Gnocchi: A Delicious and Easy Dinner for Guests

 Gnocchi is a delicious and easy-to-make Italian dish that is perfect for a dinner party or any other special occasion. It is made with potatoes, flour, and eggs, and can be served with a variety of sauces, such as tomato sauce, pesto, or cream sauce.

Here are some reasons why gnocchi is a good dinner for guests:

• It is delicious. Gnocchi is light and fluffy, with a slightly chewy texture. It is also very flavorful, and can be easily customized to your taste.
• It is easy to make. Gnocchi is relatively easy to make, even for beginner cooks. The dough comes together quickly, and the gnocchi can be cooked in just a few minutes.
• It is versatile. Gnocchi can be served with a variety of sauces, making it a versatile dish that can be enjoyed by everyone.
• It is affordable. Gnocchi is a relatively affordable dish to make, and can be easily scaled up or down to fit your budget.

If you are looking for a delicious, easy, and affordable dish to serve your guests, gnocchi is the perfect choice. So gather your ingredients and get ready to make some delicious gnocchi today!

I gathered 8 of my favorite gnocchi recipes to share with you. Make sure you click thru the links to get the full recipes.

1. Instant Pot Gnocchi by Thrifty Jinxy

2. Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup by Garlic Salt and Lime

3. Italian Sausage, Kale and Gnocchi Skillet by The Healthy Epicurean

4. Lemon Butter Gnocchi with Crispy Prosciutto by The Savory Cipolla

5. Gorgonzola Stuffed Gnocchi by Cooking My Dreams

6. Pan Fried Gnocchi by The Littlest Crumb

7. Pan Seared Gnocchi with Asparagus and Snap Peas by Amanda’s Cookin’ 

8. Creamy Gnocchi with Pea Puree by In the Kitch

Here are some additional tips for serving gnocchi to guests:

• Make sure the gnocchi is cooked all the way through. Overcooked gnocchi will be mushy, while undercooked gnocchi will be tough.
• Serve the gnocchi with a variety of sauces so that your guests can choose their favorite.
• Garnish the gnocchi with fresh herbs, such as parsley or basil, for a pop of color and flavor.
• Serve the gnocchi immediately after cooking for the best flavor and texture.

With these tips, you are sure to make a delicious and memorable gnocchi dinner for your guests.

Find more tasty recipes here:

Nashville Hot Chicken Fried Potatoes

Homemade strawberry syrup

Nashville Hot Chicken Fried Potatoes

Let me tell you about the tastiest way to make fried potatoes ever. If you like the flavors of Nashville Hot Chicken, then this is the place for you! These Nashville Hot Chicken Fried Potatoes are so good that you are going to crave them all the time. Luckily, they are easy to make and are a cheap and delicious side dish to so many dishes.

My son, sweet Rolf, is 12 years old now. He is only about 2" shorter than I am. His feet are twice the size of mine. He is so beautiful... but he has an appetite like no other. But, he is PICKY. I am always looking for ways to fill him up, and if I can get him to try something new, then that is wonderful. 

I tried this tasty and easy fried potato recipe for a side last week and my family loved it. Even Rolf. He has asked me to make these again already. You only need 5 ingredients to make these and they taste so good! Let me tell you how I made these.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons of Nashville Hot Chicken Seasoning (I like The Spice Lab's version)

1/2 cup - 1 cup Buttermilk 

1/2 cup of flour

1 -2 large potatoes

Oil for Frying

Directions:

Slice your potatoes using a slicer like pictured above. You want them to be thin.

Pour the buttermilk over your potatoes. If you are only making one large potato, use 1/2 a cup. For more potatoes, add more buttermilk.

Add 2 tablespoons of Nashville Hot Chicken seasoning to the buttermilk.

Gently toss so that the potatoes are completely covered with the buttermilk and seasoning.

Allow to rest in the fridge for an hour.

When the hour has passed (this is so important for the flavor!)

Mix the flour and the remaining 2 tablespoons of hot chicken seasoning.

Stir.

Dredge the potato slices through the flour.

