Crock-Pot Lasagna

Tonight for dinner I decided to try a crock-pot lasagna, I mean geez, how hard could it be, right?

Here is what you will need:

Spaghetti Sauce (I made my own, but you can use 2 jars of your favorite kind)

 2 15oz. containers of Ricotta cheese

2 eggs

1tsp. dried basil

1/4-1/2 c. Parmesan cheese

In a bowl, mix these 4 ingredients well together.

And last, but not least the noodles. I thought this kind would be fun and easy to scoop out, but you can use regular lasagna noodles and break them to fit in the crock-pot.

 Start layering your items. First Spaghetti sauce, then noodles, then cheese mixture. You can repeat this up to 3 times. Put the lid on the crock and cook for 4 hours on low. Then sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese or any other cheese you would like.

 Serve with garlic bread and a salad!

I Have Been a Total Slacker

i had very good intentions to blog all of the month of december, but it seems that we all got sick and then the next thing you know, christmas was here! so, i apologize for being a total and absolute slacker!

i have been trying out some new recipes lately from various websites, and have forgotten to take pictures of the  yummy stuff i have made (i think my brain left when all of my kids were home for 2 weeks).

but, i have found some things on pinterest that hopefully will help me remember to do the things that i need to and get back on a regular schedule.

here is a cute menu planner from my fave paper store. 

and here is a bunch of free printables  that are super cute. 

hopefully all of your schedules get back to "normal" soon and that you can keep some of your new years goals! 

Cranberry Salsa

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  I definitely ate too much, my pants don't fit today.  So what to do with those leftovers.  Cranberry Salsa is a go to at our house.  

1 bag fresh cranberries

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 red onion

1/2 jalapeno pepper

1 tsp. cumin

handful of fresh cilantro

Place everything in the food processor and mix until everything is chopped finely.  Refrigerate over night to let the flavors blend together.  Serve over softened cream cheese with wheat crackers.  Smear some on a roll with cream cheese and plop on some turkey.  Instant yummy sandwich.  Enjoy those leftovers!!!

Gift Check List

With the Holiday Season upon us, I thought I would share with you a handy little printout I use to help me check off the gifts I need to buy.
Click HERE to print it out!
this is what it looks like:

Hope this helps with your shopping!

Reverse Chocolate Chip Cookies

All I have to say is YUM!

2 1/4 cup of flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter softened
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 10 oz. pkg. white chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix sugar and butter together until creamy.  Add eggs and vanilla stir until mixed together.  Stir in all of the dry ingredients.  Then stir in chocolate chips.  
Place a spoonfuls of batter on the cookie sheet and bake for 9-10 minutes!


I love to eat them warm.  They only stay soft for a couple of days, so eat them quickly.  (we rarely have that problem!)

Christmas is in The Air!

 Christmas Advent Calendar

Ahh! Can you smell it? Christmas is in the air! I have been working on a BUNCH of Christmas stuff, mostly because it is one of my most favorite holidays EVER! I forgot to take pictures during the process of making this cute Advent Calendar, but I did take after pictures.  This calendar starts on Dec. 1^st and there is 24 days of fun, but easy things to do to count down to Christmas. 

Here is the list:

Take photos for Christmas cards

Buy a new Christmas CD and listen to it

Drive around and look at Christmas lights

Go to Temple Square to see the lights (if you live/visit Utah)

Build a snowman

Make paper snowflakes

Make a treat and take it to a friend

Wrap Christmas gifts

Make hot chocolate and stir with candy canes

Have a campout in front of the Christmas tree

Watch a Christmas movie and have popcorn

Make a new Christmas decoration

Make the house smell like Christmas

Go visit Santa Clause

Do service for someone that needs it.

Take gifts to teachers and friends

Make cookie and write letters to Santa

Read “The Night Before Christmas”

Call grandma and grandpa and sing your favorite Christmas song

Color Christmas pictures

Read a Christmas book

Make Christmas cards

Go out for a Christmas treat

Read a story or watch a movie about the birth of  baby Jesus

Do something nice for someone

 Here are the items you will need to do the project:

2-12x12 papers (to be the background)

Assorted Christmas paper to make the pockets (I used 4 double sided prints)

Scraps of coordinating paper to decorate with.

Stickers/cutouts/ribbons to decorate

Numbers 1-24

                                 Ribbon (to hang project)

                                 24 tags

 Here is the HOW-TO:

You will need 24 pockets (12 on each 12x12 paper, 4 across and 3 down), cut to be 2 ½ x 3 ¾ inches. Number and decorate each pocket. Then you can attach them to the 12x12 paper. I glued mine, but if you have one of those fancy paper sewing machines, you could stitch the papers on, that would be cute! Then each pocket needs a tag with one of the items from the list above. Then use some ribbon or scrap paper to attach the 2 12x12 papers together, but leave a little gap, about 1 inch or so. Last use some ribbon to hang the calendar. Your kids will have so much fun doing this. My kiddos are so excited to start ours! 

Some Good Tips.

Today while scanning the new website, I stumbled across this article: The easiest way to set up an effective housecleaning plan | ksl.com I am going to try this for a month or so and see how I do. Let us know if you try it and how it works out for you!!