Veggie Lasagna

I am the kind of cook that just dumps a bunch of whatever I feel like into the pot and sometimes end up with a great meal...so in an effort to try and write down what I'm doing, I am going to start posting recipes, picture or not. Some of these I will try to post pics and others, I just plain forget. Besides I am no photographer. There are other amazing blogs with lots of organization and wonderful pictures, but I am not good at that, so I just post the recipes mostly and really crappy pictures, ha! So, I apologize. I know that I love to look at pics when cooking. It gives me an idea of what the creator's dish looks like, so I can appreciate that cooking without the picture leaves you flying blind sometimes. I will post what I can. Please contact me for any questions!

This creation I made for family that was coming in town a few weeks ago. I made two lasagnas. We had 4 adults and 11 kids! So, I was worried that one lasagna wouldn't cut it. Needless to say I had almost an entire lasagna left over. Fine by me! It was delicious! One of the lasagna's was very soupy and the other was perfect. The key, LESS SAUCE...and no cottage cheese (only ricotta). I tasted an amazing lasagna once that had cream cheese in it. I have yet to try that on my own. So if you do, let me know how that goes. Sometimes I worry that the noodles are not fully covered by sauce and so I put more on, this isn't necessary. Also, many people cook their noodles before baking them, but I never have. I find that cooking it for at least an hour does the trick and my noodles are never mushy. They are perfect. So this is what I prefer. Again...be careful not to add too much sauce! Also, after my lasagna has baked for an hour, I take it out and let it sit for 15 minutes or so, uncovered. It gives it a chance to set. Also, experiment around with veggies you like. I've never been a fan of eggplant, so I don't use it, but my SIL said she uses it often. So, go crazy! Have fun and enjoy cooking! It's such a fun creative process for me! Hope you enjoy my recipes!

Veggie Lasagna

4 cups spaghetti sauce (see below for my homemade sauce or sometimes when I'm in a hurry I use Walmarts Great Value brand Traditional Sauce)
1-2 zucchini sliced
2-3 cups fresh spinach
1/2 box whole wheat lasagna noodles
2 cups ricotta cheese
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg
1/4 cup parsley flakes
1 cup mozzarella cheese

Prepare spaghetti sauce. Set aside. In a large bowl beat eggs, mix in ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and parsley flakes.

In a 9x13 pan spread a small amount of sauce across the bottom. Layer the noodles, 1/2 the cheese mixture, 1/2 the zucchini, 1/2 the spinach, sprinkle mozzarella cheese, and top with 1/2 the sauce. Repeat layers again, Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and bake for 1 hour @ 350.
Enjoy!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes (blended in a blender) or 2-3 cups fresh tomatoes
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can tomato paste
1 tablespoon dried basil or 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon oregano or 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
1 onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon garlic or 2 garlic cloves minced
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar (optional

In a saucepan, saute onion and fresh garlic in olive oil. Add all other ingredients and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the sauce is very thick. Add more tomato paste for desired thickness. ( I will sometimes whisk into the sauce 1/4 cup white bean flour to thicken for added protein).

White Bean Enchilada's

We've been eating a lot of beans around my house, just to warn ya, lol. I made these the other night and the kids LOVED them! I'm also posting this just for you Sister-in-Law Stephanie at her request. I hope you try them! :)

White Bean Enchilada's

3-4 cups white beans
1 onion chopped
1 can diced green chiles
2 cups Mexican cheese blend or whatever you have on hand :)
1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime
24 corn tortillas (use my recipe Soft Corn Tortillas)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup sour cream
1 cup plain yogurt
1 can cream of celery soup (optional)

Saute onions in a little water and nonstick spray until soft. Combine sauteed onion and white beans in a large bowl. Add Mrs Dash Fiesta Lime seasoning, and 1/2 cup sour cream. In another bowl combine the sour cream, plain yogurt, cream of celery soup and green chiles. Set aside. In each tortilla, add a spoon full of the white bean mixture, top with a small pinch of cheese and fold. In a large non-stick pan, place tortilla in fold side down. When finished with all tortilla's, pour the sour cream/yogurt mixture over the top of the enchilada's and top with remaining cheese. Cover and Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes. Top with salsa and serve! Enjoy!