You can just make a single layer of potatoes on a plate or something as you work your way through the slices of seasoned potatoes.

Pour your oil into a saucepan. 

Heat over medium heat for a few moments until the oil is hot enough to fry. I am sorry, I have no idea what temperature I had this oil. I just know how to fry potatoes in oil after all these years in a kitchen. HA!

I guess, I would say, I treated it just like I would fried chicken?

When the potatoes were nice and crispy, and golden brown, I pulled them out of the oil to drain on a paper towel. Use a slotted spoon!

Repeat with remaining potatoes, and these are the end results.

They have that whole spicy chicken vibe, but they are just potato slices. 

They are SO GOOD! 

These would be great for satisfying a fried chicken craving on a potato budget.  But, they are also just a great way to make potatoes super enticing on the side of any meal.

If you try this recipe, I hope you LOVE it! Be sure to save this to your pinterest food board. It would be great if you would share this recipe on social media.

Find more of my tasty food ideas here:

Cake Mix Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Fool Proof 3 Ingredient Biscuits
 

Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Shrimp

 This 6 ingredient dinner is PERFECT for busy nights this fall. It is so easy and delicious. The whole family will love this one, and it couldn't be anymore fuss free!

Now that school is back in session and we are getting geared up for the fall soccer season, I am all about sheet pan dinners. I love to toss everything in the oven and have less mess to clean up later, and I love that this dinner is fun to eat. Or am I the only one that loves biting shrimp from their tails?

This is such a fuss free meal. With just a few seasonings and some tasty butter, you are in business!

This meal only takes about 25 minutes from start to finish; so you can get a delicious dinner on the table even on the busiest of nights.

Ingredients:

1 pound of frozen shrimp

1/2 pound of baby red potatoes, halved

1 pound of asparagus

1/4 cup of butter, melted

1/2 a Lemon 

2 teaspoons of garlic, minced

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

After cutting the ends off of the asparagus and halving the potatoes, place them on a sheet pan.

Add shrimp.

Add garlic and lemon, salt and pepper to the melted butter and stir.

Drizzle the butter over everything!

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

You might like to give everything a little stir at the halfway mark so that the veggies don't stick to the pan.

Enjoy!

You can find other tasty recipes here

3 Ingredient Foolproof Biscuits

Snickerdoodle Cake

Chocolate Cherry Floats

12+ Lasagna Recipes You Will LOVE!

Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food. I love to make a pan on Sunday for a family dinner that everyone will love. I found 12 lasagna recipes you will love that I know you are going to want to check out.  This list contains a variety of styles that are all really tasty!

This list contains options from veggie loaded roll ups to vegan options and even a lazy day instant pot variety. I know you will find one or two your family will want to dig into. 

Loaded Veggie Lasagna Rolls by Meal Plan Addict
Lasagna Soup by Celebrating Sweets
Cheesy Taco Lasagna
Easy Meat Lasagna by The Curious Frugal
Electric Skillet Chicken Lasagna by In the Kitchn
Lazy Instant Pot Lasagna by Meal Plan Addict
Lasagna Cupcakes by Protecting Your Pennies
Oven Ready Lasagna by Thrifty Frugal Mom
Classic Lasagna by Texan Erin
Taco Lasagna by Eating Richly
Eggplant and Tofu Lasagna  by The Mama Maven
Baked Lasagna Roll Ups by Swirls of Flavor

You might also want to check out this Mason Jar Lasagna recipe.

10+ Tasty Sheet Pan Meals to Make

If you are looking for a delicious dinner idea that will dirty very few dishes, then you are going to want to check these ideas out! I found 10+ Tasty Sheet Pan Meals to Make that you are going to want to try! These are all totally delicious dinners and they are so easy to clean up for the win!

Guys, I love my family. Like I love these people more than life itself. But, I am tired of washing their dishes and I have cooked a million meals since quarantine started. And I am over it all. I miss restaurants so much.  While they are open with limited seating here, I am still not taking my kids out just yet.

