas that look elaborate and unique? Try “sushi” rolls, which are actually made of deli meat and cheese. Just roll them up and dip them into a variety of sauces, such as mustard, soy sauce, or ranch dressing.

Veggies and Dip

This classic snack never fails to please. Kids can chomp on baby carrots, celery sticks, and cherry tomatoes. Put some peanut butter or hummus on the side for more nutrition and flavor.

Sweet and Sticky Apples

Bypass the stickiness and skewer apple slices for the kids. Then they can drizzle them with chocolate or caramel sauce. Yum!

Cheesy Mac

You can’t go wrong with mac and cheese. Use whole-wheat pasta and low-fat dairy for a fresh take on this staple.

As you can see, meal planning can be a quick and simple way to add flair and peace of mind to a children’s birthday party.

Can’t live without chocolate and need delicious easy dessert? Look no further! We have delicious desert recipes that are sure to please everyone!

Delicious easy desserts #1: Mousse, that requires practically no work!

Chocolate mousse is a favorite from our list of delicious easy desserts. It has a short shopping list and practically no prep work! Get ready for a great delicious dessert recipe!

Ingredients:

• 10 oz good-quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup caster sugar (granulated sugar placed in a blender for 5 minutes)
• 1 tablespoon good-quality cocoa powder, sifted
• 10 oz thick cream
• Grated chocolate, to serve
• Whipped cream, to serve

Directions:

1. Put the chocolate in a bowl and hold over a pan of simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water). Stir until melted. Set aside.
2. Add eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat until mixture has doubled in volume. Combine with melted chocolate and cocoa powder by folding in gently.
3. In a separate bowl, whip cream until thickened, don’t over-beat. Gently fold cream into chocolate mix.
4. Spoon into serving glasses and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Remove 15 minutes before serving and top with extra whipped and grated chocolate.

Tip: Try using martini glasses to make it fun and glamorous!

Delicious Dessert Recipes #2: Budino

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Budino is a crowd pleaser from our list of delicious easy desserts. It even has two of our all time favorite ingredients: chocolate and coffee. Yum!

Ingredients:

• 1 packet powdered gelatin
• 8 oz of dark chocolate
• 1/2 cup prepared strong black coffee
• 2 egg yolks
• 10 oz milk
• 7 oz thin cream, plus extra to serve
• 1/2 cup caster sugar (granulated sugar placed in a blender for 5 minutes)

Directions:

1. Place chocolate and coffee in a bowl. Place over a pan of simmering water. Let cool then whisk in egg yolks.
2. Place milk, cream and sugar in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Combine chocolate mix, milk and gelatin, whisk well.
4. Allow to cool, then pour into desired moulds. Refrigerate for 6 hours.
5. When you’re ready to serve, dip the base into warm water for a second then invert onto a serving plate.
6. Drizzle cream over the top and sprinkle chocolate shavings for added flare!

Delicious Dessert Recipes #3: Baileys truffles

Baileys truffles are always good, but the combination of dark and milk chocolate bumped this recipe to the top of our list of delicious dessert recipes!

Ingredients:

• 8 oz of good-quality dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 8 oz of good-quality milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1/3 cup thick cream
• 2 tablespoons Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur
• 1 container of chocolate sprinkles or chocolate powder or crushed nuts

Directions:

1. Combine both chocolates and cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan half-filled with simmering water (bowl shouldn’t touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon until mixture is smooth. Add the Baileys and place bowl in the fridge for 4 hours.
2. Place wax paper on your working surface. Roll 2 teaspoonfuls of the chocolate mixture into a ball. Once the ball if formed, roll either the chocolate sprinkles or powder or nuts to coat. Repeat.
3. Place in fridge until firm (1 hour). Then they are ready to serve.

Yields 4 servings @photo

Ingredients:

• white wine vinegar, 1/3 c
• honey, ¼ c
• yellow mustard seeds, 2 t
• celery seeds, ½ t
• salt, ½ t
• 
honeydew pieces (cubed or balled), 2 c
• 
English cucumber (peeled and diced), 1 c
• 
celery (finely chopped), 1 c
• seedless green grapes (halved), ½ c
• 
celery leaves (finely chopped), 2 T
• chives (finely chopped), 2 T
• butter lettuce leaves, handful (optional)

Instructions:

1. Stir together the honey, ¼ cup of water, mustard and celery seeds, and salt in a 1-quart pan. Heat over medium for 5 minutes, then bring to boil, stirring often. The liquid should reduce to ½ cup. Set aside.
2. Stir together the vinegar dressing, honeydew, cucumber, celery, and grapes in a salad bowl. Cover and store in the refrigerator 15 minutes to 1 hour, stir occasionally.
3. Add the celery leaves and chives. For an optional plate setting, use the butter lettuce leaves as a base. Top with the salad and serve.

