recipe of the week: my mom's homemade lasagna

I wish I had a picture for this yummy recipe but we gobbled it up so fast I forgot!  This is a Dougherty family favorite.  Its easy to make (but a bit time consuming) and you can freeze it.

{the goods}
1 lb. italian sausage
    ***I usually use italian sausage because I like the flavor but this time all I had was ground beef.
1 medium chopped onion
    ***I usually use half an onion since my husband hates onions.  I chop it really fine.
1 garlic glove, crushed
2 Tbl. parsley flakes
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 16oz. can chopped tomatoes
1 15oz. can tomato sauce
12 uncooked lasagne noodles
    ***I ended up only using 9 noodles.  My pan just wasn't deep enough.
16 oz. cottage or ricotta cheese
    ***Our family usually uses cottage cheese because it is more moist.  Ricotta tends to dry out the lasagne some.
1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
1 T. parsley flakes
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese (8oz. bag)

{let's get to cookin'}
Cook and stir sausage, onion and garlic.  While sausage is cooking bring kettle of water to boil for noodles.  Drain sausage when cooked.  Stir in parsley, sugar, basil, salt, tomatoes and sauce.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes.   Cook noodles in now boiling water.  While noodles boil, mix ricotta, 1/4 c. Parmesan, parsley, and oregano.  Spread 1 c. sauce in 9x13 pan.  Top with 4 noodles.  Spread 1c. cheese mixture over noodles.  Spread 1c. sauce.  Sprinkle with 2/3c. mozzarella.  Repeat all steps until finished.  You should end with mozzarella and Parmesan on top.  Bake at 350 deg. for 45 min.  Let set and cool for 10-15 min before serving.

*** I have found that lasagne noodles are a bit tricky to boil.  I usually end up burning a finger or two for some reason because of splashing water.  I try and break the noodles in half when I cook them.  This also helps when you lay them into the pan.  You already have a cut section of lasagne to serve.

*** The cottage cheese mixture for layering is purely on preference.  If you like more mozzarella by all means use more mozzarella.  If you don't like all the cottage cheese just put on a very thin layer.  The best thing about lasagne is that you can make it to your own preference!

*** I timed this,  it takes me about 1 1/2 hours from start to finished product.  I started it at 6pm and we were eating at 7:45pm.  Enjoy!

DIY bird crib mobile

I have all kinds of craft ideas now that I'm not working and have ample time on my hands.  I know this time will come to a close when baby shanks arrives so I'm trying to soak in my last weeks of freedom.  This week's project.. making a crib mobile for my sweet baby girl.  Thank you to Pinterest for continually flooding my right brain with motivating and inspirational craft ideas.  It is because of you that I continually have a project going.

So I started looking at crib mobiles.  I saw this and fell in love with how colorful it was.  However, there is no way I'm paying $150 for a mobile. 

{puka puka design}

And then I found this adorable fabric bird mobile on Etsy.  However, I didn't want to pay $85 plus shipping to Canada. 

{annie's mobile boutique}

I also really liked a simple tissue pom mobile.  But I had already fallen in love with the birds so I couldn't let them go.  I also thought $40 for a pom mobile was a bit expensive.  (I'm sure you are beginning to think I'm a penny pincher!)

{little nest box}

Then on Pinterest last week I found a blog that had a free pattern for the birds.  BINGO!  To get the full instructions you'll need to click on over to Spool Sewing.  So this is really easy to do everyone.  I used scrap fabric I already had.  (I did buy a few small swatches from Walmart in their craft section.  Each was $2.  I think I used about 6 different swatches).  You will also need different size sewing hoops (I used 3), thread, needle, batting, pipe cleaners or fake flower wire, and hot glue.  I cut out the fabric using the pattern from Spool Sewing. Then I sewed (by hand... on the machine would be much easier but I don't have one) and stuffed the birds.  Then I glued them on to the hoops.  I also glued on these paper flowers from Paper Source ($15) that I already had in my scrapbooking box.  Next I made poms out of colorful tissue (I bought a pack from Walmart for $4).  For a pom tissue tuitorial visit Natsprat.  (I made them half the size she makes them in her blog).  Next I hung up the hoops with the thread and attached to the ceiling with a small screw hook.

read of the week: happiest baby on the block

I'm conquering this pregnancy "to read" list like this baby is coming next week!  However, this book sadly doesn't get my best rating and I ended up skimming parts just to get through it.  Maybe its the fact that I read Baby Wise and then read this back to back.  They are two completely different ways to comfort a newborn, and they both say they are the best method of parenting out there.  I was more impressed with the Baby Wise philosophy than Happiest Baby.  However, you may feel differently.  Every mother is different.. or so they tell me.

