Ingredient Notes

• Yellow potatoes: Small to medium ones hold their shape under the fork and go creamy inside.
• Extra virgin olive oil: This is what crisps the edges, so be generous with it.
• Lemon: Fresh juice squeezed on at the end lifts everything; bottled tastes flat here.
• Dried oregano: The backbone of the Greek flavor, and Greek oregano is worth seeking out.
• Dried dill: Bright and grassy against the salty feta, and dried beats fresh in a dry rub.
• Garlic powder: Used instead of fresh cloves, which scorch at this oven temperature.
• Onion powder: Quietly adds savory depth you would miss if you skipped it.
• Kosher salt: A little will go into the boiling water, the rest goes into the dry rub.
• Ground black pepper: Freshly cracked has far more bite than the preground stuff.
• Feta cheese: Crumble it yourself from a block in brine for the creamiest texture.
• Fresh parsley: Flat leaf parsley at the end keeps the whole plate tasting fresh.

Crispy Greek Smashed Potatoes with Feta

1. Place washed potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and bring the water to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through and can be easily pierced with a fork. Drain and set aside to cool for several minutes.
2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Mix together the oregano, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Set aside. Place the potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Carefully smash each potato with the back of a fork or the bottom side of a drinking glass.
4. Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes, then sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the top. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy around the edges and golden brown.
5. Squeeze the lemon juice over the potatoes. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley before serving.

More Potato Recipes We Love!

• Breakfast Potatoes
• Cheesy Bacon Hasselback Potatoes
• Mini Hasselback Potatoes
• Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
  
  

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Crispy Greek Smashed Potatoes

Crispy Greek smashed potatoes are boiled, smashed and roasted golden, then finished with lemon, feta and parsley. An easy Greek side dish everyone loves.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine vegetarian

Keyword greek potato side dish

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 289kcal

Equipment

• large cooking pot

Ingredients

• 2 lbs medium or small yellow potatoes
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Juice of half a lemon
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon dried dill
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 1¼ teaspoons kosher salt divided
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

Instructions

• Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and bring the water to a boil. Cook over medium-high heat for 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked through and can be easily pierced with a fork. Drain and set aside to cool for several minutes.
  
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Mix together the oregano, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Set aside.
• Place the potatoes on the prepared baking sheet. Carefully smash each potato with the back of a fork or the bottom side of a drinking glass.
  
• Drizzle the olive oil over the potatoes, then sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the top. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the potatoes are crispy around the edges and golden brown.
  
• Squeeze the lemon juice over the potatoes. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and fresh parsley before serving.
  

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 825mg | Potassium: 964mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 11IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg

More Side Recipes

Crispy Greek Smashed Potatoes

Instant Pot Broccoli

Cornbread Salad

Kidney Bean Salad

The post Crispy Greek Smashed Potatoes appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

1. Spinach Artichoke Pinwheels – Barley and Sage
2. Cinnamon Apple Pinwheels – It’s Not Complicated Recipes
3. French Dip Pinwheels – Crazy For Crust
4. Greek Pinwheels – Mom vs the Boys
5. Pesto Pinwheels – Oh My Creative
6. Cheesy Taco Pinwheels – The Suburban Soapbox
7. Samosa Pinwheels – My Cooking Journey
8. Tuna Puff Pastry Pinwheels – It’s Not Complicated Recipes
9. Apple Cheddar Pinwheels – Cooking with Carlee
10. Baked Crack Chicken Pinwheels – Yellow Bliss Road
11. Salami Goat Cheese Pinwheels – Foxes Love Lemons
12. Potato Stuffed Pinwheels – My Cooking Journey
13. Pizza Pinwheels – This Mama Loves
14. Ham and Cheese Pinwheels – Dinner at the Zoo
15. Sausage and Cream Cheese Pinwheels – Money Wise Moms
16. Barbecue Chicken Pizza Pinwheels – Yellow Bliss Road
17. Prosciutto Cheese Pinwheels – Foxes Love Lemons
18. Soppressata Goat Cheese and Fig Pastry Pinwheels – Yes to Yolks
19. Cranberry Pecan Pinwheels – This Mama Loves
20. Turkey and White Cheddar Pinwheels – Todays Creative Life
21. Chicken Parmesan Pinwheels – Yellow Bliss Road
22. Spinach Pinwheels – Kidgredients
23. Nutella Puff Pastry Pinwheels – The Six Figure Dish

