Candy, Pumkins and Goblins
10/31/12 •
10/30/12 •
The key to this lasagna is to dice the vegetables finely; this creates a layer that mimics the texture and feel of the traditional meat layer, but this taste so much better! Enjoy!
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz white or baby bella mushrooms, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
½ teaspoon Herbs de Provence
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup tomato paste
24 oz jar of prepared tomato marinara sauce
2 cups of pureed sweet potato (from approx 2 sweet potatoes)
1 package (9 oz) no boil whole wheat lasagna noodles
2-3 tomatoes, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons bread crumbs
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1. To make the sweet potato puree, pierce the skin in several places with a knife. Either set the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with tin foil, bake at 350 degrees for an hour, or set them on a microwave safe plate and microwave for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Peel the skin and discard. Mash insides with a fork. Set aside.
2. In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, mushrooms, red bell pepper, carrot, Herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 8-10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and mix well. Add ½ the jar of marinara sauce or about 1 ½ cups. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and remove from heat.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Divide the box of noodles into four even stacks. Assemble the lasagna by covering the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with half the remaining marinara sauce (about ¾ cup). Next, lay out one stack of noodles in a single layer. On top of the noodles, spread ½ the vegetable mixture evenly. Top with another single layer of noodles. Next, spread out the sweet potato evenly and top with another layer of noodles. Then, add the remaining vegetable mixture. Top with the remaining noodles and spread the remainder of the marinara sauce over top. Cover the lasagna with thinly sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over top and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
4. Cover with tin foil and bake at 400 degrees F for 50-55 minutes. Remove the tin foil half way through to ensure the top gets crisp and golden. Remove from oven and let cool 10-15 minutes before serving.
5. This recipe calls for no meat, but I added ground chicken because my husband has to have some meat in his lasagna. So you can always add some things that you like.
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz white or baby bella mushrooms, finely diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
½ teaspoon Herbs de Provence
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup tomato paste
24 oz jar of prepared tomato marinara sauce
2 cups of pureed sweet potato (from approx 2 sweet potatoes)
1 package (9 oz) no boil whole wheat lasagna noodles
2-3 tomatoes, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons bread crumbs
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1. To make the sweet potato puree, pierce the skin in several places with a knife. Either set the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet lined with tin foil, bake at 350 degrees for an hour, or set them on a microwave safe plate and microwave for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Peel the skin and discard. Mash insides with a fork. Set aside.
2. In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, mushrooms, red bell pepper, carrot, Herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 8-10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and mix well. Add ½ the jar of marinara sauce or about 1 ½ cups. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and remove from heat.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Divide the box of noodles into four even stacks. Assemble the lasagna by covering the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with half the remaining marinara sauce (about ¾ cup). Next, lay out one stack of noodles in a single layer. On top of the noodles, spread ½ the vegetable mixture evenly. Top with another single layer of noodles. Next, spread out the sweet potato evenly and top with another layer of noodles. Then, add the remaining vegetable mixture. Top with the remaining noodles and spread the remainder of the marinara sauce over top. Cover the lasagna with thinly sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over top and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
4. Cover with tin foil and bake at 400 degrees F for 50-55 minutes. Remove the tin foil half way through to ensure the top gets crisp and golden. Remove from oven and let cool 10-15 minutes before serving.
5. This recipe calls for no meat, but I added ground chicken because my husband has to have some meat in his lasagna. So you can always add some things that you like.
Clean Eating
About 2 weeks ago I decided to take a different approach in my eating habits. Ever since Dylan was born and finding out that he has Down Syndrome and an AV Canal heart condition it has made me realize how important our families health is and to learn as much as I can to keep him healthy and strong as he gets older . Not that I did not realize before and not that I was not healthy before I just never paid attention to things that I was buying at the market, or thought something was healthy but it really was not. Most Down Syndrome children are at a higher risk for health issues. I was googling the other day ( which is something I do often) and I came across this article: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/11/foods-for-children-with-down-syndrome/. It was very interesting!
