Oct 29, 2013

Something Tasty: Lasagna Rolls

I don't know if I've said it before but Italian food is my favorite. Well, actually it is a close tie with Greek food which has some similarities but is unique on it's own as well. I had plans to make traditional lasagna but then I saw this pretty dish on Pinterest:
Spinach Lasagna (Weight Watchers)
I figured I should give it a try. The recipe came from Chef Mommy and I followed it pretty much exactly except I added turkey because my men like their meat dishes if you know what I mean. 

Here is how my journey went:


In Chef Mommy's recipe she added her spinach to the ricotta mixture. I added the spinach to my ground turkey after I had browned it and just sauteed it a few minutes. Then I put it on top of the ricotta.

Next, you roll up the noodles and put them in the pan. I put a little sauce on the bottom of the pan and I used a 9 x 13. I used a total of 10 noodle rolls. I think she only used 6. 


I used one jar of Ragu spaghetti sauce. Then about 1 to 1 /2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese on top. I like a lot of cheese so I used a bit more than her recipe.


I put it in the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

YUM!


Oct 27, 2013

The Big Chill Girl

Sweater: Old Navy, Button up: Thirfted Liz Claiborne, Jeggings: Walmart, Boots: Eddie Bauer

Cold weather has set in so let the layering begin! 




Oct 23, 2013

Something Tasty: Apple Crisp


The last foodie post on here had apples in it too! I must be on an apple kick. Maybe it is because they have been so amazingly inexpensive the last few months since it was apple season. This particular batch of apples came from our local grocery outlet at 3 pounds for a $1.00! One dollar! 

I found this recipe on Inspired Taste really just by searching for easy (emphasis on easy) and quick apple crisp recipe. I don't have tons of specialty ingredients in the pantry (like costly pecans or obscure extracts) so I wanted a recipe that used the basics like flour, brown sugar, and oats. Those are the kind of ingredients that I always keep a healthy stock of. Confectioners sugar too because it is instant icing or glaze for anything and everything!

Onto the Apple Crisp....I followed her recipe to the t so just click here and follow her directions! Here is how my journey went....

Mixing together the filling ingredients:


Put it in the dish! I used a pie dish and I think she used a square-ish casserole thingie


Mixing the topping ingredients (best part!) *side note: I think her oats were the non-quick oats because mine do not look like hers do in the photos. I think the bigger oats would've worked better in my case.


My topping came out more globby than crumbly. Maybe the larger oats would've solved this problem? Ready for the oven! 


It didn't look much different when it came out of the oven!


And here is the first serving all for me 


It was very tasty. I think my topping would've been more crumbly with the rolled oats instead of the quick oats. I might have needed to cook it a little bit longer to make the apples a little softer...I don't know. I think I was hoping for something similar to the Ms Smiths version from the frozen section but I think that is more of an apple pie crisp. But this is much lighter and more on the healthier side. Oh! and I did leave the peelings on like she suggested. It is a great source of fiber!

Oct 17, 2013

Finally Girl

Outfit: Thrifted, Moccasins: Minnetonka

I have officially lost my phone. I lost it yesterday somewhere in between the house and the car.  Or in the house. Or in the car. After several hours of looking we gave up. We have a new one on the way. A smart phone. AHH! I can't believe it! I am stepping into the 21st century.

That being said....I watched the Katie Couric show today where this person hacked into a girl's computer and he took pictures of her on her own webcam without her even knowing then emailed her the pictures! I don't know....it just makes me nervous about technology. Come to find out she had went to high school with the guy and he had hacked into her computer some way through a link in an email and then basically had control over all of her social media and of course, her webcam. Yikes. He had then sent that same email with the bad link to all of her friends on facebook and some of them clicked on it and the same thing happened to them. As I sit here blogging and sharing my life to the internet I'm thinking...is this too dangerous? Some would say yes. It is dangerous to put yourself out there. I definitely don't want to do any of the location tagging stuff that you can do through facebook or whatever. Heck, I don't even have a facebook, just a page for this blog. I don't know...it puts it all in perspective. Whatever you put or do on the internets stays there forever!!



