Five Frozen Lent Options

We are officially in Lent. While not everyone gives up meat, most do try to practice no meat on Fridays. So today, I'd like to present you with some frozen options for those who are in a hurry and don't have much time to cook.

1. Quorn Chik'n Nuggets - I discovered these through my cousin. Her husband is a vegetarian and LOVES these. I was planning on giving up meat so I gave them a shot and boy, they legit taste like chicken nuggets. I enjoy them so much that I always have a box or two and eat these versus "real chicken" nuggets. - You can cook them in the oven or microwave but I personally really like using the oven. The crunch is awesome.

2. Trader Joe's Salmon Burgers - My mom gives up meat every year and she really likes these A) because they're really good and B) because you can eat them as a burger or just with whatever sides you'd like. - The box provides cooking instructions for grilling, oven, skillet or microwave. I like this because I don't have a grill (I live in an apartment and they're not allowed) and the thought of a microwaved salmon burger really grosses me out. Their turkey burgers don't even have cooking instructions for skillet/oven and that's probably because they cook really weird with those methods. It's a great thing that these cook so nicely in a skillet or oven.

3. evol. Butternut Squash & Sage Ravioli - Yum, just yum. I know most people eat a lot of pasta when not eating meat so this is a good alternative. - Cooking methods: microwave or oven.

4. TaDah Falafel Wrap - I actually have not tried this, my mom has. I found it in the Target frozen aisle and thought "Hm, my mom might really like this." and she did. - Cooking methods: microwave or oven. My mom will not use the microwave unless it is the ONLY option, so she used the oven.

5. - evol. Truffle Parmesan Mac & Cheese - Who doesn't like mac and cheese? Really, name me someone who doesn't.. You can't - unless they're lactose intolerant. SO. GOOD. That is all. Oh, and also, I've only seen the evol. foods at Target. - Cooking methods: microwave or oven.

These are obviously also great for people who don't eat meat in general. Do you have other suggestions that fit in the quick and easy category? Next week I'll be sharing some delicious looking "from scratch" options for Lent.

Are you giving up something other than meat for Lent? If so, what? I am. This year I decided to give up Facebook. If you knew me personally, you'd know how tough that is for me. I am trying to not have meat on Fridays also. I will say, this Lent has probably been the most self-reflective for me and honestly, it's been wonderful. I hope you've been having a good Lent this year as well!

What I Have in My Fridge Jambalaya

Hello there – I hope wherever you are, you’re having a nice and warm day. Currently, we have more than 6 inches of snow on the ground with it still coming down. OH, and it’s supposed to freeze rain later so it definitely feels like there is no end in sight.

So as I sit here, stuck in my apartment, I realized I was craving something warm and filling but wasn’t sure what. As any normal person would do, I went to my fridge and pantry to scope what I had then went searching on Pinterest. I found a few jambalaya recipes so I decided to make a “What I have in my Fridge Jambalaya”. So this is my warning that yes, I know this isn’t regular jambalaya. I promise it’s still really good and simple!

Ingredients –

1 package of Hillshire FarmTurkey Polska Kielbasa, sliced thin 

1 cup of vegetables (I tend to keep a container of diced celery, carrots, and onions in my fridge – so this is what I used)

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 ½ tsp paprika

1 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

¼ tsp black powder

¼ tsp cayenne pwpper

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp thyme

½ tsp Old Bay Garlic & Herb

1 can of diced tomatoes, undrained (I actually had whole tomatoes that I just cut up myself)

1 cup chicken broth

1 cup white rice

1 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions –

1. With the oil, cook the sausage, vegetables and fresh garlic for about 8 minutes. (until vegetables are soft)

2. Add all of the spices and stir until fragrant. (less than one minute)

3. Add chicken broth, tomatoes, and rice and bring to a boil.

4. Once at a boil, bring to a simmer and cover for about 20 minutes, mixing occasionally. (or until rice is cooked to your liking and broth is absorbed)

5. Serve warm.

Tip of the Day: If you somehow make this dish too spicy (like I did by not paying attention to my measuring spoon, not because of the recipe) a good way to help with that is to add ketchup! Since the ketchup is tomato based but also sweet, it will help absorb some of the spicyness. The ketchup also helps if you refrigerate it and you feel it's drying up.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did. If you have any great recipes to share in the realm of "this is what I have in my fridge" essentials, please share. Stay warm and I'll be back soon with another recipe!

Quick and Easy Pasta Salads

I feel like these days of record lows of freezing temperatures and blistering face pains are not going to be disappearing anytime soon, which is extremely depressing. I am normally a big Winter person but this year I am just *SO* over it and I know pretty much everyone else is too.

So to get us excited for Spring and Summer, I’m sharing two very quick and easy pasta salad recipes that are perfect for those picnics and BBQs.

Caprese Pasta Salad 

Ingredients –
1 package of pasta of your liking, cooked (I used mini shells)
1 pint of Grape Tomatoes, cut in half or quartered (depending on your preference)
1 Fresh Mozzarella Ball, cut into small cubes
1 cup fresh Basil or ½ cup dried Basil
Salt and Pepper to taste

For the Dressing –
2 cloves of pressed fresh garlic
1/3 cup Balsamic Vinegar
3 tablespoons of Olive Oil

Directions –

1. In a small bowl, mix the ingredients for the dressing together.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.

3. Add in the dressing and mix well.

4. Depending on taste, you may want to add additional vinegar or olive oil. Once at your liking, add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Chill about thirty minutes all together prior to serving.

The next one I made because as I was trying to decide what to make for a BBQ, I found a box of SuddenlySalad (Classic) that I had gotten on sale for $1. I made the salad as directed and added in the following: hard salami, turkey deli, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives. I also added a bit of ranch dressing and a dash of garlic powder, mixed it all together and ta-dah.. a great pasta salad that works perfectly for potlucks, bbqs, and any type of party.

I hope you all like these quick and easy pasta salads and I hope these recipes work well for you and your next event!