This is the easiest, kid-friendliest salad you will ever make. Because my children are not sandwich eaters, I have to get creative with picnic outings and school lunches for them. This salad frequents our picnic basket and lunch boxes. And (of course) I have tweaked a few ingredients to make it just a bit more hearty than the original recipe. Enjoy! Classic Creamy Pasta Salad A lighter version of macaroni salad with all the flavor! Ingredients8 oz. Bow Tie or Macaroni Pasta2 Cups Frozen peas1 Stalk Celery ((2/3 Cup), diced)3/4 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese (cubed)2.5 oz. Canadian Bacon or Ham

It’s that wonderful time of year when my morning routine includes harvesting goods from the garden. Almost every day, a summer squash is in my harvest loot. I always plant WAY more plants than our family needs for the summer, because I like to preserve some for use in the winter months. Squash preservation is my favorite, because it takes very little time and equipment to do. Here’s how to do it: Option 1: Shredded Squash for use in Baked Goods 1. Thoroughly wash the dirt from each squash and cut off the stem and bottom. 2. If the squash

This is one of my favorite salads to serve at summer barbecues because it is super easy to make, doesn't heat up the kitchen, and it can sit out for a long time without concern of microbial growth.  Three-bean salad tastes best when you make it ahead of time and let it marinate overnight. I've made a few changes to the classic recipe to make it less sugary and more flavor-packed. Happy Barbecuing!!! Three Bean Salad 4 Cups Green Beans, steamed (or 2 cans) 2 15 oz. Cans Wax Beans 1 15 oz. Can Kidney Beans 1 15 oz. Can

Summer time is in full swing at the Andersen household and the kids have been asking for popsicles non-stop! I don't blame them--it's hot out there! However, with all the artificial coloring and flavoring in most popsicles, I hesitate to pump the kids full of that stuff. I offered them this smoothie instead as a cool treat and they LOVED it. This is a winner for when you need something sweet and refreshing this summer. You can also pour this into ice pop molds for your own homemade popsicles. Enjoy!   Tropical Strawberry Smoothie 1 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

This is the perfect meal to make for those hot, lazy days of summer. All these vegetables are ripe and in season, and this dish won't over-heat the kitchen. I use "Our Best Bites" Guiltless Alfredo Sauce so you know it's going to be delicious. Enjoy! Garden Pasta Alfredo A fresh, healthy, and easy dish to use up your garden produce.  2 Cups Carrots (julienned)1 Red Bell Pepper ((1 1/2 Cups), chopped)1 Yellow Squash ((1 1/2 Cups), chopped)2 Cups Snow Peas (halved)1 1/2  Cups White Penne Pasta2 Cups Whole Wheat Penne PastaSalt and Pepper to tasteGuiltless Alfredo Sauce3 cloves Garlic (minced)1

Quinoa has all the essential amino acids to make a complete protein. What does that mean, you might ask? It means that this plant is as complete of a protein as meat. Also, in just 1/2 Cup of cooked quinoa there are FIVE grams of protein. That’s pretty awesome for a plant protein. Quinoa also contains lots of fiber and healthy fats which deems it as SUPER FOOD status. I get lots of people saying, “I know quinoa is good for me, but how do I use it in my cooking?” Well, here you go folks, another quinoa recipe just for

I have fallen in love with this traditional Indian dish for so many reasons. First, all of my kids love it—that is enough of a triumph in and of itself! Second, its flavor is unlike any other dish I make. Third, even with all the spices it contains, it never gives me heartburn! I found a recipe for Tikka Masala on “The Iron You” when I was suffering from a head cold and craving an anti-inflammatory meal that contained turmeric and ginger--both of which are great for opening up sinus congestion. I really didn’t expect the raving review from every

Spring produce like asparagus and yellow squash are in season now and this is the perfect dish to serve up for dinner this week! Coated in a creamy, Parmesan cheese sauce combined with fresh lemon zest, this delicious pasta dish will delight your taste buds and please everyone at the dinner table. This quick fix has become another favorite dinner at the Andersen household. It’s flavorful, filling, and chocked full of vegetables, so I consider that a win, win, win. I hope your family loves it too. Enjoy! Lemon Chicken and Spring Vegetable Alfredo Tender chicken and penne pasta combined

This recipe is my modified version of the original from the Lion House Pantry Cook Book. I made this soup for a children’s tea party which I hosted for my 7-year-old son’s First Grade class. It seemed like a nice touch for a Springtime party. I assumed the children would all take a courtesy bite and leave the rest. Boy, was I surprised when they ate every last bite and continued to ask for second and third helpings! A healthy, kid-approved recipe like this MUST be shared! Since the first-graders liked it so much, I made it again for my family

Growing up, our family always ate what we called, Cheesy Potatoes on Easter Sunday as a side dish to our Easter ham. Since moving to Utah years ago, I have learned that people here call them “Funeral Potatoes.”  I have actually been asked to make these for several funeral dinners while I have lived here, so I guess the name is an accurate description for the use of these potatoes! Regardless of their name, these potatoes are a delicious comfort food. As always, I have “healthified” my recipe and there are no canned soups or creams involved, but there is