A Hodgepodge of Thoughts

I found a recipe for Crab Meat Lasagna recently in a really good cookbook called Favorite Recipes From Quilters. I love to quilt, but that joy will have to wait until fall - when it's a little cooler out! Anyway, I thought the recipe would be a nice summer alternative to the traditionally heavy lasagna. But when I went to the cupboard to pull out my "crab meat", this is what I discovered: Yep, salmon, not crab. But that didn't stop me! I'm from Ohio and we don't know crab from salmon in these parts!! At least that's what I was hoping. So I proceeded with the recipe, just substituting. Well, it couldn't have been better!! My husband LOVED it and said he wanted it again tonight for dinner. That's fine by me - he can have leftovers!! :) I served it with some artisan bread and a tossed salad. I do recommend using "light" cream cheese and the fat-free cream of mushroom soup to keep the calories down. I couldn't tell any difference in taste using them.

Crab Meat Lasagna

(my version uses salmon)

1/2 lb lasagna noodles

1 t olive oil

8 oz pkg cream cheese (light), softened

2 cups cottage cheese

2 10 3/4 oz cans (fat free) cream of mushroom soup

1 egg

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 t basil

1 t salt

2 cups crab meat (I used two small cans of salmon)

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Cook lasagna in water and olive oil according to package directions. Drain.

Combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, mushroom soup, egg, onion, garlic, basil and salt in a large bowl, mix well.

Drain crab (salmon) and break into small pieces. Fold into cream cheese mixture.

In a lightly greased (sprayed) 9 x 13 baking dish, layer 1/2 lasagna noodles, 1/2 crab meat mixture and 1/2 of cheddar cheese. Repeat layers, ending with cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

I think there was some kind of ESP thing going on earlier this week with me and Michelle from Something New is Cooking. We both must have read Sandy's blog from I Love Sweet Treats and decided to make the taco ring. I know this photo does the recipe a disservice - I was suppose to have two cans of crescent rolls and I only had one. This is an excellent recipe and I'll be making it again (the right way!!) when my kids come home from camp. I served it with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, sour cream and guacamole, with Mexican Rice on the side. Click here if you'd like the recipe. Very yummy!!

About once every couple of months I like to fix a ham. They're expensive, but the leftovers are fantastic in scrambled eggs, omelette's, and breakfast casseroles. My favorite way to cook a ham (other than the holidays) is to get one that I know will fit in my crock pot and, well, just stick it in the crock pot. Yep. I don't do anything else. I let it cook all day and by evening it's made it's own "broth". In the winter I'll use it to make bean soup, but in the summer I like to use the broth when I fix rice. It keeps the house cool, too, which is a big plus in the summer!!

So, did you watch the "big show" last Monday with Jon and Kate? Honestly, I've never watched them before, but I couldn't miss that one. I have to admit I liked the first episode better - the one with the Crooked Houses

I was "googling" crooked houses for about an hour - I think the company had to take their website down because of all the moms and dads trying to find a crooked house for their kids!! I showed my husband this picture and he just laughed. He's an architect and said there is no way he'd have something like that in his back yard!! I should have married an attorney! ;)

I did feel sorry for them during the last episode, though. I'm glad the network decided to take them off the air for awhile. I really think they need to get their lives straightened out and forget the cameras. The funny thing is I hear there is talk of "Jon and Kate - The Musical"!! I've worked really hard not to have a completely messed up life, only to find out that's where the money is!! LOL!!

Well, I'm off to declutter the storage room in the basement - hope you all enjoy your day!