Yes, I am in fact a Twilight nerd. :)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Friday Foods
I am so excited to be starting this! I am calling it Friday Foods because each week I will feature a different recipe I have tried, or will be trying. While my New Year's Resolution is to be healthier, I occasionally might slip in some "not-so-great for you foods."
Spinach Manicotti
Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:50 min
makes:7 servings (2 manicotti each)
Ingredients
1 box (8 oz) uncooked manicotti shells (14 shells)
1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (6 oz)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 container (15 oz) reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1 box (10 oz) Cascadian Farm® frozen organic cut spinach, thawed, drained, squeezed dry
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen® pasta sauce (any flavor)
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Cook manicotti as directed on box. Rinse with cool water; drain well. In medium bowl, stir together 1 cup of the Italian cheese blend, the pepper flakes, ricotta cheese, spinach, garlic and egg.
2. In bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup of the pasta sauce. Spoon ricotta mixture into manicotti; place over sauce in dish. Pour remaining sauce over manicotti. Cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake about 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbling. Uncover dish; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend. Bake uncovered 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Increase first bake time to about 45 min.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 340 (Calories from Fat 100); Total Fat 11g (Saturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 65mg; Sodium 690mg; Total Carbohydrate 43g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 8g); Protein 19g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 70%; Vitamin C 6%; Calcium 35%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 2 Medium-Fat Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 3
This is delicious! I make it pretty often and love it every time. Enjoy!
Spinach Manicotti
Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:50 min
makes:7 servings (2 manicotti each)
Ingredients
1 box (8 oz) uncooked manicotti shells (14 shells)
1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend (6 oz)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 container (15 oz) reduced-fat ricotta cheese
1 box (10 oz) Cascadian Farm® frozen organic cut spinach, thawed, drained, squeezed dry
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 jar (25.5 oz) Muir Glen® pasta sauce (any flavor)
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Cook manicotti as directed on box. Rinse with cool water; drain well. In medium bowl, stir together 1 cup of the Italian cheese blend, the pepper flakes, ricotta cheese, spinach, garlic and egg.
2. In bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking dish, spread 1 cup of the pasta sauce. Spoon ricotta mixture into manicotti; place over sauce in dish. Pour remaining sauce over manicotti. Cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake about 30 minutes or until sauce is bubbling. Uncover dish; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Italian cheese blend. Bake uncovered 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Increase first bake time to about 45 min.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 340 (Calories from Fat 100); Total Fat 11g (Saturated Fat 6g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 65mg; Sodium 690mg; Total Carbohydrate 43g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 8g); Protein 19g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 70%; Vitamin C 6%; Calcium 35%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 1 1/2 Starch; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 2 Medium-Fat Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 3
This is delicious! I make it pretty often and love it every time. Enjoy!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Random Thoughts
Today has been a rather strange day for me. I don't know, maybe it is the weather or maybe it is just me going insane. I decided I'd just write down some of my random thoughts or happenings from today. Enjoy.
Hope you are all having a Happy Thursday!
- I got a shout out from my professor yesterday about how great I am doing. Did I mention everyone in the class got to see that shout out? I still feel like a rock star.
- It's snowing ... again. I'm not sure if it is going to be a bad storm or not. I'm so ready for warm weather.
- I'm still going crazy at work. I still feel overworked and underpaid. I guess that is why I am pursuing my masters to begin with.
- I need a vacation.
- Here lately I have had this weird obsession with kettle cooked jalapeno chips. It is starting to get bad.
- Have you ever wanted to just hit someone with your car? No, I don't mean like run over someone. I just wish I could add padding and rubber to my car and knock all the jerks off the highway. Grrr, I hate stupid drivers.
- I keep getting an itch to move. I constantly check the newspaper and craigslist for some sort of house to move into. I'm so over apartment life. Sadly, with the market being crappy rent has skyrocketed on houses.
- Why is it people with diabetes continue to drink nondiet soda and eat candy all day? I mean this is the same guy constantly complaining about the possibility of insulin shots. Well drinking a 2-liter of sugar loaded soda at work and poppin the m&ms won't help, I swear.