More Recipe Ideas

Cajun Bacon Wrapped Sausages

Slow Cooker Apricot Chipotle Meatballs

Air Fryer Potato Wedges

Healthy Fruit Dip

The post 23 Different Bake Pinwheel Appetizers appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Ingredient Notes

• chicken breasts: The star of the dish; slice them into thin halves so they cook quickly and evenly.
• taco seasoning: A savory spice blend that gives the chicken a little bit of heat and tons of flavor; use your favorite brand. (Try This Taco Seasoning)
• oil: Helps the chicken sear beautifully in the pan; olive oil or any neutral cooking oil works great.
• salsa: Choose a thick, chunky salsa for the best results — mild, medium, or spicy depending on your family’s taste.
• shredded cheddar cheese – Melts over the top for that irresistible, gooey finish; grab a block and shred it yourself or use pre-shredded cheese in a pinch.

Cheesy Salsa Chicken

1. Preheat the oven to 450F. Cut the chicken breasts in half through the middle to form 4 thinner chicken filets.
2. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and taco seasoning.
3. Place the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken filets and sear on the first side until well-browned, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking until the chicken reaches an internal
   temperature of 165F. Remove from heat. Top each chicken filet with salsa and shredded cheddar cheese.
5. Place the chicken in the oven and cook until the cheese melts about 3-5 minutes.

More Recipe Ideas

22 Vegetarian Taco Recipes for an Easy Meatless Meal

Sweet and Savory Empanadas Recipes

Tres Leche Cupcakes

Slow Cooker Mexican Casserole

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Cheesy Salsa Chicken

This Cheesy Salsa Chicken is one of those easy dinner recipes that comes together in just 20 minutes and delivers so much flavor your family will think you spent hours in the kitchen.

Course Dinner

Cuisine chicken, Mexican

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 295kcal

Ingredients

• 2 large Chicken Breasts or 4 small
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 Tablespoon Taco Seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon Oil
• 1 cup Salsa as needed
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450F. Cut the chicken breasts in half through the middle to form 4 thinner chicken filets.
  
• Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and taco seasoning.
  
• Place the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken filets and sear on the first side until well-browned, about 3-4 minutes. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Remove from heat.
  
• Top each chicken filet with salsa and shredded cheddar cheese.
  
• Place the chicken in the oven and cook until the cheese melts about 3-5 minutes.
  

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 793mg | Potassium: 608mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 688IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 224mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Cheesy Salsa Chicken appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Serve this skillet cheeseburger macaroni as is or alongside garlic bread, homemade dinner rolls, roasted vegetables, or a light green salad. 

Skillet Cheeseburger Macaroni 

1. In a large (15 inch) skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, crumbling as it cooks, until no pick remains. Drain well and return to the skillet.
2. To the skillet, add the elbow macaroni, broth, milk, ketchup, seasoning, mustard, and onion powder. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and cook while stirring often for 10 to 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
3. Stir in the cheese until melted and serve immediately.

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Skillet Cheeseburger Macaroni

This one-pan Skillet Cheeseburger Macaroni is incredibly easy to make in under 30 minutes – perfect for a filling midweek family dinner.

Course Dinner

Cuisine Beef, casserole, Family Favorite, pasta

Keyword pasta

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 669kcal

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 16 ounce box uncooked elbow macaroni
• 6 cups beef broth
• 1 ½ cup milk
• 6 tablespoons ketchup
• 4 teaspoons Montreal Steak Seasoning
• 2 teaspoon prepared mustard
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

• In a large (15 inch) skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, crumbling as it cooks, until no pick remains. Drain well and return to the skillet.
• To the skillet, add the elbow macaroni, broth, milk, ketchup, seasoning, mustard, and onion powder. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and cook while stirring often for 10 to 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
• Stir in the cheese until melted and serve immediately.

Notes

Notes: I used a 15 inch skillet to prepare this recipe. A dutch oven could also be used or the recipe can be halved to cook in a 12 inch skillet.

Nutrition

Calories: 669kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 1067mg | Potassium: 662mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 442IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 312mg | Iron: 4mg

The post Skillet Cheeseburger Macaroni  appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

They make a scrumptious snack, lunch, or light dinner option and pair well with an array of side dishes. 

