Lasagna that everyone will enjoy

I don't know about you but I love Italian food. When it comes to lasagna I'm picky and so is my family. I'll admit to buying the frozen premade stuff a long time ago but I could never pass that along to my kids anymore nor would I want to.

This lasagna recipe is for the picky eater. I've won over the pickiest of eaters.
There are three main reasons why this recipe will win over the picky eaters.
#1 You will not find any chunky tomatoes (something my son continues to ask)
#2 The white cheese mixture is not chunky, I think I see a pattern here. It's very smooth.
#3 It has just a hint of sweetness in it...not including the sweetness from the cook:)

 As I've mentioned before, I cook for a crew. This recipe yields 2 foil pans (11 x 9 ish) serving about 10 hungry folks.
This size pan was perfect for my family plus one  = 9 (we always have at least a plus one, love that)
It's a heavier meal so it really goes a long way and now I have a pan in the freezer for when I'm feeling lazy:) or on those ever so frequent busy athletic nights.

I'm not at my computer today so pictures will come later.
Now for the good stuff. That's why you're here right?
Remember, this is making you 2 meals worth.

3 lbs of ground meat (I almost always used ground turkey)
2 T of sugar OR honey
2t salt or a good hefty pinch
1/2 t pepper or pinch (honestly I never measure this part)
15 oz. can of tomato sauce
12 oz. can of tomato paste
16 oz. cream cheese ( 2 normal size blocks)
16 oz. sour cream (do not use fat free)
One box of lasagna noodles
8 cups Mozzarella cheese

Let start cookin!
I'm going to write instruction exactly how I do it...being a good cook takes practice in multitasking.

Set out the cream cheese to get to room temp.
Next, start browning the meat in a large frying pan making sure you chop it up good with the spatula so that there are no big chunks, you can season the meat here lightly with garlic powder.
While meat is browning start cooking your noodles. Tip: don't out noodles into the water until water is boiling.
Drain your meat and put back into the pan for more ingredients.
Drain your noodles in same strainer...the hot water will help clean the grease off the strainer for later:)
I like to lay the noodles out flat on paper towels to dry a bit.
Put both the tomato sauce and tomato paste into the meat. Combine well. Now add the sweetness (honey or sugar) and the salt and pepper. Combine well-
Now for the cheese mixture.
Mix the cream cheese and sour cream together. I like to use a mixture to really mix it good.

Now, your already almost done! This part is the fun part.
Bring all your mixtures, mozzarella, cheese and dishes close.
I like to add a bit of olive oil to the bottom of the dish.
Line the bottom with about 6 noodles (you will have to over lap.
Then add cheese mixture, meat, then mozzarella. Next layer...only half the noodles...no over leaping this time. Followed by the same cheese/meat/cheese.

Bake at 350* for 20 minutes or until golden brown edges appear. Most of my family likes the lasagna to be mostly golden brown but you fix it how you think yours would enjoy best.

Enjoy with a small side salad, and bread YUM!

Feed your kid

One goal as a momma is to feed my kids good healthy food they love.
Sometimes that means training those taste buds a bit.

Here's what I did make that "training" easier.

About 11 yrs ago I saw that my kids didn't choose healthy options. I had been a penny pinchin momma that didn't pay too much attention to food ingredients. I was happy to fill the belly, save the $$, and ingredients were important but did not take center stage. Veggies usually came in the form of canned which was the first thing I decided to tackle. I started with salads. It was probably one of the unhealthiest salads you could get. Those first salads consisted of iceberg lettuce (yuck!), BACON (anything is yummy with some bacon), cheese, and ranch. I put that salad in front of them EVERY NIGHT. Not too much but they had to eat at least a small one. I then moved to Big Salad night, comparable to a fried chicken tender salad you might find at a popular restaurant. It's still part of my "go to" meals.
Changing your family to eat healthfully is all about baby steps and moderation.
If you don't get that last point then your kids will be more likely to not choose healthier eating when not with momma. The whole reason for feeding our families this way is not for them to just get a good start but to be health minded people for a long healthy life.