Sheet Pan Dinners have become my saving grace. They are so easy to make and there is basically no clean up.I have found some amazing options. From pork chops to salmon, these dinner ideas are perfect for feeding a family without the fuss. If you use a paper plate to make things even easier, there will be no judgment on my part. Make sure you click through the links to visit the posts. Share your favorites to show some love to the bloggers.


Pork Chops with Broccoli by Lynchburg Mama
Sheet Pan Breakfast Bake by Delicious on a Dime
One Sheet Asian Chicken by Domestic Superhero
One Pan Chicken Shawarma  by Spend with Pennies
Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos by We Dish It Up
Cajun Shrimp Sheet Pan Meal by Taste Galaxy
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas by Love Bakes Good Cakes
Chicken and Apple Sheet Pan Dinner by Tastes of Lizzy T
Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage and Veggies by Live Laugh Rowe
Lemon Garlic Salmon by Love Bakes Good Cakes

Looking for more tasty stuff?
Don't miss these reader favorites:
Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
Blackberry Cheesecake Floats

Easy Cheesy Chicken Tacos {$7 Dinner Series}

My favorite meals to prepare for my family are easy, economical and packed full of veggies. The less time I spend cooking and cleaning up the better. I would much rather play with my kids or read them a story after dinner than spend an hour cleaning up! I would also prefer to have time to listen to my son talk about his school day over cooking!

This recipe for Easy Cheesy Chicken Tacos meets all of my criteria for a great meal! This is so easy to make and you can create this recipe for about $7 with smart shopping!

To begin here is a run down of what I purchased to create this dinner for my family and how much each ingredient cost.

Tyson 2/5 pound bag of frozen chicken breast, sale price of $4.99. I used 1/2 of the package  for a total of $2.49
1 jar of Meijer brand salsa, sale price of $1.00
1 pacakge of Meijer brand soft flour tortillas $1.49
1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese 1.00
2 ounces of cream cheese .33 (a 6 oz package was .99)
1/2 an onion  ( sale price of 67 cents for a small sweet onion) .33
1/2 a green pepper .50



For a total of $7.14

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup of cooked chicken breast
1 jar of salsa
1 package of tortillas
1/2 cup of shredded  cheese
1/3 package of cream cheese
1/2 an onion
1/2 a green pepper


Directions 
Cook your chicken in a pan of boiling water when it has reached the recommended internal temperature, remove it from heat, allow to cool to a temperature you can work with and cut it into small chunks.

Cut your onion and green pepper into small chunks

Add salsa, cream cheese, shredded cheese, chicken and chopped veggies to a medium size pan, over medium heat, allow the cream cheese and shredded cheese to melt, stirring several times. Once the cheese is melted you can serve this on soft tortillas for an easy meal your family will love.

Garnish with Sour cream or hot sauce if desired.

I often serve this with a side of Spanish Rice, or a light salad. The best part is this is one meal my entire family loves!


You might also enjoy this Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe from my $7 Dinner Series.

Mason Jar Lasagna

Mason Jar Lasagna is a fun way to easily take a favorite dish picnic style for date night or a family dinner at the park!

There is something about mason jars that make me giddy. They are so incredibly useful; they are cute and come in so many shapes and sizes, and they are perfect for taking delicious things just about anywhere! 

There is also something about lasagna that makes me swoon. The layers, the cheesy dreamy textures, the sauce. Sigh, now that folks, is what dinner is all about the euphoria the mention of a food, like lasagna, can give you!

I brought these 2 favorite things together to create an awesome dish to take along with us, while we enjoyed this unseasonably nice Ohio winter weather! Mason Jar Lasagna keeps warm during the transport, is so easy to eat, where ever and it adds so many amazing layers to the dish that who could resist it?

My recipe is a little better than anyone else's because of my secret ingredient cream sauce, but I am going to share it with you because anything this yummy should be shared with a smile!

Ingredients:

1 pound of Ground Beef, browned

1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce

8 lasagna noodles broken into chunks to fit into a mason jar

2 cups of mozzarella or Italian Cheese

1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms

1 cup of diced onions and green peppers

Secret Cream Sauce {see below}

Directions

Begin layering all ingredients into jars until they are almost full. 