BBQ Stuffed Crescent Rolls

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and BBQ sauce.
2. Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate the triangles.
3. Place a spoonful of baked beans on the bottom of each triangle, then top it with BBQ chicken and shredded cheese. 
4. Carefully roll up the crescent rolls and place them on an ungreased baking sheet.
5. Brush the rolls with butter and sprinkle the BBQ seasoning on the top.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until the crescent rolls are golden brown.

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BBQ Stuffed Crescent Rolls

BBQ Stuffed Crescent Rolls are loaded with saucy BBQ shredded chicken, sweet baked beans and melted cheddar cheese, baked till golden, soft, and flaky.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, bbq

Keyword bbq, chicken

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 224kcal

Ingredients

• 8 oz package crescent roll dough
• 1 cup shredded chicken
• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• 8 oz can baked beans
• ½ cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 teaspoon BBQ seasoning I used Weber

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken and BBQ sauce.
• Unroll the crescent roll dough and separate the triangles.
• Place a spoonful of baked beans on the bottom of each triangle, then top it with BBQ chicken and shredded cheese.
• Carefully roll up the crescent rolls and place them on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Brush the rolls with butter and sprinkle the BBQ seasoning on the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, until the crescent rolls are golden brown.

Nutrition

Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 595mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 178IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg

The post BBQ Stuffed Crescent Rolls appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Keeping the seasoning really simple means that the natural flavors of the asparagus as well as the nutty profile of the parmesan cheese sprinkled on top gets to shine through!

Serve your Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus alongside a roast chicken, roast ham or your favorite cut of pan seared steak. The options are endless! 

How to Make Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Prepare a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
2. Place the asparagus on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Drizzle olive oil over asparagus. Toss to coat the asparagus with oil. Then, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic.
4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
5. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 2 to 4 minutes.

HOW SHOULD I STORE OVEN ROASTED GARLIC PARMESAN ASPARAGUS?

• You can extend the shelf life of your roasted asparagus by storing it in a shallow airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
• It is also possible to freeze your roasted asparagus if you have leftovers and intend using it in other dishes that don’t require the asparagus to be crisp. After freezing and thawing, your asparagus certainly won’t be enjoyable as a side dish or snack on it’s own but will be perfectly fine to add in to other recipes such as casseroles, rice bowls or quiche.
• To freeze, store the asparagus in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Others suggest that you can store frozen asparagus for 10-12 months but I always prefer to use up frozen food within a 2-3 month timeframe. To defrost, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then incorporate it into other recipes as they direct. 

HOW CAN I MAKE USE OF LEFTOVER PARMESAN ASPARAGUS?

Apart from serving your Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus as a delicious side to main dishes like roasted chicken, here are some other recipes of mine that call for asparagus which you could easily make to use up any leftovers that you may have:

• One Pot Italian Chicken Rice
• Asparagus Salmon Foil Packs
• Asparagus Bacon Quiche

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Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus

Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus provides a light and tasty side of greens, roasted till soft and tender while still slightly crisp.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine vegetarian

Keyword cheese, vegetables

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 14 minutes minutes

Total Time 19 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

• 2 bunches asparagus trimmed to remove the woody ends
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• ½ to 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 to 4 cloves minced garlic
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a large baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Place the asparagus on the prepared baking sheet.
• Drizzle olive oil over asparagus. Toss to coat the asparagus with oil. Then, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Return to the oven and bake for an additional 2 to 4 minutes.–

The post Oven Roasted Garlic Parmesan Asparagus appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Do your mornings look like utter chaos? If your mornings are like most moms, you’re flying by the seat of your pants from sun up to sundown. Mornings don’t have to be this stressful, and they don’t need to be this hard. A good morning starts the night before. With some time management tactics, your mornings will go from chaos to stress free! Here are things you can do to simplify and de-stress your morning routine.

Pick out your clothes the day before

Decide what outfit you will wear each day, or even for the whole week, the night bef

ore. Be sure to do this with EVERYONE in your household. It will make getting dressed a breeze for the whole family! Make sure everyone has their clothes laid out before bed each night.

Pack lunches the night before

Mornings are chaos, don’t wait until the morning of to make your lunches for the day. Instead pack them every night, and plan your lunches for the week on Sundays to make sure you know what you’re making each night.

Make your to do list right before bed

This will help you rest easy and make sure you don’t forget to do something the next day. Take out a sheet of paper and dump your brain onto that paper. Then, take a look at your items and organize them into a logical to do list.

