One thing that is incredibly important for us (and has been even before we had children) was to eat dinner together as a family.
It’s our time to connect. Our time to learn about each others days. To listen to engage and to be brought back together.
After a blessing, and once we start eating, the conversation starts (as well as requests for different food, more food, a new fork, a different drink, a cup like her sister’s etc) as we start learning what everybody did during the day.
It really connects us. And many times the conversations include life lessons. For example, we always listen to our teachers, we always use our forks or spoons to eat, we keep our feet off the table, we don’t hit our friends, we use nice words like “please” and “thank you” and many more. And, even with disgruntled faces over turns, everybody worked together to create our lunch.
During Family Forward, last month, we learned about Barilla’s efforts for Sharing the table. It’s not about a huge elaborate meal, but sitting down together, learning how to read a recipe and putting a meal together as a family.
We bonded over pasta and made the Penne Pasta Salad with grilled chicken, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes, arugula, fresh mozzarella and basil. {PRO tip, do not, I repeat, DO NOT allow the kids to “salt to taste” because they will dump in the entire salt serving yielding your special gluten free individual portion completely not edible!}
It’s nice to see a company that values bringing the family together at the dinner table because it seems more and more than companies don’t value the family dinner time.
Penne Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 Box Barilla Penne
- 4 tbs Olive oil
- 2 each Roasted red Bell Peppers diced
- ½ cup Sun Dried Tomatoes in oil, chopped
- 3 cups Baby Arugula
- 2 balls Mozzarella fresh, diced
- Salt to taste black pepper to taste
- ½ Lemon juice
- 4 leaves Basil chopped
- 2 cups chicken grilled, diced
- Preparation 10 minutes preparation + 10 minutes cooking
Instructions
- Grilled and dice 2 cups of chicken breast.
- Prepare pasta according to box, less one minute.
- Drain and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, place on sheet tray to cool down.
- Place in a large bowl and add all remaining ingredients
- Toss to combine
Krystyn has been blogging since 2005. She is a sarcasm-loving, straight-shooting, jeans and t-shirts wearing, wife and mom of four girls (ages 14, 12, 9 and 7). She blogs about life as a mom and wife and includes funny stories, family travel, fitness, recipes, STEM and more. She currently resides in the Atlanta, Georgia suburbs.
Meghan @JaMonkey says
This looks so yummy!
Krystyn says
It was so good!
Demetra says
This would be delicious served warm too. I’ll definitely try this recipe
Krystyn says
We had it more like room temperature which was perfect. Hot might make the arugula a little wilty, but other than that…yum!
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
ooooooh… sorry about the heavy salt dump!! We’re big on sharing family dinner at the table, too.
Krystyn says
Yeah…I tried to eat it and couldn’t. Thankfully, they had more prepared!
pat chance says
it was fun cooking together and the pasta was delicious for sure.
noelle d says
that sounds really good 😉
thanks for sharing
Krystyn says
The girls have asked for it again, so I know it was good…they just want it without the funny lettuce:)
BusyWorkingMama says
I love the lemon in here! I am definitely going to be making this recipe again!
jyl from @momitforward says
I absolutely love that pic of your daughter tossing in the peppers. Wasn’t it great working as families to create this meal and experience? Loved that we got to do this!
Elisabeth says
I love how simple this recipe is! Perfect to make with your kids.