It’s hard to imagine September is already upon us. For me that means my calendar is exploding with activities. My kids are back in school; they have homework, commitments and desperately need to get back on a schedule. I could benefit from a schedule too, especially when it comes to meal planning. It seems most of the craziness in my day settles around what I’m going to make for dinner.

Do I have to go to the market? Will everyone like what I made? How much time do I need to prepare it? What goes well as a side dish? Did I cover all the food groups? Let’s face it, weeknight dinners can leave me feeling frazzled. I’m short on time but still want to eat and serve a decent, well-balanced meal to my family.

It’s during these demanding periods of stress I often turn to pasta as my go-to meal. The variations are endless, not to mention it is the one dish everyone in my house will eat. Pasta is like a blank canvas, it’s so simple to mix it up with anything you have in the pantry and refrigerator.

While I was staring aimlessly into the cupboard the other night, looking for my daily dinner inspiration, I came across four jars of peanut butter. I had crunchy, creamy, smooth and natural. The point was I needed