My Easter Bunnies

Easter Sunday - heading to church.

Matthew was sick most of the day. Had a 100.8 temp and cough. But he still wanted to go to church so he went part of it. What a trooper and still so handsome!

My little princess! I can't believe she will be 3 in a week!

We hope you had a Happy Easter!

Vegetable Lasagna - Easter Dinner Special

This was our Easter dinner. I told you I am crazy, who has Vegetable Lasagna for Easter, well I do and I loved it. It is some work, but make this in two pans, cook one and eat it and freeze the other for a quick dinner some other night. It was yummy to my tummy!



Garden Vegetable Lasagna with Ricotta Mascarpone Layers (by picky palate)


Homemade Pasta Sauce:

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 Cup finely diced white onion
4 cloves fresh garlic, peeled and minced
28 oz can Muir Glen Whole Peeled Plum Tomatoes, put in food processor and pulsed until nearly smooth - I use put them in a bowl and smashed them with my hands. I like a more thick sauce (no worries my hands were super clean!)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
6 oz can tomato paste
10 fresh basil leaves, chopped

1. Heat oil into a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onion for 5 minutes, stirring often then stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in crushed tomatoes, salt, pepper, tomato paste and basil leaves. Reduce heat to low and simmer until ready to use.

Vegetable filling:
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 medium yellow squash, sliced
1 medium zucchini, halved and sliced
½ Cup thinly sliced fennel (I left this out)
2 Cups broccoli florets
2 Cups diced eggplant
4 Cups fresh baby spinach leaves, coarsely chopped (I didn't have enough spinach and added 3 cups of kale with 1 cup of spinach)
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Pinches of salt

1. Heat oil into a large dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Saute all ingredients for 10-12 minutes, season with a couple pinches of salt, stirring often or until softened to your liking. Cook longer for softer texture. Reduce heat to low and simmer until ready to use.

Ricotta Mascarpone Layers:

1 ½ pounds part skim ricotta cheese (about 1 ½ big containers)
1 Cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
½ Cup soft mascarpone cheese
2 Cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic salt

1. Place all ingredients into a large bowl; stir until well combined.
9 oz oven ready lasagna noodles, try the whole wheat, it was great
2 Cups shredded mozzarella cheese

To Assemble:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat bottom of a large 9x13 inch baking dish with a couple ladles of homemade sauce. Next, layer with lasagna noodles. Spoon 1/3 Ricotta Mascarpone mixture over noodles, spreading slightly (I used my fingers). Top evenly with 1/3 vegetables. Repeat this process 2 more times or until all ingredients are used up. The top layer should be lasagna noodles. Pour remaining sauce over noodles then sprinkle with 2 Cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake covered for 45-50 minutes, then remove foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
2. Let sit in pan for 15 minutes before cutting into it. Serve and enjoy!
8 servings

Get in the boat FISH, FISH!

We are talking fish. I love fish all kinds. But the tilapia fish is so good and cost efficient. I was wondering a new way to eat it and tried my "chicken Parm" recipe with a twist on it. It was a huge hit in our house!


Baked Tilapia Fish Fillets

1 ½ cups Panko (Japanese styled breadcrumbs – a must buy, at Trader Joes!)
1 T olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup flour
3 large egg whites (or heck use the whole egg (then use 2) - no worries)
1 T water
Vegetable Oil Spray
6 (4 oz) tilapia cutlets

Lemon Pepper or your favorite fish seasoning
Salt and Pepper


1. Heat oven to 450 degrees on middle rack. Heat skillet over medium heat and add oil and panko, stirring often until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. (IF time doesn't permit this, it is okay to skip this step - but it gives the panko a nice crisp feel.)
2. Transfer crumbs to pie dish, cool, and then add Parmesan cheese (yes, this cheese tastes good with fish). Combine flour and salt and pepper into anther pie pan, then one more pie pan add the egg whites and whisk with water.
3. Spray a wire rack with PAM spray over a baking sheet. Pat the fish dry and season with salt and pepper. Now dip in flour mixture dust a little then go to the egg mixture, turn over get all covered now last dip in panko and make sure it is all covered with the crumbs. Lay the fish on the prepared wire rack. Now add the seasonings-lemon pepper or your favorite fish seasonings.
4. Spray the tops of the fish with spray. Bake 10-15 minutes (depends on your fish size and how done you like your fish).

Yum - Baked fish - we had this last week and John already wants it again.

Post for Easter

My friend Karissa sent this to me and I thought it would be fun to try with the kiddos this year. I LOVE their ages right now, so fun and willing to do anything - Matthew 5 and Izzie 3 in 2 weeks. Wow the time flies-it feels like I should still have a newborn!


However, I still don't know what I am making for Easter dinner -we don't usually cook on Sunday, but a special Holiday makes me want to. Plus, we love crazy food like, sushi, Thai, a lot of vegetation foods, that a Easter Ham is not on the menu for us. So any ideas is welcomed!



EASTER STORY COOKIES
To be made the evening before Easter Sunday

You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until
you're half done with the recipe)!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the
wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was
arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar
to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus
gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and
brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty
tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because
He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks
are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in
God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie
sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus'
body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that
Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the
oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was
sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice
the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the
first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and
empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9

Finally pictures of our new house in Vegas

Home sweet home! Izzie's room- Matthew's room-

The Loft upstairs-

Master bath-

Master bedroom with closet-

Master bedroom bed-(bathroom door on side)

Kitchen-(I think the tiniest kitchen I have ever had -besides the one in Oregon)

Living room/Family room with dining room which is in the kitchen.

Our house - view from outside and backyard. (Matthew loves the hose. Can't keep him from spraying everything!)

Home sweet home!