... more to come!
Showing posts with label Bella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bella. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
recipe: Mac and Cheese Broccoli Casserole
Don't be scared by the word "casserole". Repeat after me: "Casseroles are friends. Casseroles are not scary. Casseroles are easy. Casseroles are tasty."
Anyway, this is a really good and filling dish that can be used as a side, or even a main meal. For those of you who crave lots of meat, throw in a cup or so of shredded chicken. Or add ground hamburger meat to make it a healthy alternative to Hamburger Helper!
Sorry for the awful picture... We got home at 9:30 on Sunday evening after being gone since 9:00 am. Thankfully, I had pre-made this on Saturday so all I had to do was add the bread crumbs, parm, and spray then bake to heat up. So, instead of taking a picture of the pretty finished product, I ended up diving in headfirst and eating. So a picture of my lunch portion today will have to do until the next time I make this, and can update the picture. Sadly, you can see the gorgeous topping of breadcrumbs and cheese... the crispiness is our favorite part!
Alternatively, you can check out SkinnyTaste's version... they are basically the same, with a few minor changes.
Serves: 8
Stats: 349 cals per serving
12 oz pasta (such as elbows, twists, penne, etc... long spaghetti-like noodles don't work so well)
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup minced onion
a tad of minced garlic
2 cups 2% milk
1 cup fat free chicken broth (vegetarians use vegetable broth)
8 oz (2 cups) shredded cheddar
salt and fresh pepper to taste
12 oz fresh broccoli florets
1/8 cup grated parmesan
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
cooking spray
Cook pasta and broccoli together in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions for al dente (or slightly under cook 2 minutes). Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375°.
In a large, heavy skillet, melt butter. Add onion and cook over low heat about 1 minutes; add garlic and cook for another minute.
Add flour and cook another minute, or until the flour is golden and well combined. Add milk and chicken broth and whisk, raising heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil; cook about 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper.
Once the sauce is thick, remove from heat, add cheese and mix well until cheese is melted.
Adjust salt and pepper to taste, add cooked macaroni and broccoli and mix well. Pour into prepared baking dish.
If you're going to refrigerate or freeze, stop here. When it's time to heat the dish, thaw (if needed) and continue to follow directions. You may have to cook 20-25 minutes if cold.
Top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray on top.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, then broil for a few minutes to get the breadcrumbs golden.
So we had a square of this casserole for dinner, along with a meat. Uz had a broiled hot dog with a bun and mustard... I had half a sausage biscuit leftover from our Sunday School breakfast. I was going to have a hot dog, but I was so hungry while I was waiting on this to finish baking and prepping for the pork carnitas that I had to have a little sumthin'-sumthin'.
And check this cutie out! She's got her favorite little Sonic Tot toy... how can anyone resist this?
Anyway, this is a really good and filling dish that can be used as a side, or even a main meal. For those of you who crave lots of meat, throw in a cup or so of shredded chicken. Or add ground hamburger meat to make it a healthy alternative to Hamburger Helper!
Sorry for the awful picture... We got home at 9:30 on Sunday evening after being gone since 9:00 am. Thankfully, I had pre-made this on Saturday so all I had to do was add the bread crumbs, parm, and spray then bake to heat up. So, instead of taking a picture of the pretty finished product, I ended up diving in headfirst and eating. So a picture of my lunch portion today will have to do until the next time I make this, and can update the picture. Sadly, you can see the gorgeous topping of breadcrumbs and cheese... the crispiness is our favorite part!
Mac and Cheese Broccoli Casserole
Adapted from SkinnyTasteServes: 8
Stats: 349 cals per serving
12 oz pasta (such as elbows, twists, penne, etc... long spaghetti-like noodles don't work so well)
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup minced onion
a tad of minced garlic
2 cups 2% milk
1 cup fat free chicken broth (vegetarians use vegetable broth)
8 oz (2 cups) shredded cheddar
salt and fresh pepper to taste
12 oz fresh broccoli florets
1/8 cup grated parmesan
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
cooking spray
Cook pasta and broccoli together in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions for al dente (or slightly under cook 2 minutes). Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375°.
