Recipe of the Week: Skillet Lasagna

Spinach and vegetable lasagna are staples in our house but sometimes it takes a little too long. I found this recipe and decided to give it a whirl. It certainly did not disappoint and was a great substitute for traditional pan lasagna. One suggestion is to slightly reduce the amount of cheese you add because it can be super cheesy (which isn't always a bad thing). Be sure to use your largest skillet because you will need all the space you can get!

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-oz.) can diced tomatoes
Salt and Pepper
10 curly-edged lasagna noodles, broken into 2 inch lengths
1 small zucchini, cut into small chunks
1 small yellow squash, cut into small chunks
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil (this seemed like a lot so I reduced the amount)
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat until simmering.
Add onion and cook until softened (about 3 minutes).
Add garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
Drain tomatoes into 2-cup liquid measure. Add water to tomato liquid to make 2 cups.
Add tomato/water mixture and 1 teaspoon salt to skillet.
Scatter noodles into the skillet (layer tomatoes over the noodles and bring to a simmer)
Reduce the heat to medium and cook, covered, stirring occasionally (so the noodles won't stick) for about 10 minutes.
Stir in zucchini and squash, cook, stirring now and then, until noodles and squash are tender, about 8 minutes.
Add basil and half of the ricotta cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese to the noodles, stirring until the sauce is creamy.
Dollop remaining ricotta cheese over the noodles, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.

(Original Recipe & Above Picture from: Mel's Kitchen Cafe.)

Ultimate Love

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, thought he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. -Philippians 2:4-8

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Full Heart

How do I even begin to share about this past weekend? I'm gonna attempt to put words into one of the most amazing weekends I've had in a while.

Some background info: For a while Nathan had been telling me he was gonna take me somewhere the weekend before my birthday and had no intention whatsoever of telling me the destination. The weekend finally came and as many questions and hints I tried to pry out of Nathan, I ended up still without a clue of anything.

Friday night we had driven to Atlanta to celebrate my birthday with my parents (time with them never ceases to be filled with joy and so much love). I'm so blessed to have such supportive and wonderful parents.

Next, was a Saturday morning "oil change" with Monte, the pastor who married us. (Side note: When we were going through pre-marital counseling with him, he mentioned that he suggests a 6-10 month "oil change" where we just dialogue with him about how things are going, etc. I would highly recommend this to any and every newlywed couple.)

After meeting with Monte we started our road trip and only a few months into the drive Nathan asked me to blindfold myself (he kindly said if I got tired of it he would tell me we were going and I didn't have to wear the blindfold) and wanting to stick it out for the surprise I complied (best decision). About 2.5 hours later I hear Nathan say that I can remove the blindfold. After the shock of coming out of darkness I saw that we were pulled up to a house I had never seen before and I couldn't even figure out what state I was in. That state I was in: Alabama. The city I was in: Birmingham. The house I was at: one of my best friend's Lacey's. I was in utter shock as the details started unfolding and I found out I would be spending the rest of the weekend with four of my best friends. What a much needed time with dear friends. It was an utter blessing.

The girls and I just relived our college days with lunch at Gilchrist,some window shopping at Papagallo's and of course some Only8 at Mtn. Brook Creamery. As clouds started rolling in we made a lap around Samford's campus where we oooed and ahhed at the new additions to the campus. Who would have thought a paved parking lot would have drawn so much jealousy out of us alums. We paid or respects to Ben Brown Plaza (the water fountain was even running in February...a sign of the warm winter weather) and Mr. Beeson before waving goodbye as we left the gates.

It wouldn't be a visit to Birmingham without some sort of storm or as we experienced- a power outage within minutes of being back at Lace's house. After a lot of laughter and shock (since there was just a little rain shower) we round up all the candles (boy did we have a lot of scents goin' on!) and cozied up for a movie before we headed out for dinner at our beloved Cocina.

 

I truly cannot put into words how much I loved the weekend. How much I loved all being back under one roof. To those friends who shared in this weekend (Lace, Rooms, Smo and Steph) I cannot thank you enough for the sacrifices you made to come to Birmingham and to make the weekend so wonderful. To my husband who planned an amazing weekend, I cannot thank you enough for being so loving and knowing me so well.

 

No, you are not cut out. You have been placed in.

I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning (Chatting at the Sky) and I couldn't help but share some of her words this morning.

"I’m not cut out for this. And even as I say it, as I say it, I hear the Lord whisper, No, you are not cut out. You have been placed in... He reminded me I have been placed in Him. No, not cut out. I am connected, sure, safe. If I’m looking to be cut out for something, confident on my own terms, standing on my own platform, unwilling to die? Life can be scary and tasks, daunting. God takes great delight in finding us in places where we don’t feel cut out to succeed. And that is where he sends his invitation of remembrance – that shaky, sweaty mess is a reminder that I am desperate to depend on a source other than myself. Success takes on a different shape there. It looks a lot like rest and feels a lot like freedom."

Gosh, what a great reminder that it's not about us but about what God is doing in and through us.

These two verses go hand in hand with that excerpt from her blog post:

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9 

No task is too great for our God. He truly delights in us and through our weakness His power is perfected. What a freeing thought! Though I often get caught up in the "not good enough" mentality, it is remarkable to be reminded that even when I feel inadequate, He is adequate. He is taking great delight in finding us in places where we don't feel cut out because that leads us to utter dependence on Him.

And with that I will leave you with a picture that screams freedom and utter excitement...