Crockpot Lasagna & Devine Breadsticks

Someone on PYP requested this recipe - I posted it and it seems like everyone loves it. This is the only way I have been making Lasagna for a few years - we really like it.

CROCKPOT LASAGNA

8 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 pound ground beef (or substitute w/ ground turkey)
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
28-ounce jar spaghetti sauce
1/3 cup water
4-oz. can sliced mushrooms, optional
15 oz. low-fat ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Brown ground beef in skillet. Drain. Stir in Italian seasoning.Break noodles into thirds. Place half in bottom of greased crockpot. Spread half of ground beef mixture over noodles in crockpot.On top of beef, layer 1/2 of sauce, 1/2 of water, 1/2 of mushrooms (opt.), 1/2 of ricotta, and 1/2 of mozerella cheese. Repeat all layers.Cover. Cook for 5 hours on low.

Want a great breadstick to go along with this? (I found the recipe at Norah's)

Devine Breadsticks

1 ½ cup warm water

1 tablespoon yeast

2 tablespoons sugar

3 ½ cups flour

½ teaspoon salt

Butter for the pan

Mix all ingredients (except butter) and knead for three minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt desired amount of butter on baking pan (the original recipe called for 1 entire stick of butter - that was way too much for my taste - I use a couple tablespoons). Roll out dough about 1/8-inch thick and cut into strips. Place in butter and put close together. Sprinkle with garlic salt and parmesan cheese. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. Bake 20 minutes at 375 degrees.

Hello!! It's Summer!!!

Somebody tell Mother Nature that it is time for summer!! We put up our pool last week and the way the weather reports are going we won't be swimming for AT LEAST another week!!! I know, I know, we need the rain..... but seriously it feels almost sacrilegious to turn the furnace on (if even for a minute) in JUNE!!!! The kids and I did go camping over the past weekend and we got to swim in the pool at the campground - but now we want to swim at home!!

Word Verification

Is it just me or do other people have a hard time with those "Word Verification" things that some websites/blogs require. I understand why they do... But it seriously seems like every time I have to copy the text --- it takes a couple of tries to get it right. Once I actually tried the disabled option - and that kind of freaked me out --- the voice is a little scary!! Please tell me I am not alone!

What good is a blog if no one reads it?

I try my hardest to leave comments on other people's blogs and I love it when people leave comments on mine. I was surfing today and on one of my friends blogs Our Cozy Nest I found a link to a great site that can help support you in building your blog and getting more readers and comments --- How fun is that???

The Big-Boy Bed!!!

Yes Little Man is only 3-months away from turning 3 - but he just moved tonight into the Big Boy Bed!! There are 2 main reasons that we waited so long to get him out of the crib. The 1st reason is that he has never tried to get out of his crib - in fact he doesn't even sit up until we go in to get him. The 2nd reason is that ever since he was a little baby he has "rocked" himself to sleep. He grabs his stuffed friends and blanket, wraps his arms around them and rocks from side to side -- his rocking is very harsh and I have been afraid that he would just rock himself right out of the bed. But none the less he is growing up and really needs this transition - no matter how hard it is for me to let my kids grow up. Now if I could figure out how to be a bug on the wall in there and see if he actually went to sleep in the bed or if like his big sister did for a long time on the floor. Before I good to bed I will muster up the courage to go in and hopefully not wake him up.

How to be a Coupon Freak like me....

OK - so you don't have to go to the extremes that I might but with the ever changing economy and the price of gas ---you have to start somewhere. Thanks to my friend Aubrey I got started with Pinching Your Pennies about 1 1/2 years ago. I am amazed at each trip I make to the grocery store how much money can actually be saved. I am at the point (and I have been for a while now) that I shop almost exclusively for my "stockpile" or "storage" and then of course perishables. I plan meals mainly around what is on hand. What should you keep on hand?? I recommend making a list of 10-15 of your family's favorite tried and true meals and then make sure that you have the necessary ingredients on hand at any given time. For instance --- if you have a few meals that require cream soups or canned vegetables --buy those items when they are at their lowest prices. Cereal, pasta, sauces, frozen meats, baking mixes, condiments, canned foods and much more are on sale frequently at ROCK BOTTOM prices and it's easy to stock up then!! How do I know when the price is right?? I personally look to Pinching Your Pennies-Utah they have great lists posted on there of the sale prices at the local grocery stores. If you are outside of Utah they offer the Grocery Guide as an alternative or there is a price book that gives star rankings for pretty much everything at the grocery store - you compare the price of the shelf to the price book too look for the best deals. Bonus Savings!!! Every time I go to the grocery store I make sure to swing by the clearance carts and scour them for bargains - there are really some great deals to be found - especially if you have coupons!! Another "Never-Miss" for me is the reduced price meat - this is the meat that must be sold in the next day or so - usually marked down at least 40-70% just take it home and cook it that day or freeze it. PYP has a great blog now to!!! They have great tips and how to advice for saving time and money! One more great option that can help you as well as local farmers is to join a Co-Op. One of friends buys from them frequently and I plan on trying it out this month too. Most are available for anyone to use - no matter what your income level is. Another is Angel Food Ministries - although that one is not available in Utah.

Card Swap

I love my new bed!!!

Due to issues with our box springs and the wonderful customer service at RC Willey we have been sleeping with just our mattress on the floor for a few months. Thanks to Uncle Sam's stimulus check and the great excuse of an anniversary gift for ourselves we bought a new bed.
IKEA has some pretty good beds. They seem really sturdy and secure. You have to buy a bed base which basicly are wooden slats that you put in a rubber sleeve --- this sits on the frame and then you can just lay the mattress on the slats. Since we have king size bed - we actually have two sets of the slats. We just used the mattress that we already have - but I hear that IKEA has great mattresses too.
It took me a bit - but I put the bed together myself. You can use box springs with IKEA beds but you really don't need to. We have had it for 3 nights ---- and I love it. I cannot believe how comfortable it is.

Happy Anniversary!!

13 years ago today..... I married my sweetie! Wow!! I can't believe that he has put up with me that long. Oh and Friday, May 26th 1995 --- it was rainy.....just like today!

Feeding the Duck!!

We live close to the Kaysville Ponds and lots of people go up there and feed the ducks. Well on Saturday we had a little visitor in our own front yard. The kids (and Matt) had fun feeding the little feathered friend.