Having a hard time deciding what to fix? How about two favorites rolled into one?

“Guess what? I told all my friends we could have the movie night at our house!” Okay, I heard that quite a bit when our kids were growing up. I was always glad to have their friends over but sometimes I didn’t have a plan for snacks. Sometimes you just want a bit more than chips and salsa.

This great recipe is something that you can easily keep on hand to make up at a moments notice. Whew!

Because this is such a crowd pleaser try making this and see how fast they fly off the plate!

This is a recipe I came across when I was looking up quick and easy appitizers and meals. I think we may just have a winner.

I love that you can add in your favorite ingredients as well. I love olives, but two of our boys aren’t sauce big fans. No problem!

This is what the great folks at Old El Paso has to say about their recipe.

Switch up taco night by combining two family favorites into one tasty dish – Taco Pizza Rolls!

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Quick Tip: Make up some guacamole and place a bowl of salsa or pico de gallo on the table.

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This Applebee’s dish will make your taste buds Dance!

What do you think about when you consider going out to eat? Is it the fresh bread they set on your table or the chips and homemade salsa, followed by a sizzling hit tray of food? Or do you find that you just can’t get enough of their salads. Especially if it is one of the signature dishes.

I think this is one that many would agree should always be on the menu at Applebee’s.

For those who have never been to an Applebee’s it would be similar to a Tim Hortons, Cracker Barrel, or a Black Bear Diner.

Sometimes you just need a lighter fare over anything that comes with a red or white sauce, or gravy. This is it.

The super flavorful Oriental Salad that is memorable long after the bill has been paid and the waitress tipped. The servings are usually so big, why not ask for a take out box when you order and put half inside the “to-go” so you don’t have to worry about what to take for lunch the next day!

This is what  has to say about this awesome salad.

Who here loves Salad? I’m obsessed – really! I’m not lying when I say that I order salad 90% of the time when we go out to eat. It’s not just because salads tend to be a little healthier, it’s because they taste SO good to me!

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Quick Tip: Not really a fan of pan frying? Go ahead and bake these breaded chicken strips at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until done.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Kristyn of Lil’ Luna.

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 This plate is full of flavor without being full of guilt!

Sometimes it is easy to be jealous of someones’ plate. Especially if you are counting calories or carbs!

Trust me I know! I have been dieting my whole life and there is nothing more frustrating than trying to cut back on your calorie intake, knowing that you will not be eating the food you love! Sure, this might mean that the super cheesy sour cream chicken enchiladas don’t take front and center on the menu, but when you add in great options like this salad you won’t even miss it.

I also love that you can have all the ingredients prepped and ready to toss together during the week for lunches. I think one of the things that sabotages alot of our eating is the fact we don’t plan ahead and have food that is healthy ready to eat WHEN we are hungry. As a result we end up just grabbing something from the snack bar, the food truck, drive-thru, or the fridge.

Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your taste and needs. On a Weight Watchers point program? Cut down on the corn and beans and add in bell peppers and spicy pickled carrots.

This is what Erin of Well Plated has to say about her yummy salad.

This Skinny Taco Salad is also ideal for meal prep. Chop the veggies and cook the turkey in advance and store them individually in the refrigerator. Then throughout the week, you can quickly assemble individual portions and add any other toppings you desire.

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Quick Tip: If you are taking this salad to work or on your next picnic, consider layering the ingredients with the dressing on the bottom, followed by meat, beans, corn, tomatoes, and then lettuce last. When ready to serve turn it upside down on a plate or bowl.

Recipe and Photo courtesy of Erin at Well Plated. 

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The foundation of this dish is unbelievable, as in unbelievably easy….unbelievably delicious!

I probably sound like a broken record. If you are too young to know what that is, they are like CDs only really big and if you leave them in direct sun that can get a little melted.

Sorry, I guess that it a bit off topic – SQUIRREL!

But the point I am making is cooking more than you need in order to use it later. For example, this is a great recipe to double, then cut up the chicken and make chicken enchiladas for later in the week or for a few weeks down the road. If you are limited on freezer space, go ahead and cube up chicken and put into quart sized zip lock bag to use later.

Everything you can do ahead will save you time, energy and even financially later so try to think ahead. Cook Once, east twice isn’t just a nice sentiment, it is a lifestyle.

This is what Kimber from The Pinning Mama has to say about her creative dish.

I will admit that I eat nachos far more than I probably should.  I do try to pack them full of healthy extras to justify it, like corn, black beans, avocado, fresh cilantro, and tomatoes.  Doesn’t that sounds delicious?  So why stop there?  I mean the nachos are good because of all the stuff topping them, so why not take all that good stuff and bake it with some tender, juicy chicken breast? BINGO!  The Queso Chicken Bake was born!

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Quick Tip: Go ahead and cut into strips for smaller portion size, dice it up an you have the fixing for an awesome south of the border quesadilla.

