All Posts By

Candi

Baked Penne Lasagna

I absolutely love making this Penne noodle Lasagna recipe. I like the taste of these noodles better than lasagna noodles so I would much rather make this than regular lasagna.

First here is my video which I did my best to cut down to under 10 minutes, so sorry for all of the “cuts”. Some people don’t mind cuts, but others (like my 17 year old says that they are annoying!) Just like lasagna it does take awhile to prepare this meal. I would give yourself a good 20 minutes to prepare everything before baking.

Also, if you take the time to watch my video you will see that my 13 x 9 pan wasn’t quite big enough. If you follow this recipe exactly below a 13 x 9 pan WILL be big enough. I used double the amount of noodles, sausage and ricotta cheese so it was just about pouring out over the sides. We like to have leftovers for weekend lunches.

.: RECIPE :.

Baked Penne Lasagna

Ingredients:
Penne noodles, 8 oz cooked and drained (half of the usual 1 lb box you’ll find in stores)
16 oz. roll of Bob Evans Italian Sausage (1 package)
8 oz. Ricotta cheese
16 oz. Mozzarella Cheese
1 large Egg
2 Tbsp Basil
Spaghetti/Marinara Sauce, 4 cups
2 cloves Garlic, chopped or 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Pepper
4 oz. Fresh Mushrooms, sliced
4 Tbsp. Parmesan, grated

Directions:
1. Lightly spray 13 x 9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Cook noodles as directed on box.
4. Brown sausage.
5. Add the marinara sauce and 1/2 each of salt & pepper and the sliced mushrooms.
6. Let sauce come to a simmer while preparing the cheese layer.
7. In a medium bowl combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and 3 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese, the egg, the fresh garlic, basil, and the remaining salt and pepper.
8. Mix until well combined.
9. In the prepared baking dish spread 1/3 of the sauce on the bottom of dish.
10. Press 1/2 of the pasta on top of the sauce.
11. On top of the pasta spread all of the cheese mixture.
12. On top of the cheese mixture place 1/3 of the sauce mixture.
13. Then add the other 1/2 of the pasta.
14. Next top with the remaining sauce.
15. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
16. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes.

PRINTABLE RECIPE FOR YOU

March 28, 2013 by Candi

doggy dogs

Silly dogs – Wordless Wednesday

Ahhhh! {Deep sigh of relief that our taxes are done} Now I can return to writing and making some videos. Hopefully over this next week and a half I would have some fun stuff to share since my kiddos are on Spring Break next week. What are you all doing for Spring Break- anything fun?

For today, I’ll share some cute photos of my furry kids. Guess you can call this my Wordless Wednesday post :)

I couldn’t stand the thought of saving this first one until October. Karli and her crazy outfits she puts on Tori!

Our Pomeranian pups…they are sisters.

March 27, 2013 by Candi

recipes & crafts

Cream cheese chicken with broccoli

You all know I am addicted to using my crockpot so here is another scrumptious recipe for you to try. As always, it was super easy to make and didn’t take much time at all. Cutting up the chicken probably takes the longest. Let me know if you try it!

It doesn’t require too many ingredients and most of these things you may already have available. I just had to pick up a packet of the Italian dressing mix.

Toss in the cut up chicken, olive oil, and Italian dressing packet and cook on low for 3 hours. (This was after it cooked for 3 hours, that’s why there is all the extra juice.)

About 15 minutes before the 3 hours is up take the mushrooms and onion and cook for about 5 minutes. You can use chopped onion or minced onion like I used since my kids hate to see the onions.

Then add the soup, broccoli and cream cheese to the pan and cook until everything is hot. Then you add everything to the crockpot and cook on low for 1 hour.

Serve over noodles! YUM!

.: RECIPE :.

Cream Cheese Chicken with Broccoli

Ingredients:
5 – 6 skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 package of Italian salad dressing mix
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped onion or tablespoon of minced onion
1 can (26 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 bag of frozen broccoli, thawed
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
Cooked pasta noodles

Directions:
1. Place cut up chicken breasts in the crockpot and coat with olive oil.
2. Sprinkle with Italian salad dressing mix.
3. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
4. Cook mushrooms and onion in a large skillet coated with cooking spray for about 5 minutes.
5. Add soup, broccoli, and cream cheese to the skillet.
6. Cook until all ingredients are hot and then add to the crockpot.
7. Cook on low for 1 hour in the crockpot.
8. Serve over cooked pasta.

