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Baked Pumpkin Pasta

Baked Pumpkin Pasta #WeekdaySupper


Baked Pumpkin Pasta from Alida's Kitchen

Baked Pumpkin Pasta is a quick, healthy pasta dish made with pumpkin, zucchini and ricotta cheese.  This simple comfort food is perfect for a weeknight dinner.    

I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again: Fall is my favorite time of year for cooking and baking.  Mainly because I love pumpkin recipes!  While I typically prefer to use pumpkin in baked goods, this Baked Pumpkin Pasta made for a delightful, easy and healthy weeknight dinner.  …

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S'mores Brownies | alidaskitchen.com

S’mores Brownies #SundaySupper

S'mores Brownies | alidaskitchen.com

What do you get when you cross a brownie with a s’more?  This easy recipe for S’mores Brownies!   

As Labor Day marks the unofficial end of Summer, I am looking forward to cooler temperatures, Halloween (!) and, of course, lots of pumpkin recipes.  While Fall baking is my absolute favorite, sometimes nothing hits the spot quite like a s’more.   I have made several s’more-inspired recipes, including muffins, blondies, Golden Graham’s bars, even a cool and creamy pie!  But these S’mores Brownies might be my favorite s’more-inspired treat.  The chocolate brownie base is the perfect vehicle for all of the yummy s’more toppings, plus they take only minutes to prepare….

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Chocolate Zucchini Bread | alidaskitchen.com

Chocolate Zucchini Bread | Bundt Cake

Chocolate Zucchini Bread is a moist, chocolaty bread made with zucchini and a delicious way to use up all of that zucchini taking over your garden! 

Chocolate Zucchini Bread | alidaskitchen.com

I love the entire season of summer produce, from the abundance of berries and herbs, to everything in between. However what I really look forward to is the end of summer produce.  Mainly…zucchini!   All summer long I compile zucchini recipes in anticipation of the great bounty of summer squash….

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Healthy Banana Mango Smoothie | alidaskitchen.com

Healthy Banana Mango Smoothie

 

Healthy Banana Mango Smoothie

This Healthy Banana Mango Smoothie is a thick, frosty, fruity smoothie with a protein boost from Greek yogurt.  I often add ground flaxseed for additional health benefits.   

Ever since I made my Diet Mixed Berry Smoothie recipe, I have been on a real smoothie kick.  While I have enjoyed coming up with several different recipes, I think this Healthy Banana Mango Smoothie recipe is my favorite.  When made with a perfectly frozen banana and chilled mango, this smoothie whips up to the consistency of soft serve ice cream….

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Biscoff Buttermilk Pancakes {Alida's Kitchen}

Biscoff Buttermilk Pancakes #BiscoffSpreadsLove

biscoff-buttermilk-pancakes-sqpm

Biscoff Buttermilk Pancakes are light and fluffy, whole wheat, buttermilk pancakes made using Biscoff Spread.  

I am excited to tell you about something that I recently discovered.  It’s made with all natural ingredients, is preservative-free, vegan, and nut free.  It’s Biscoff Spread, and it’s fabulous!  This sweet, creamy, decadent spread is perfect over toast, with apples slices, or simply grab a spoon and dig in!…

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Cocoa Crispy Sunbutter Bars {Alida's Kitchen}

Cocoa Crispy Sunbutter Bars #SundaySupper

Cocoa Crispy Sunbutter Bars {Alida's Kitchen} Cocoa Crispy Sunbutter Bars are easy, no-bake bars made nut-free with sunflower seed butter, and topped with a layer of semi-sweet chocolate. They are also gluten-free.  

With back-to-school just around the corner, we are starting to think about ideas for what to pack for school lunch.  Something nutritious, delicious and easy isn’t too much to ask, right?  A little variety might be nice too.  Fortunately, today I am joining the Sunday Supper Movement, and the theme is ‘lunch box.’  Several wonderful bloggers have come up with fantastic recipes and ideas to help solve the lunchbox dilemma.  These are recipes are helpful when packing your own lunch to bring to work!  You can find links to all of the wonderful recipes at the bottom of this post.  But first, let’s talk about these Cocoa Crispy Sunbutter Bars!    

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Cocoa Pebbles Dirt Pudding {alidaskitchen.com}

Cocoa Pebbles Dirt Pudding

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This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Post Pebbles but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #PebblesBTS  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO 

walgreens-pebbles-collage

The other day Adam and I made a trip to Walgreens for some Post Pebbles Cereal, but if you follow Alida’s Kitchen on Instagram, you already know this.  I had several tasty recipe ideas swirling about, but also wanted to show Adam that you can take everyday items, such as cereal, and be creative.  While I do have an easy recipe to share with you, first I have to tell you about the fun project we made with our Pebbles Cereal!…

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Cheesy Broccoli Penne Pasta {Alida's Kitchen}

Cheesy Broccoli Penne Pasta



Cheesy  Broccoli Penne Pasta...made on the lighter side!  {Alida's Kitchen}

Cheesy Broccoli Penne Pasta dish is made on the lighter side with a light cheddar and Parmesan sauce and fresh broccoli.  A quick and healthy stove top meal, this is a great weeknight dinner! 