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Karp is mostly focused on a colicky baby.  (Yes, if my baby is colicky you'll probably see me referencing this book again thanking her for all her advice.  However, I really hope baby doesn't have a case of the colic).  Her methods are basically about wrapping the baby in a "fourth trimester" atmosphere.  She explains that the baby isn't ready to leave the womb yet at 9 months and needs another 3 months of extra TLC in order to really be "born".  In order to create this environment her book goes into great detail about the 5 "S"s.... shushing, suckling, swinging, swaddling, and stomach/side placement.  If you can get your baby to do all 5 of these perfectly she is likely to calm down significantly.  I doubt I will truly follow her system, but I do think some of the methods will be worth trying.  We shall see... 14 weeks to go!

Recipe of the week: Summertime Turkey

Last week we had a bunch of friends over for dinner.  Brandon's company gave us a 13+lb turkey for Christmas.  If you've had a turkey in your refrigerator's freezer you know how much you can't wait to get it out and get rid of it.  Its huge. Its obnoxious.  Its got to go!  But, I'm like most everyone else -- how do you bake a turkey?  Its something my grandma does for Thanksgiving.  It sounds time consuming and overwhelming.  I was stressed just thinking about it.  However, the task needed to be accomplished.

So I found a delicious brine off the Food Network.  Thank you Emeril.. you've done it yet again.  The turkey came out juicy, flavorful and all around "tasty" as my friend's two year old kept telling us.  I adapted Emeril's turkey wing brine for this massive bird.

{the goods}
***the original recipe was for turkey wings.  Below is the adaptions for a 13 pound turkey
12 cups water
2/3 cup (x3) fresh orange juice
1 cup fresh lemon juice
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 cup kosher salt
1 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
6 tablespoons Emeril's Southwest Essence or other Southwest seasoning
3 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup chopped yellow onions
1 lime, sliced thinly
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
6 teaspoons minced garlic
13 pound turkey

{let's cook}

 In a large, nonreactive container combine the water, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, salt, light brown sugar, Southwest Essence, and crushed red pepper and stir until the salt and sugar are completely dissolved.

Add the onions, lime slices, cilantro, garlic, and beer and stir gently to combine.  Keep a small bowl of brine off to the side.  Place bird in large trash bag.  Pour the rest of the brine over top.  Tie off top and place in refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours. Remove the turkey from the refrigerator and discard the brining solution.  Place turkey in roasting pan breast side up on roasting rack.  Pour the remainder of brine over top of turkey.  (These extra juices at the bottom of the pan will help keep the bird juicy while it cooks).  Preheat oven to 325 deg. "Tent" bird with aluminium foil loosely.  Place bird in oven for 20 min/pound.  ***Check the bird halfway through to make sure wings and legs aren't burning.  If they are, cover those areas with extra foil.  Bird is done when thermometer insterted into thickest part of thigh registers 170 deg.  Leave foil tent off for the last hour of baking.
** My bird baked for about 4 hours.
When turkey is done take foil off and transfer to warm plate.  Wait 10-20 minutes and carve.

DIY Painted Rug

We just moved in to this duplex and it has all hard wood floors on the first floor.  I was in desperate need of a large area rug for under the sectional and coffee table.  So I started scouring the internet looking for an option.

I loved these ...

{west elm}

{west elm}

{west elm}

Unfortunately, for the size we need the cost of one of these rugs was going to be $500+.  Yowza!  I'm not paying that for a rug in a rental house.  So... I started looking up some other ideas.  I found an idea where you can paint the Erslev flat woven white rug from IKEA.  Cost of this rug (in Canada) $70.  Bingo!  Now we are talking.  So I found all of these amazing people out there that have created something brilliant out of a $70 rug.

 

{a little bit of everything}

{the house of smiths}

{designsponge}

{sarah wandering}

{charm home}

{diddle dumpling}

I love the dhurrie patterns above but I have no patience for stenciling.  And I'm pregnant so I knew I was just setting myself up for failure if I tried anything like that.  I used the instructions from Oh Sweet Escape to get me off the ground and running.  For complete instructions I would reference her site.  You'll need plenty of FROG painters tape, 2 quarts of latex paint, 1 large bottle of fabric medium, paint roller, paint pan, large 4 qt bucket, plastic sheeting, and a yard stick/tape measure.  In a nutshell,  lay out your pattern with painters tape over the rug.  This took me about 4 1/2 hours (I'm also 26 weeks pregnant so I had to take some breaks).

