In the past it has been difficult to come up with some new dinners for our family. As mom, I want my family to enjoy our meal. However, life is busy and chaotic. There are times I just repeat the same meals just to make life a little easier. In doing so, dinnertime can become monotonous.
I found an old recipe in my box which I had never made before. In keeping with our commitment to eat healthier, I modified it slightly with organic ingredients. I purchased a chicken on sale. In the morning I put it in the slow cooker. It cooked on high for about 6 hours. You could cook it on the stove, but I love my slow cooker. I froze the remainder of the chicken for other meals. The casserole was a hit and some of my children were even asking for seconds.
1 lb of shredded chicken or ground beef (we used our leftover pulled chicken)
2 cups frozen or fresh corn
2 cups all natural chunky salsa
1 cup all natural tomato sauce
2 cups black beans
1 tsp cilantro
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
13.25 oz pasta of choice (for a healthier alternative use zoodles or dip with baked tortilla chips)
1 1/2 cups freshly grated 2% cheddar cheese
Cook pasta per instructions and drain. Shred chicken or brown beef. Add remaining ingredients to meat and stir. Add drained pasta. Pour into nonstick baking dish and sprinkle with cheese. Cover casserole and bake for 30 min on 325 degrees.
If you would like to make this meal ahead and freeze it, after adding pasta and mixing simply pour it into a freezer container instead of a baking dish and freeze. When you are ready to bake it, thaw it in the freeze over the night before, sprinkle with cheese and bake.
Incorporating ways to find peace and balance in our lives is a beneficial thing, especially when it makes more room for the important things in life instead of spending an inordinate amount of time in the kitchen. If you’re looking to make more room in your day or for healthy recipes, you may be interested in our free Finding Balance Monthly Meal Planner, or our new Finding Balance with God’s Food Cookbook.
We all could use more hours in our day, new recipes, and healthier food choices for ourselves and our families. Remember to work smarter and not harder in the kitchen by utilizing organization resources, doubling or making freezer meals.
