The Kitchen Chalkboard

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Spinach Salad with Truffle Vinaigrette

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Spinach Salad with Truffle Vinaigrette

I have long been singing the praises of truffle oil. My obession with Truffle Popcorn has not waned. I am trying to convince everyone and their mothers to buy it. It has so many purposes! So my best friend throws out the challenge, what are some ideas for a Weight Watchers friendly Truffle Oil recipe? Challenge accepted.

Enter the Shari Salad. Clocking in at five Weight Watchers Freestyle Smart Points this salad with its truffle oil vinaigrette is a great addition to your meal plan. Hearty and filling with different flavors and textures, this recipe with a few ingredients, is anything but boring. Try this Weight Watchers Friendly Truffle Oil Recipe with some grilled chicken or a good steak.

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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Chicken Meatball Soup with Pasta

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Chicken Meatball Soup with Pasta

Winter has arrived! And here I am, longing for a chicken meatball soup with pasta. There are a ton out there but I wanted one that doesn’t take an hour to make and require the use of the stove and the oven. During weekdays, when I am trying to get dinner on the table, I need simple. And this recipe, which I’ve adapted, is just that.

You may not have used Great Northern Beans before but I recommend you try them. They should be easy to find in the bean aisle of the grocery store. Great Northern Beans are high in fiber, low in fat, and have no cholesterol. They are medium-shaped white beans with a firmer texture than Cannellini beans. They hold up well in this recipe and really make a great addition here.

I heard Rachel Ray use the term stoup, half soup, and half stew, years ago. This recipe would be in that category. It is not very brothy since the pasta, meatballs, and beans absorb a great deal of it. This makes it hearty but not at all heavy.

I didn’t even call this soup to my kids — it’s meatballs and pasta without sauce. It’s all about marketing, right?

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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How to Make Pumpkin Puree

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How to Make Pumpkin Puree

It all started with Curious George.

Storytime in our house is always an interesting time.  It usually involves me reading while my little ones ask ten thousand questions.  The conversations can be about anything from what are clouds made of to the most recent, what’s pumpkin pie taste like?

Curious George was eating a pumpkin pie and my husband pipes in, “Can you make a pumpkin pie?” I was ecstatic! My family never asks for any specific food. Let alone a vegetable! I’m counting pie as a vegetable in this instance.  It’s an ingredient, right?

Before we make a pie, we need to make the pumpkin puree.  Let’s go to the chalkboard.

Want to learn how to make pumpkin puree from scratch?

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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Quick Ramen Dinner

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The kids went back to school last week and our leisurely summer schedule was out the window. I had backpacks, school supplies, forms, lunch boxes and snacks all ready to go. And then the whirlwind happened. Shoes that fit weeks ago were too small, the big kid tried to put the little kids’ clothes on and tears were shed. We managed to pull it together to get outside in time — only for the bus to be a no-show. It was not the morning I had envisioned

By the time evening came, I had Meet the Teacher Night and was running out of steam. I needed a comforting dinner with little time commitment. 

Quick Ramen Dinner

Enter the key to dinner in minutes – instant ramen noodles. 

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How to Get Your Child to Eat Vegetables

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How to Get Your Kids to Eat Vegetables

I don’t know about you, but I am always trying to get my kids to eat more vegetables.  Fruits haven’t been too much of a problem but anything green? No way! Even though when you ask my little guy what his favorite food is he will almost always say “peas”.  Seriously. If he ever tells you that, do NOT believe him. I’ve called his bluff many times and given him peas. His reply, “never said that.” Bless his heart.

Despite my little guy’s pea obsession, I’m always on the hunt for a new way to get my boys to eat more vegetables.  I recently took a class on Child Nutrition. It was a fairly basic class but there were a few good takeaways that really helped.

Want to know how to get your child to eat more vegetables?

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.


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Can You Eat Shrimp Tails?

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Can You Eat Shrimp Tails

I was recently sitting down for dinner with my favorite shrimp recipe and as I was eating, I pushed the shrimp tails to the side of the plate as I always do. I looked at those little tails on the side and my mind went all over the place.

Can you eat shrimp tails? How do they taste? What else can you do with them? I knew there was work to be done.

Want to learn more about whether or not you can eat shrimp tails?

Let’s go to the Chalkboard.

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