Variation: Use pinto beans instead of white beans (try mashing some of the pinto beans), for the sauce, use red Enchilada Sauce instead of the sour cream/yogurt/cream of celery soup.

Variation: To the recipe above try adding 1 cup salsa to either the bean mixture and/or the sauce. It makes it more spicy and gives great flavor!

Soft Corn Tortillas

I discovered this years ago, not sure if I read it somewhere or just figured it out, but it you want soft pliable yummy corn tortillas without the fat...I'm your gal.

Soft Corn Tortillas (used for anything, but great for enchiladas)

Corn Tortillas
Cooking Spray
Water

Heat a hot pan or griddle to medium-medium high, spray with cooking spray. Run a little water over your corn tortilla and put on the griddle or pan and cook for a minute or so. Flip it and cook the other side. If you want the corn tortilla more crispy, then leave in the pan on each side until desired crispy-ness (not a word, I know). Spray the pan each time you put new tortillas on it.

If you want any seasonings on these you can sprinkle Mrs. Dash Chili and Lime or salt, or chili powder or anything you want while cooking these :) Enjoy!

My New Dumbbells

These new Bowflex dumbbells are my Birthday, Mother's Day, everything present. I am so in love with them! I also pulled out a pull-up bar I have and I also purchased P90X for a great deal, so I am in workout heaven! I know, I'm silly. These weights are so easy to use! I bought the 5-52's. So, I can use as little as 5 pounds or as much as 52 pounds! You adjust the little dial on the side to the weight you want to use and pick them up and start using them! I was getting tired of being pinned to just using the gym for my weight lifting and I'm so excited to have these on a rack in my room and I can do most of what I need to at home.

Just ask to see my biceps...he he!

Red Pepper Fried Quinoa With Parmesan Green Beans

I am in love with Quinoa, if ya can't tell :) Here's my lunch! So YUMMY! BTW-Quinoa is a complete protein.

Red Pepper Fried Quinoa With Parmesan Green Beans

3-4 small red peppers or 1 One large, diced
1/4 cup chopped onion
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
2 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup cooked Quinoa
1-2 teaspoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper

Saute peppers and onion for about one minute in olive oil or cooking spray, add Quinoa, garlic powder, salt and pepper and cook for additional minute or two on medium-high heat. Whisk the eggs with a fork into the hot peppers/onion/Quinoa mixture. Continue to whisk with a fork until eggs are incorporated and cooked through. Add soy sauce, and mix in. Set aside.

Parmesan Green Beans

1-2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
salt
pepper
1 garlic clove minced or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
parmesan cheese

Heat oil in iron skillet on medium heat. Add green beans, garlic and a splash of water, cover and cook for 1 minute. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook an additional minute or two or until all water is cooked out. Keep covered to steam. Remove cover, and add parmesan cheese. Cook uncovered for another additional minute or two, until cheese is browned. Pour on top of Quinoa. Enjoy!!!

Blueberry Quinoa

I made this delicious-ness for breakfast this morning. My brother, Shawn gave me the idea. It was so good!!! Quinoa is a complete protein. I didn't know that. It's super healthy for you and with the wholesome antioxident goodness of the blueberries, you just can't go wrong!Blueberry Quinoa

3/4 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup bluberries
2 teaspoons-1 tablespoon powdered Stevia
Almond Milk

Make sure the quinoa is hot, add the blueberries (frozen works great), add stevia and Almond milk. Enjoy!

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Applesauce Syrup

These pancakes are a weekly tradition in my house...we love them! Hope you do too!

Whole Wheat Pancakes

1 cup whole wheat flour
2-3 teaspoons baking powder (Rumford)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 Tablespoon oil
1 cup milk or water

Mix dry ingredients, add wet and mix. Do not over mix! Yield: 4 pancakes. I usually 5 times this recipe for family!

Applesauce Syrup

2 cups applesauce (100% applesauce, no sugar added)
1/2 cup apple juice concentrate
1 banana mashed (optional)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice

Mix well and heat through.

I love this with Greek Yogurt on top! So yummy! Enjoy!