world's best lasagna

No joke- I think this really is the world's best lasagna.  Over 10,000 people at allrecipes declared it 5 stars.  My husband is sure it's the spicy sausage I used, which was my idea. :)  My entire family enjoyed this dish and my husband typically doesn't enjoy lasagna, nor two of my kids.  They kept remarking that it tasted like pizza.  My oldest was eating it out of the pan as I was trying to put away the leftovers.

world's best lasagna (adapted by allrecipes.com)
Note:  I made it simpler and lower in fat.
2 pounds hot chicken Italian sausage
1/2 cup onion, minced
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons sugar (I used 1 Tbsp sugar substitute)
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
10 no-bake whole wheat lasagna noodles (see image below)
16 ounces ricotta cheese (I used fat free)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
handfuls of shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned.  Stir in crushed tomatoes, paste, sauce and water.  Season with sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and half the parsley.  Simmer, covered for 1 1/2 hours.
Combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
To assemble, spread 1 1/2-2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.  Arrange 5 noodles over meat sauce.  Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture.  Top with a couple handfuls of mozzarella cheese.  Spoon 1 1/2-2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.  Repeat layers and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.  Cover with foil.  To prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
Bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes.  Remove the foil and bake an additional 25 minutes.  Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

 

quinoa chicken parmesan soup

I went into making this soup with high hopes but a little reservation.  Quinoa with a parmesan flare?  I wasn't sure.  I am SO glad I made this soup because it's terrific!  I will be making this one again and again.  I am excited about the leftovers because it made a huge amount. (Sorry, bad picture.  It looks delicious and smells divine in real life.)

quinoa chicken parmesan soup (adapted from the sister's cafe) 
2 giant frozen chicken breasts from Costco
1 cup quinoa
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 (24 ounce) can Hunts garlic and herb flavored spaghetti sauce
1 (14.5) ounce can petite diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for sprinkling

Spray your slow cooker with nonstick spray.
Place frozen chicken breasts into slow cooker.
Rinse quinoa and add it along with the Italian seasoning, oregano, garlic, onion, spaghetti sauce, petite tomatoes and chicken broth.
Cook on High for 6-7 hours.
Remove the chicken and shred then add it back to the soup.
Season with salt and pepper.  Stir in Parmesan and allow to melt.
Top with more Parmesan and fresh basil if you'd like.

woodland animals baby shower

My daughter was invited by a friend to help prep for a baby shower and my daughter had a blast helping.  You can see why!  I asked for some pictures because I knew something fantastic was happening and I knew I should file away these ideas.  I love the woodland creatures theme.  My daughter's favorite part was helping with the hedgehog dip.  Super cute!  One day...

pumpkin chocolate chip blondie bars

Halloween was so fun!!  I love the brilliant fall colors, the boo-ing, the treat deliveries, the pumpkins (oh how I love the pumpkins in all their varieties!), the lit candles in sweet and spicy fragrances, jack-o-lanterns, costumes, downtown trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating, the primary Halloween party and neighborhood trick-or-treating.  Endless fun.
Our friends Stephanie and Brent delivered these delicious goodies.  The pumpkin bars were so moist and delicious I asked for the recipe.  This recipe will replace the one I already had. :)

pumpkin chocolate chip blondie bars (Stephanie)

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1/2 cup pumpkin

3/4 cup-1 cup all purpose flour (I usually do about 3/4 cup + 2 tbs)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Set oven to 350, spray 8x8 square dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Stir in egg, vanilla and pumpkin. Pour in all dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread dough evenly into prepared baking dish. (I usually sprinkle the top with chocolate chips too). Bake 15-20 minutes (check with toothpick). 

stormtrooper party favor

This is the stormtrooper party favor minus the blue mylar star balloon that will be attached.  What's the party?  We're going to watch Star Wars Episode 7 outside.  On a big screen.  Probably not under the stars because of the "storm" that we're having but we'll be outside nonetheless.  Hopefully we'll get a little rain, thunder and lightening to add to the affect.

stormtrooper cupcakes

My birthday kid's treats were out of this world.  Every time I turned around we had a need for more treats.  Classroom treats, birthday day treats, birthday party treats, etc.  The stormtropper cupcakes were so fun and I am grateful for the pics online because I'd have never thought to make them and they were so easy thanks to these pens at Amazon.  The cupcakes are for the birthday party.
The dirt which was requested for the actual birthday day and I made layered mint brownies for classroom treats.

stormtrooper cupcakes
Make some white cupcakes according to package directions.  Prepare stormtropper marshmallows using Bakerpan food coloring markers from Amazon.com.  Ice the cupcakes and put a marshmallow on each one.

For party favors I am going to put a cupcake in a cellophane bag and pour some cute outer space sugar candies I found at the store into the bag so they settle at the bottom.  I'll attach a star shaped mylar balloon to the cellophane bag and tie it with a cute blue and white baker's twine I found at Michael's.  Easy, easy, easy!!

yummy 3-ingredient potatoes

I actually don't know what these potatoes are called but I watched my friend Shonda make them while I was over picking up my kids from art class.  It looked like such a simple dish to make and I knew that once her potatoes went into the oven the entire house would smell delicious.  I wanted that too.  I had my oldest make them and they were a huge hit!!  I heard ooohs and aaaaahs. And the house smelled sooooo good.

yummy 3-ingredient potatoes (my friend Shonda)
red potatoes
canola oil
packet of onion soup/dip mix (we used Trader Joe's)

I gave my daughter a 9x13 and asked her to pour a little bit of oil in the pan which she did with gusto.  She may have put a little more oil than I would have but the taters turned out crispy which was perfect.  I'd say she put in 1/3 cup of oil.  She then cut up a bunch of red potatoes, enough to fill the bottom of the pan- maybe 8 potatoes.  Then she sprinkled the onion mix on top and combined everything.  We put the pan in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour and a half due to my errand running longer than anticipated.  That's okay because they were PERFECT!