Oct 16, 2013

Fancy Feet Girl

Entire outfit: Thrifted, Shoes: gift from my mother-in-law

My in laws are doing a little shuffling around at their house to accommodate Gran-gran moving in with them. My mother-in-law worked at the local community theater in costumes and due to the moving around has had to get rid of/sell/donate/let me have some of her wonderful costumes and accessories. Yay! Dress up time! These awesome shoes were part of the classic 1920's gangster style that always comes back around every Halloween. I couldn't believe they fit me and I was super excited to style them up.



That being said, I still do not like these boyfriend jeans. They are just not flattering on me! I wore them here and didn't feel confident in them then. Still don't. The only thing left is to try them with heels. If that doesn't work, they are going back to the thrift store. As much as I want them to work it just kills me that they make me look much wider than my other jeans.


It may be because they actually are men's jeans. Maybe I need to try the Gap's pair that are for women but in the boyfriend style. But the $69 price tag isn't going to work for me!


Oct 14, 2013

A Moment Not Wasted Girl

Top: Kmart, Dress: Thrifted NY&Co, Socks: Target, Boots: Eddie Bauer

As usual, this is a top that I didn't get into rotation this summer but I really love it. For some reason I just do not wear it as much as I should or could. It's adorable! Maybe it is because it is prone to becoming really wrinkly at the drop of a hat. I don't know. But I looked for something in my fall clothes that I could pair it up with and bingo! This little dress worked perfectly. Hurray that it is still warm enough to go without tights!!!


 



Oct 11, 2013

Iced Coffee Girl

Sweater: Eddie Bauer, Top: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: Thrifted Eddie Bauer, Gumboots: LL Bean

I've been pouring the leftover coffee from the coffee pot each morning and storing it in the fridge so I can have iced coffee later on in the day. I add some flavored creamer to it (I just got some pumpkin spice so I can join the cliched world of fall) and thanks to the trusty internets I make sure that the ice cubes I put in are made from coffee. It really makes for a tasty iced coffee!! It's not as sweet as the original version but I am ok with that.


I bought that little ice cube tray to make bath bombs but for the life of me I failed at every attempt. So that is the only ice cube tray I have! Palm trees in October. Yay!




Oct 6, 2013

Shadow Girl

Top & Flats: Target, Cords: NY&Co

The sun was really pouring in when we were taking these photos before church last Wednesday night and it felt so wonderful. I'm enjoying these last few days of warm weather and dry weather before they disappear. I think we are in for a lot of rain next week because the remnants of tropical storm Karen will roll in. 

I have no excuse as to why it took me so long to get these photos up. I have had a bit of a busy week but not unusually so. I got to spend some time with a good friend of mine who is on the same recovery journey as I am. She is a wonderful woman with a strong desire to live for Christ and to be the best she can be but struggles with the pressures of life just like the rest of us do, me included! It is good to get together with an encouraging friend.


Today I have a big pot of chili simmering on the stove and anxiously awaiting the Carolina Panthers game coming on soon....



Oct 3, 2013

Sneaky Sweater Girl

 
Sweater: Old! Can't remember where I got it, Tee: Target, Skirt: Eddie Bauer, Mocs: Minnetonka

The sweater weather is slowly sneaking in....I gave in and wore that ever-so-practical short sleeved sweater that can only make an appearance in September/October and then it become just too chilly. Only then can you layer it on top of a long sleeve to make it work. But that just makes the top of my arms warm and the lower parts cold. Ugh! At that point, it's just too much effort and I give up. 


Oct 1, 2013

Down on the Farm Girl

Denim shirt: Thrifted, Pants: Eddie Bauer, Shoes: LLBean 

I get to drive by some of the most beautiful scenery on my way to and from my home. I am truly blessed to be able to enjoy it. On this particular day, I got over my fears, pulled over on the side of the road and took outfit photos like I owned the place.