A healthier version of "The Best Lasagna. Ever."

I made lasagna for the first time! My mom use to always make the best lasagna, but I have never attempted it simply because I know how "bad" it is. So when I saw this recipe the The Pioneer Woman... I had to try it. I made some changes to make it healthier and it is even gluten free. The results were delicious! You can make it with regular noodles too :)

Here is the recipe of what I did.

Ingredients

• 1-½ pound 4% fat Ground Beef
• 2 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 cans (14.5 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes
• 2 cans (6 Ounce) Tomato Paste
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Basil
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 3 cups fat free Cottage Cheese
• 2 whole Beaten Eggs
• ½ cups Grated (not Shredded) Parmesan Cheese
• 2 Tablespoons Dried Parsley
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup Shredded Light Mozzarella Cheese
• 1 package (10 Ounce) Lasagna Noodles
• (add 1/2 Teaspoon Salt And 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil To Pasta Water)

Preparation Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet or saucepan, combine ground beef and garlic. Cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain half the fat; less if you’re feeling naughty. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil and salt. After adding the tomatoes, the sauce mixture should simmer for 45 minutes while you are working on the other steps.

In a medium bowl, mix cottage cheese, beaten eggs, grated Parmesan, 2 more tablespoons parsley, and 1 more teaspoon salt. Stir together well. Set aside. Cook lasagna until “al dente” (not overly cooked).

To assemble:
Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles in the bottom of a baking pan, overlapping if necessary. Spoon half the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Spread evenly. Cover cottage cheese with a layer of mozzarella cheese. Spoon a little less than half the meat/sauce mixture over the top.

Repeat, ending with meat/sauce mixture. Sprinkle top generously with extra Parmesan.

Either freeze, refrigerate for up to two days, or bake immediately: 350-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until top is hot and bubbly.

And tonight we made these:

Stuffed Pizza Rolls. They were really good too!

2 months!

Our little baby James is getting so big! He is over 2 months old, weighing in over 13lbs and we will find out where he is on his height next week. Time is flying by and I can't believe I will be heading back to work in a little more than a week! I am sooo grateful that he will be with my mom, Haws' mom or Haws while I am at work. I am also grateful that I have a job I can go back to where I make my own hours and can work part-time, just a few hours a few days a week. It is going to be hard not to be there with James to take care of his needs, but it will also be a nice break to get back into the swing of things and see my clients who I have missed.

James is getting easier each day (cross my fingers). He still has his fussy moments, but it usually easily soothed. Except for in the car. That is the worst when he is back there crying and there is nothing I can do about it. At least I know he is alive! He usually just ends up falling asleep after crying about 5 min... but those are a long 5 min. He especially hates when I hit a stop light. This kid likes to move!!!!

James at 2 months:

• He loves his activity mat! He could spend an hour under there if I left him there that long. He reaches, bats and grabs at the little  toys that dangle from it.
• Still loves the swing and takes evening cat naps in there.
• Is constantly babbling. I swear he has said "hi" "ok" and "ma". He is so advanced! Well... at least I think so :)
• He doesn't mind having his diaper changed anymore. He loves his changing table because he can stare at his name letters up on the wall. I am sooo glad I put them there!
• He still does not love to have his clothes put on but is getting better
• He can hold up his head for long periods of time, but doesnt love tummy time. I put him on my tummy and he lasts a lot longer that way.
• He still wont take a pacifier, but loves to suck on his hands! I am glad he has discovered a way to sooth himself.
• He has taken a few showers with me and loves it. He likes watching my "getting ready" routine.
• He is a crazy, active baby. When we swaddle him for bed, he thrashes his head around and sometimes works different limbs out of his "straight jacket". I don't know why he is such a wiggle worm... maybe he has a hard time sitting still like his mom. He sleeps wildly. If it weren't for the swaddle, he would be waking himself up all night with his movements.
• The last two nights he has slept from about 830pm-3am and then 330am-about 7am!!!! I was very excited about this and hope he keeps it up! He even wakes up happy and so does mom :)

I am sure there are more things I wanted to document... but these are the ones that stand out.