Photo and recipe courtesy of  Kimber at The Pinning Mama

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]]> http://urbanretrorecipes.com/5-ingredients-away-fantastic-chicken-dish-perfect-busy-schedules/feed/ 0 http://urbanretrorecipes.com/hard-pressed-find-better-sandwich/ http://urbanretrorecipes.com/hard-pressed-find-better-sandwich/#respond Sat, 17 Jun 2017 06:26:58 +0000 http://urbanretrorecipes.com/?p=1156 No Panini press? Not to worry! You can make this in your waffle maker! Crazy right? Turning your waffle maker into a sandwich press but I do it all the time. I figure if a kitchen appliance can do double duty then it is a huge score. Having said that, I am pretty sure our […]

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No Panini press? Not to worry! You can make this in your waffle maker!

Crazy right? Turning your waffle maker into a sandwich press but I do it all the time. I figure if a kitchen appliance can do double duty then it is a huge score.

Having said that, I am pretty sure our waffle make has made the same amount of grilled cheese sandwiches as it has actual waffles.

We are totally Okay with that.

So go ahead! create something that you can be super proud of. Be the sandwich artist!

This is what the folks at Center Cut Cook had to say about this fun and easy recipe.

Summer is such a perfect time to make sandwiches because they are super quick and easy, and you can load ‘em up with all kinds of fun ingredients including garden fresh vegetables! The best part is that you can customize each sandwich to suite everyone’s tastes including picky kiddos.

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Quick Tip: I think I am going to make some small sandwiches on baguettes to serve as an appetizer the next time I make soup for a crowd.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Center Cut Cook

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]]> http://urbanretrorecipes.com/hard-pressed-find-better-sandwich/feed/ 0 http://urbanretrorecipes.com/takeout-can-make-home-30-minutes/ http://urbanretrorecipes.com/takeout-can-make-home-30-minutes/#respond Thu, 01 Jun 2017 03:45:38 +0000 http://urbanretrorecipes.com/?p=944 If You Love PF Changs, You Will Go Wild Over These Lettuce Wraps – Now that the days are getting warmer I am ready to unroll the hammock, make some sun tea, and add some fresh recipes to my summer menu repertoire. This recipe is a delicious and eye-catching fare. The lettuce is a perfect […]

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If You Love PF Changs, You Will Go Wild Over These Lettuce Wraps –

Now that the days are getting warmer I am ready to unroll the hammock, make some sun tea, and add some fresh recipes to my summer menu repertoire.

This recipe is a delicious and eye-catching fare. The lettuce is a perfect bowl for the well-seasoned chicken. Technically this is an appetizer, but it is so good that you might want to have a few and call it a meal!

When you have a big family, eating out can be a huge expense. We rarely went out to eat unless it was someone’s birthday or we were just coming home from a football game.

I had heard about PF Changs before but I have yet to go. All I know is that when people talk about this restaurant they smile and let out a sigh, The food is that good.

When I saw this recipe I realized I don’t actually have to go to PF Changs.It can come to me!

So guess what I have on our menu this week? I don’t think you need a fortune cookie to figure that out!

This is what Alison of Home and Plate has to say about her clever creation.

It was a recent visit to PF Chang’s for a family dinner that my teenage son decided to try this famous appetizer for the first time. We had two orders on the table and it was love at first bite. Literally!

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Quick Tip: If you want a small kick of spice in your meat, try replacing chicken with a 1/4 pound spicy sausage.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Alison at Home and Plate 

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]]> http://urbanretrorecipes.com/takeout-can-make-home-30-minutes/feed/ 0 http://urbanretrorecipes.com/its-all-greek-to-me/ http://urbanretrorecipes.com/its-all-greek-to-me/#respond Wed, 31 May 2017 06:49:20 +0000 http://urbanretrorecipes.com/?p=935 It’s Not Just A Salad. It is a Way Of Life! If you have ever been to a women’s salad luncheon you understand the urgent need to freshen up the menu pool. I get it. I really do. There is a comfort in knowing that the salad you always make doesn’t even require you to […]

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It’s Not Just A Salad. It is a Way Of Life!

If you have ever been to a women’s salad luncheon you understand the urgent need to freshen up the menu pool.

I get it. I really do. There is a comfort in knowing that the salad you always make doesn’t even require you to break open a cookbook or reference one of the magazines that you have stacked up next to your bed.

When we lived in Minnesota, one of the things considered a salad was Jell-O with fruit cocktail and a dollop of Cool Whip. Maybe it was just me, but seeing a rainbow of assorted Jell-O salads was a bit alarming.

I mean if it was the dessert bar, I guess I would understand, but there are some serious things to take into consideration when it comes to building a perfect salad. This salad has so many awesome ingredients that all you need to do is add a piece of chicken and you are ready to go!

This is what Karina of Cafe Delights says about this fresh side.

Avocado Greek Salad is a twist on the traditional Greek Salad! Normally, an authentic Greek salad does not contain avocado or lettuce but consists of green peppers (or capsicum), tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olives, and onion. In this house, however, we always add avocado. Avocado – on – everything – addiction. And why not?! It’s such a great addition, you’ll be doing it too!

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Quick Tip: If you buy an avocado that isn’t ripe you can help Mother Nature a bit by doing the following.  Completely wrap avocado with tinfoil, then place it in a baking dish, and transferring it to a 200°F oven for 10 minutes, or until it softens. Avocados release ethylene gas, which ultimately promotes ripening. Who Knew?

Recipe and photo courtesy of Karina of Cafe Delights

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