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Moments of Musing

Quick & Easy Healthy Family Dinners & Sides, Part 2

Filed Under: healthy meal, healthy recipes, motherhood, tara allen health // December 4, 2019

When I recently met Tara of Tara Allen Health at a local open house for a motherhood programming center,  we instantly clicked. She has been kind enough to share a bunch of healthy family-friendly dinners and sides that are quick and easy to make. These are perfect for everyone. They take at most four steps and 30 minutes to prepare! So you can make these even if you are short on time (they take 30-minutes at most!) or do not consider yourself a master in the kitchen.


Tara is a women’s health RN and certified: health coach, personal trainer, and nutrition specialist. She is also the lady behind SnugBug Fitness – the original babywearing and pregnancy exercise classes.

Be sure to tag her on Facebook and Instagram if you make any of her recipes!


This is part 2 of a mini series. Bon appetit!


Pressure Cooker Cashew Chicken

nuggets, chicken nuggets, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog, cauliflower rice, taco skillet, turkey taco

11 ingredients · 25 minutes · 2 servings

 Ingredients

2 tsps Avocado Oil (divided)

2 tbsps Coconut Aminos

1 tbsp Sugar Free Ketchup
1 tbsp Rice Vinegar
1 1/2 tbsps Orange Juice
1 Garlic (clove, minced)
8 ozs Chicken Breast (skinless, boneless, cubed)
2 tsps Arrowroot Powder (divided)
2 tsps Water
1/2 cup Cashews
1 stalk Green Onion (optional, sliced)

Directions
1. In a small bowl, add half the avocado oil, coconut aminos, ketchup, rice vinegar, orange
juice and garlic. Whisk to combine.
2. Toss the cubed chicken breast with half the arrowroot powder. Turn on the pressure
cooker to sauté mode. Add the remaining avocado oil and the chicken then sear for 1 to
2 minutes. Press cancel and then pour the sauce on top. Set to “sealing” then press
manual/pressure cooker and cook for 10 minutes on high pressure. Once finished,
manually release the pressure.
3. While the chicken is cooking, whisk the remaining arrowroot powder and water in a small
bowl. Remove the lid carefully on the pressure cooker and whisk to combine the
arrowroot/water mixture. Add the cashews and stir.

4. Divide onto plates and garnish with green onion (optional). Enjoy!



Eggs in a Butternut Squash Nest

nuggets, chicken nuggets, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog, cauliflower rice, taco skillet, turkey taco, butternut squash

5 ingredients · 15 minutes · 1 serving

 Ingredients
3/4 cup Butternut Squash (spiralized into
noodles)
1 tsp Coconut Oil
2 Egg
Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
2 tbsps Microgreens (optional)

 Directions
1. Form the spiralized squash noodles into nests, making a small well in the center for the
egg.
2. Heat a pan over medium heat and add the coconut oil. Use a spatula to transfer the
squash nests to the pan and cook for about 7 minutes.
3. Crack eggs into cups and transfer them into the wells of the squash nests. Cook for
about 3 to 4 minutes or until the whites have set and it is cooked to your liking. Cover the
pan with a lid to speed up the cooking time.
4. Transfer the egg nests onto a plate and season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Garnish with microgreens (optional) and enjoy!

Classic Tacos

nuggets, chicken nuggets, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog, cauliflower rice, taco skillet, turkey taco
9 ingredients · 25 minutes · 4 servings

 Ingredients
8 Corn Tortilla
1 tbsp Avocado Oil
1 lb Extra Lean Ground Beef
1 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/2 head Green Lettuce (small, finely chopped)
2 Tomato (medium, diced)

 Directions
1. Prepare tortillas according to instructions on the package.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the avocado oil and the beef, stirring to break
it up as it cooks. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, salt and cumin to the pan. Once
the beef is cooked through, remove from heat.
3. Add the ground beef, lettuce and tomatoes to the center of each tortilla. Fold in half and
enjoy immediately.

One Pan Roasted Edamame & Broccoli Salad

nuggets, chicken nuggets, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, broccoli, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog, cauliflower rice, taco skillet, turkey taco, edamame
7 ingredients · 30 minutes · 4 servings

 Ingredients
5 cups Broccoli (chopped into florets)
1 cup Frozen Edamame (shelled)
1 cup Walnuts
1/4 cup Avocado Oil (divided)
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tbsp Almond Butter
1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

 Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450ºF (232ºC) and line baking sheet with foil.
2. In a large mixing bowl, toss the broccoli florets, edamame, walnuts, half the avocado oil,
and season with salt. Transfer to baking sheet and spread into an even layer. Bake for 25
minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a small jar, combine the remaining avocado oil, almond butter and apple
cider vinegar. Shake well. Add more water to thin if necessary.
4. Drizzle desired amount of dressing over top of the salad and serve.

Penne with Bursted Cherry Tomato Sauce

nuggets, chicken nuggets, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog, cauliflower rice, taco skillet, turkey taco

7 ingredients · 30 minutes · 2 servings

 Ingredients
4 ozs Chickpea Pasta (dry)
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cups Cherry Tomatoes
2 Garlic (cloves, minced)
Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
1 cup Basil Leaves (chopped)
1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast

 Directions
1. Cook pasta according to the directions on the package. Run under cold water once
cooked to prevent from over cooking.
2. In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes, garlic, salt
and pepper. Stir occasionally and cook until all the tomatoes have burst, about 15 to 20
minutes.
3. Toss pasta with the chopped basil and divide onto plates. Top each serving with the
tomato sauce and nutritional yeast. Enjoy!