We love cheesy pasta dishes, and generally the more cheese the better, right?   In summer months we tend to gravitate to lighter meals, leaving our beloved cheesy baked pasta dishes by the wayside.  They can be a bit heavy, and while I love baked pasta, I don’t always love to turn on the oven when the temperatures rise.   That’s where this Cheesy Broccoli Penne Pasta dish is perfect.  It has a light cheddar and Parmesan cheese sauce ~ just enough to coat the pasta and broccoli.  And it’s all made on the stove top in under 30 minutes.  You can’t beat that!…

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Mediterranean Lentil Salad

Mediterranean Lentil Salad

vegan mediterranean vegetable lentil salad with balsamic vinaigrette and feta cheese


Mediterranean Lentil Salad is a healthy, protein-packed, veggie-rich grain salad, mixed with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.   There are so many delicious flavors at play here, with red onions, garlic, parsley and, of course, the balsamic vinaigrette.  This easy recipe is a great base recipe with lots of flexibility to customize it to your preference.  You could add spinach, change up the amounts of tomatoes, onions, etc.  Mediterranean Lentil Salad can also be vegan by simply omitting the feta cheese.

I really like using lentils because they are such a great source of lean protein and high fiber and iron too.  Per the bag I used, there are 12 grams of protein and 14 grams of fiber…all with zero fat.   I find lentils to be a great meat substitute in recipes, such as tacos.  In fact, I am putting the final tweaks on a lentil taco recipe to share with you soon!

Mediterranean Lentil Salad
 
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 cup chopped red onion, plus 1 1-inch thick slice (for cooking water)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, plus 3 parsley sprigs (for cooking water)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup dried lentils, sorted and rinsed
  • 1 cup halved cherry (or grape) tomatoes
  • ½ cup diced cucumber
  • ½ cup feta cheese, divided
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • For the balsamic vinaigrette:
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
Instructions
  1. COOK LENTILS: Add 2½ cups of water to a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add onion, parsley sprigs and minced garlic and bring to a boil. Stir in lentils, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook uncovered until lentils are tender (about 20-25 minutes). Drain and discard onion and parsley.
  2. MAKE VINAIGRETTE: In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, water, vinegar, mustard and garlic until combined. Pour into a sauce pan (I just used the same pan used to cook the lentils) and heat on low until just warmed (do not boil).
  3. ASSEMBLE: Place warm lentils in a serving bowl. Add cucumber, tomatoes, chopped parsley, ¼ cup feta and warm vinaigrette and toss to combine. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup feta and serve.

It’s my favorite time of month again…the Eating with the Alphabet Challenge hosted by Brenda from Meal Planning Magic!  This month we were to showcase a recipe using a fruit, vegetable or grain that begin with the letters K or L.  Lentils are the first that came to mind, and I had so much fun trying different, healthy recipes with them.  If you’re a blogger, why not join us!  It’s fun to come up with new, healthy recipes as well as see what other bloggers decide to make.   Brenda has more information and sign up details here.



sunflower seed butter buttermilk waffles

Sunbutter Waffles

Sunbutter Waffles - whole wheat, buttermilk waffles made nut-free with sunflower seed butter.  Kids LOVE these!

Sunbutter Waffles are whole wheat, buttermilk waffles made with sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter (or other nut butter), making them a nut-free alternative.  While perfect just as-is, we also enjoy them topped with additional sunbutter, berries or maple syrup.

We have had a waffles iron for years, but for whatever reason it hasn’t been used much…well, until recently.  If you’re a regular reader, you know how much my Adam loves pancakes.  At least once per week, I make his favorite kind(s) of pancakes to load up the freezer and/or just to have on hand.  Sometimes I would end up making a double (or triple!) batch.  On my small little griddle, this exercise could take hours.  A labor of love I guess.  These days, with a newborn in the house, it’s a bit tricky to devote that much time to cooking or baking anything.  On a whim, I decided to try my hand at waffles.  Due to Adam’s peanut allergy, I opted to transform my beloved peanut butter waffles into sunbutter waffles.  I was pleased to discover cooking waffles is much quicker than flipping pancakes.  And Adam had 5 waffles for breakfast that day.   Operation waffle was a success!

Sunbutter Waffles - healthy whole wheat, buttermilk waffles made nut-free with sunflower seed butter.  Kids LOVE these!

 

For another recipe using sunbutter, try these Cocoa Crispy Sunbutter Bars.  They make a great snack!

Sunbutter Waffles
 
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 1¾ cups whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose flour)
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch salt
  • ¼ cup canola oil
  • 6 tablespoons sunflower seed butter
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  2. In a medium bowl, with a hand mixer, beat oil and sunflower seed butter until smooth. Add buttermilk, eggs and vanilla and stir until incorporated.
  3. Add buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring until combined. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, preheat waffle iron. Cook waffles according to the manufacturer directions for your waffle iron.
Notes
Note: Store leftovers in the refrigerator and toast to reheat. These also freeze well.

Adapted from Everyday Food