- I'm not feeling well. I want to go home.
Hope you are all having a Happy Thursday!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday Thunks
I haven't really ever posted any meme's and I figured I'd post one today so you could get a laugh out of my ridiculousness.
1. You walk into a room, someone turns and looks at you and laughs. What do you do?
Give them the finger
2. You find an egg, take it home and keep it warm. It hatches. What type of dinosaur is it? Do you keep it and name?
It's a triceratops. I would name it Cera and keep it for a few days then get rid of it.
3. Which superhero would you want to be related to and why?
Mrs. Marvel, because she is a total bad ass.
4. A drunken sailor comes up to you on the pier...he begins harassing you in a most repulsive way....what'll be your defense?
Kick him in the nuts and run away. That's what mom always said to do.
5. Entering a CLASS A piano bar, you're encouraged to sing atop the grand instrument...you grab the microphone and sing.....
Achey Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. Wouldn't that be hilarious?
6. If you were a character in a Dr. Seuss book/movie, who would you be and why?
I would want to be a Who, because they are awesome.
7. If you have just been called to be a substitute in the Winter Olympics for your country (apparently everyone else was busy), what sport(s) will you compete in?
I'd want to be in the Jamacian bobsled team!
8. Did the audience from the piano bar in question #5 applaud when you were done with your song?
Of course
1. You walk into a room, someone turns and looks at you and laughs. What do you do?
Give them the finger
2. You find an egg, take it home and keep it warm. It hatches. What type of dinosaur is it? Do you keep it and name?
It's a triceratops. I would name it Cera and keep it for a few days then get rid of it.
3. Which superhero would you want to be related to and why?
Mrs. Marvel, because she is a total bad ass.
4. A drunken sailor comes up to you on the pier...he begins harassing you in a most repulsive way....what'll be your defense?
Kick him in the nuts and run away. That's what mom always said to do.
5. Entering a CLASS A piano bar, you're encouraged to sing atop the grand instrument...you grab the microphone and sing.....
Achey Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. Wouldn't that be hilarious?
6. If you were a character in a Dr. Seuss book/movie, who would you be and why?
I would want to be a Who, because they are awesome.
7. If you have just been called to be a substitute in the Winter Olympics for your country (apparently everyone else was busy), what sport(s) will you compete in?
I'd want to be in the Jamacian bobsled team!
8. Did the audience from the piano bar in question #5 applaud when you were done with your song?
Of course
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
It was like deja vu
My pants are wet, my feet are cold, and there is slush everywhere. It was like deja vu.
I don't know what is up with the weather in Oklahoma this year, but it sure has been interesting. After we had our Christmas Eve blizzard, we werecursed blessed with another bout of ice and snow.
So what did I do? I stayed in all weekend. On Friday, I couldn't even get my car out of the parking lot. I was parked on pure ice and the thing was not in the mood to move. I had to call in sick, and I spent my day writing a paper. Fun right? Not so much.
I hope you all had a comfy and cozy weekend like I did. I was warm and basically did nothing. It was grand. I will say that I am very thankful that I was not one of the thousands of people that lost power. Ice is no joke, it destroyed a lot of things, but I can't help be see some of the beauty in it.
Here's a look at Oklahoma Ice Storm January 2010.
*Most of the photos are from The Oklahoman, the bottom two are from a family friend and are pictures of her property.
I don't know what is up with the weather in Oklahoma this year, but it sure has been interesting. After we had our Christmas Eve blizzard, we were
So what did I do? I stayed in all weekend. On Friday, I couldn't even get my car out of the parking lot. I was parked on pure ice and the thing was not in the mood to move. I had to call in sick, and I spent my day writing a paper. Fun right? Not so much.
I hope you all had a comfy and cozy weekend like I did. I was warm and basically did nothing. It was grand. I will say that I am very thankful that I was not one of the thousands of people that lost power. Ice is no joke, it destroyed a lot of things, but I can't help be see some of the beauty in it.
Here's a look at Oklahoma Ice Storm January 2010.
*Most of the photos are from The Oklahoman, the bottom two are from a family friend and are pictures of her property.