In a large, heavy skillet, melt butter. Add onion and cook over low heat about 1 minutes; add garlic and cook for another minute.
Add flour and cook another minute, or until the flour is golden and well combined. Add milk and chicken broth and whisk, raising heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil; cook about 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes smooth and thick. Season with salt and pepper.
Once the sauce is thick, remove from heat, add cheese and mix well until cheese is melted.
Adjust salt and pepper to taste, add cooked macaroni and broccoli and mix well. Pour into prepared baking dish.
If you're going to refrigerate or freeze, stop here. When it's time to heat the dish, thaw (if needed) and continue to follow directions. You may have to cook 20-25 minutes if cold.
Top with grated cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray on top.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, then broil for a few minutes to get the breadcrumbs golden.
So we had a square of this casserole for dinner, along with a meat. Uz had a broiled hot dog with a bun and mustard... I had half a sausage biscuit leftover from our Sunday School breakfast. I was going to have a hot dog, but I was so hungry while I was waiting on this to finish baking and prepping for the pork carnitas that I had to have a little sumthin'-sumthin'.
And check this cutie out! She's got her favorite little Sonic Tot toy... how can anyone resist this?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
just a little bit of trouble
Bella is a really good dog.
Except for one thing, really. She barks. At the neighbors' dogs. And charges the fence like a raging bull.
So yesterday she got a spankin'. And just LOOK at this face:
Except for one thing, really. She barks. At the neighbors' dogs. And charges the fence like a raging bull.
So yesterday she got a spankin'. And just LOOK at this face:
"Sorry, Mom!"
Sunday, May 20, 2012
meal plan for the week of: 5-21-2012
Meal plan for this coming week! I'm trying to use up what we've got in the pantry/fridge/freezer, so that's why you see pulled pork twice... I froze the leftovers from last week and I'm pulling them out this week!
I use this meal plan template (Meal Plan Template 2) every week to help me stay organized: Project Girl's Meal Plan Templates. So helpful... and cute, too.
Monday: Skinny Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli; Arugula, Penne, White Bean Salad (white beans instead of garbanzo, arugula/spinach mix instead of plain arugula).
We have a birthday at work on Tuesday, so I'm making this: Hummingbird Coffee Cake
Tuesday: Pulled Pork Tacos, Corn and Black Bean Salsa, Fajita Veggies minus the tacos
Wednesday: Mexighetti Bake with Salad; some kind of fruit.
Thursday: Pulled Pork Pizza with Veggies (sliced zucchini, corn, cherry tomatoes, onion, cheddar cheese); some kind of vegetable
Friday: Probably out to eat!
Memorial Day Weekend: We'll probably play it by ear, but I'll have a few quick and easy meals ready just in case.
Zucchini and Corn Quesadillas, Salad, leftover Corn/Black Bean Salsa, Broiled Peaches/Apricots.
Grill out with friends after the arts festival: hamburgers, fruit, salad, the usual grillin' out fare.
Macaroni and Cheese/Broccoli Bake with Shredded Chicken.
Whole Wheat Pancakes with fruit.
Strawberry Balsamic Pizza.
This meal plan is definitely more flexible than I would normally put up, but we've got a holiday weekend coming and I'm not quite sure of our plans yet... so flexible it will have to be!
Our grocery list isn't huge because we're using a lot of stuff we already have. Hopefully we come in under budget... gotta keep myself (and my husband!) from blowing money on frivolous stuff we don't really need.
An * represents a coupon
yogurt*
1 c. lowfat Greek yogurt
cream cheese
cheesesticks
egg whites
2% milk
beef hotdogs
coffee
english muffins
ciabatta rolls (a small splurge)
pizza dough (Pillsbury thin crust)... I need to replenish my supply of homemade frozen pizza dough, but our freezer is way too full right now.
