Yummy Croutons

Two days in a row!  I am on a roll!!! 

So....yesterday I decided to try a couple new things.  It amazes me how much produce and bread I end up throwing away because it has gone bad before I was able to use it.  What a terrible waste of the resources the Lord provides for us.

Just about every week, I buy a couple loaves of french bread.  (I really need to learn how to make some myself!)  Every week, I end up throwing french bread away.  I have really good intentions...honest I do, but meal plans don't always pan out the way I had hoped. 

So,  yesterday I decided that instead of throwing the french bread away, I would use half of it to make croutons (pictured below) and the other half to make bread crumbs. Yeah for me!!!! 


I cubed it up and threw it in a pan with butter (Paula Deen would be proud) and garlic salt.  Next time I am going to try it in the oven.

Here is the finished product!  They turned out so yummy and tasted 100 times better than the boxed stuff you buy in the store. 

Tomorrow I am going to share how I dried basil leaves.....See you then!!

Post linked at:

http://amysfinerthings.com/big-boy-hair-cut-finer-things-friday

http://womenlivingwell.org/2012/10/are-you-on-twitter-join-the-wlww-link-up-party/

I'm back!!!!

Long time, no see!  I know, I know....where have I been?  Well to be completely honest, I have been busy being a mom and wife.  What a wonderful reason to put everything else aside and fully focus on what is truly important. 

What's new?!?  My kiddos turned eight years old last month and started 3rd grade in August.  Where has the time gone?  School, sports, play dates, crafts, church.....we have been busy doing all sorts of things.

 But, now I am setting some time aside to do something that I love.... to get back to writing and blogging with all of you wonderful people.  Hold on....it's going to be an awesome ride!!!

LAUNDRY!!!

Laundry.  Just the slightest mention of that dreaded word can bring a woman to tears!  It is a never ending, boring task that is oh so necessary.  Now, I must say that the act of simply starting laundry and then putting it into the dryer is cake.  It is the folding, hanging and putting away that kills me!  In a typical week, I do roughly 7 loads of laundry, sometimes less, sometimes more.  Is that normal for a family a four?  If not, please don't tell me.

For several months, I have been doing my laundry either once a week or maybe twice a week.  I was miserable and grew tired of watching the dirty clothes pile up.  Last week, I decided to do one load of laundry each day.  What a relief!  I have found it quite refreshing to have an empty laundry basket each day. 

In closing, I want to say how thankful I am to have a washing machine and dryer to make my job a breeze.  It is too easy to complain about what we must do rather than looking at how much we have.  I am blessed to have clothes to wash and appliances to do it all.  Thank you Lord for your wonderful blessings....even the ones I often overlook.

How do you approach laundry in your homes? 

Linked to:  Women Living Well



Homemade Lasagna

 
If I were to ask my daughter what she wanted for dinner, she would say lasagna.  I was never real big on lasagna and never thought of making it homemade. It always seemed time consuming and difficult, so frozen lasagna became my best friend.  Never again!  About a year ago, I stumbled upon a wonderful recipe from Kraft for "Simply Lasagna."  I have made it so many times that I no longer need to look at the recipe.  It turns out perfect every time, is quick to make and makes my daughter very happy. :) 

So, hurry up and head to the store to get these ingredients.  You won't be sorry!

The recipe from Kraft calls for 1lb. of ground beef, but I always use ground turkey.  This meal is bad enough with all that cheese....why add more calories?  The recipe is as follows:

What You Need!

1 lb. ground beef (I use ground turkey)

2-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 container (15 oz.) part skim ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce

12 lasagna noodles, uncooked 

1 cup water

Make It!

HEAT oven to 350°F. Brown meat in large skillet on medium-high heat. Meanwhile, mix 1-1/4 cups mozzarella, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan, parsley and egg until well blended; set aside.

DRAIN meat; return to skillet. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Add water to empty sauce jar; cover with lid and shake well. Add to meat mixture; stir until well blended. Spread 1 cup sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with layers of 3 lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture and 1 cup sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheeses. Cover with greased foil.

BAKE 1 hour or until heated through, removing foil after 45 min. Let stand 15 min. before cutting to serve.

Recipe taken from http://www.kraftrecipes.com/

Hungry yet?

Recipe linked to:

http://diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com/ 
http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com

Olive Garden Copycat Alfredo Sauce (Best EVER!!!)

Photo credit:  Lavender Lynn

Oh how I love the taste of hot, cheesy, alfredo sauce from Olive Garden.  It is garlicky, flavorful and simply fantastic.  My hips and booty don't enjoy it quite as much!!!

I mentioned before that one of my ultimate favorite websites for recipes is Food.com (formerly Recipezaar.com).  On that website, you will find a recipe for everything your little heart...er...tummy desires.  That is where I stumbled upon a copycat recipe for Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce.  My husband, who is not a fan of Italian food, LOVES this sauce!!!  It is quick and easy to make and you just may have the ingredients on hand. 

To make this scrumptious sauce, you will need:

5 tablespoons sweet butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese 


1.  Melt butter in saucepan over low heat.

2.  Add garlic, cream, pepper and bring mixture to a simmer.  Stir often.

3.  Add the parmesan cheese and simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes until it has thickened and is smooth.

4.  When sauce has thickened, add mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth.  STIR FREQUENTLY!

5.  Pour over your favorite pasta and dig in!!!

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/better-than-olive-garden-alfredo-sauce-141983#ixzz1FvvYnpF2

Be sure to let me know what you think!!!  :)

Recipe linked at:
http://diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com/ 
http://grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/03/gcc-recipe-swap.html

http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/03/this-weeks-menu-plan-6.html

http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com
http://www.titus2atthewell.com/tempt-my-tummy-tuesday-spaghetti-with-four-cheeses/

Once Upon A Time.....

If I had to venture a guess, I would say that this pic was from 1997 or so which would make me 21 years old.  At that time, I thought I was fat!  It is crazy how our self image is often so warped.  After two kids and almost 11 years of marriage, I am working hard to get that body back!  I started my journey last year and lost a total of 17 pounds, 5 of which I gained back. 

This year I am more determined than ever to achieve my goal and not only lose weight, but get healthy.  As parents, we set examples for our children.  I want my children to remember an active and healthy mom who worked hard and exercised often. 

Today is the second day I have worked out this year and I am looking forward to posting a "hot mama" picture in a few months.  Get healthy with me.

"We've Only Just Begun"

 

2011!!!  It always amazes me how quickly the years fly by.  When I was a child, time stood still, but now with children of my own, time is setting a marathon pace.  It is more and more important to sit back and enjoy the little things, the moments that seem so insignificant at the time but will someday fill ones heart with so much emotion and love.  

The year 2010 was a positive year for my family, filled with lots of ups and very few downs.  My family was and continues to be healthy, happy and blessed.  God always provides for our every need! 

I have several goals for myself  this new year..... 

• Make better food choices for my family
• Exercise at least 4 times per week
• Plant a garden with an assortment of fruits and veggies
• Set aside time to read my Bible
• Finish up my AA degree

So, here's to a fantastic 2011!  I wish you all a wonderful year filled with growth, change and accomplishments.