Seal the jars and submerge them in a pot of boiling water for about 10-12 minutes until the noodles are cooked and the layers are thoroughly heated. 

Carefully remove them and wrap them in towels to transport, or pop the lids off and enjoy right away. These jars will stay piping hot for about 25 to 30 minutes!

Secret Recipe Cream Sauce for Lasagna

1 block of cream cheese

2 ounces of milk

garlic powder

Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the cream cheese is completely melted

This is such an easy recipe for a yummy dinner that is packed full of veggies and cheese, not to mention meat and sauce!

Do you have a favorite mason jar recipe? I would love to hear about it!

20 Chicken Recipes You won't Want to Miss

I don't know if I ever mentioned to you guys that I stopped eating beef and pork? I mean, it is not that I don't love those two meats, but I am kinda going thru this picky eater stage and I am only consuming chicken and fish these days.

So, chicken or seafood every day takes some skill. I have to prepare it in different ways or I will dread dinner time! I turned to my fellow bloggers and started discovering some amazingly delicious recipes for dinner that I know you won't want to miss.

Here are 20 Chicken Dinners that you will want to try. From chili to wraps, tacos to fajitas, there is a chicken recipe for everyone in this collection!

Cheesy Chicken Taquitos
Peanut Butter Chicken
Dr. Pepper Smoked Chicken
Easy Chicken Marsala
Red Chicken Chili

Hot Chicken Salad Braid
Buffalo Chicken Avocado Ranch Wraps
Chicken with Bleu Cheese and Grapes
20 Minute Skillet Chicken and Spinach Parmesan
Chicken & Cheese Stuffed Shells

Roasted Chicken Fajitas
Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Baked Chicken Fajitas
EasyTex Mex Chicken
Chicken Bacon Pizza
Garlic Chicken Pesto with Tomato Cream Sauce
Chicken and Cornbread Casserole

We love Cheesy Chicken Taquitos! This is one of my husbands favorite recipes! I can't wait to make my own Chicken Bacon Pizza and skip carry out pizza! Which of these recipes do you want to try first? Do you have a go to chicken recipe? I would love to hear about it!

12 Apple Inspired Dinners

It is time to head to the orchard and harvest plenty of

beautiful apples! I will,of course, make apple crisps, pies, and even applesauce, but this year, my mind is going to dinner inspiration instead of just desserts!

I found 12 awesome apple inspired dinners that I will certainly be making after my trips to the orchard! From slaws to salads and so many other dishes that there has to be something on this list for everyone!

Why not add an apple to dinner? You know what they say about keeping the doctor away and all!

Apple, Berry and Brie Turkey Burgers

Cabbage, Apple and Kale Salad

Slow Cooker Apple Pork Roast

Pressure Cooker Porkchops with Applesauce

Apple Pork Tenderloin

Apple Cheddar Soup

Apple Meatloaf

Apple Cider Mac n Cheese

Spinach, Apple and Glazed Pecan Salad

Shaved Brussles Sprouts with Apples and Walnuts

Bok Choy and Apple Greek Yogurt Slaw

Apple Chicken Salad

Which of these recipes will you try first? The apple chicken salad sounds perfect for a picnic dinner amidst the crunchy leaves. If you have a recipe that puts apples in your dinner I would love to hear about it!

Crab Cakes Recipe Made With John Wm Macy's Cheesesticks

Crab Cakes are the things that my seafood dreams are made of.  I cannot resist  them! I have 2 recipes that I like to use when I make them at home! But, this time, I switched things up and added my favorite snack of all times {John Wm Macy's Cheese sticks!} to the mix. What I created was nothing short of incredible. This recipe comes together in a flash, is packed with delicious flavors and it always leaves me wishing for leftovers for breakfast the next morning!

