Back to school season always shakes me up a bit, but I feel like I've finally hit my stride. We've got a good routine going and I've partnered with Mirum to share a quick and easy mealtime solution from Yummy Dino Buddies for hectic weeknights. I'm also sharing a homemade ketchup recipe that your whole family will love.
My kids want to do all the things. I shuttle them from school to the gym, to T-ball, to Awana, playdates, and everywhere in between. Some days it feels like I haven't even had a chance to sit down and then the next thing I know it's 6 PM and my kids are asking me what I'm serving for dinner. On those days I dig deep. Deep in my freezer, that is! I reach for a go-to meal that I know my kids will actually eat, Yummy Dino Buddies.
Like most kids, my children love chicken nuggets. Especially ones that are dinosaur-shaped. There's no struggle getting them to the table when I pull these fun dinosaur chicken nuggets out of the oven.
These all-white meat chicken nuggets cook up perfectly in just 12 minutes. They're not only a huge timesaver on busy weeknights, but they're also nutritionally balanced so I feel good serving them. Yummy Dino Buddies are 100% all-natural, minimally processed, and contain no antibiotics ever.
We go through a lot of these nuggets and I love to buy them in bulk at my local Sam's Club, but you can also find them at Target, BJ's Wholesale Club, Big Y, Ralph's, and other retailers throughout the country. Just check the store locator to find a retailer near you.
Another reason I love Yummy Dino Buddies is that they make a fantastic afterschool snack. When my son comes home from school, the first things he wants to do is have a snack. Instead of chips or crackers, I like to offer him his favorite dinosaur shaped nuggets that are packed with protein and Omega-3 while he does his homework.
Of course, we can't leave little sister out. She wants to do everything just like her big brother, so I usually set her up right next to him with coloring pages while he's doing his homework. At 3-years-old, she's super interested in everything dinosaurs so I print out Yummy Dino Buddies coloring pages from their website and she happily colors while he does his work. Oh, and be sure to head over to their Facebook page to learn more about each buddy. My daughter absolutely loves Petra, so sometimes I only cook up pterodactyls for her as a special surprise.
My kids love the fun shapes and the taste of Yummy Dino Buddies. They're also thrilled with the homemade ketchup I've been making. Since we go through so many nuggets around here, we also use a lot of ketchup. I decided to try my hand at making my own and it was surprisingly easy! This is a fresher, zestier version of ketchup and we are really enjoying it.
How to make homemade ketchup
Homemade Ketchup
Ditch the bottled ketchup for this homemade ketchup. It's easy to make and so tasty!
Ingredients
- 1 28 ounce can Whole tomatoes
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 2-3 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic, chopped
- ¼ cup Brown sugar
- ⅓ cup Apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- ¼ tsp Allspice
- ¼ tsp Paprika
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Ground ginger
Instructions
-
Start with a medium-sized pot on medium heat (I used ow heat on my gas range) and saute the onion and garlic in olive oil (until onion is translucent).
-
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, Worcestershire Sauce, and apple cider vinegar to the pot and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat and allow to simmer.
-
Add allspice, paprika, cinnamon, and ginger and stir. Continue to simmer for another 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
-
Carefully transfer mixture to food processor or blender (or use an immersion blender if you have one) and blend until smooth.
-
Chill in refrigerator for 2-3 hours to thicken.
Recipe Notes
Store in refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to one month.
What are your go-to meals on busy weekdays?
I'd love to hear your best suggestions or weeknight meal ideas!
Special thanks to Mirum for sponsoring this post about #YummyDinoBuddies. As always, opinions are my own.
Leave a Reply