Muffin Top

Tastebud Tuesday: Black Bean & Spinach Lasagna

Holy heck, it's Tastebud Tuesday. And before you turn up your nose at the thought of black beans in your lasagna, be assured that even my husband and children ate - and enjoyed - this meal. I've been trying to incorporate more meatless recipes into our week - mainly to save a little money. This recipe has made the regular rotation!

Black Bean & Spinach Lasagna
2 eggs
15 oz ricotta (I use low-fat cottage cheese)
10 oz frozen spinach (thaw it & then drain & press out as much water as you can)
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups shredded cheese (I use Italian blend - and you can definitely lighten up the recipe by not using all of that cheese. I only use 2 cups.)
16 oz black beans, drained & rinsed
1 large jar (2 lb 13 oz) pasta sauce
9 lasagna noodles (I don't boil them - I just soak mine on a cookie sheet for several minutes while I mix together everything else.)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Stir together first 5 ingredients (eggs thru salt) and 1 cup of cheese. Set aside.
3. Mash beans; stir into pasta sauce.
4. Spread 1/3 bean/sauce mixture on bottom of lightly greased 13x9 baking dish. Layer with 3 noodles, 1/2 spinach mixture, 1 cup cheese.
6. Repeat layers. (Then you'll  put your last 3 noodles on top of the cheese, then cover those with last 1/3 of bean/sauce, and last cup of cheese.)
7. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Yum. :)

Running Buddies

I loathe running with a jogging stroller. So, I rarely do it. But, yesterday was so gorgeous that even the prospect of pushing 50+ lbs uphill couldn't deter me.

Here are my running buddies, ready to go.

 
Here they are, 3 miles later... "Mommy, look - Molly's snuggling on me!" They were so cute, I might have to start running with them more often. Maybe. Probably not. But it's tempting. Kind of.

Caught on tape!

This is a video I took on my phone a couple of weeks ago. I'd been trying to get this on tape for awhile, and the only time I could catch it was when homegirl was strapped into her carseat. Try to ignore my singing. And the fact that I'm driving while videotaping. 

This and That

Before I try to pick up where I left off in Africa (Day 5 forever, baby!! That was for you, Ginny.), I thought I'd post some other random thoughts that have been floating through my brain. Mostly having to do with how cute I think my kids are and how much I'm enjoying this season of life...

Owen, let's start with you, buddy. You're 3. I know that you know this, because you tell me you're 3 at least 3 times a day, and every time the number 3 is spoken, heard, or seen. You.  Are. Three. And Owen, I have to tell you - all the people that talk about the "Terrible Two's" probably haven't had a kid turn 3 yet. Because this is a whole different ball game. You've entered the arena of "sass." And I've got to hand it to you - you're mastering the art.

But seriously, son, you are one of my favorite people on the planet. And most definitely my favorite 3-year-old. You are hilarous. You make me laugh out loud everyday. You love to sing songs - and lately you love to be hilarious and change the words. A current favorite is, "Yankee Doodle went to town, riding on a... PANCAKE!!!" <insert side-splitting laughter here> Except you still say "pampake" instead of pancake, which makes it even funnier.

You love to build things. You love to help me wash dishes. You love to do anything with your Daddy. You love to make your sister laugh. You love to do jumping jacks. You love to play soccer. You love to hop on one foot. You love to make funny faces. You love to read books. You love stickers. 

Now, Molly... You, my dear, are just plain delightful. Okay, you have started refining your tantrum-throwing skills - your current go-to is the throw-yourself-on-the-floor-and-scream-but-stop-and-check-to-be-sure-someone-is-watching method. But usually those only last a few minutes, and you're so stinking cute that we don't mind. Okay, we kind of mind. But you really are cute.

You're now officially a card carrying member of the I Can Walk club! Oh, how I love that you are walking! And you are so funny about it too. It's like you know it's this new skill and you are in extreme training. For example - you will pick something up and just carry it back and forth from the kitchen to the living room. Your destination isn't really in either place - your mission is just to keep walking. Or, you will literally just walk in a circle around my legs. Continuously. For five solid minutes. It's impressive, really.

You love to clap. You love to eat. (oh my word, you love to eat.) You love to climb all the way up the stairs before I even notice you're missing. You love to wave & say bye. ("Bahhhye" - you little southern belle, you.) You love to swing - frighteningly high. You love taking baths. You love to sing Jesus Loves Me. And Baa Baa Black Sheep. You love to laugh at your brother. You love to dance.

And of course, I can't forget my baby daddy, Matt. Seriously - hands down, best season of our marriage yet. Matt, I feel like my heart could explode on Monday evenings as I'm standing by your side at the soccer field, yelling for our son to get his finger unstuck from the goal netting while our daughter is walking circles around my legs.

I mean for real - you & I are married. Still. And we have childREN. Who are as sweet, tender, & funny as their daddy. Thank you, Jesus.

Remember sitting in the rain in the parking lot of the Oxford Wal Mart? Isn't this even more fun than what we could've imagined then?

Mmmmm... it's a good life.