Summer is here and we are officially in “quick and easy” mode here at my house. The kids are out of school and I need to be smarter about how I spend my time, how I organize and plan our days and how quickly I can get lunch on the table.
So when I’m in a hurry and need something fast, I reach for Annie’s Homegrown . From Annie’s cheddar bunnies, snack mix, pretzels and granola bars, my pantry is always stocked with Annie’s Homegrown snacks because my kids love them. And recently, we tried the Shells and White Cheddar Mac and Cheese and my kids loved it. I did add in some fresh, seasonal summer veggies: zucchini and yellow summer squash, which I seem to be throwing into everything these days and my kids’ favorite: broccoli and hot dogs.
You can’t go wrong if you add hot dogs.
So, this summer, here’s to taking it easy. . keeping it tasty and having lots of fun with the family!
- 1 box Annie's Homegrown Shells and White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 2 hot dogs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ⅓ cup zucchini, chopped
- ⅓ cup yellow summer squash, chopped
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup freshly grated Gruyere cheese
- salt
- Using a medium to large sized pot, bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta shells according to box instructions. During the last 2-3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets and hot dogs. Drain the water, rinse and place everything back into the pot.
- Add the zucchini, summer squash, broccoli, milk and butter and mix together over medium-low heat. Sprinkle the Annie's cheese (in packet) and the freshly grated gruyere in and mix together until well combined. Season with salt and serve immediately.
For 25 years, Annie’s Homegrown has been nourishing families with simple, down-to-earth foods that taste great and are easy to love. Annie’s products seek out the best ingredients Mother Earth has to offer, harvesting pure, natural flavors to make delicious foods every family can feel good about.
Today I have teamed up with Annie’s to help spread the word and to give away some of their wonderful products. One reader will receive all of the products featured above (Annie’s mac&cheese, cheddar squares & fruit snacks) plus some fun Annie’s swag including a t-shirt, lip balm, and a chino bag! So, join Team Annie’s , enter the giveaway and get social with them: Annie’s Facebook Fan Page , Annie’s Twitter Page and Annie’s Instagram !
THE GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: #spon: I’m required to disclose a relationship between my blog and Annie’s Homegrown. This could include Annie’s providing me w/ content, product, access or other forms of payment.
Looks like a simple dish and yet yummy!
I love the Deluxe Shells with Cheddar Cheese!
My kids love the Shells & White Cheddar
Easiest, healthiest mac and cheese! Excellent.
Shells and white cheddar looks delicious
Annie’s Shells and White Cheddar
The traditional macaroni and cheese is our favorite, but would like to try the lasagna
Annie’s White Cheddar. No contest. YUM.
Definitely the traditional white shells!
We love Annie’s chocolate bunny cookies!
Oh I just love Annies! I love the cheddar bunnies and that led me to the macaroni varieties. I love the shells and cheddar boxes, but the white cheddar variety is PRETTY GREAT! I have been wanting to try the frozen options, maybe this weekend.
I love Annie’s! The Mac n Cheese can be mixed with anything for a great meal!
I Like the Annie’s Organic 5-Grain Elbows & White Cheddar
I love the white shells and cheddar!
I love the whole wheat shells with cheddar. This looks so good! There is nothing like mac and cheese (even though I’m a grown-up now!)
I love Bunny Grahams
My favorite product is Annies original family size pepperoni pizza.
Would love to try the pizza
I recently bought a case of Annie’s Mac & Cheese knowing I had to make more kids lunches now that it’s summer!
I like the Honey Bunny Grahams.
What a fun way to dress up mac and cheese! I would eat a bowl of that for any meal!
Fruit snacks are my guilty pleasure so would love to have some of those!
Our favorite product is Annie’s graham crackers!! So much better for your than the most common brand. We love Annie’s!!
love cheddar bunnies
The mac & cheese for my kids!
I’m in quick and easy mode too so this Mac and cheese makes me super happy! Can’t be spending too much time on dinner. And having veggies with dinner is a challenge sometimes for my big baby (hubs) so this is perfect bribe with the cheese lol!
Naw, those pasta shells are so cute! I think I would love them as a kid, too (according to my mum, pasta shells were one of my favourite foods when I was small… usually with bolognese sauce!). The cheesy sausage combination sounds like a perfect quick and easy meal Alice. I love this. Yay for organic quick meals that you can feel confident feeding your kids! xx
I like their Shells and Cheddad Cheese.
Quick and easy is my new middle name. All I want is a bowl of this mac and cheese this morning now!
I’m all in for quick lunches and dinners! This mac n cheese looks AMAZING!!!! And it’s got hot dogs too! Now, who can say no to that? Certainly not me! 😀
We love Annie’s at our house! My boys devour a box each! Yikes! This is the perfect way to enjoy mac! And I totally hear you on the summer time management front. We are notorious for frittering our days away. I think it has something to do with growing teenagers sleeping until 11, but it drives me nuts!
Their shells and white cheddar are my all-time favorite!
What a great, kid friendly meal! And I love that you added veggies!
You make me soo hungry when I come to your blog. I love seeing real food (not just desserts) here. Mac n cheese has always been comfort food to me, along with hot dogs. Parents owned businesses so they needed something quick to whip up so I could totally see myself as a very happy kid in your home. Beautiful photos too!
Favorite: The Cinnamon bunny cookies of course!
I have been loving Annie’s Dijon Mustard for years! Plus, I love the Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce.
Sarah
We eat her macaroni and frozen pizzas, but unfortunately the macaroni and cheese pizza hasn’t made it to my neck of the woods yet.
Yummy that looks so good! I like their Cheddar Bunnies the most, but I’d like to try more of their products! Thanks for the opportunity!
seasidesmitten at aol.com
I love the Annies all star spaghetti rings! They are so good…and good for you. My kids will eat any of their products!!!
teffgossett@gmail.com
My favorite product is Organic Family Size Spinach & Mushroom Pizza.