PRINTABLE RECIPE FOR YOU

March 21, 2013 by Candi

technology

Moving from Google Reader to Bloglovin

You’ve probably heard by now that Google Reader will no longer exist after June 30th. Many people are probably going to wait until the very last minute to find a new reader, but I wanted to give myself time to get acclimated to a new reader with enough time to try out a few of them if need be. Surprisingly the first one I tried seems to be working like a gem. I’ve been using Bloglovin for the past few days and the process of moving things over was so easy and I plan on sticking with it.

What I will miss about Google Reader though is using iGoogle as my homepage which had a Google Feed Reader gadget. iGoogle also showed awesome things like the weather and the top headlines from People.com and US Magazine. What can I say, I am a sucker for celebrity gossip. Here is what my iGoogle page looked like. iGoogle is being discontinued on November 1st so I guess I need to get used to that page being gone as well.

{Click on the photo to view larger, I couldn’t get it readable in this size of photo.}

Stupid Google, why are you trying to ruin my life?

The whole point here was to tell you how amazing and wonderful Bloglovin is and how easy it is to use. It has a nice clean layout and is very easy to scroll down and read snippets of the blog posts with one photo included. Here is what it looks like.

You have the option of clicking on the blog title and going straight to the blog URL or click the blog title for a Bloglovin URL that includes a menu at the top to arrow through all of your updated feed subscriptions.

The very BEST part of Bloglovin that makes it a gazillion times better than Googler Reader is once someone clicks your blog by either of the methods I have described above- it COUNTS AS A PAGE VIEW. Halleluiah! Isn’t that awesome? And you are able to comment on posts without having to make an extra click to another page. Plus, I just love seeing everyone’s pretty blog layouts and such rather than a boring looking plain white page.

See just as I was writing this and clicking through screens I read that John Mayer and Katy Perry just broke up for the second time. This news is important you know!

If you are interested in giving Bloglovin a try, Follow these super easy steps.

1. Create a Bloglovin account at http://bloglovin.com
2. Click on the arrow to the right of your profile name and choose “Settings”.
3. Scroll down and click the “Import Blogs” button.
4. Choose “Google Reader” on the next page.
5. Sit back and relax while all of your blogs are imported. If you have a large amount of subscriptions it may take several minutes.

Pretty easy right?

TIPS:

Once you have your blogs imported you can click on “Following” right above your list of feeds and create groups to arrange your blog feedsÂ by category.

You can also get the code for a cool button like this to use in your sidebar or at the end of your blog posts.
Like this… may as well click on it and add me :)

Be sure to click on the HELP page to read how to “Claim your Blog” and answer any other questions you may have.

If you would like me to add your blog to my feed please leave me a comment, I always love finding new blogs to read!

March 20, 2013 by Candi

blog

First Official – Favorite Beauty Products

I’m far from a “makeup guru”, but I love all things makeup and beauty related and I thought I would share my favorites with you. These are products that I have been using for awhile and just love. You can tell everything I’m showing you is used and well loved…not brand new looking products. If you stick around til the end you’ll see my cute little visitor.
*Disclaimer: All of these products were purchased with my own money, this post is not sponsored. I WISH! :)

The products I have mentioned in this video are:
{click on the names for Links & Prices}

Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Spray
Nexxus ProMend Bodifying Mousse
Nexxus Heat Pro-mend Heat Protection Styling Spray
Conair Instant Heat Iron and Straightener, 1.5 Inch
Big Sexy Spray & Play Hair Spray
REVLON Photoready Perfecting Primer
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer – Tan
Bobbi Brown Bobbi Brown Corrector – Bisque
By Terry – Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer Brush
MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 NC35
Estee Lauder Signature Shimmer Powder Bronze Shimmer
L’Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Blush, Rosy Outlook
MAC Blush Powder for Women, Desert Rose
L’Oreal Visible Lift Serum Abs Powder, Deep
Urban Decay Naked Palette
L’Oreal Infallible Shadow, Golden Sage
L’Oreal Infallible Shadow, Eternal Sunshine
L’Oreal Infallible Shadow, Amber Rush
Maybelline New York Volum’ Express Falsies Flared Washable Mascara, Very Black
Wet n Wild Fergie Centerstage Collection On Edge Cream Eyeliner – Little Black Dress
Skylark by Elle & Blair Sophia and Ava Luscious Lip Gloss Duo – Berry and Pink (2 Piece Set)

March 19, 2013 by Candi

blog

Wish List

If you were to browse through my internet explorer bookmarks you would find random things that I find that I would love to own. Sometimes I treat myself to something that has been on my list for awhile and other times these items stay on my wish list for a long, long time.