Then mix the fabric medium and latex paint together in a large bucket.   I used 3 quarts and 3/4 of the bottle.  Note, Oh Sweet Escape says her paint lightened two shades when she applied the medium.  So I went with a darker than desired shade to start with.  My paint really didn't lighten so the rug turned out a little darker than expected.  Once pattern is laid out roll paint over rug.  Be careful not to roll too heavy or the paint will seep under tape.  This takes about one hour.

Wait one day and then pull off the painters tape.  The FROG tape works really well.  I had a few minor bleeds but it doesn't look too bad for a handmade item.  You can touch up if needed with a small brush.

And here is our end result.  I think we spent less than $200 on all the supplies.  Much better than $600!  It took some time and a little patience but I think it was an overall success.  I would do this again.

read of the week: on becoming baby wise

Here we are at the end of the second trimester.  I feel like all I've been doing lately is reading and baking.  I apologize my life (and this blog) have become a bit dull.  This week I'm planning a big DIY project for our living room.  Keep your fingers crossed that it goes well.

For baby reading, I was recommended the baby wise series.  The first book in the series,  On Becoming Baby Wise:  Giving your Infant the Gift of Nightime sleep.  This was similar to From the Hips in reading material.. set up textbook style with a lot of information.  I even found myself taking some notes.  Its all about getting your baby on a schedule for feedings.  Every 2 1/2-3 hours feeding your baby.  If the baby is off schedule one day then restart the schedule according to when you feed next.   It also suggests how long baby should sleep, how many naps, etc.  I think the information was really useful however we won't know for about 15 more weeks!  I plan on reading the second book in the series here in a few weeks.

recipe of the week: jalapeno cream cheese poppers

I looked at these on Pinterest and thought "why don't you just buy those in the frozen food section?  It has to be easier".   But then I realized I already have two cans of biscuits and a tub of cream cheese in the fridge.  Its just cheaper to buy 3 jalapenos and bacon.  Yes, four ingredients.  Its fast... easy... and delicious.  We had friends over this weekend.  These little guys left the plate in less than 10 minutes.  And I doubled the recipe!

{the goods}
1 can of crescent rolls    ***I used biscuits
1-2 jalapenos
cream cheese
3 strips of bacon

{let's cook}
Preheat oven to 350 deg.  Open the can of crescent rolls and spread them out on a cookie sheet.  I cut all crescent rolls in half so they were smaller.  If you like bigger ones then by all means leave them as they are.  ***If you use biscuits i would definitely cut each slice in half.  Then flattened them out a little bit... like mini pizzas.
Cut raw bacon into smaller chunks.  If you use kitchen shears its much easier.  Then fry in skillet.  Spread a little cream cheese on each crescent while bacon is frying.  Cut jalapenos into small slices.  Now add 1-2 slices of jalapenos and 1-3 chunks of bacon to each crescent.  You'll want to make sure each crescent is full, but don't over load them because then its hard to wrap.

Wrap up each crescent and pinch edges to make a seam.

 
Pop them in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
***If you use biscuits it will take longer... more on the 15 minute side.

read of the week: the hunger games trilogy

If you haven't read this triology yet, what are you waiting for?  Its an easy read and the books flow together. I literally read them all last week because I couldn't put them down!  Needless to say, the rest of my life was in shambles by the time the reading was done, but I have no regrets.  I can't wait for the movie to come out later this month. I own the first book on Kindle if anyone needs a lend.

look what i painted

While we were in Houston in January for Brandon's work conference I was able to attend a Mad Potter workshop with the girls.  What to paint, what to paint?  So many choices!  I finally decided on a cute little piggy bank.  However, the color was also a hard decision.  We hadn't found out for sure if it was a girl or not in January.  You can never go wrong with turqoise, right?

Well, got a knock on my front door this morning from Fed Ex.  The bank arrived!  I think baby will love it.  What do you think?

recipe of the week: sweet potato fries

Things are finally slowing down a little at the Shanks household.   It was 40 degrees on Sunday here and sunny, gorgeous for Canada! So, we bought a grill to celebrate Spring is finally arriving.  (Well we hope its arriving, they say we can still get large snowfalls in April.  Let's hope not.  Pictures below of the grill)  I had one sweet potato left and decided to try making sweet potato fries.  I love ordering these at the restaurant and have wondered how to make them.  Well, ladies and gentlemen... its super easy!  and delicious!   The recipe from instructables says one sweet potato serves 2-3 people but if you love sweet potato fries like me you might one to cut two instead of one.

