Yummmm... Butternut Squash Lasagna

It's official, I have become a casserole mom. I get it now. With limited time to whip up dinner these days I'm all about casserole creations and slow cooker recipes. So what if I'm prepping my dinner around 3:30 pm?! Makes bath time and feeding time that much more enjoyable when all you have to do is pull something out of the oven and pour a glass of wine a few hours later. Here's what I whipped up last night and it was delicious:

Butternut Squash Lasagna

Ingredients:

- 2 bags of frozen butternut squash (microwave until thawed and mash with a fork)

- 32 once of part skim ricotta

- 3 handfuls of fresh chopped spinach

- 1 yellow onion (I prefer a sweet onion)

- 2 c of shredded mozzarella

- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, cinnamon, garam masala (all these spices are optional)

- 12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-bake)

Method:

- boil noodles for 4-5 minutes if needed

- saute onion until golden

- mix ricotta, spinich & onion. salt to taste.

- add desired spices to squash puree. salt to taste (i used a good amount as it was quite bland).

- Layer noodles, ricotta, noodles, squash, mozzarella. Continue order until you have reached the top of your casserole dish

- cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes in a 425 degree oven

- remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes until cheese is golden brown

Baby Willa

I disappeared, but with good reason. Baby Willa joined the world seven weeks ago and life hasn't ever been so sweet. She surprised her mommy & daddy four weeks early and boy were we caught off guard! At 3:00 am on Wednesday, August 25th I awoke to my water breaking (it was really more of a trickle, but who needs all the gorey details?!). We laid in bed trying to wrap our head around what was happening... four weeks early, what the heck?! Jon and I were both so excited, but also a little nervous and as strange as it sounds we laid in bed for a few more hours and I fell back asleep. At 7:00 am, Jon jumped out of bed and said "Let's do this! Start packing... I have to put the stroller together!". Seriously. So, I called our midwife to find out if we needed to come into the hospital because I wasn't having strong contractions yet. She wanted us to come in and so we packed our bags, ate a big breakfast and off we went. I was 3 cm & 100% effaced when I got to the hospital and we were told we had to stay at the hospital because my water had broken and there was a risk of infection. I wasn't really feeling much in the way of contractions and I was nervous that they might induce me. Luckily, the midwife assured me that we had several hours until that would need to happen. We moved into our labor & delivery room and we set our music up and Jon helped me get comfortable. We were giggling the entire time.

My parents were already on a plane headed to see their soon to be grandbaby. Jon's mom & sister came by the hospital which helped pass the time. They were so excited about the new baby... I walked around the halls with my sister-in-law trying to progress the labor and she was sweet enough to rub my back. Things slowly started to pick up and my back started to ache pretty badly. Around 4 pm I was only 4 cm... ugh. Just when I thought they were going to have to give me some pitocin, Willa started to get antsy and things picked up in a big way. Each contraction was getting stronger and it became hard to talk through them. By 7 pm my parents arrived and they were so excited! I don't think I've ever seen such happy grins on their faces. I started to rely in Jon quite a bit as labor picked up... I kept trying to figure out which position was best, but I soon realized that I was going to feel every contraction strongly no matter how I was sitting. Around 9 pm, eighteen hours after my water broke I started shaking uncontrollably. The midwife told me I was a little past 6 cm and she encouraged me to take a hot shower. What, a shower?! I was so cold from shaking and decided that a shower might help the shivers go away. The hot water on my belly and back felt so good and I started to relax a little. Jon sat next to me and he reminded me to keep breathing and about an hour later (yes, I was still in the shower) I felt the most insane sensation to push. I have never felt anything so strong in my life... I couldn't breath anymore and all I could do was push, even though I knew I shouldn't yet. Jon and the midwife got me back to the bed and after a few minutes, the midwife checked me and and said "Courtney, when you are ready I want you to push! You're going to see your baby very soon". Jon put some new music on, Jim James of course. He held my hand and I pushed for the next hour until little Willa was here. When she finally arrived, she was so beautiful... she laid on my chest crying and with her wide eyes looked at Jon and I. We were in total love.

Imaginary Getaway

I'm so wishing for a weekend getaway. While searching for places to explore, I've inevitably ended up on a distracted tangent and I'm reading my favorite blogs instead. But how lovely are these photos? This is what I'll be doing in my imaginary world today. Morning, Noon & Night.

this morning

this afternoon

tonight

source: pink wallpaper

Summer Salad

I made a tasty summer salad this week with some pretty white & green beans from the farmers market. Pairs perfect with a quesadilla (one of my many cravings).

*trim and cut beans into 1-1.5 inch pieces

*quickly cook beans in boiling water for 4-5 minutes

*drain water & let beans cool in an ice bath to stop cooking

*dice a shallot

*crumble some queso fresco

*toast some pepitas seeds (I prefer mine toasted, but it's not necessary)

*dressing: zest of half a lime, juice of one lime, a little olive oil, tiny bit of agave nectar (sugar will do), salt & pepper

*mix together and enjoy!

p.s. I ended up throwing some avocado on there at the end. Optional, but when isn't avocado a good idea?!

Botanicals

I spent a day at Phipps Botanical Gardens this weekend. All the gardens were lovely in their own way, but my favorite was the orchid and butterfly garden. There is something just magical about little butterflies flying around everywhere. Made me feel like a little kid.

Oh, and I had another helping of peach cobbler. Twice in one week- not bad at all. I will be buying more of those fuzzy duffers at the farmers market today.

Peachy Peachy

I wasn't lying when I said I stocked up on peaches this week. In addition to eating a few peaches throughout the day, I make something yummy with these juicy, fuzzy fruits. I had the pleasure of having my grandma in town this week and yesterday we spent the morning baking an old-fashioned peach cobbler. It was scrumptious, although I tend to fancy a little more crumble with some oatmeal and brown sugar.

Next up, peachy preserves... my grandmother's specialty. Simply wash, peel and slice the peaches. Combine the peaches with sugar (1/2 c sugar/1 cup peaches) over low-medium heat and stir constantly while boiling until you have a very syrupy mixture. Fill hot jars with preserves and make sure the the tin top seals. My favorite way to serve peachy preserves... over vanilla ice cream. Simple.

Peaches, Peaches, Peaches!

Holy moly, I just meandered through my favorite farmers market in town and came home with a huge basket of local, juicy and delicious peaches. I know it's a bold statement, but I'm pretty sure I just tasted the best peaches in the country.

Nothing say's peach season when you have to step outside to eat your peach on your porch because you have juices running down your arm (and in my case, there is a puddle on my ever so large belly). Tonight on the menu: grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream. Tomorrow: peach and blueberry tart. Any other suggestions?!