Is there anything you don't compromise on? Yep, soda. Will I be totally besides myself if soda touches my kids lips? Nope. BUT out of the junk foods, soda would be the 100% no go.

Here's some more things that I try to put into play.

*No or low MSG. The available msg here in the states is not good for you all the way around. I've seen reports that msg over seas originally was not bad. MSG is so something companies add for added flavor. I'm not going to get into what companies do to our food for added flavor without regard for our health here.  For more on that go to thefoodbabe.com - this lady is in the front lines of this.

*Fresh veggies and fruit instead of canned or even frozen.

*unbleached flour

*homemade instead of store bought. This one is important to me. The less amount of ingredients the better...especially those you can understand. I don't worry too much about fat if it comes from homemade. Now-a-days, the kids that people worry about whom are over weight are usually kiddos that eat more prepackaged foods and don't get much physical activity. Don't feel too bad if this can't happen as often as you'd like. Just try and try a little more the next time...soon you'll be surprised how well you've done.

For the athlete:
Protein is such a major topic among athletes. There are more intelligent people who know way more about this but here's what I do know. Your body can only use so much protein at one time...so getting 60 grams of protein at one time is not as important as getting protein, fat, and carbs throughout the day....many times a day. Trying to shove this down a teens throat won't help with your relationship with said teen. It's your job to make the right foods available and to offer them when you can. Protein bars are ok if you don't get the ones with a bunch of junk and the sugar content is not through the roof but don't let it be the main source. Do a google search on foods with protein, you'll find some surprising choices. It doesn't always have to be turkey, chicken, fish and peanut butter...although all good, kids need variety.

Well folks, it's time for me to go get the little kiddos from school.

Enjoy your day and stay focused on what's important!


Ps. My surprisingly delish lunch.
Ritz crackers, left over jasmine rice, a small avocado chunk, and bits of arugula.
I was able to eat 3 but that's just because my stomach isn't very big right now due to recent gallbladder surgery.

Stone soup

Now that the craziness of summer is over, I was excited to start back on here.
Until....my gall bladder missed behaved!
I am recovering from surgery today. The gallbladder had to go!

Food. Right now is a major issue for me. I'm on a serious strict diet.
So what is a juggling momma/ foodie to do...let's get to work.

Busy Moms Still Need To Wash....produce:)

One of the SINGLE handed easiest way to

feed your family good healthy food....especially snacks 

is to wash and prepare all that wonderful produce.

I'm sure I'm not the only health conscience mom that

buys produce in the hopes her kids will fill up on 

fresh food...only to have it thrown in the refrigerator

and rot.

Sooooo.....Here's your push to take a little extra time or

better yet enlist your kids to do the job and

wash that beautiful fresh produce, dry, and place in

an easy access container. 

Example:

If I have washed grapes in a bowl or tupperware type

container verses unwashed in a bag thrown in the drawer, the kids would

eat all the washed grapes and let the other to rot.

You know that old saying, "Out of sight, out of mind."

FYI: Don't stop buying foods that go bad quickly. 

Those enzymes are what we need. 

Just make them available.

The Easiest Chicken Pot Pie

I'm going to share with you the yummiest and easiest Chicken pot pie ever! This could be made before hand and even frozen.  You could also make chicken and Cream 'o' ahead so that it's an easy dump, cook, and enjoy meal. 

It better than a frozen meal, in taste and nutrition.

EASY~
Frozen chicken breast 2.5 lbs
mixed veg  (40  oz)
4 small potatoes
frozen corn small bag
Not canned cream of "whatever" (usually chicken but celery or mushroom would work)-recipe below
pie crust - what ever recipe you like
"seasonings" - garlic, pepper, little bit of salt, and my secret seasoning
(Orrington Farms Chicken Broth Base and seasoning-no MSG)

If you need this easier then switch out a few things.
Mixed Veg - use 2 lg cans of low sodium
Canned Cream of "whatever"
refrigerator pie crust.

350* for about an hour.  If you used fresh potatoes and frozen veggies then allow a little more time.

