#spring fun

[slush-noire]

Universal Studios Orlando trip. 4.5.23

Went to Universal for Mardi gras with my partner to celebrate his birthday.

It was super hot and humid but we had fun.

[passionforpasta]

Tomato Basil Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese

Sweet potato gives this mac and cheese a delicious boost of nutrition. Get your kids excited about healthy eating by encouraging them to be creative and try new foods from each of the five USDA MyPlate food groups: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein Foods and Dairy.

Ingredients (Serves 8)

1 box Barilla® Elbows

1 cup reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 cup peeled and shredded sweet potato

1 cup Barilla® Tomato & Basil Sauce

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 1/2 cups of shredded Fontina cheese

1/4 to 1/2 cup of low-fat milk

2 tablespoons of fresh basil, chopped

Directions

Bring 4 to 6 quarts of water to a rolling boil, add salt to taste and then add the elbows. Stir gently.

Cook pasta according to package directions; remove from heat and drain well.

Meanwhile, in a small pot, bring the broth to a boil and add the sweet potato; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until soft. Then remove from heat.

In a blender, combine the sweet potato, broth, tomato and basil sauce and salt; cover and blend until smooth.

In a very large skillet, bring the blended sauce mixture to a low simmer. Remove from heat and slowly stir in cheese until melted (mixture may appear curdled). Stir pasta into the sauce in skillet. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in enough milk to make a creamy consistency.

Serve topped with fresh basil.

[sophiaisthatgirl]

[slush-noire]

Yesterday marked my partner and I's two year wedding anniversary.

We celebrated with a trip to Islands of Adventure in Orlando to visit Suess Landing! 💖

I loved Dr Suess as kid and well into my teens so the visit was loads of fun filled with joy, wonder, and nostalgia! 💖

I can't wait till Minion Land is up and ready!

[passionforpasta]

Barilla® Pastina in Chicken Broth with Fresh Vegetables

Spark kids’ interest in healthy food by making it fun. This healthy pasta soup incorporates three out of five MyPlate food groups. Interested in ways to get kids to enjoy nutritious food? Visit MyPlate Spring Food Fun for more ideas.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

1 Box Barilla® Pastina

1 Whole Chicken, Chopped

2 Stalks of Celery

2 Carrots, Divided

1 Onion

10 Black Peppercorns

1 Bay Leaf

1 Plum Tomato, Diced

1 Bunch of Asparagus, Diced

1 Leek, Diced

1 Tablespoon of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

Sea Salt to taste

Directions

In a large pot, cook the chicken with carrots, onion, celery and black peppercorns for approximately two hours.

Skim the broth to remove the fat and then dice the remaining vegetables, except for the spinach. 

Sauté the asparagus and leeks in olive oil for 3-4 minutes, or until slightly browned.

Drain the broth into another pot and place back onto the stove top to simmer.

Season the broth with salt and pepper and add the reserved vegetables. Then add the Pastina and cook for half the time recommended in the package instructions.

Remove the soup from the heat and let it rest for 30 minutes before serving. Add back the chicken to warm through and fold in the spinach and tomatoes.

[passionforpasta]

Up, up and penne... 

Mostaccioli (a hollow tube pasta similar to penne) with shrimp and cannellini beans is the perfect way to deliver healthy pulses to your plate.

Do you know what a pulse is? Do your kids? The MyPlate Spring Food Fun campaign aims to get children excited about healthy eating. Kids are more likely to enjoy healthy foods if they have a hand in making them, so be sure to get them involved every step of the way.

Pulses are nutritious, protein-filled seeds, like beans, lentils and peas—and pasta is the perfect vehicle for them. Try making this delicious Mostaccioli with Shrimp and Cannellini Beans recipe with your kids to show them how to make a balanced meal that incorporates foods from several of the five MyPlate food groups.

[lifeinspired4u]

[at-crafty-cottage]

Eclipse Magic and Crafty Moments- Weekly Wrap-Up #2

Crafty Moments (There are affiliate links in this post. If you choose to purchase through my links I will make a commission at no extra cost to you)The images in this post are AI-generated Hey friends! Happy Friday! Can you believe the week’s already wrapping up? So, let’s kick things off with a little recap, shall we? Monday’s solar eclipse had us all excited, but those pesky clouds decided to…

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