1 c. shredded coconut
Skinny Cow snacks
juice
fruity salad dressing (strawberry poppyseed or cranberry balsamic)*
Cheerios*
pistachios
frozen corn x 2
apricots, peaches, nectarines (for snacks and meals)
oranges
cherry tomatoes
cilantro
jalapenos
avocados
bananas + 2 ripe for mashing
onions
mushrooms
strawberries (99 cent price match at Aldi)
pineapple (99 cent price match at Aldi)
some different chile peppers for a salsa my husband wants to make
toothpaste*
tape and packing tape
And a picture, to brighten your Sunday:
I use this meal plan template (Meal Plan Template 2) every week to help me stay organized: Project Girl's Meal Plan Templates. So helpful... and cute, too.
Meal Plan:
Monday: Skinny Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli; Arugula, Penne, White Bean Salad (white beans instead of garbanzo, arugula/spinach mix instead of plain arugula).
We have a birthday at work on Tuesday, so I'm making this: Hummingbird Coffee Cake
Tuesday: Pulled Pork Tacos, Corn and Black Bean Salsa, Fajita Veggies minus the tacos
Wednesday: Mexighetti Bake with Salad; some kind of fruit.
Thursday: Pulled Pork Pizza with Veggies (sliced zucchini, corn, cherry tomatoes, onion, cheddar cheese); some kind of vegetable
Friday: Probably out to eat!
Memorial Day Weekend: We'll probably play it by ear, but I'll have a few quick and easy meals ready just in case.
Zucchini and Corn Quesadillas, Salad, leftover Corn/Black Bean Salsa, Broiled Peaches/Apricots.
Grill out with friends after the arts festival: hamburgers, fruit, salad, the usual grillin' out fare.
Macaroni and Cheese/Broccoli Bake with Shredded Chicken.
Whole Wheat Pancakes with fruit.
Strawberry Balsamic Pizza.
This meal plan is definitely more flexible than I would normally put up, but we've got a holiday weekend coming and I'm not quite sure of our plans yet... so flexible it will have to be!
Grocery List:
Our grocery list isn't huge because we're using a lot of stuff we already have. Hopefully we come in under budget... gotta keep myself (and my husband!) from blowing money on frivolous stuff we don't really need.
An * represents a coupon
yogurt*
1 c. lowfat Greek yogurt
cream cheese
cheesesticks
egg whites
2% milk
beef hotdogs
coffee
english muffins
ciabatta rolls (a small splurge)
pizza dough (Pillsbury thin crust)... I need to replenish my supply of homemade frozen pizza dough, but our freezer is way too full right now.
1 c. shredded coconut
Skinny Cow snacks
juice
fruity salad dressing (strawberry poppyseed or cranberry balsamic)*
Cheerios*
pistachios
frozen corn x 2
apricots, peaches, nectarines (for snacks and meals)
oranges
cherry tomatoes
cilantro
jalapenos
avocados
bananas + 2 ripe for mashing
onions
mushrooms
strawberries (99 cent price match at Aldi)
pineapple (99 cent price match at Aldi)
some different chile peppers for a salsa my husband wants to make
toothpaste*
tape and packing tape
And a picture, to brighten your Sunday:
 |
| happy Sunday! love, Bella. |
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
lunch: 5-15-2012
At lunch today I took a quick trip to my parents' house to let the dogs out to play for a few minutes. Usually my mom does this, but today she had a dentist appointment and then a work lunch so I was delegated to puppy patrol.
Look at these faces! How can anyone resist?
And for lunch... leftover lemon garlic rosemary chicken, a few tortellinis, salad, Cara Cara orange. This does not include the 110-cal sugar free ice cream sandwich I had at my parents'... whoops.
Look at these faces! How can anyone resist?
 |
| Bella and Truffles hanging out at the back fence, waiting on something to bark at. They are ferocious little animals, obviously. |
 |
| Bella is on the left... she is my baby. Truffles is on the right, and she is Bella's niece. Truf belongs to my mom. can you see the resemblance? |
 |
| Truf says, "no more pictures! PLEASE!" And do you see that little tongue? Adorbs! |
 |
| ...and Bella is definitely a camera hog. |
And for lunch... leftover lemon garlic rosemary chicken, a few tortellinis, salad, Cara Cara orange. This does not include the 110-cal sugar free ice cream sandwich I had at my parents'... whoops.
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