This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyWayToVeg #CollectiveBias
Chock-full of chickpeas, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, eggplant, diced tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, this MorningStar Farms® Italian Sausage Bake Veggie Bowl makes a fast and easy lunch or dinner for your healthier lifestyle! Veggie Bowls are a wonderful meal solution for the busy holidays. Or anytime!
If your upcoming week is anything like mine, you’ve got a to-do list a mile long. With the upcoming holidays in sight, things are getting a little crazy with a capital C around here.
And if you’ve got kids at home or remember back to the days when you did, it doesn’t even need to be the holidays for things to get a little wild. (Capital W that too.)
Moms and dad of littles need alone time to recharge after long days and weeks. It’s great to relax together over an easy no-prep and nutritious meal like this delicious Veggie Bowl with a glass of vino at the end of the day. Followed by a romantic movie. I would know! I call it “recharge” and “recover.” And for good reason.
We have four boys, and I won’t forget the morning I returned from having breakfast with some girlfriends years ago. We had just two boys at the time. So I get home and my husband Jon has a funny look on his face. He reported that he’d been giving the six month old a bath as the just-turned three year old watched a cartoon in the living room.
While rinsing the baby’s hair, Jon hears the sound of a motor downstairs. And since most little boys are fascinated with new machines, and I’d just gotten a Kitchen Aid, he guessed the three year old turned it on. Snatching a towel and a bewildered baby, he races down the stairs towards the kitchen to find the step ladder set up below the key rack by the front door. The door is wide open. The motor was not the Kitchen Aid.
That just-turned three year old had gotten a stepladder, snatched the key ring from the key hooks, found the right key to unlock the inside deadbolt on the front door. And the correct key to start the…. CAR. Aaaaack!!! He was found behind the steering wheel, a triumphant smile on his cherubic face…
THIS is exactly why parents need to recharge and recover with quiet time, an easy meal and a drink. So they can BREATHE the next breath. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
I could regale you with more entertaining stories re: my own need to re-group and recharge through the years, and even quite recently. But my recharge needs can’t be as acute as my girlfriend with nine children. Yep, she has nine. Like The Sound of Music, just more kids! Gulp.
Not long ago she was coming over for afternoon coffee and running late. Texted to say she’d explain when she got here. So they were watching a friend’s dog for the week. And the dog chased their cat up into a second floor bedroom. In terror, the cat flies across the double bed and THROUGH the screen of an open window. Lands on the roof (yes, there was a roof!), the dog in hot pursuit.
My friend was late not because of her nine children, but because she was out on the roof rescuing a terrified cat and a cat crazed dog! Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. She could really use this Italian Sausage Bake and a quiet moment too. For sure.
Veggie Bowls are for regular people like us who are busy living life but want a great veggie cuisine option to add to the menu rotation. Delicious and packed with protein, Veggie Bowls are an easy and nutritious meal option. Add these delicious Veggie Bowls to your shopping list for an easy meal your whole family will enjoy. Learn more about MorningStar Farms® products here!
Connect with MorningStar Farms® on Facebook or follow them on Pinterest here !
Find MorningStar Farms on Twitter @MorningStrFarms and Instagram @morningstarfarms
You may also like: Garlic Chicken Thighs
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
Yikes! You just never know what kids will get into…or start up! This veggie bowl looks like a great way to recharge and relax! I hope your Thanksgiving week is relaxing! 🙂
Aunt Margie says
I LOVE the story of your inventive #one son upping the ante from cartoons to driving lessons! What a nightmare for the babysitter, AKA Dad! And thanks for the recipe via a grocery run! SMILE!
Allie says
Many thanks Aunt Margie! XO
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Haha! Wow Allie, your then 3 year old was one brilliant fella to have figured out how to get out of the house, into the car and turn it on! Between your friend and you, y’all could write a book of shenanigans and mischief – eh?! 🙂
By the way, I adore morningstar farms veggie bowls! They are perfect for those busy nights!
Here’s hoping you and your family have a wonderfully happy and safe Thanksgiving! xoxo
Allie says
Hey Miss Shashi – we could TOTALLY write a shenanigans book. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving too. We did, besides lots of extra traffic on our way home from PA. But other than THAT, it was perfect. 🙂
Susie Mandel says
I love how you are sneaking in stories with your recipes. 🙂 I heard you mention once the car starting story but hadn’t heard the whole thing…WOW, and your friend on the roof! Yikes!
olivia @ livforcake says
OMG that story about your 3 year old starting the car — what on earth possessed him to do that?? And your friend with the cat and dog – hilarious! Oh the craziness you put up with. Definitely need something delicious as this to recharge! Helps that it’s easy too 🙂
Michelle says
The car?!! Holy moly…now that is scary! Thank goodness nothing happened!!! KIDS!!
We have rescued one of our adventurous cats off the roof a couple times…one of my boys has a hole in bottom of his screen just big enough for her to squeeze through and she has done it several times and gotten stranded. The last time it happened she went to my daughters room and pawed at the window, and my daughter thought the noise was a mouse in back of her bed and basically tore her room apart trying to find a mouse, when it was just the cat at the window asking to be let in. Lol.
This recipe looks like a great way to recharge…perfect comfort food!
Allie says
I KNOW Michelle. Thank goodness. Kids and animals. Your cat story is a good one – too funny!
Carina says
Haha! Wow, if he could figure all that out by three, imagine what he’ll be able to do by 30! Great stories here today, Allie. Very entertaining. 🙂 The pictures of the Italian bake sure look good. Had not heard of these veggie bowls, but I’ll keep an eye out for them. They sound good for a busy night. Have a great week, Allie! Xo
Allie says
Thank you so much Carina — he has kept us on our toes for sure. Now he has a driving license and he’s away at college. I really miss him. He’ll be home in just a few weeks for the Christmas holidays. Can’t wait! XO
Aunt Pinkie says
Veggie bowl sounds great – but where was the recipe?
Allie says
Hi Aunt Pinkie – this post has no recipe, but you can purchase MorningStar Farms Veggie Bowls in the freezer section at your grocery store.
Tracy says
I never knew about MorningStar veggie bowls! They look fantastic! You’re right us parents need a break!!? I love your stories. Oh my goodness….. a child in the car with the keys…..in the ignition!! Very frightening! We all could use this treat for dinner….especially your friend, ha!
Sues says
omggg what a smart 3-year-old!! I’d need a whole bottle of wine after that experience!! And definitely a bowl of some serious comfort food 🙂 This looks awesome!
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
I LOVE all your stories, Allie. Omg, your 3-year old son really started the car? That must be a terrible experience This sausage bake veggie bowl looks stunning and delicious. Love how full of chickpeas + zucchini + spinach + mushrooms this Bowl is. Yum yum!
Eva says
It looks so good! Happy Thanksgiving dear Allie for you and your family xoxxo
Julie says
Yum. This is going on my holiday meal rotation for sure. AND it may make a appearance on other occasions when similar chaos strikes again!! xo
Emily says
Wow, I love all of Italian food and I really want to know how to cook this sausage bake well. So when there is an item extremely convenient like Veggie Bowl, I realize immediately that I must buy it right ow! Thanks for sharing!