Kale and 'Shroom Stuffed Lasagna Rolls

This is a recipe from SkinnyTaste with only a few modifications from the original recipe. I did lighten it up some, without taking away any flavor.  This is a wonderful tasting meal with a side of green beans or salad.

I don't want to mislead anyone, it is not a "quick-fix" meal, but it is worth the time it takes to prepare.













Ingredients:

1 (15oz) Fat free Ricotta Cheese
4-5 cups of chopped Kale
2 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
4oz Fat free cream cheese
9-10 Lasagna noodles (cooked and blotted dry)
7-8 whole mushrooms chopped fine
1-2 cups marinara sauce
1 egg, beaten
Garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste
Shredded Mozzarella to top each roll up

How to-
Boil the noodles as per the directions on the box.  Drain and blot dry, then spread them out on a sheet of wax paper.


While the noodles boil, chop the kale and mushrooms in a food processor.  In a bowl mix the ricotta cheese, kale, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, cream cheese, garlic powder, whisked egg, salt and pepper.

Spread the kale/cheese mixture onto each of the lasagna noodles.

Put one cup of marinara sauce in a 9x12 baking dish.  Then roll each of the noodles up and place in the baking dish.

Top each roll with a dollop of marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella.

Cover the dish with tin foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

ENJOY!


Each roll is about 125 calories.

Breakfast - Healthy, Fast and Tasty

Source

Mornings in my house...well... let's just say I should invite in cameras and start a reality show.  Living with two females in the house adds it's own, shall we say, unique atmosphere.  One, an eight year old happy morning person, is playing and singing with no concept of time to get ready for school.  The other, my beautiful bride, is NOT a morning person and we don't make dare make eye contact until at least the second cup of coffee! These ladies are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to getting ready in the mornings and that's all I have to say about that.

Breakfast is important.  It starts your day off on the right foot. You need a good mix of both protein and carbs for brain function and energy to face the day.  Obviously my household does not allow for much time so here is what I have most mornings.

Start with a small pan, some non-stick spray and a few red pepper flakes.

In a toaster oven/oven a slice of whole wheat bread, low fat ham and ultra thin provolone.
 

Cook egg to desired level - like easy over.

Remove when toasted to desired level - I like tanned bottoms.



Place eggs on top of toasted items.

Eat up!

 

This fuel efficient day starter is:

 

            Egg - 70 cal.

            Bread - 60 cal.

            Cheese - 40 cal.

            Ham - 30 cal.



           
            Total - 200 calories for a fast easy breakfast.  Ready in just minutes.



Roasted Okra - Easy and Healthy

Okra is an interesting veggie.  It is commonly believed that okra came to North America in the 1700's from Africa with slave trade.  The term "gumbo",  a southern stew of which okra is a major ingredient, is Swahili for okra.  This little green wonder is filled with nutrients and fiber, all of which are good for us. 

Source

Unfortunately, the only way I would eat this vegetable most of my life has been fried.  Yes, battered and deep fried was the only way I would even think about putting this in my mouth.  All the nutrients pretty much destroyed and replaced with the things my body did NOT need.  That was in the past, as I am of the mindset that if you have to fry it - you don't really need to eat it.

I first started using okra in recipes, such as soups and stews.  Then one day I received a batch of okra from a friend at school and decided to try something with it.  I love roasted veggies - brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots, potatoes..  YUM.  So I decided why not try roasting okra too?  Yes.. I know I didn't invent this, but I did do it on my own. :)



First I topped the okra. (this isn't necessary - just my preference)



I then added a little olive oil, salt and pepper. (Garlic powder sometimes too)



Place the okra on a baking sheet. Spread out to prevent crowding.



Bake in a preheated oven (425) for 20-25 minutes.

The outside is slightly crispy while the inside is soft and it is absolutely wonderful.  Just ask my 8 year old daughter, Natalie!  It's one of her favorites too.  I think next time I will cut it into pieces and try to see....

Enjoy!

Black Bean Tostadas

Ok, let's try just a simple blog post.  This dish was made for the son of a friend for his class at school.  The assignment was to make authentic meals from other cultures.  The assignment came with a recipe. Of course, I cannot follow a recipe to the T, so I had to add my own touch to the dish.



Here is the recipe as I made it.

 

Ingredients-

 

1 cup rinsed, drained canned black beans, mashed

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 cup washed, torn romaine lettuce leaves

1 cup chopped seeded tomato

1/2 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup plain nonfat yougurt (I think sour cream would be better)

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely chopped

4 - (8inch) tortillas

nonstick cooking spray

water for sprinkling on tortillas

 

 

How to-

 

Combine beans, chili powder, and cumin in a small saucepan. Cook 5 minutes or so over medium heat until heated through.

 

Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray over medium high heat.  Allow to get hot, then sprinkle the tortilla with some water.  Place each in the skillet one at a time.  Cook for 20-30 seconds then flip once and cook another 30 seconds.

 

Spread bean mixture evenly over the tortillas.  Layer with the lettuce, tomato, onion, yogurt and peppers. 

 

Serve immediately.

 

Enjoy.

 

Serves four.

Hold 'em Close and Tell 'em You Love 'em

 

Hello fellow foodies.  It’s been several months since my last post of my kitchen endeavors.  Although I have been cooking, experimenting, and creating in the kitchen and my new Big Green Egg, I have not “felt” like blogging. 

 

You see, my last blog was on April 29^th, 2012, and the next day my mother passed away.  It wasn’t totally unexpected as her health had not been well.  She suffered a major debilitating stroke almost a decade before, and has been in the same nursing home for over seven years.  Mom was really sick in the early spring, and I thought then her suffering here would end at that time.  She recovered and returned to her room at the home. 

 

Mom’s stroke had paralyzed her all down her right side, and left her unable to speak, read, or write.  She was basically unable to communicate with us and was frustrated by it most of the time.  She could listen though. 

She would recognize us when we would come in, and she would smile that big smile with half her mouth (stroke drooped one side) and her eyes would always brighten to see you.  She would listen to us tell our stories of what was going on.  She would laugh at the punch lines of jokes, and she would “reminisce” as we retold stories of our past.  She was not up to date on any current events, politics, or sports – all of which she could discuss at length for days before her stroke.

Since her stroke, I’ve lost my only sibling – my brother, Bill, to a major heart attack.  Then on August 10^th, 2010, my father passed away in my own home as he slept.  Now with mom’s passing – It’s just me left from my childhood home.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not alone.  I have a beautiful, loving wife of twenty-six years that is the love of my life, I have three great and wonderful children that I am so very proud of, but there is that melancholy of being the only one left. 

My childhood family unit – that place where I was safe, secure and taught to be the man I am today.  The time in my life where we took family trips to see relatives in other states, played outside all day until dark-thirty, slept in the backyard on summer nights, and walked to school and back every day.  The time where you were to be seen and not heard when company came over, the time when you were eager to make your parents proud with a hand-painted cornucopia you made in bible school.  The time where you felt your parents would live forever- to be there for guidance, direction, or just a hug and a smile.

It is my sincerest prayer that my children will have each other until well into their own golden years.  It is my desire that I have and am able to give them as great a loving childhood as my parents gave me.  It is my prayer that you tell those people in your life that are special to you that you love them – before it’s too late.

 

God bless,

 

Richard