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Quick & Easy Family-Friendly Dinners & Sides, Part 1

Filed Under: healthy meal, healthy recipes, motherhood, tara allen health // October 30, 2019

When I recently met Tara of Tara Allen Health at a local open house for a motherhood programming center,  we instantly clicked. She has been kind enough to share a bunch of healthy family-friendly dinners and sides that are quick and easy to make. These are perfect for everyone. They take at most four steps and 30 minutes to prepare! So you can make these even if you are short on time (they take 30-minutes at most!) or do not consider yourself a master in the kitchen.


Tara is a women’s health RN and certified: health coach, personal trainer, and nutrition specialist. She is also the lady behind SnugBug Fitness – the original babywearing and pregnancy exercise classes.

Be sure to tag her on Facebook and Instagram if you make any of her recipes!


This is part 1 of a mini series. Bon appetit!

Turmeric Chicken Nuggets 

nuggets, chicken nuggets, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog

6 ingredients · 30 minutes · 5 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup Oats (rolled) 
  • 2 tbsps Turmeric 
  • 1/4 tsp Sea Salt 
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper 
  • 1 lb Chicken Breast (boneless, cubed) 
  • 2 tbsps Avocado Oil (divided)

Directions

  1. In a food processor blend the rolled oats, turmeric powder, sea salt and black pepper until a flour-like consistency forms. 
  2. In a separate bowl, toss the cubed chicken breast in half of the avocado oil until evenly distributed. Pour the oat mixture over the chicken and toss until the chicken is coated. 
  3. Warm a skillet over medium heat and add the remaining oil. Add the breaded chicken to the pan and cook for 10 minutes per side. For the final 2 minutes, add a lid and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). 
  4. Serve the chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Maple Turkey Burgers 

burgers, turkey burgers, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog


6 ingredients · 30 minutes · 4 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb Extra Lean Ground Turkey 
  • 2 tbsps Maple Syrup 
  • 1 tsp Dried Thyme 
  • 2 tsps Ground Sage 
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt 
  • 2 tbsps Coconut Oil

Directions 

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, maple syrup, thyme, sage and salt. 
  2. Divide and form the mixture into half-inch thick patties. Place on a parchment-lined tray and chill in the freezer for approximately 15 minutes. 
  3. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan over medium heat. Fry each burger patty until cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes per side. 
  4. Set aside to cool slightly. Enjoy!

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta 

pasta, sundried tomatoes, creamy sundried tomato sauce, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog
12 ingredients · 20 minutes · 4 servings
Ingredients 
  • 1 tbsp Avocado Oil 
  • 2 Garlic (clove, minced) 
  • 1 tbsp Arrowroot Powder 
  • 1 1/2 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk 
  • 1/2 cup Sun Dried Tomatoes (drained) 
  • 1 tbsp Nutritional Yeast 
  • 1/2 tsp Sea Salt 
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice 
  • 8 ozs Chickpea Pasta 
  • 1 cup Asparagus (trimmed, cut into bite-sized pieces) 
  • 1/4 cup Parsley (chopped) 
  • 1/2 tsp Chili Flakes (optional)
Directions 
  1. Heat avocado oil in a pan over medium-low heat and add garlic. Cook for 1 minute. Add the arrowroot powder and cook for another minute. Then add the almond milk and stir to combine. Stir until the milk has thickened. 
  2. Pour the almond milk mixture into a blender along with the sun dried tomatoes, nutritional yeast, sea salt and lemon juice. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more water to thin if needed. Set aside. 
  3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and add the pasta back to the pot. 
  4. In a pan over medium heat, add the asparagus and sauté until cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Once cooked through, add the asparagus in with the pasta. Mix in the sun dried tomato sauce. Divide onto plates and top with parsley and chili flakes, if using. Serve and enjoy!

Creamy Sweet Potato Noodle Bowl

nuggets, chicken nuggets, pasta, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog

7 ingredients · 25 minutes · 2 servings

Ingredients
  • 4 slices Organic Bacon (roughly chopped)
  • 2 tbsps Shallot (finely chopped)
  • 2 Garlic (cloves, minced)
  • 1 cup Organic Coconut Milk (canned, full fat)
  • 1 Sweet Potato (large, spiralized into noodles)
  • 2 cups Baby Spinach
  • Sea Salt & Black Pepper (to taste)
 Directions
  1. In a large pan, fry the chopped bacon over medium heat until cooked through. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Keep the bacon drippings in the pan.
  2. In the same pan add the shallot. Cook over medium-low heat until cooked, about 4 to 5minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more. Next, add the coconut milk and stir, letting it simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the sweet potato noodles, cover and cook until softened, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until just wilted. Remove the pan from the heat and add the diced bacon back in. Toss everything together, plate and enjoy!

Turkey Taco Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

nuggets, chicken nuggets, family meals, healthy meals, family friendly, mom blogger, mom life, llfe with kids, nyc blog, food blog, long island blog, cauliflower rice, taco skillet, turkey taco
13 ingredients · 30 minutes · 4 servings

 Ingredients
  • 1 tsp Avocado Oil
  • 1 lb Extra Lean Ground Turkey
  • 1/2 Yellow Onion (chopped)
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper (diced)
  • 1 Yellow Bell Pepper (diced)
  • 1 tbsp Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1/4 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 3/4 cups Diced Tomatoes (from the can)
  • 5 cups Cauliflower Rice
  • 1 Avocado (sliced, optional)
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro (chopped, optional)
 Directions
  1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the avocado oil. Add the ground turkey, onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and sea salt. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until cooked through. Add the tomatoes, stir well and remove from heat.
  2. Divide the cauliflower rice into bowls then top with the turkey, avocado and cilantro. Enjoy!

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