Growing up my mom used to make me the same pasta before every swim meet. It was super easy and involved, noodles, butter, and garlic salt. That was it..and it was delicious. It's still one of my favorite comfort foods to this day. Wellll...the other day I was watching the Food Network and Ina Garten was making her "Midnight Pasta" which looked very similar to my mom's pasta so I tuned in. It was a whole episode about what chefs cook when they get off of work. Turns out it's the same idea as my mom's, but Ina's version is a little more gourmet. And holy moly is it delicous...and fast. I've already made it a couple of times since then and because the ingredients are ones that I keep in the house most of the time I can make it any time that I want to! Fifteen minute pasta or midnight pasta, is going to become your new favorite go to weeknight dinner, I'll bet on it.

We all know those nights where you barely have energy to think about cooking, let alone actually cooking. You have about a thirty minute window where if you are going to cook, it has to happen then otherwise it's takeout for the family. That's where this pasta comes in to save your life.

It's hearty so you can serve it by itself or throw in some grilled chicken and a salad and call it a day. It's comfort on a plate and oh my goodness is it delicious.

PostedJanuary 14, 2015

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner, Pasta

Tagspasta, midnight pasta, Ina Garten, 30 minute meals, spaghetti, easy recipes, weeknight meals, comfort food, dinner, Italian Dishes, Italian Food

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Citrus Shaved Brussel Sprout Salad with White Cheddar: My Diary of Us

Hi guys! How was your weekend? Ours went by too quickly, but was pretty great. We celebrated the hubby's birthday this weekend with friends over nachos and margaritas and then spent Sunday being lazy and watching it rain. I kind of love Sundays when it rains because it gives you an excuse to lay around and not be productive. Unfortunately that can't last forever and Monday is inevitable, so let's make the most of it and start our week off right with a healthy meal that you will fall in love with! You HAVE to make my citrus shaved brussel sprout salad with white cheddar. It's my new salad obsession, and I can't wait for you to try it.

It will make you happy when you eat it because it is just that good. I made this salad by accident for the first time and was blown away by the flavor combinations. In fact I love it so much, that Saturday at the farmer's market I bought two bundles of brussel sprouts because one time eating this salad is just simply not enough.

PostedJanuary 12, 2015

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner, Lunch, Salads

Tagshealthy, salad recipes, shaved brussel sprouts, brussel sprout salad, clean eating, gluten free recipes, gluten free salads, Seasonal Eating, Seasonal Recipes, Seasonal Salads, Weekday Meals, Lunch, Lunch Recipes, Farm Fresh

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Roasted Tomato and Lamb Pizza with Mint Pesto: My Diary of Us

It's national pizza week. Did you know that? Because that is kind of important if you ask me. It's basically an excuse to eat pizza and forget about your new year's resolutions, or not in this case. My roasted tomato and lamb pizza with mint pesto is not only to die for, but it is really pretty good for you too! How's that for having your cake and eating it too?

I love pizza, like loooove it. I could eat it everyday if my hips would allow me to. It is just so good in every way. It's comforting, it's usually what we eat for dinner on a rainy and cold night, and let's be honest here, is anything with bread and cheese bad? For me, it's all about the crust. Canean will sometimes leave his crust on his plate, only to find it disappear by yours truly. Sometimes I give it to the dogs, but that all depends on the level of greatness that the crust is.

PostedJanuary 7, 2015

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesPizza, Dinner

Tagspizza recipes, lamb pizza, healthy pizza, healthy recipes, national pizza week, food photography, food styling, pizza, pizza night, mint pesto, roasted tomato sauce, lamb recipes

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Chicken Schwarma over Greek Rice: My Diary of Us

Happy Monday guys! The humidity is gone here for the week here in Louisiana, leaving me feeling slightly more like Christmas is less than twenty days away. That also means I have lots to do since I don't even have one Christmas present under the tree. Yikes. And with all the cookies and hot chocolate that are tempting me everywhere I look, I need a healthy and quick meal that can balance out my sugar intake. My chicken schwarma over Greek rice is one of our favorite meals and is a healthier version of a meal that I crave on a weekly basis.

We are regulars at a local Lebanese restaurant here in town. Their chicken schwarma is the best I've ever had and their rice is full of flavor, so much that Canean always orders an extra side of just the rice. I started making my at home version of this meal a couple of years ago to shave a few calories, that and it was kind of getting embarrassing how often we were picking up the same meal week after week!

PostedDecember 8, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

TagsTake out made at home, Lebanese Food, Greek Food, Chicken Schwarma Recipe, Dinner, Weeknight Meals, Easy Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, 30 Minute Meals, chicken

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Roasted Chipotle, Satsuma, and Rosemary Chicken: My Diary of Us

Tomorrow I leave for California and I have a list of to-dos a mile long today to get ready for the trip. One of which is cooking a couple of easy meals for Canean to eat so he doesn't end up at Jimmy John's every night for the next eight days. I like to make things that he can eat two or three times and that are easy for me while I run around like a crazed person...it's all in the multitasking! This roasted chipotle, Satsuma, and rosemary chicken is amazing guys and really easy too, and today I need easy.

I know while your other favorite food bloggers are posting turkey recipes already I am posting this chicken recipe, but honestly you could do this exact same marinade and rub on your Thanksgiving turkey and it would be a A-MA-ZING! I might be a little behind schedule this year with my holiday preparations, partly because we are heading to NYC for Thanksgiving and I am not in what I am going to cook mode, but I promise I won't let you down.

But back to this chicken though....I'm being so serious when I tell you that this chicken is out of this world. Smoky chipotle mixed with sweet Satsuma juice and fragrant rosemary makes for a killer combo that you are going to love.

PostedNovember 10, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner

TagsRoasted Chicken, Chipotle Roasted Chicken, Roasted Chicken Recipes, Skillet Roasted Chicken, Fall Meals, Spicy Chicken Recipes, Satsuma Recipes, Farm Fresh, Fall Recipes, Dinner, Thanksgiving, Holidays, Yum, Clean Eating, Gluten Free Recipes, chicken

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Butternut Squash, Kale, and Wild Rice Salad: My Diary of Us

Happy Monday guys! How was your Halloween weekend? Did you eat too much candy? We actually didn't get to eat that much candy because we ran out of the goods Halloween night, which was a good thing, but I may or may not have eaten too many of those pumpkin bars that I posted on Friday. I can't resist them at all, and if you missed the recipe then you need to make them! Since it's a new week and a new month, I will be de-sugarfying my body starting with this healthy and really delicious butternut squash, kale, and wild rice salad!

When we were in Florida two weeks ago, my friend Meg made us a wild rice salad with a ton of veggies and grilled chicken. It was so good y'all and I loved the idea of tossing whatever veggies you have in the fridge with some rice and making a meal out of it!

PostedNovember 3, 2014

AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier

CategoriesDinner, Side Dishes

TagsHealthy Meals, Meatless Monday, Fall Salads, Wild Rice Recipes, Healthy Recipes, Thanksgiving Sides, Butternut Squash Salad, Kale Recipes, Gluten Free Recipes, Clean Eating, Healthy

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