Monday, November 30, 2009

Lasagna Fritta (fried lasagna)



Here is a great dish I had at olive garden a month ago as an app. O.G. doesn't give out this recipe so here's my variation... very very good!!



Lasagna Fritta
Makes 14 servings

2/3 c milk
1 c Parmesan cheese
6 oz Feta cheese
¼ tsp white pepper
1 TBSP butter
7 lasagna noodles
1 oz marinara sauce
1 oz Alfredo sauce

Boil and stir together butter, white pepper, milk, Parmesan, and feta cheese.
Boil Lasagna noodles as directed.
When the noodles are finished, spread a thin layer of cheese & milk mix along noodle and fold into 2 inch pieces. Let set in the freezer for 1 hour, placing something heavy on top to keep it together.

When you take them out of the freezer, cut the pieces in half long-ways.

Before you fry them, mix 1/4 c milk and 1 egg together and get a bowl ready with Italian bread crumbs.

then dip each piece in the milk/egg then the bread crumbs. NOW you can fry them.
Fry at 350 degrees for 4 minutes

Spread Alfredo on the bottom of the serving plate, placing each piece in the sauce. Drizzle marinara sauce on top.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

My New Favorite Kitchen Tool



I have changed my lifestyle for the better and am slowly bringing my children along for the ride. My diet has changed drastically in the last few months and I've never felt better!! In my previous post I spoke about "superfood" for my children. I was so pleased to hear from those of you who already used it and those who are now trying it with your sweet little ones. But the concern with some is..."how the heck do you get them to drink it?!?!?!"




I like to juice 4 or 5 apples in the morning before breakfast and give 1/2tsp of superfood in the juice to the boys... many times they ask for seconds and, like this morning, thirds! I also use the same applejuice and pour it into a blender with a frozen banana and 4 or 5 frozen strawberries and blend it until smooth and put my superfood in it... The fresh applejuice is the key... and the smoothies are as good, if not better than anything i've EVER had!!



**give your children a little bit with the superfood and then give them a tall glass without... they may cringe a bit with the greens, but it masks the taste better than anything else i have found**


So why did I buy a juicer? My children love juice just as much as the next child, but I've never felt comfortable giving my boys processed juices that many times have extra sugar or sugar additives, preservatives, dyes and other artificial contents that cause diarrhea and hyper activity to name a few.




Our bodies need water to perform at the optimal levels... it helps to keep the liver clean and the body hydrated. Fruits and Vegetables are full of water... the water found in these foods is the best and most natural sources for our body to use. By using a juicer the water is extracted from these foods along with the fibers and cells that help to revitalize and rejuvenate our bodies. By drinking the juice it assimilates in the body and the bloodstream quicker than if you were to eat the food and allow it to go thru the breakdown in the digestion process. When you go to sleep at night your body goes into a state of fasting where the digestive system has the chance to rest...



when we wake up in the morning it is important that we don't rush to the fridge and begin to stuff food down our throat... It's best to begin introducing food back into our system slowly... I like to begin with my juices thru the morning followed by some fruit mid morning and allow my meals to get bigger as the day as gone on... Something very contrary to what we hear... big breakfast, smaller dinner... but in reality it makes sense for it to be the opposite. This is my reason for the juicer. My particular brand is a champion juicer...



i love it! It can be pricey, but well worth the dollar amount. If you are still unsure...look into buying a used one. They hold up well and can be used commercially for years on end. Please note: A blender does not do the same thing as a juicer.

I have much more to say, but can only sit at my computer so long... stay tuned, I'll write more concerning my new diet approach soon... IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

SuperFood For Babies



My youngest (15 months) is a bit of a fussy baby. He's a great sleeper, but if he isn't outside, he is sitting at my ankles crying... My mother-in-law suggested I try giving him "SuperFood". I was at my wits end and was ready to try anything! Sure enuf... IT WORKED! i know it worked because a few days later (in order to test my findings) I didn't give him any and he was back to his fussy manor. The minute he saw me making him a drink he practically pulled my pants off trying to climb up me to get to his drink!!

SuperFood has some of the most important vitamins and nutrients our bodies need that we miss out on a daily basis from the Standard American Diet. It is also known as a "green drink". The ingredients include:

Spirulina Blue-Green Algae- High in the b-vitamins and one of the highest sources of Beta-Carotene helps aid the body in resistance to diseases

Chlorella- Strengthens the immune system and helps detoxify the body and neutralize harmful substances in the body

Alfalfa, Barley & Wheat Grasses- The word alfalfa literally means "best food" they are good as an anti-arthritic, an anti-asthmatic, a deodorant, and a diuretic.
It is the richest land grown source of trace minerals and elements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron & phosphorous. Combined with the other "greens" they seem to balance the so called salt system of the body & act as a natural diuretic.

Purple Dulse Seaweed- Dulse Seaweed does not give a fishy smell or taste... Seaweed has the richest source of assimilable minerals (as well as trace minerals)on the earth.

Beet Root & Spinach Leaf-
Both have strong blood building properties

Rose Hips, Orange and Lemon Peels- Large Source of Vitamin C which helps aid the body against stress, stroke, colds, and skin aging

Non-Active Saccharomyces Cervisiae Nutritional Yeast- It is the second highest source of complete protein in nature along with other vitamins and minerals such as iron. The yeast is completely NON-ACTIVE

When all of these ingredients are put together they strengthen the blood which is essential for us to have to function at our best. I know many people who have used it with their children and have seen changes in their demeanor and attitude. It helps children focus naturally while still being able to BE CHILDREN! It's the first thing all my boys have in the morning. I put 1/2 a tsp in a vegetable juice I make, a smoothie, their cereal or oatmeal... they barely even notice. For my baby I give him 3-4 1/2tsp servings a day in homemade veggies juice... he now thrives... and sits and my ankles when he knows i am making him a drink. I highly recommend it to mom's who want happy, healthier children!!!