lentsagna

Friday mealtimes during Lent are always a challenge in our house. Creating a variety of delicious meatless dishes is tricky, especially with my picky meat-loving spouse. This week I came up with a Mexican lasagna inspired dish that satisfied my current craving for black beans.

I call it Mexican Lentsagna. 

Cheesy, beany layers of yum

Ingredients:
I raided the pantry for ingredients, so with more time to plan, I'd have added a few more fresh ingredients.  

2 15oz cans black beans, drained and rinsed
3 15oz cans petite diced or crushed tomatoes (I used diced tomatoes with peppers and onions), drained
1 cup diced peppers and onions
2 cups fresh or frozen corn
12 lasagna noodles
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tbsp. taco seasoning (my recipe)
1 pinch of chili powder
2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
Diced green onions, sour cream and cheese to top


Process:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Boil lasagna noodles until just shy of al dente. I boiled mine 8 minutes.
3. Mix beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn, cilantro and seasonings together.

4. Layer a 9x13 casserole dish as follows: 1/4 of the tomatoes. Top with 4 lasagna noodles. Top with bean mixture, 1/4 of the tomatoes, and 1/3 of the cheese.
5. Repeat layers of noodles, beans, tomatoes and cheese once more.
6. Layer remaining noodles, tomatoes and cheese.
7. Sprinkle top with cheese, cilantro and pinch of taco seasoning. Could also top with crushed tortilla chips.

8. Cover with center-tented foil. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil, bake an additional 10 minutes.
9. Let stand for 5 minutes.
10. Serve with diced green onions, sour cream or whatever toppings you prefer.

Verdict: We loved it. The hubs (who had seconds) said he'd like it again with a refried bean layer. I was thinking some crushed tortilla chips would give it the right crunchy crust. This might just make it into the Friday rotation. 

sweet 60

Absence (in life and blogging) makes the heart grow fonder.

Today is my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. Sadly, they missed celebrating together by just a few months (miss you, Papa). Their lifelong love and devotion continue to inspire me, and remind me to savor the sweet moments. 

Mar & Margy - 1953

Golden Anniversary - 2003

friday the 13th soup

Since 13 is my lucky number, I decided to celebrate Friday the 13th with a 13-ingredient slow cooker soup. It's also my birthday today and I was born on Friday the 13th (hence the luck), and although the momentous celebration of this annual event will happen tomorrow, I still wanted a little something special tonight. So I came up with this. I'll pair it with a nice crusty bread.

Ingredients:
Ham, 2 thick slices precooked, cubed
Black beans, 2 cans
Carrots, 2 handfuls chopped
Celery, 2 stalks chopped
Diced tomatoes, 1 can
Chicken stock, 4 cups
Onion
Minced garlic, 1 tablespoon
Cumin, pinch
Chili powder, pinch
Red pepper flake, pinch
Salt, pinch
Pepper, pinch

Process:
Heat all ingredients in the slow cooker on low for 6 hours.

The Verdict:
We liked it. I may have added a tad more than a pinch of chili powder and red pepper flake, so it had some kick. My husband brought home some delicious cheesy mini bread rounds that soaked it up nicely.

celebrating a century

My great aunt Edna just turned 100. Over Easter weekend, her extended family and friends gathered to celebrate her life. It was a wonderful day of reunion and appreciation of aunt Edna, one another, and those we've lost and miss. The highlight of my day was watching my centenarian aunt skyping with her grandson in California. She couldn't hear the sound on the laptop, but she understood the technology and asked to "sign off" when she was done. Priceless.

Edna, 2012

Millie and Edna, ca. 1930

Millie and Edna, 1916

pretty in pink

With Christmas knits behind me, I'm relieved to finally make something fun (and guilt free!) all for myself. "Santa" brought me this sparkly fuchsia yarn; apparently he knew that pink sparkle was just so me. I wanted a pattern simple enough that the details wouldn't be lost, but not too simple to be boring (sparkly fuchsia just calls out for something exciting). "Snowtracks" was the perfect choice.
  

inky bliss

It may be nerdy or trivial. But I admit it. I get a silly little pang of glee at just the thought of it each January. There's something just so very satisfying about...

Changing the year on my date stamper

Every work day I roll those middle wheels and change the date. Once a month that first wheel gets a whirl. But only once a year does old wheel 3 get it's turn under my thumb. It's the perfect end to the year. Ca-chunk.

baked goodness

Tis the season for baked goods! My husband, sister-in-law and I decided to bake up some sugar cookie platters for holiday gifts; by rough count we baked up about 10-12 dozen. I also whipped up a few cakes, platters of peppermint thins, chocolate barks, and other sweet treats for friends, neighbors and holiday gatherings.  

Sugar cookie invasion

Chocolate and white chocolate peppermint bark, chocolate and white chocolate mint thins

Triple Chocolate Bliss Cake with white chocolate snowflakes

Starlight Red Velvet Cake with raspberry and vanilla whipped cremes and peppermint medallions

More chocolate peppermint bark

Mint and chocolate covered pretzels

Guido says "get outta my kitchen"

Keister cookie elves