. . . . just in case you need a little encouragement

You might be one of these three people:
1. It's a busy season. You've got _______ after work/school often. You won't be home in time to make dinner. It's either take out or have something already made at home.
2. Your family is picky.... but if a recipe contains pasta & ranch you know you can sell it. 
3. You love BLTs & can't think of anything better than a pasta salad version.

If you happen to be one of these people then I've got the perfect recipe for you!

>> All ingredients can be prepped ahead of time & thrown together in a few minutes.

>> The homemade dressing is super easy to make & uses Greek yogurt as the base.

>> The end result can be modified to fit the needs of your eaters. For the kids I leave out the spinach or add just a little.

>> No need to make a side dish! Just grab a bowl

I made my family eat this two nights last week while I perfected the recipe. They loved every minute of it!! No complaints here.

As a working mom I am always rushed for time. There is hardly time to greet one another in the evening, let alone make a wonderfully inspiring meal EACH night. It just isn't possible....so let yourself down easy and adjust your dinner expectations! Some of my best meals simply come from me opening the fridge, freezer, and cabinets to see what is edible. It always makes for more interesting combinations and sometimes the outcome can be quite surprising! I also secretly love to use items that have been hanging around awhile. This week I had one of those surprises. This "recipe" can hardly be considered a recipe BUT it was delicious, easy, and made my family happy. Win. Win. Win. The pancetta gives it a salty bite that is balanced by the greens and the acidity of the marinara sauce. Such a perfect balance of flavors!

If your kids (or husband) won't eat wilted greens substitute frozen peas or zucchini. 

Another key to saving time when boiling pasta is this strainer. This was a gift from my aunt a few years ago and it is amazing. And yes, I receive strange gifts but they are always well received!! It clips on any pot and stays tight while you strain the pasta. It is dishwasher safe and easy to store. Colanders are more work for me because I usually have dishes in the sink and don't have time to clear out the sink before the kids go to bed!
​Grab my clip-on colander here.


I hope your evenings are filled with smiling faces around the dinner table this week! Be sure to let me know if you try out this recipe!