Lasagna Cheese Soup

Lasagna Cheese Soup

Ingredients  

1 1⁄2 lb ground beef
1 onion, chopped
14 oz cans chicken broth
14 oz cans diced tomatoes
15 oz tomato sauce
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1⁄2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp brown sugar
1⁄2 tsp salt
1⁄4 tsp black pepper
1⁄4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 1⁄2 cup noodles lasagna, broken
4 oz Italian seasoned croutons, (optional)
2 1⁄2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

1. In large 5 quart saucepan, brown ground beef and onion. Drain.
2. Stir in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, italian seasoning, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt and black pepper. Bring to a boil and turn back to simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
3. Add broken lasagna noodles and simmer until noodles are tender for approximately 20 minutes. Stir in parmesan cheese.
4. Ladle soup into bowls and top with croutons. Sprinkle with mozarella cheese and serve immediately.

101 Uses for Coconut Oil

I use coconut oil to cook with and I love it, so I had to share this link! But Lotion and coffee creamer!? Who knew it was so useful! Check out the link below for 101 uses!

http://wellnessmama.com/5734/101-uses-for-coconut-oil/

If you have tried any of these and they work! Let me know!

Healthier Taco Wrap

 First I mixed 1 1/2 Cups of  plain Greek Yogurt with a low sodium taco seasoning packet. Stored it in a container in my fridge for easy use. It tastes amazing!

1 Spinach Wrap (or wrap of choice)
1/2 Cup of Black Beans
Fresh Avocado ( I mashed up 2 and squeezed in half a lemon- to keep from browning)
Shredded Lettuce
2 % Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Taco Sauce

Easy! I mixed it all on my wrap and had a delicious meal! I put what I didn't us in the fridge for another meal.


I got the idea of this from "Dr. Oz's 7 Layer Fat-Fighting Dip" Which I also plan to make!

 4 cups shredded lettuce 

 3 medium ripe avocados mashed and mixed with 2 tbsp lemon juice 

 1 1/2 cup Greek yogurt mixed with 1 package low-sodium taco seasoning mix 

 1 can black beans 

 3 medium diced tomatoes 

 2 cans sliced olives - 8 oz 2% cheddar cheese. 

Directions: starting with the lettuce on the bottom of a bowl, add each layer on top of the next, ending with sprinkling the cheese on top. alternate one celery stick with each whole grain chip to cut your calories in half.

  

Bridal Shower Game

1) Make sure that the bride is okay with being the center of attention. Everyone will be watching her look silly, and that makes some girls uncomfortable.
2) You want it to be hilarious, but if you think she is even close to danger, stop the game.You don't want her to choke after all. That would make you a pretty horrible bridesmaid.
3) Mix in some questions she will know and let the audience know you are trying to trip her up. You don't want the bride to feel like she doesn't know the groom at all. Still, the funniest part is when she doesn't know things. If you have any doubts about whether or not the bride will enjoy this game, ask her. (If she is outgoing and has a sense of humor, she almost certainly will)

Materials needed:
- Chair for the bride-to-be
-Lots of gumballs (I went to the dollar store and bought a couple packages. You could also use mini marshmallows if you worry about gumballs)
- Ask the Groom-To-Be questions and document the answers. (See the end of post for list of questions I used)
 

Game Play:

1. Explain game to bride and guests. "The bride will be trying to answer these questions the same way that her groom-to-be answered them. For every question she gets wrong, she has to place another piece of gum in her mouth and CHEW it. Pictures are encouraged."

Some of the questions I used:

What is the first thing that you noticed about the Bride?
 Where was your first date?
 What is your favorite meal that the Bride prepares?
 What is your least favorite meal that the Bride makes?
 What is the Groom’s favorite color?
 What/where was Groom’s first job?
 What was Groom’s first car?
 Where was your first kiss?
 Who said ‘I love you’ first?
 What is your favorite thing about the Bride?
  When did the Groom know it was love and she was “the one”?
 What do you think the Groom would say is the Bride’s most annoying habit?
 What would the Bride say is the Groom’s most annoying habit?
 How and where did the Groom propose?
 Is the Groom right-handed or left-handed?
 What nickname does the Groom hate being called?
 What was the first movie that you watched together?
 What is the Groom’s favorite dessert?
 What was the Groom’s favorite toy as a kid?
What is the Groom’s favorite restaurant?
When the Groom was little, what did he want to be when he grew up?
What was the Groom’s first job?
What high school did the Groom go to?
How many kids does the Groom want?
Who was [groom's] best friend growing up?
Who was [bride's] best friend growing up?
How many kids do you guys want to have?
What does [groom] think is [bride's] best physical feature?
What does [bride] think is [groom's] best physical feature?
One word to describe [bride].
One word to describe [groom].
What is [bride's] favorite holiday?
What is [groom's] favorite holiday?
What is [groom's] favorite thing [bride] cook for him?
What is [bride's] favorite thing [groom] cooks for her?
Which one of you is better at dancing?
If [bride] could go anywhere in the world, where would she go?
If [groom] could go anywhere in the world, where would he go?
What is [groom's] dream car?
What is [bride's] favorite outfit?

It turned out to be completely hilarious! Use your own judgement when using the gumballs. If you think it's too much, DON'T do it! 

DIY Bridal Shower Gift

Not only am I planning my own wedding (04-18-2015!) I am in two of my good friends weddings this year. LOTS of fun wedding stuff!! Last year I went to a bridal shower and the bride received this DIY gift and I just adored it! I knew right away I wanted to make it for one of my friends getting married! (I also knew I wanted one for myself- hint hint for friends that may be reading this) I went to Hobby Lobby for supplies and ended up being in the store for 2 hours! If you've ever been to Hobby Lobby you get it! The idea I had in my head was easy to put together in there. I did change it a little after I found the cute wooden clothes pins. I thought adding it to the corner so I could clip a picture of the bride & groom would make it even more adorable! Use dry erase markers to write messages.

The bridesmaids also helped throw this bride a shower. The bride mentioned she would like a "wedding dress cupcake cake" I was going to make it myself... it honestly wouldn't be that hard! But I didn't have the time so I found a lady at Publix that had made one before. Oh my goodness was it gorgeous! It was the perfect touch to the shower!!

Also made a chalkboard sign for the front door. Very cute photo spot!! 

The Shower turned out adorable! And I think she loved her gift as much as I did!

Skinny Italian Sausage and Peppers

Ingredients:

• 1-1/4 pounds lean, spicy Italian turkey sausage
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tricolored bell peppers, thinly sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (15 ounce) can basil, oregano and garlic diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tablespoon dried basil (original recipe called for 12 basil leaves, chopped)

 

Directions:

1. Preheat the broiler. Pierce the sausages all over with a fork, arrange them on a baking sheet and broil for about 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. They should be golden brown but won't be fully cooked. Transfer the sausages to a cutting board and cut 3/4-inch pieces on the diagonal.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bell peppers and onion. Cook until the onion is slightly golden brown and the peppers are soft, for about 5-8 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes and salt. Cook for 1 minute, continuing to stir. Remove the pepper mixture and place it in a large serving bowl.
3. Add the diced tomatoes, water and basil leaves. Add the sausage and reduce the heat to medium. Cook until the sausage is done, for about 3-4 minutes.
4. Combine the sauce and sausage with the pepper mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated. Garnish with basil. 

 This was very good!!! Lots of flavor and not too spicy! Enjoy!

Coconut Cream Pie!

My favorite kind of pie! I always wondered how to make it and this recipe is EASY! I would make a couple changes. Less Sugar- maybe just a 1/2 cup and MORE whipped topping!

Ingredients Serves 8

1. 1 1/2  cup sweetened flaked coconut
2. 3 cup half-and-half
3. 2 egg, beaten
4. ³⁄₄ cup white sugar
5. ¹⁄₂ cup all-purpose flour
6. ¹⁄₄ tsp salt
7. 1 tsp vanilla extract
8. 1 (9 inch) pie shells, baked
9. 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet and bake it, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine the half-and-half, eggs, sugar, flour and salt and mix well. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 3/4 cup of the toasted coconut and the vanilla extract. Reserve the remaining coconut to top the pie.
4. Pour the filling into the pie shell and chill until firm, about 4 hours.
5. Top with whipped topping and with the reserved coconut.