Cook chicken. You choose how you want to cook chicken.  My hubby likes it grilled on either the Forman or outside grill BUT because I'm a busy mom...I fill my big pot up halfway with water and throw the frozen chicken breast in. 

(TIP: The whole wooden spoon over the boiling pot so that it doesn't boil over... WORKS)

Shred cooked chicken. 

(TIP: throw the cooked chicken in the blender with the flat blade on and blend on medium speed until shredded to your liking.  This tip was one of the best, time saving tips)

In less than 2 minutes...

To make cream "o"

put broth of boiled chicken and 2 to 3 T of flour into something you can shake.

BE CAREFUL...If you don't let cool then pressure builds up when shaking.

It should look like this. You might have to do this again depending if you want more.

Pour into pan and add more broth.

mix up...repeat until you get what you want.

Add more flour to make thicker.

It's just like making gravy except you don't need to worry about lumps:)

            NOW, grab a LARGE bowl and throw chicken, veggies, cream 'O', and potatoes.
                                                                           Mix well.

                                         Grab your casserole dish and place the pie crust in.
 You can mold it in or just make sure it covers the bottom. The nice part of a homemade crust is that is always fits perfectly:)

Then, dump the chicken mixture in the "crusted" dish and sprinkle a little bit of the pepper, salt, and garlic.  Top the mixture with the other pie crust. Cut slits in the crust.  You could stop here OR....brush crust with egg.  This doesn't change the taste, it just makes it look prettier:)

Almost done!

Doesn't it look great? (I brushed with egg)

This will feed a CROWD!

My secret ingredient,

Making my list and checking it twice

I'm getting ready to tell you the biggest tip of all time!

This tip will ensure you that you feed your family good homemade food.

After I get family and friends to do this, they always tell me that

it made the BIGGEST difference.

~MEAL PLANNING~

Seriously people, just take a little bit of time and plan your meals.

I used to plan for 2 to 4 weeks but it just doesn't work with my schedule anymore.

So, I plan for 1 week.

Here's how I do it.

I get my calendar, my recipe basket, a pen, and paper.

Then I ask for meal request.

Many times the kids will ask for the same favorite meal, lol.

Now, check your calendar and be realistic.

If you have practice at 5:30 and you won't get home from work or 

finish picking up the kids by 4:30, then you should plan a crockpot

or super quick meal.

Once you have your meals for the week laid out then you create your shopping list.

This saves $$ big time.

 Here's a look at my weeks meals.

Monday - Sausage Casserole

Tuesday - Turkey meatballs and Brown Rice

Wednesday - Chicken Pot Pie

Thursday - Spinach Stuff (this is requested every week)

Friday - Breakfast 

Saturday - Out to eat after church - probably my fav Jason's Deli

Sunday - Chicken Cordon Blue 

Every meal I make is meant to feed 8-10+ people

The moral to this story is PLAN your meals.

I've fallen in that trap of not planning and gained

10-15lbs.

I will be uploading some of our favorite recipes soon.

WELCOME - FIRST THINGS FIRST

Welcome to my blog and thanks for stopping by!

Let me make something very clear.

I know the BEST "team mom" of all time.

It ISN'T me.

Her name is ZORI and she is the MAC'DADDY!

(LOBO Football Shout-out)

I'm a mom that has a HOUSE FULL of athletes.

I have a passion to feeding my family well but not go crazy

in the process.

I want to teach other moms to do the same. 

So, here we are.

I can pretty much convert any meal to non-process

And

have lots of tips along the way to save your $$.

With that said, I welcome you to send me your recipes that you

love and I'll convert it to an easy to semi-easy "homemade" meal.

Also, send me your food troubles and let me take a whack at

helping you:)

Why do I bring athletes in this?

SIMPLE

Athletes need to fuel themselves.

I'd rather fuel my athletes premium fuel.

I am not saying I know everything there is about nutrition.

OR that I always have a home cooked meal.

I am saying that it easier then most think.

Lets begin!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION - Coming SOON!!!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION