Lasagna Rolls

I have seen this meal idea running wild on Pinterest, Lasagna Rolls... they looked pretty tasty and easy so I decided to try it out. Now me being who I am failed to read a recipe at all and just went off of the picture in my head of what these look like. I thought I did pretty well... Even tried to make a "refreshing" tasting creamy center.

I wish I had a fun and amazing story to tell with this, however I do not.. This is a birthday month for my oldest baby Tripp (turning 14 next Tuesday 2/19) and my fabulous sister-in-law (2/15.. today) so for such a special month I choose to try new things. I started of with a new frosting on cup cakes, then I went for a meal.. Lasagna Rolls...

Boiled lasagna noodles til they were just done.. made not quite done all the way..

I took a whole container of Ricotta cheese, about 1 tbsp fresh dill, juice from 1/2 a lemon, 2 tbsp garlic, 1 tbsp seasoned salt (my dear hubby said this need to be regular salt and more of it) and 1/2 tsp paprika.. now to make it cheesier in my mind 1 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese.  (adjust to your taste)

Now the noodles I had sitting in cold water to keep them from getting stuck together or dried out. Stretch 1 noodle out and spread the cheese on it and roll up like a cinnamon roll...

Place in casserole dish, I was able to fit 10 in mine and 3 in a separated dish. That was a good amount for my family. I did have several noodles left over. So note to self next time only cook the amount of noodles needed. This was trial and error for me and now I know the amount need for next time :)

Browned some homemade sausage and add it to some store bought (I know.. but in my defense our garden isn't in ground yet!) spaghetti sauce...

Ladled the sauce over the rolls and some on the sides of the rolls. Then sprinkled finely shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Into the over at 350 degrees for about 25-35 minutes.

Baked to perfection.. if you ask me of course. This was quite delicious . sooo delicious in fact that Jeremy ate 3 of them (even not being salty enough) and Tripp ate 4!!! That kids is a bottom less pit we have decided!

One more final look at yumminess! Now its your turn to go bake/cook something!.. here is a link to the lasagna roll pin I have on Pinterest the inspired this particular creation by me :)

The website:

http://bernadinegatesioh.blogspot.com/.. unfortunately.. I clicked on the link from Pinterest and this blog has been removed :(

Here is another link that does work that was found on Pinterest:
http://easy-cookbook-recipes.com/lasagna-roll-ups/

Have fun creating...

<3  T

Berry Blue.. Jello Frosting

I have been neglecting my blog.. for good reason :) I am getting excited about spring and gardening! And when the garden produces (and even some before) I will have non-stop stuff to blog about. However I have found the will to make something :) I wanted to make something sweet to celebrate Valentine's Day as well as Tripp's 14th birthday. ( I know my oldest baby isn't a baby anymore, he is starting high school) So, I had to experiment with what to make. I bought Cherry chip cake mix (by Betty Crocker) and whipped up some cupcakes, some mini cupcakes. Just so I could make this jello frosting.

I thought it would be fun to have color and flavor. I went with Berry Blue, taste berry-licious and its baby blue. Best part it really isn't hard to make...

Making up the cupcakes.. of course my little helper helped.. Emma

Set out 1 egg white to bring up to room temp while making the cupcakes

Added 2/3 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 egg white and 1 3 oz. package of berry blue jello.. turned the mixer on high.. and poured in 1/2 cup of boiling water. Let the mixer go at it on high for 5 minutes... aaaand...

TADA!... way yummy frosting, super fluffy and light and it holds it's shape! I am in LOVE with this awesome frosting!

The final look...

The Recipe:

3 ounce pkg. of Jello (favorite flavor)
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place the above ingredients in a large GLASS OR METAL mixing bowl (OF A STAND MIXER). Turn the mixer on high just as you add ½ cup of boiling water. Whip on high for five minutes.