{the goods}
one large sweet potato
coarse sea salt (I used regular salt)
freshly ground black pepper, chunky
good quality olive oil
a peeler (I left the peeling on)
a sharp chef's knife
a cutting board
a large baking sheet (I used the one with sides)

{let's begin}
Set the oven to 450 deg. Rinse potato but don't soak.  (If you soak the olive oil won't coat) Cut the potato.  Cut the tips/ends off.  Then slice "hot dog style" down the middle.  Then take each half and slice up "fry style".  Thickness is up to you.  If you like more of a wedge then don't cut so many.  Repeat with other half.

 

Put fries in bag or bowl.  Add 1/4 cup olive oil and generous amounts of salt and pepper.  (Salt and pepper to your taste)  The fries to should have a drizzle of oil NOT drenched.  (If they are drenched they will be soggy)  Shake the bag or stir in bowl.  Transfer to baking sheet and evenly space.  Place in oven for 15 minutes.  Then turn and bake for an additional 10 minutes.  ***Watch them that last 10 minutes.  If you like them lighter than take them out a minute or two before the timer.

***I also cut up one regular baking potato.  The combination between the two potatoes looked nice and tasted great together.

the husband cooking on our new grill

"hey, what do you have over there?!"

 "has anything dropped yet?"

hand pattied burgers, yum!

read of the week: The Ultimate Life

My mother in law passed this book on to us over Christmas.  If you like Tuesdays with Morrie then you'll also like this.  Its a quick read.  But its one of those "good for the souls" type books. The Ultimate Life by Jim Stovall is a profound follow-up to the bestselling book and major motion picture, The Ultimate Gift. When Jason Stevens found out he had to jump through hoops to maybe get an unnamed inheritance from his billionaire grandfather, he was not amused. By the time he'd finished learning the lessons he'd become a different man. Ready to tackle the duties of running a multi-billion dollar trust, he is once again derailed, this time by his pugnacious family. Not content with their cattle ranches and oil fields, his aunts, uncles, and even his parents are determined to see every last dime entrusted to their own self-serving pockets.  With none of the reluctance he initially showed for the Gift, he eagerly accepts the challenge and pushes himself to prove not only to his family and the court but also to the world, that with determination and the simple tenets of the Gift, anyone can lead The Ultimate Life. (Google Books Review)

and the knitting continues

As most of you know... the more I knit the more obsessed I am with the hobby.  I finished my first baby blanket last month (yes, I'm late blogging... blame it on the move!)  for my good friend, Michelle.  She is expecting a little boy 3 weeks after us!  We have had a lot of fun going through pregnancy together.

This particular baby blanket is super easy to make.  I would consider it a beginner project so if you are interested in getting started then I would recommend the Gleeful Tweed Pattern.  You can get it free at Lion Brand.  All you need is circular needles size 17 and 2 giant balls of 5 oz yarn.  Oh, I would pick up a movie or two as well.  It is somewhat time consuming.

Baby Update ... 23 Weeks

And the verdict is ..... GIRL!!!  Time to start planning the nursery.... and names!

DIY Reupholstering Seat Cushions

We have been busy moving into the new place!  I did stop and take some time to reupholster our dining room chairs.  We bought the chairs from IKEA over two years ago and they came with a standard white cushion.  UGLY!  I've been telling the husband I'm going to reupholster them for two years now!  Well here we are in 2012 and I'm trying to stick to my New Year's Resolutions.  (To stop putting things off!)  So, we went to IKEA yesterday afternoon and bought a few things we needed for the new place.  While there I spotted some fabric that is going to go great with our pillows on the sectional.

If you haven't reupholstered don't stress.  It is super easy.  You'll need about 2 yards of fabric (for 4 dining chair seats).  You could probably get away with 1 1/2 yards but I always like to have a little extra just in case.  You will also need a staple gun.  (This is where your husband comes in handy). Just pull off the old cover or staple right over it.  You'll need to make sure the fabric is ironed and smoothed out.  You don't want any wrinkles!  Then just turn the cushion over and start stapling.  The corners are hard but if you are any good at gift wrapping then you won't have any trouble with these.

**Disregard my mess in the background of these images.  We are still unpacking! 

Before

After