Lazy Lasagna (yummy-healthy version)

When I was low on time {and cheese}, I still was wanting to make lasagna because.... well, we love lasagna... and all types of Italian food actually..... plus I already had the garlic bread and salad, so I figured I would wing it and see what would happen. Fortunately, my family was okay with that.... and it actually turned out to be a dish my hubby and Jake said they wanted me to repeat - SCORE!

Like Ina..... I enjoy keeping food simple, without sacrificing flavor.... and like she always says, when you keep things simple, you better have really good ingredients.

So, everything in the picture below is what I used... very simple, full of fabulous flavor.... 

and might I add, very healthy. 

~

 || Things to Remember ||

• Oven-Ready-Lasagna is your friend! (i.e. Stock Up)

(I have tried the expensive brands 

as well as the super-cheap brand (see below) 

and they both taste exactly the same.... so why not save the money, eh?)

• Always mix two DIFFERENT kinds of sauces to boost flavor

After you brown the ground turkey, pour both of the sauces in the pot, then fill each sauce jar with 1/4 cup of water, shake with the lid on and pour into pan with the rest of the sauce and browned turkey meat...... (a) you'll have more sauce to pour into the pan, (b) you'll use up every last bit of the sauce you paid for, and (c) you will be cleaning out your jars before you throw them away or re-purpose them. It's a win-win folks.

• This dish is supposed to be fast and easy.... so making everything perfect is not required

i.e. See my slicing job below..... not perfect. Far from perfect.

|| Simple & GOOD Ingredients ||

1. Oven Ready Lasagna (not cooked, just straight from the box... you need 9)
2. Fully browned fresh low-fat ground turkey (your favorite brand)
3. 2 jars of your favorite pasta sauce (pour in pot with turkey after meat is browned)
4. 1 tsp kosher salt (yes, kosher makes a difference... it's not as briny as table salt)
5. 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (you can find coupons at Coupons.com)
6. 2 large (and washed thoroughly) zucchini (thinly sliced the long way)

......and below is the really healthy {and sneaky} ingredient..... ZUCCHINI!!!

 Easy-to-Make Steps:

1 - rub small amount of butter on glass 9 x 13 baking dish

2 - coat thin layer of turkey sauce mixture

3 - smooth 1/4 cup yogurt on top

4 - layer three lasagna noodles

5 - pour sauce on top

6 - sprinkle with parm

7 - layer with zucchini

8 - repeat steps 2, 4-6 two times

9 - cover with foil / bake at 425 degrees for 30-45 mins

 

....and you won't even notice the fact that there is

absolutely 

NO ricotta cheese and egg in it ....

as well as the fact that there is a veggie in your main dish! 

ENJOY!!!!!

One-Pot GB Pasta.... with Ina's Roasted Broccoli

Super easy dish I just made that I HAVE TO SHARE!

 It was delicious as it was easy. 

And those two things are what I live for....... now that I have two little ones running around.

And the best thing about this recipe was the roasted broccoli that I put in it 

from the Amazing and Fabulous Ina :) {love you, Ina!}

Pre-Roasted (aka before the yummy)

Post-Roast (full on Yumminess!!!!)

These are my main ingredients... {Above} + kosher salt and pepper to taste

~

You can use any kind of pasta, but bowties are a fun shape that my daughter enjoys to eat... and she is almost two and most definitely in the "Terrible Twos" stage right now - so I will do almost anything to get her to eat healthy.... so Farfalle it is!

My little sweeties were coloring and eating crackers while I made this dish in a flash!  

Yes, just dump the grape tomatoes right in with the pasta during the last few minutes. 

{Careful....when you go to eat them, the juice will be piping hot!!! I really like the flavor though... the grape tomatoes are super sweet compared to the lemon juice in the pasta sauce}

This little green guy {above | from Tupperware} is probably one of my favorite tools in my kitchen....  

Helps me get every last drop out of those pricey lemons!

.....and here it is! Simple, flavorful....
and thanks to the Barefoot Contessa Roasted Broccoli, a yummy success! Enjoy :)

Pumpkin Pie Crumble Bars with Roasted Pecans

I just found this recipe.... 

{details on how to make it came from one of my favorite foodie blogs.... Baking with Blondie}  

~

Right when I saw this, I immediately thought it seemed like something Ina would make....... :)

It was incredibly simple to make and

 turned out amazingly yummy!

 My 8x8 Barefoot Contessa baking pan worked perfectly for this recipe.

{Above} are all of the ingredients you'll need. Yep, pretty simple!

Enjoy :)

French Bread for French Toast

Best way to make French Toast.... with day-old french bread!!!!!

YUM!

Poptart Cheesecake

Yep..... another sign of my quirkiness..... but this recipe ROCKS! I just made it up on a whim and happen to love the easiness of it.... and it tastes fabulous, I might add.

Here is the simple, yet delicious recipe in my own Barefoot "Back-to-Basics" way......ENJOY!

Poptart Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Fast and EASY

2 pkgs softened cream cheese (8oz each)

2 room temp eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 c sugar

1 c mini chocolate chips

3 pkgs  chocolate fudge poptarts finely crushed in food processor (6 total poptarts)

1/2 c melted butter

Mix poptart crumbs and butter. Press into 9x9 glass baking dish.

Beat cream cheese in large bowl..then add the rest of the ingredients. Pour into baking dish. Sprinkle top with more chocolate chips and bake for 40-50 mins in 350 degree oven.

Christmas in a Bowl

Last year, I made Ina's Pumpkin Mousse for dessert on Christmas Day. Well, now it is a tradition... and I will keep making it every Christmas Day, until I am no longer able to..... Philip LOVES it!! We all love it, but I know Philip loves it more, because he went to the grocery store to get me the ingredients to make it yesterday..... :) 

Here's the ingredients (which can also be found on www.foodnetwork.com):

• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 (29-ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 2 cups light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 6 extra-large egg yolks
• 2 packages (4 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
• 2 ripe banana, finely mashed
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest, plus more for garnish, optional
• 2 cups cold heavy cream
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Using really good ingredients does make all the difference.

the gelatin

Ahhh.. and there it is - Christmas in a bowl :)

 

First Taste: You will taste creamy pumpkin pie custard with hints of orange and banana - yeah, it's good. And it tastes better the day after you make it..... so make it ahead of time for a party! :)

Very Thankful

I will try and do another food post about one of Ina's amazing dishes soon........ But just want to say how Thankful I am for living in this Country...thankful for yummy food that can be recreated over and over again.....but most importantly thankful to God for giving me the family, friends, & life that I have. Enjoy your feast today everyone!