Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Our Favorite Lasagna

I tend to cook dinner more in the winter. When its cold outside and we aren't at the park all the time, we tend to stay inside and I want to make a cozy meal for my family. Lasagna definitely falls into the 'cozy' category for me.


This lasagna has a homemade sauce with ground beef and Italian sausage. Its full of flavor with the basil and garlic. A delicious meal for any night, but especially a cold winter evening!


Our Favorite Lasagna

1 1/2lbs Ground Beef
1 lb Italian Sausage
2 cloves Garlic, minced
1/2 Onion, diced
1 - 28oz can Crushed Tomatoes
2 - 6oz cans Tomato Paste
2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
1 Tablespoon Dried Oregano
1 teaspoon Salt
3 cups Cottage Cheese
2 Eggs, beaten
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated not shredded
2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
1 teaspoon Salt
1 lb Mozzarella, freshly sliced
10 oz Lasagna Noodles, add 1/2 teaspoon Salt & 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil to your pasta water

1. In a dutch oven or large saucepan, over med-high heat, put the ground beef, Italian sausage, onion, and garlic and cook until brown and the onions are soft. Drain the fat. Add in your crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, basil, oregano, and salt. Let simmer for at least an hour.

2. In a large bowl, combine your cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and salt. Boil your noodles to al dente. 

Assembly...
3. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place 3 of the cooked noodles on the bottom of the dish. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture evenly on the noodles. Place a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spread a little less than half of the tomato meat sauce over the cheese. Repeat, topping with the extra tomato meat sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.

4. You can store this in the fridge for 2 days or bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Enjoy!

Recipe slightly adapted from The Pioneer Woman     

Friday, December 9, 2016

Hot Chocolate Cookies

This year, the treats I made for my neighbors included the Peppermint Bark Fudge I shared with you on Wednesday and these cookies. I don't think I've ever had so many people tell me they enjoyed something I've made as much as I have about these cookies, even my husband who professes to hate the flavor of cocoa liked these cookies!


They are a super soft, dark chocolate cookie, topped with 3 cute little marshmallows and a milk chocolate glaze that cuts through the richness of the cookie. It would be perfect with a glass of milk!


Hot Chocolate Cookies
Makes 45 cookies

Cookies
1/2 cup Butter
1 - 12oz bag Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 1/2 cups Brown Sugar
3 Eggs
1 teaspoon Chocolate Extract
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
135 Mini Marshmallows

Glaze
4 Tablespoons Butter, melted
1/4 cup Cocoa
1/4 cup Hot Water
1/2 teaspoon Chocolate Extract
1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
2 cups Powdered Sugar

Cookies

In a small saucepan combine the butter and chocolate chips. Melt over medium-low heat until smooth. Set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until combined.

In the bowl of a stand mixer beat together the brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until well combined. Add in the chocolate/butter mixture, mix.

Slowly add the flour mixture into the chocolate. Beat until just combined. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or 2.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat mat. Using a small cookie scoop, about a tablespoon, roll into a ball and flatten a little bit, and place on the prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for about 8 minutes then remove from the oven and press 3 marshmallows on top of each cookie. Put back in the oven and bake for 2 more minutes. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes and then move to a cooling rack.

Glaze
In a small bowl mix together the melted butter, cocoa, hot water, and both extracts. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and whisk until smooth. Pour over your cooled cookies and top with sprinkles.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Peppermint Bark Fudge

Today I'm sharing a fudge recipe over at Reality Daydream! The base is semisweet chocolate packed with Oreos and the top layer is white chocolate with peppermint pieces. Its sweet, creamy, and has just a little crunch. Its an amazing combination that is a great holiday treat! Go over and get the recipe!

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