I thought it would be fun to share some of the items that are currently on my wish list.

1. Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
I absolutely love all these brightly colored Rachel Ray products.

2. Sigma Make Me Blush Essential Kit
I’ve heard so many good things about these brushes, I would love to have a set.

3. Rachael Ray Stoneware 10-Oz. Ramekins Round Bubble and Brown Singles

4. Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18 MP Full-HD Movie Mode Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch Clear View Vari-Angle LCD (Body Only)
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have a new camera body for my lenses. The idea of having a LCD screen that can face forward for filming would be amazing!!

5. Jessica Simpson Cinch It Tote, Coral
TOO cute and I’ve never had a coral colored purse.

6. Rachael Ray Stoneware 2-3/4-Quart Covered Bubble and Brown Casserole Dish

March 18, 2013 by Candi

recipes & crafts

Kid Friendly Easter Crafts

It wasn’t hard to find some cute Easter craft ideas this year, especially with Pinterest. The ideas are endless! I found a couple of easier ones that I thought Karli would enjoy doing and I thought I would share them with you. Chase actually joined in on the fun for the first one!

First we have a colorful Easter garland made from paint chip samples which are FREE – can’t beat that.

* The template for the egg shape (or you can google “egg shape” for various options) can be found at Modern Parents, Messy Kids.

We also made these adorable Egg Animals from plastic Easter eggs which require a few more supplies that you may not have lying around your house, but can be purchased for under $10.

* The template is no longer available online… so sorry. I couldn’t find it anywhere else on the internet either. Â You will have to cut on the ears and such without a template.

March 15, 2013 by Candi

blog

Currently

Thinking about: How cute are these dresses that I got for Karli from a children’s resale shop? They are actually size 0 – 3 months baby clothes and they are much cheaper than buying American Girl outfits. They usually run a little big around the neck but I just pin them. Karli likes to dress up her stuffed animals too. I did keep several cute baby outfits from when she was born that she loves using to dress up her dolls or our Yorkie.

Reading: I’m reading the third book of the Delirium series – Requiem by Lauren Oliver. The second book of the series ended with a super exciting twist and I was so excited to start book 3, but it starting kind of slow so I have gotten too far yet. Hopefully this weekend I will finish it.

Looking forward to: Next weekend Andrew and I will be making our first college visit and it seems so crazy to me. It seems like yesterday he was just hopping on the bus for 6th grade camp and here we are 5 years later visiting colleges. He will most likely attend college in Michigan to get in-state tuition and as of right now he only wants to look at universities that have the DPT program – Doctor of Physical Therapy. He was leaning towards something in the medical field for years, but it wasn’t until recently that he found himself interested in Physical Therapy with all that he has had to go through with his back problems. Ironically I had started college with the plan to be a physical therapist and switched over to nursing just a couple of weeks before classes started.

Watching: The Following on Fox on Monday nights. O.M.G. This show is insane. I am totally freaked out by the torture and killings, but the plot of the show is so interesting I can’t stop watching. Starring the one and only Kevin Bacon who I swear hasn’t aged a bit in 20 years, who plays a former FBI agent trying to catch this psychotic serial killer who has an equally psychotic cult following. It’s sick and demented and so disturbing I really can’t believe it’s allowed on regular television. I’ve never been a fan of crime or law type shows, but something about this darn show has me hooked.

Planning: My darling daughter Karli has been such a handful lately. She is constantly fighting with Chase and ignoring me when I call her name. She doesn’t listen when I ask her to do something. She becomes distracted by doing other things that she wants to do like destroying her bedroom. I finally came up with the idea that whenever I have to tell her more than once to do something she loses an item that is important to her. Just one day in and I already took away her favorite stuffed unicorn and hid my xbox controllers because she has been playing it in my room. I just keep shaking my head at what a little turd she has been…is this just how girls are or is she paying me back for spoiling her rotten all these years?

Putting off: I’ve been doing our taxes myself for a few years now. We used to pay someone to do it but I realized it was a waste when now a days the computer pretty much does everything for you. I have always had all the “numbers” prepared and he would just enter everything. We have two companies to file taxes for and it is actually pretty easy, it’s just putting all the receipts and numbers together that takes so long. I keep things organized throughout the year so I just have to add it all together and such. I just hate doing it. Ugh!

March 13, 2013 by Candi

Older Posts

Newer Posts