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Easy Snack Plate Dinner Ideas with Barilla Pesto!

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

“The fastest way to break the cycle of perfectionism and become a fearless mother is to give up the idea of doing it perfectly—indeed to embrace uncertainty and imperfection.” – Arianna Huffington.

We put so much pressure on ourselves as moms, don’t we? And it’s no wonder, since society puts so much pressure on us, right? To work hard – either at a career outside of the home, as a work from home boss babe, or as a perfect stay at home mom. Plus of course: go to the gym and dress stylin’ and do your nails and learn to contour your cheekbones all while picking up groceries and kids and hey o – it’s also a freaking PANDEMIC OUT THERE. Sigh.

Snack Tray Dinner Idea

Anyway. All of that to say – we are always in need of easy peasy dinner ideas around here. I rely heavily on things like prepping ahead, freezer meals, and my Crockpot and Instapot. But something else I rely on at least a couple of nights a week are snack boards. Kind of like… a fancier version of the lunch snack trays you buy at the supermarket, but a less fancy version of a complicated charcuterie board. Depending on the size of your family, your needs, your mood – you can put out one big tray and let everyone make their own plate, or make mini plates for each person. It’s healthy, it’s easy, it’s fun, it’s fast, and it can be YUM, too. Especially with my new obsession – Barilla Creamy Genovese Pasta Sauce. Seriously. OMG. So good.

Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto Easy Recipe Ideas

I’m really questioning myself… as a life-long pasta-a-holic, carb-loving girl, how on earth have I never actually tried pesto? I’ve heard of it. I’ve seen it. But honestly, I guess I just didn’t really know what it was, or how to use it. You GUYS?! It is GENIUS. Lemme tell ya a little bit of basic info first:

  • Pesto is the past tense of the Genoese verb “pestare,” which means “to crush.” Which makes sense – Pesto originated in Genoa, Italy, and was traditionally made by crushing ingredients with a mortar and pestle ;) The usual combo of ingredients includes basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts – but a lot of pesto swaps out the pine nuts. {I’m a nerd, and a writer, and I love cool facts like this!}
  • When you crush these up and mix together, you get a beautiful, creamy, green sauce. Imagine the pretty combos for holiday dishes, mixed and matched with crisp red veggies?
  • It’s most commonly used on pasta noodles, and often on sandwiches. But it is SO versatile! You can use this as a sauce for so many things, a dip, seafood, burgers, drizzle it onto pizza, use it to marinate meats, on and on.
  • CLICK HERE –> Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto Recipe Ideas if you’re just too tired to get creative and need even more inspiration. There’s nothing wrong with that, momma. I’ll share more ideas later too, keep reading. You aren’t alone here. I got you. :)

And now, with Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto Sauce, you get to skip all of the work of a mortar and pestle, but still have the freshest pesto available, imported from Italy, but available right in your own cupboard, any time you want. You can pick these up at most grocery stores, or even add them to your next Amazon order.

Pesto Snack Plate Dinner Plate Idea

We used this Creamy Genovese Pesto over the past week for our dinner plates. I mentioned over on Instagram the other day – I started a round of high-dose prednisone for my spine/disc issues, and it’s a rough one. {If you’ve ever taken prednisone, you know. It is THE strongest love/hate relationship story of all time, lol.} Plus, Daylight Savings time and now it gets dark in the middle of the dark day. The holidays are approaching rapidly, with all the weirdness and unpredictability that those bring this year. So: I’m a tired momma, my friends. A quick and easy meal that I can put together without using the stove? That’s a winner. 

Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto Dip

We’ve used this creamy pesto as a dip, with cheese and crackers. When added to pinwheel roll-ups it legit takes things up a notch! You can get creative and use this in SO many of your regular recipes, and it gives them a fresh twist, feels like something new. And if all you can manage is boiling a pot of noodles – just stir in a jar of Barilla Pesto sauce, for a quick alternative to spaghetti night that the kids will still totally love. Trust me. 

Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto

This works for lunches – add to sandwiches, as a dip for veggies or crackers, etc. It’s amazing in all of your favorite dinner dishes, or use the Barilla US site to find some new faves to put into rotation. It can add some flair to holiday meals this season. It’s a great addition to gift baskets – one compact jar is enough for a whole 16-oz box of pasta! Make party trays for your next get together, using the same idea we use for our dinner trays, just on a larger, fancier scale. The options are endless!

There are just so many ways to use this – I honestly feel kinda silly for not ever trying pesto before? You can see the dozens of other creative ways that other busy moms from #MomsMeet used this #BarillaPesto #CreamyGenovese over on Instagram by following the hashtags, or checking out the accounts – @BarillaUS and @MomsMeet. If you use #BarillaUS in your home too, be sure to share a pic and tag them too!

Be sure to come join the conversation over on my Instagram page!! Let me know in the comments here, or over there – do you use pesto? What are your favorite ways to use it? Have you tried Barilla Pesto? If not – definitely look for it the next time you’re grocery shopping in the pasta aisle, you won’t be sorry. And – are you a snack plate/dinner plate type of mom too? Chat with me, my friends. :)

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OREO Chocolate Candy Bars Feel Like My Childhood…

This post was sponsored by Nabisco as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

You guys. You GUYS.