The site:
http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/11/kid-friendly-jello-frosting.html

By: Coleen


Now go experiment with your own flavors.. You all in love with this too.. I am off to make a raspberry cake..

<3  T


**UPDATE**

So, I did make this frosting again this time on a cake. I had soooo much trouble with this one.. mostly cause of my choices :) I thought it would be awesome to make angle food cake and a raspberry frosting on top. Well, mistake #1... I forgot that angel food cake puffs way up when it is cooking and I over filled the 2 cake pans I was using, needless to say but I will say it anyways.. I had a messy oven rack. #2 Although this is a fantastic frosting.. it does NOT do well left out over night. This first night we had some of the cake it was like eating a cake version of cotton candy.. VERY light and airy the cake matched with this frosting is super.. ONLY on the first day..haha... the frosting once it had set was so sticky and stiff it was almost like fluffy cake topped with and somewhat softer laffy taffy.. that is the only way I could describe it.. Here is a picture of how it looked...

Now your turn to try and give feed back!

<3 T

Spiced Pineapple Cupcakes with Almond Ginger Icing

That's a pretty snazzy title for something so very easy! I have seen a recipe floating around Pinterest for a while now. So, I did what I like to do best.. I modified it. The original recipe only calls for 2 ingredients.. Angle food cake and 1 20 oz can of pineapple.. Well, obviously I did not have angel food cake, but I did have a spice cake mix!

Now, back ground on why I was inspired to bake.. This weekend was super bowl weekend and we were invited to hang out with some pretty fantastic people (brother and sister-in-law). They were covering the main spread (and it was super tasty!) so I thought... "can I bring something sweet?!?!" Ok, who turns down sweets.. like... NO BODY! Also, since it is Tripp and Aunt Ev's birthday month.. I had to take her a birthday goody! This seemed perfect and the icing I could make orange her FAVE color!

My super easy version:

1 box spice cake mix
1 20 oz can crushed pineapple
2 tbsp unsweetened apple sauce
1 large egg


I mixed it all together.. Now I added the egg only cause I was worried that it wouldn't be wet enough and not rise. But this is on the baker I do believe. Mine came out super moist and some even feel apart when peeling the cupcake wrapper off. Bottom line you can omit the egg.. you do not have to use it.

The Icing:
I found a recipe for Magnolia's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. I did mainly stick with the recipe. However, you can expect me to make some modifications...

My Frosting/ Icing:

2 sticks of butter, soften
1/2 cup of whole milk
6 cups on powder sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp of ground ginger

In my mind I wanted the icing to be vibrant orange.. how ever the more color I added the same it stayed... I got a pastel orange but hey it was at least orange!

Now, I whipped up the frosting in the 20 minutes the first batch of cupcakes were in the oven. I let those cool while the second dozen cupcakes went in the oven. I then iced the tops of the cooled cupcakes, and it still need something. some sort of "decoration".. Well, I had a mango that needed to be used.. why not cut it up for the family to snack on leaving myself 24 pieces to place on top of the icing...

The Recipe:

Pineapple Angel Food Cake

Ingredients

1 package Angel Food Cake Mix

1 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple

Directions

Combine Angel Food Cake Mix and crushed pineapple in a Mixing Bowl by hand. Make sure and mix thoroughly so everything is combined

Pour into a 13 x 9 Baking Pan

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees

Keep an eye out for cake mix and pineapple coupons to help save on the cost of this recipe!

The site:

http://www.tammileetips.com/2013/01/pineapple-angel-food-cake-2/

By: Tammilee

The Recipe:

Magnolia's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 6 to 8 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the milk and vanilla. On the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring and mix thoroughly. (Use and store the icing at room temperature because icing will set if chilled.) Icing can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

The Site:

http://www.recipelink.com/cookbooks/2005/0743246616_4.html

By: Magnolia (http://www.magnoliabakery.com/)

Now, stop drooling over what I created and go be creative.. make something and drool with pride over what YOU created!

<3 T