Swell Supper: Easy Cheesy Dinner
by Apr 24th, 2011 // Swell Suppers
Swell Supper: Easy Cheesy Dinner
So my hubs has been working in New York for 10 days (yes, TEN days) and he’s one of those super hon-of-all-hons-hubs that will whip up dinner for the family after work (when he’s in town), he’ll do the dishes too. So him being gone is a triple blow! But somehow I have managed to keep things operating smoothly around here. For his return we want to make him something really yummy to welcome him home, while at the same time easy enough to pull off in my exhausted state with two kids helping me. For tonight’s swell supper we are making Mom’s Baked Ziti, Roasted Broccolini and Snickers Bar Blondies and then we’re all going for a nature walk while it cooks!
First print out the winter nature walk worksheet so it’s ready to go. Begin the meal by making the snickers bar blondies. I just happen to have lots of snickers bars from all the Easter eggs and they also happen to be my husbands favorite so we’re in luck. Make the blondies according to the recipe and place in the oven. Meanwhile put a large pot of water on the stove to boil the ziti. We love different kind of pasta and I just happened to find giant ziti at the local Italian market – so fun! Whatever pasta you choose, make sure to cook it one or two minutes less than the package instructions (because it’s going to cook more in the oven later). Prepare the ingredients for the baked ziti according to the recipe. When the blondies are done take them out of the oven and put the ziti in.
Prep the broccolini and spread it on a cookie sheet with olive oil and salt and pepper. Place the broccolini in the oven with the ziti. The ziti calls for a 350 degree oven while the broccolini calls for 400 degrees so make sure to cook the broccoli for the same amount of time at the ziti or until brown and tender. While you are waiting for dinner to finish cooking take your kid(s) outside for a winter nature walk. (Make sure someone’s home so your house doesn’t burn down with the oven on!) Let the kids burn off some energy before sitting down for dinner.
Once all of the items on the worksheet have been found (or about 20 minutes) head inside for dinner and enjoy this absolutely delicious meal. (Which will hopefully keep the hubs from going on such long business trips.) Now doesn’t that sound swell?