How fun is this? New OREO Chocolate King Size Candy Bars are everything you love about childhood – like cookies and milk. The price is totally retro too – on Rollback at Walmart makes them only $1.00, and each King Size pack has two individually wrapped bars perfect for sharing with your bestie!

So grab your quarters, snag this Rollback deal, and enjoy OREO cookie flavor mixed with super smooth Milka chocolate with your BFF today :) And – keep reading until the end, for a chance to win BIG….

[Read more…]

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Sweet DIY Chocolate-Themed Gift Ideas

 

This DIY Chocolate-themed gift post is part of a Fashionista Event, and a promotional item was provided to me by Chocolat Frey. Hosts for this event are Still Blonde after all these Years and ModlyChic.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… As well it should, because believe it or not, it’s only TWENTY days until Christmas! Are you ready yet? Have you made your list and checked it twice? Well, if you’re anything like me this year, and just getting started on your holiday gift shopping, I have a great suggestion for you. Chocolate. Yep. Because seriously, who doesn’t love chocolate? Especially when it’s a premium fancy-pants chocolate, and you gift it in a creatively fun way. Keep reading to learn more – and for a SWEET giveaway just for you!

Chocolat Frey for holiday gifting

I’m on a pretty tight budget this year. That means I have to get creative with my gifts. And it’s amazing how many fun ways there are to create unique presents using Chocolat Frey goodies – we’re using them as gifts for the Abby’s teacher, stocking stuffers for all the kiddos, as part of gift packages for friends and family – and my favorite, this super cool DIY Chocolat Frey Trifle Dish Gift Set! Just like a traditional trifle dessert, it has layers of deliciousness shown off in a pretty pedestal dish. But way more fun! [Read more…]

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White Chocolate Ginger Cookie Recipe

It’s the cookie time of year! This holiday season, instead of making the same old sugar cookies, try something out-of-the-box like Terra’s Kitchen’s White Chocolate Ginger Cookie recipe. Combining the unusual, yet delicious flavor of ginger with the sweetness of the white chocolate chips, these cookies are sure to be an instant classic with friends and families. Whether you’re making them for gifting, entertaining, or just eating a batch yourself while watching holiday movies {calories don’t count at the holidays… :)} I’m sure everyone will love them!

White Chocolate Ginger Cookie Recipe [Read more…]

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McDonald’s® Chicken Select Tenders Are Back!

I’m enjoying McDonald’s® Chicken Select Tenders as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #McDPartners….

My very first job was when I was 15 1/2 {the youngest that you could work in Washington state at the time} at McDonald’s®. I worked there for 2 years, and loved it. I have such good memories from that time. The franchise owners were awesome – They threw us fabulous themed holiday parties each year, actually visited and helped work in the store with us, and were just so super nice. I’ve also stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle multiple times – which is funded by those little change jars you see at each register. So, McDonald’s® has always been a part of my life. :)

3 Chicken Select Tenders from McDonald's are back #mcdpartners [Read more…]

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7 Winter Soup Recipes

Here where I live, in Central Washington – {Yakima, Washington to be exact} – we normally have loads of snow each year. This year? Nothing. While it seems like everyone else in the country is being overloaded with snow, we’ve had one powdered-sugar style dusting. So weird. And totally disappointing to me, since I love snow. But, it’s still pretty cold. And when it’s cold, I totally get in the mood for soup! If you’re a winter soup lover too, then you’ll love this collection of awesome winter soup recipes!

Tortellini Soup

This Tortellini Soup is one of my very favorites. So, I’ll share that recipe, plus a bunch of my other favorites, in the list below. Then you’ll have a ton of awesome soup ideas for the next month, until we warm up for summer :)

7 Winter Soup Recipes 

Are you hungry yet? I am :) You can add french bread, toasty garlic rounds like I share in the first recipe, the one shown in the pic above – or some homemade cornbread, to make it a meal. {I’m a carb-lover, so I always need some type of bread at each meal!}

Chosen Chix

Want more Winter inspiration? Well, I’m not the only one sharing seven things about winter! Check out my fellow Chosen Chix and some of their thoughts on winter:

 

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Easy Mealtime Hacks from Breakfast to Dinnertime!

Easy Mealtime Hacks

You guys know how I’m all about what I call “smart solutions for busy moms,” right? Things like how to keep the house looking clean – the easy way. Quick and easy recipes. Fun fashion that’s still comfy enough for chasing a toddler around. Stuff like that. Which is why I’m super happy to partner with Van’s Foods this month to share some of their super clever mealtime hacks… Plus a great giveaway too! Check it out….

Hello from Van’s Foods!

We know how busy life can be for Van’s foods fans. Between work, working out, parenting, driving, walking, riding, creating, days get full – fast. Some meals are easy, and you’ve got plenty of time to plan, shop and put together something delicious.

Other times, there’s yoga or soccer or Scouts or a late meeting, and you need something fast and easy that you can still feel good about eating.

Which brings us to our gift to you this month – easy, nutritious mealtime hacks from your friends at Van’s. They’re all delicious, nutritious and a cinch to pull together.

First up?

granola image 1 [Read more…]

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