Mac and Cheese with Broccoli

Made this for our Christmas dinner this year.  I've never actually made Mac and Cheese from scratch and found this recipe to be easy and it tasted delicious.  The only change I'll make when preparing this again is to leave off the breadcrumbs - I didn't think they offered to much to the dish and think it would taste fine without them.   

 

1 16 oz package large elbow macaroni, cooked 
1 head of fresh broccoli, cut up into small bite size pieces
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
1 small onion, diced
2 cups of milk
1 can chicken broth
2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
about 1/2 cup of extra cheese for topping
1/4 cup bread crumbs

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large pot, boil water and cook pasta to instructions, but leaving pasta a little al dente.  About 3 minutes before draining pasta, add broccoli to cook in water with pasta. 

 

Grease a large 9 x 12 baking dish.  While pasta is cooking prepare the cheese and milk mixture. In large pot on medium heat, add butter and onion. Cook onions till soft, then add flour. Stir flour quickly to combine the flour and onion rue mixture. Add milk and chicken broth.  Allow mixture to come to a boil and sauce will thicken. Remove from heat and add cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese.

Drain your cooked pasta and broccoli and add to cheese mixture. 

Gently mix together and pour into baking dish. Add extra cheese and bread crumbs on top.  Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until cheese is melted with a nice crust.

(Credit to the original blog where I got this recipe - Here's a Link)

Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups

Ingredients:
8 lasagna noodles, uncooked
14 oz freshly shredded, low-moisture part skim Mozzarella cheese, divided
3/4 cup Ricotta cheese (*I used cottage cheese*)
1 large egg white
1/3 cup freshly, finely shredded Parmesan cheese (about 1 1/4 oz)
freshly ground black pepper
3 - 4 medium Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced (about 1/6 inch thick slices)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for garnish (*I used dried basil, but would be delicious with fresh*)
1 cup Simple Marinara Sauce (*See recipe below*)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook pasta according to directions listed on package to al dente. Drain pasta (DO  NOT rinse with water) and align lasagna noodles in a single layer on a large sheet of parchment or wax paper.
For filling, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together ricotta cheese and egg white until well blended. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Mix in 12 oz. of the Mozzarella cheese and season with black pepper to taste (I wouldn't recommend seasoning with salt just because the cheeses already have plenty of salt). 

Place 1/4 cup of the cheese mixture over each lasagna noodle and spread into an even layer, going from one end of the lasagna to the other. Align 4 thin tomato slices over cheese mixture then sprinkle fresh basil over top. Snugly roll lasagna noodles to opposite end. Spread about 1/4 cup pasta sauce in the bottom of an 11 x 7 inch baking dish. Align lasagna roll ups, seam side down in dish. Top each roll up with about 2 Tbsp of the pasta sauce (covering edges of pasta so they don't dry out while baking). Sprinkle top with remaining 2 oz. shredded Mozzarella. Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Remove from oven, plate pasta and garnish with plenty of basil ribbons. Serve warm.

Simple Marinara Sauce
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic finely minced
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add onions to hot oil and saute about 3 minutes until soft, adding garlic during last minute of sauteing. Pour in crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture just to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and allow sauce to cook for about 25 - 30 minutes (which will allow some of the water in crushed tomatoes to evaporate) while you prepare pasta and lasagna filling (you can freeze or refrigerate left over sauce in a small airtight container for later use, adding fresh basil if desired).

Recipe Source Credit: Cooking Classy

I am excited about my future!

On April 5th 2011 I took a leap of faith & wrote a quick blog post before I walked into my first class for Massage Therapy.

Today I am happy and proud to say that last night was my last class and I'm officially a graduate of  SHI Integrative Medical Massage school and will sit the state of Ohio licensing exam in a few weeks!

Here's a photo of my class:


Thanks to my family and friends for your support and encouragement along the way!  I am excited about my future!

Because I knew you...

I have been changed for the better...

 

 

For Good from Wicked:

(Glinda):

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from it's mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

(Glinda):
Because I knew you

(Both):
I have been changed for good

(Elphaba):
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

(Glinda):
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share

(Both):
And none of it seems to matter anymore

(Glinda):
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

(Elphaba):
Like a ship blown from it's mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

(Both):
Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better
(Glinda):
And because I knew you...

(Elphaba):
Because I knew you...

(Both):
Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

Dear Wendy,

Thank you for being my best friend.  

May memories of good and fun times fill my mind 

and may I always feel your spirit in my life.

May you rest in peace with no more pain and
may your family & friends always feel your love in our hearts.  

I love you and miss you my dear friend...