Educating myself on foods and clean eating is not going to happen over night it is a lifestyle change. It is something that you need to be passionate about and really learn what you are putting into your body. It has only been a couple of weeks but I feel healthy and I finally have some energy. I am also someone who suffers from an Under active Thyroid and if some of you don't know that is when your thyroid is running slower and it is MUCH harder to lose weight. I was diagnosed about 5 years ago through a blood test. I have been on medication ever since. The medication is what helps keep it under control but what you eat and how you exercise can help you benefit that much more. I have tried every diet and of course once you go off you gain it right back. Then having Dylan I gained 40 pounds. I still have about 10 pounds to go to be at the weight I was before I had him, but I was not at the weight I wanted to be before I got pregnant. I have realized that it's not about dieting and making yourself go crazy by getting on that scale everyday. Its a life style change. It's learning how to eat and how you feel after you eat. I will never be that magazine skinny model but what matters to me is feeling good about myself no matter what. Everyone is different and how they look and each metabolism is different and just because mine is a little slower and I may have to work a little harder that is just how god made me!
I am so excited for this new journey in my life. It has actually been a long time coming but never really put my first step forward. Of course having my son has been one major factor but I feel you really have to be ready to make changes in your life in order to get everything you want out of it. I will be posting recipes on my blog and also articles that I may find along the way. I hope you will follow me along this fun and great journey!
10/29/12 •
Even though the weather was warm this weekend to me it was the first weekend I felt like it was a little bit of fall. Our weekend was on full speed with more projects on the house, my nieces 5th birthday party and our first visit to the pumpkin patch with Dylan. This is my FAVORITE time of the year, I absolutely love the holidays!!
10/27/12 •
Happy Birthday to the most beautiful niece in the world. We love you very much!
Dear Dylan::4 Months Old
Yesterday our sweet baby boy turned 4 months old. It just feels like yesterday I was pregnant and waiting for his arrival. I feel that once you have kids time just fly's by faster and faster, but it can also be that I am getting older. We love Dylan so much and have been so blessed with being his mommy and daddy. His gentle love and sweet smiles make us want to wake up everyday and see the beauty in everything!
- You weigh 11 pounds 10 ounces and are 24 inches long.
- You sleep almost 12 hours through the night and on some occasions will wake up.
- You can almost hold your head up by yourself. Which is amazing since Dylan does have Down Syndrome and most times is a little delayed.
- When we feed you your bottle you try so hard to hold it. Don't worry buddy you will get there.
- Your swing is your best friend. You will sleep in that thing all day long!
- You are almost taking naps in your bed. Somedays are better then others.
- You are doing so well in your bouncy seat with grabbing and focusing on all the lights and toys.
- Mommy and Daddy are going to go get you books so we can start to read to you.
- Your smile lights up the room.
- You had your first big laugh and I LOVED it!!
10/26/12 •
10/25/12 •
Every night I have a routine for Dylan up until the time where I lay him in his bed and kiss him good night. For the most part Dylan is in bed anywhere from 6:30 to 7:00, that's if he takes a nap in the afternoon. Today was one of those days where he did not sleep all day but a cat nap here and there. As usual I gave him his bath about 5:30 and right after I got him dressed he was wanting his bottle. As I was rocking him and feeding him (which is a normal routine) he was passed out and barley ate 2 ounces. I usually put him in his bed right when he falls asleep but tonight I wanted to hold him. I put him on my shoulder to burp him a little and he was sound asleep. I could have stayed there all night with him asleep on me. As I held him a little longer tears started to run down my face. All I could think about was his surgery which is less then 2 weeks away and knowing that he has to go through this. I wish I could have the surgery for him. I am just so sad for him. As the doctor's say "the good thing is that he will never remember this." But I will!!
