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!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
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.
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.
Monday, September 1, 2014
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.
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