Avoid all electronics until you’ve had breakfast and gotten ready for the day

Phones and tablets can suck the time right out from under you. Your email, Facebook notifications, and the news can wait until you’re ready for the day.

If you struggle to fit everything in, get up earlier

If you find yourself constantly rushed in the morning, you have too much to do. This means you need to be waking up earlier. Make a list of all the things you need to do in the mornings and work backward to find out when you need to get up each morning. If needed, wake up earlier.

Plan for breakfast the night before

Before you go to bed, you should have breakfast thought out and prepared as much as possible. This will make it easy to get breakfast on the table or on the go before everyone has to leave without the stress of rushing around in the morning.

Put your keys, work bag, backpacks, and purse by the door

Before you go to bed, make sure everything you need to take with you for the day is conveniently located by the door. This will make sure you don’t forget anything, and everything is ready to go.

You don’t need to wake up hours before you leave in order to tackle your mornings. Focus on implementing a few helpful tips the night before and in the mornings to make things run smoother.

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The post Guide to a Stress Free Morning Routine appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Emergency Tips on How to Save a Crappy Vacation

1. Don’t sweat the small stuff – Sometimes you just have to let things go. If there is a mixup, a delay or change in plans, or some other emergency, just follow the available options to fix it and then let it go. You can’t allow it to continue to ruin the rest of your vacation.
2. Keep calm, no matter what – This can sometimes feel like a tall order. Your kids are acting out, your partner’s getting frustrated, and you just want to call the whole vacation off. Stop, take a deep breath, and speak to everyone calmly.
3. Pay it forward – Doing something good for someone else can make you feel better when something has gone wrong in your trip. Take some time to do a good act for someone else and see if it helps you restore the mood.

Here are some things that can happen to ruin your vacation and what you can do to salvage it:

• Stolen wallet – If you’re on vacation and your wallet goes missing, the first step is to call your bank to freeze any transactions on your bank cards and credit cards. Then you also need to inform the police right away. If your ID was stolen along with the wallet, you may need this police documentation to help you get home.
• Missed flight – Missing a flight or a connection is not the end of the world. Usually the airline will give you the next flight with space, free of charge. So take this time to grab a bite to eat, a snack, or read a book.
• Wrecked the car/rental – A car wreck is bad enough but when it’s not even your vehicle or you’re in a strange place, it can be even more stressful. If you had rental car insurance, don’t sweat it. If your own insurance covers it, don’t sweat it. Just try to enjoy the rest of your vacation and put this mishap behind you.

You can always turn around even a crappy vacation. It’s about making the best of what you have. You don’t have to let a few (or a lot of) things going wrong ruin

The post Emergency Tips on How to Save a Crappy Vacation appeared first on The Rockstar Mommy.

Is Your Child Ready for a Pet?

If these familiar words are ringing out in your household, you might be wondering whether or not your child is ready for a pet. When selecting a pet for your family, it’s important to take your child’s development stage into account. It’s not as simple as putting an age on it and saying, “At this age, your child could have a pet” because every child develops differently.

One 10-year-old might be ready for feeding and walking a dog, where another 12-year-old is just not ready for that kind of responsibility yet. So you also need to take into account how much care and what type of care the pet will need, and if you are going to have the time and energy needed to help out, if your child is unable to do it himself.

You also want to think of things like allergies, or if there is a family history of allergic reaction to animals. It might be a good idea to talk to your child’s doctor first before making a decision about getting a new pet. With all of this in mind, here are some signs your child might be ready for a pet.

• Your child has respect for animals. When you’ve visited with friends or been around other pets and animals, does your child show respect and proper behavior? If she does, then it’s a good sign she might be ready for a pet of her own.
• Your child is comfortable around animals. This one goes along with the previous point. Is your child skittish or does she feel comfortable around pets and animals? A child with fear is more likely to make a mistake with a pet.
• Your child is truly committed to getting a pet. Make sure this is not just a passing phase and that this is something your child is ready and willing to commit to.
• Your child is capable of handling household chores. Does he handle his current responsibilities without any issues? If so, then he might be ready for the responsibility of a pet. If you still have to remind him to brush his teeth every day, then you might not want to take the plunge to getting a pet just yet.

As we said before, every child is different and there’s no magic answer that guarantees you your child is ready for a pet. You know your own child better than anyone so at the end of the day, if you just don’t feel it’s the right time, then listen to your gut.

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