Day 2: Veggie Lasagna

Veggie Lasagna

6 Servings

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 2 1/2 cups zucchini, sliced
• 2 cups sliced fresh portobello mushrooms
• 1 cup fat-free ricotta
• 3 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 whole-wheat no-boil lasagna noodles
• 2 cups prepared pasta sauce
• 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella
• 1/2 cup chopped, seeded tomato

Directions

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, zucchini and mushrooms; heat 5 minutes or until tender, stirring. Remove from heat; set aside. In a small bowl, mix the ricotta, Parmesan and pepper.

To assemble, place 3 lasagna noodles in the bottom of a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Spoon half the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with half the veggie mixture, half the pasta sauce and half the mozzarella. Layer with remaining noodles, ricotta mixture, veggie mixture and sauce.

Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with tomato and remaining mozzarella. Bake 5 minutes more or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Cut into 6 pieces.

(P.S. I hate mushrooms and I couldn't find no-boil wheat noodles. You can cook the whole wheat ones first or buy the white ones.)

Day 1: Southwestern Pizza

I've been on a cooking craze lately (probably because it's all I can do to procrastinate homework and still feel justified doing so). So, I want to share some with you! These recipes have been tried by me, Nick (my biggest critic - seriously, the kid eats NOTHING), and some friends as well. And you know I only choose meals that are quick and easy, 'cause college students don't have that kind of money or time. Let me know what you think!!!

Southwestern Pizza

Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Makes: 3 servings

Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
1 12-inch 100% whole wheat pizza crust
1 cup prepared tomato salsa
1 1/4 cups shredded reduced-fat 2 percent mozzarella
1 1/3 cups canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 small sweet red pepper, seeded and thinly sliced (about 2/3 cup)
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/4 cup cilantro leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions
1. Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place crust on sheet and top with salsa, 1 cup mozzarella, beans, sliced red pepper, and scallions. Top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
2. Place pizza in oven and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until mozzarella is melted. Remove from oven and garnish with cilantro if desired. Cut into six slices and serve.

Nutrition facts per serving (2 slices): 488 calories, 28g protein, 72g carbohydrate, 12g fat (5.4g saturated), 16g fiber

P.S. (The best thing -This recipe can be modified to your liking! If you can't find whole wheat pizza crust, Pillsbury works well too)

2011

This is probably the shortest goals list I have ever created. Without divulging too much into my personal life, I feel as though my spirituality has suffered this year. With that said, I've decided to go 'back to the basics' and focus primarily on re-gaining a more personal relationship with my Savior. I need it. I know that the Gospel is the only way we will ever know true happiness, and that's just what I want. Through small and simple things, great things come to pass. I must focus on the seemingly small things such as scripture study, prayer, service, obedience, etc, for my faith to be strengthened and my testimony unshaken. I look forward to this year and seek to better align my will with the will of my Father in Heaven. I challenge you right now to pray to your Father and ask him to show you one of your weaknesses and then ask for His help to make that weakness strong. I wish you all the best in 2011!

P.S. Nick just surprised me with 2 buddy passes to fly anywhere on Jet Blue, which means my 2 out of state vacations are going to come true! I'm thinking Malibu (Megs can I come see you?) and Disneyland? We shall see. (Don't worry Becky in Pensacola, I'm still coming to see you too, just on a different airplane - Jet Blue doesn't fly out there...)

What now???

Nick got me these lovely baby scriptures for Christmas. I kid you not, I've wanted them for years now, but never bought any. Now that I have them, I don't know what to do with them! Let me explain: I am a perfectionist. If I don't mark them just perfectly and with some sort of order, I will go nuts. I feel like I need to have a method (ie: mark scriptures about the atonement in red, do something with scripture chains, etc...). I'm nuts! I'm too afraid to mess them up and want to start over - so I haven't even touched the dang things! Since Christmas! Can anyone relate or am I just crazy? How do you mark your scriptures??

Fun in the... SNOW!

Sledding...

skiing...
food and friends!...

I'm addicted

I have VERY difficult skin, and winter especially wreaks havoc on me. Check out my collection of lotion! I go through it so quickly! Technically, I'm supposed to lotion 3 times a day, but who on earth has time for that!? Anyway, if you're looking for a good lotion, I recommend Eucerin calming cream (yes, I've tried EVERYTHING) or Cerave (although Cerave contains something called ceramides and is quite expensive).
P.S. This is not ALL of my lotion if you can believe it...
P.P.S. I NEVER leave the house without my lotion - otherwise I'm one grumpy, dry, itchy, and irritated girl.