I love this little guy so much. He brings so much joy into our home.

Another try

I dont' know why my videos sound didn't work last time, so I have to try another. This one I took with my camera. Here is a nice relaxing Sunday afternoon. Funny... I am the one that has been up since 330am. I should be napping!

It is kind of long... sorry. I just love all the "talking" and the tongue.

I thought this picture was hilarious! We were trying to get a picture of us all dressed up before Redge and Marci's wedding reception. James wasn't being very cooperative and Haws was trying to get him to look at the camera. Meanwhile... I am trying to get him to smile as I give myself a double chin!

Isn't he cute in his little button up shirt??

I just can't get enough

I just love this little guy. He is starting to "talk" now! I took this while getting him ready for his bath. 

He proceeded to pee on my right after I stopped recording. I should know better than to leave a little boy bare naked with his you know what pointing right at me. This wasn't the first time... nor the last.

The video was taken with my phone. Not the best quality.
I just realized the sound isnt working! That was the best part about it. Please tell me if it works for you.

Beach Day and Church

My sis-in-law Brooke, sis-in-law, Margot (does that make sense?) lives down on Balboa in the best location! Right next to Newport Harbor where they can go out on their own little private beach. We decided to meet the cousins down there for a beach day. James pretty much slept the whole time which made it easy on me. I am sure he will appreciate the beach more next summer, but it is good to break him in now :)

I love how Caroline will put anything in here mouth. The sand must have been pretty tasty! Things to look forward to in a few months I am sure.

This past Sunday we took James to church for the first time. He did great and slept through the first 2 hours! Once he woke up it was time to eat... so I just headed home since I would miss most of the third hour anyway. A woman in our ward makes these cute onesies with ties on them With the brown pants he looks like a used car salesman! Maybe his future at G.E.T.

 This was taken after church while he was playing on his activity mat. He loves this thing and can hang out on here for awhile playing with those toys. He especially likes the giraffe hanging above his right hand. Or maybe he is right handed and thats why he pays so much attention to that one. He likes to bat them around over and over. He also loves when I sing "Lucy in the sky with Diamonds" by the Beatles. I think it is the high notes... it makes him smile really big and he acts like he is singing. It's so cute!

Long Beach Crawfish Festival

Crawfish gross me out... but because I love my husband, I skipped the Weezer concert in HB to go to the crawfish fesival in LB. Haws served his mission in Alabama and then lived in Tennesse for an internship, so he has a special place in his heart for things that are southern. The festival pretty much was food and crafts with live music and really good people watching. We meet up with the Cope's, ate and hung out until James had enough.

Shielding JR from the sun while waiting in the food line. Good excuse to cuddle.

Crawfish... yuck! They have their heads and everything on!

Kicking it in the shade.

Haws waited almost an hour in line for these Beignets!!! He said they were almost worth the wait.They were covered with powdered sugar that got everywhere!

summer adventures

James has already been venturing out this summer. He has been having lots of fun with his cousins. Well , he actually just sleeps most of the time we are hanging out, but he is intrigued by all of them. It is weird to think that before I know it, he will be running around with all of them.

We went swimming for the first time over at Johnny and Brooke's house. Brooke was so nice to heat to pool up to almost 90!

We didnt have a swim diaper for James, so we had to borrow Caroline's plastic diaper to wear under his swim trunks.

The boys are obsessed with "Baby James". It is so cute to see them get all excited to see him. We have decided to make sure we all get together once a week with the kids. 

We next set off to take James to "Mormon Night" at the Angels game. Well... the seats were way up in the nose bleed section. It was scary walking up to the top with a baby attached to me. We made it through one inning, but then all the noise (the people behind us just had to to the loudest people in the stands) was too much for the little guy. He started crying and we were out of there. Good thing the tickets were cheap. Next time we will have to take him to the diamond club. I think he would do much better there. But then again, who wouldnt? He did look cute in his baseball jammies :)