Creating a good and healthy shopping list is something we all have in our mind, and this is why searching for the most popular cheese in America is indeed a great thing to do. Cheese is an important compound in any diet, and you do need to use it the best way you can in order to gain strength and maintain good body functions. But when it comes to actually finding the best cheese in the US, it can be a little hard to do so, and this is where we are coming in to help.

Mozzarella

This is the most popular cheese in America with a market share of around 22%. You might already know it as one of the main ingredients in pizza, and that’s what makes it so appealing in the first place, the fact that it’s a component of pizza, a favorite food in the US. It’s also very easy to integrate it in any food, which is a major plus.

Cheddar

Cheddar is yet another one of the most popular cheese in America list, with a market share of around 15. It’s used mainly in hamburgers but you can also find it in the local stores as a great ingredient to integrate into your own dishes, which is a very important thing.

Parmesan

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Parmesan is a very popular cheese in the US and the main reason behind that is that cooks usually integrate it in the prepared entrees. It’s a very good type of cheese with a great taste and interesting look, something that provides a wonderful result and a very appealing one as well.

Jack

Jack is definitely included in the list with the most popular cheese in America because not only does this have a market share of 9%, but it’s a included in most appetizers and it offers a great set of results because of that. It’s not that widely encountered as the other compounds here, and that’s what makes it so great and sought after.

Swiss

The Swiss cheese is suitable mostly for sandwiches but people are mostly using it in their own way in dishes, something that makes it a great addition to the daily diet of most American persons. This is the fifth most popular cheese in America.

These 5 definitely stand out mainly because of their large popularity and consumption in the US, and if you want to get the best results you should definitely take them into account and improve your diet the right way!

We love using pears for dessert, but why not dinner too? Savor the Asian flavor of pears by combining them with soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and ginger. This creates a thick sauce that pairs nicely with cooked chicken.

Yields 4 servings

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Ingredients:

• soy sauce, 2 T
• white vinegar, 2 T
• sugar, ¼ c
• 
ground ginger, 1 t
• 
boneless, skinless chicken, 4 6-oz. breasts
• 
kosher salt
• black pepper
• 
onion (cut into wedges), 1
• pears (sliced), 2
• dry white wine, 2 T
• orange (juice and zest), 1

Instructions:

1. In a large pan over medium heat, sauté the soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and ginger. Heat for 3 minutes so that sugar melts. If you are concerned about your salt intake, use low-sodium soy sauce.
2. Coat the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pan and cook each side for 3 minutes.
3. Stir in the onion, pears, wine, and orange juice and zest. Cover and simmer on low for 12-15 minutes. Chicken should be cooked thoroughly.
4. Plate chicken breasts and pears on 4 plates.
5. Continue heating the sauce so that it gets thick, 1-2 minutes more. Baste over chicken and serve.

Working moms have a lot of things on their plate, struggling to cook dinner shouldn’t be one of them. Think it’s impossible to cook real food after a long day at work? Think again! We’ve got great tips that will take the mystery out of family dinner menu planning and make groceries list simple.

3 Tips For Family Dinner Menu Ideas

• You only have to make a full dinner 2-3 nights out of the week! A full dinner includes a protein, vegetable, and soup /past / rice.
• One dish dinner night. Only make one thing for dinner! The simplest options are the best. Try homemade pizza, a casserole or subs for dinner. Everyone can make their own pizzas or subs, just add a salad to keep it healthy. If you make a casserole, make enough for two meals, the rest can be used for leftovers.
• Yummy leftovers or a family night out will round off your week nicely.

These family menu ideas will keep you from feeling overwhelmed after a long day.

Weekly Family Dinner Menu Shopping

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Keep your family dinner menu ideas simple! This will remove the aggravation of dealing with unfamiliar ingredients. Keep your menus and grocery lists simple! This is cooking, not rocket science, so make it easy for yourself and try these ideas:

• Proteins: poultry, fish, beef.
• Vegetables: lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, beans, string beans, onions, potatoes, corn.
• Fruits: stick to seasonal items.
• Herbs: dry spices and fresh ones for seasoning.
• Staples: eggs, bacon, bread, flour, pasta, rice, cheese, milk, yogurt.
• Premade: pizza crust, pizza sauce, etc.

Helpful Cooking Tips For A Mom On The Go

• Go big! When cooking full meals or casseroles, cook more than you need. These will be your leftovers throughout the week if your schedule gets hectic.
• Avoid the microwave. Reheating your food on the stove or in the oven will keep your food tasting fresh, hot and moist.
• Use beef/chicken broth when cooking stir fry, curries, etc. It is more flavorful than water.

These tips will make your family dinner menu a piece of cake. Remember to break it down, keep it simple and only make a full course dinner 2-3 times a week. If you make a mistake, don’t worry about. So what if you burn a pot of rice? Throw it out, make a joke and start over. Life isn’t perfect, so don’t be hard on yourself. By relaxing and taking the stress out of cooking, dinner will become bonding time for you and your family.