We live in Ohio. Our access to fresh seafood is seriously limited. Luckily, both Kroger and Meijer carry good brands of canned claw meat. I prefer to use blue crab in this recipe as I like the flavor it offers. You can use whatever variety of crab meat you have access to.  In a pinch I have used imitation crab meat {if that is what you can get, by all means go for it!}

Crab Cakes with John Wm. Macy Cheesesticks.

Ingredients
8 ounces of blue crab claw meat
1 egg
3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons of honey mustard
2/3 cup of John Wm. Macy Cheddar Cheese sticks; crushed finely
1/4 cup sweet onion chopped finely

Cooking Directions

Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of butter at a time to the skillet. {Add more as needed.}
Mix crab meat, egg, mayonnaise, mustard and onion together. Stir well.
Add 1/2 cup of John Wm. Macy Cheese stick crumbs and mix well.
Shape your patties by hand.
Coat the crab cakes in the remaining cheese stick crumbs
Place in hot skillet, frying until golden brown

The honey mustard in this recipe offers a touch of sweetness to the crab cakes which totally makes them crave-worthy! If there is left over butter left that wasn't used for frying I might add a tiny touch of it to the top of the hot crab cakes to enhance the flavor even more!

I used original cheddar in this recipe, but John Wm. Macy's has so many amazing flavors. Any of them would be amazing in this recipe. The Asiago and Cheddar variety will definitely be going in this recipe soon!

If you haven't tried John Wm. Macy's Cheesesticks yet. You seriously have to. My son hates cheese... but he told me, "These are the kind of cheese I like!" With a dreamy sigh and a cheesestick in hand I said "Me too Roo... me too."

John Wm. Macy offers delectable flavors such as Jalapeno Cheddar, Dijon Swiss, Melting Parmesan and Madagascar Vanilla to name a few. Check out their store locator or shop to order some. You will be so glad you did!!

Do you love crab cakes? Do you go out to get your fix of these little bits of yum or do you make them at home? I would love to hear either about your recipe or your favorite place to indulge in crab cakes!

You might also enjoy this Easy Cheesy Chicken Tacos recipe

Taco Pasta Salad

My favorite meals to prepare are the ones that come together quickly, that can be served simply without a lot of fuss, and of course the ones that offer leftovers. My family loves leftovers so I consider myself fortunate! We all love pasta and who doesn't like a great taco? Combining them creates a meal that can be made ahead of time, that can be served without any prep work after a long day, and that will have your family asking for leftovers guaranteed! My favorite thing about this dish is that it is served cold. We have this at least once a month in the summer!

Taco Pasta Salad

Ingredients

1- 16 ounce box of garden rotini cooked al dente and chilled

1 pound of lean ground beef, browned, drained and chilled

1 12 ounce bottle of Catalina Salad Dressing

1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

1 envelope of mild taco seasoning

1/2 cup of black olives

1 cup of cherry tomatoes

1 medium sweet onion, sliced or diced {your preference}

1 bell pepper, sliced or diced

salsa

sour cream

Nacho Cheese Doritos

Directions

Prepare ground beef with taco seasoning, allow to cool to room temperature then chill

Prepare rotini al dente style, allow to come to room temperature

After the first two steps have been completed, combine the pasta and Catalina Salad Dressing.

Mix well until all pasta has been coated. 

Add cheese

Add the taco meat and stir well, evenly distributing the cheese and meat.

Prepare the fresh vegetables, but place them in individual sealable containers or baggies.

When it is time to serve, start with a bed of Doritos, then spoon the pasta mixture over them.

Top with vegetables, salsa and sour cream to your liking.

This makes a generous amount of Taco Pasta Salad. My family of 2 adults and 2 children will usually have this for 3 meals. I love to add lettuce to mine with lots of onions and olives. My husband loves the peppers and tomatoes, so offering the toppings on the side allows us the opportunity to make it to taste with our veggies. The kids are just thrilled to have a meal with chips in it! Ha! To be honest, that appeals to me too sometimes!

Another favorite recipe that we sometimes serve with this Taco Pasta Salad that is light and crowd pleasing is my Veggie Pizza. Again this is a cold serve recipe and I love how we can get even more fresh veggies into our meal in such a yummy way!