Being a mommy is probably the hardest job you could have yet the most rewarding and amazing job at the same time. I know I have only been a mom for 4 months now and I know I have so much more to learn, but there is nothing better then loving a child and being a mom. I have never been so in love with someone then I have my son. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my husband more then anything but my son is my angel. As Dylan's mommy I have to stay strong for him and let him know he will be ok and that he is a fighter. I need to put on that game face!
“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” -Sophia Loren
God has truly given me one of the greatest gifts and that is being a mommy to Dylan!!
Being a mommy is probably the hardest job you could have yet the most rewarding and amazing job at the same time. I know I have only been a mom for 4 months now and I know I have so much more to learn, but there is nothing better then loving a child and being a mom. I have never been so in love with someone then I have my son. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my husband more then anything but my son is my angel. As Dylan's mommy I have to stay strong for him and let him know he will be ok and that he is a fighter. I need to put on that game face!
“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” -Sophia Loren
God has truly given me one of the greatest gifts and that is being a mommy to Dylan!!
Donating Blood
Since my email on Monday there have been a number of people that have gone and donated blood for Dylan's surgery. In times like this you really realize how many people are there to support you and give you all the love and prayers you need. Greg and I feel so blessed in this time and want to thank each and everyone one of you for donating and being here for us. Of course Greg and I went this week for our blood donation. I have always been that person that is very afraid of needles and blood and have never donated, so I was a little nervous going in there on Wednesday. But after working my self up it really was not that bad after all. I will do anything for my son!!!
10/23/12 •
This past week we were so lucky or should I say Dylan was so lucky to be apart of the Everybody Plays campaign – celebrating the unique faces, smiles and styles of babies everywhere for Infantino and Step 2. The campaign was a photo shoot to take pictures of 30 other wonderful and unique children and babies to use for there website, packaging and trade shows. There were 900 entries and Dylan was one of the 30 that got picked to be apart of this. Kelle Hampton was the photographer and did an amazing job! Kelle also has a little girl with Down Syndrome, Nella and had the same exact story as our's where she had no idea during her pregnancy but it was the greatest gift God could have given us. She also wrote the memoir "Bloom" and if you have not read it you should it is so beautiful! I was so excited to meet her and spend time talking about our little one's. Thank you to my mom for coming along with us and enjoying this special day!! Keep an eye out because you might see little Dylan on some packaging or on there website!
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| The beautiful Kelle Hampton |
Settled
Well we are all moved in!!! I want to apologize to my blog for neglecting you for the last month but we have been over our head busy with moving, doctor's appointments and just life in general. We are so excited to be moved into our new house and actually call something "Home"! I want to give a special thanks to my brother in law Matt for taking charge in getting everything done in a timely manner so we could move before Dylan's surgery and making it everything we could ever imagine. You are the best! Then to our families for helping us move and making it as painless as possible. For the most part everything is done in the house, but now I can really start to decorate with the help of my best friend Pintrest. As I say though once you own a home there is always something you will need to do and can do. I am not sure how many of you saw our house before but I am going to do my best to put before and after pictures up so you can really see how this house does not even look the same!
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| Living Room Before |
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| Living Room After |
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| Kitchen Before |
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| Kitchen After-We still need Doors |
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| Living Room-Dining Room Before |
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| Dining Room After |
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| Master Bath |
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| Dylan's Room |
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| Down Stairs Bathroom |
10/3/12 •
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month! There are lots of ways to get involved, celebrate and raise awareness for people with Down Syndrome. Being a mother with a son who was diagnosed with Down Syndrome this is a very special month. As most of you know we were not aware of our son's condition until after he was born. Not that it would have changed our mind but we may have been able to know a little more about this condition. So weather you have a child, are pregnant with a child with Down Syndrome or know someone with a down baby, this is a great month to know a little more and celebrate the uniqueness in everyone. We love our son so much and only being 4 months old my husband and I still have so much to learn, but he is the most special little boy in the world and we love him so much. We are so blessed to have him in our lives and we cannot wait to watch him grow!!
