#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Ravioli Lasagna

March 11, 2016 · Narrative, Pasta

Delicious, comforting, filling food that takes fifteen minutes to prepare and less than five to disappear.

Untitled

This post could have been titled: How to Feed a Crowd

or

How to Feed a Teenager

or

How to Satisfy Even the Most Pickiest of Eaters

But in the name of brevity, I went with Ravioli Lasagna.

Ravioli Lasagna has been around forever. It’s not a new invention, but it IS something I haven’t made before.

On Wednesday afternoon, I walked in the door after a dentist consult and had exactly an hour and a half to make dinner for 19.

Yes, 19.

To say I was a little stressed would be an understatement. Because it’s also the same time period that everyone needs homework help.

Has a million stories to tell me about their day.

And our zoo wants attention.

Like, just shoot me.

But this Ravioli Lasagna.

This Ravioli Lasagna saved the day. When we have our twice-monthly Girl Scout meetings, we make eating dinner with the girls a part of our meeting. The girls love it. And we, as leaders, love it. And, more importantly, it means everyone is fed when we finally get home at 8 pm. All the parents take turns with making dinner, and it’s been a great experience.

Now with such a large troop, you can imagine we have a LOT of picky eaters. But pasta? In most forms? Is usually a hit with ALL of them. As I was serving this up with pieces of buttered bread, three of the girls just wanted bread. But our rule is everyone has to try the dinner. And if you don’t like it, you have to be polite about it. So I gave those three a small piece of the lasagna. And those three all came back for three full helpings.

Ravioli Lasagna … winning over picky palates every day of the week.

Taking much of the personality of more traditional lasagna, you are not cooking any noodles beforehand. And since the ravioli already has cheese in it, you save a layering step.

So sauce, meat, ravioli, cheese, repeat. Untitled

It was in the oven in 13 minutes, and ready to go 40 minutes later.

NO SWEAT.

I tripled the below recipe and made I made two heaping 9×12 trays.

And came back with half a tray.

Nick, a growing boy with a TEENAGE APPETITE, demolished the rest of it last night.

Untitled

Easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

Perfect for when you want lasagna, but don’t have the time to make a more “proper” version.

Universal enough for a large Girl Scout troop.

And perfect for teenage boys.

Oh! One final note. This recipe is COMPLETELY customizable. Use meat ravioli. Try ground turkey instead of ground beef. Layer in slices of pepperoni, if you want. Switch up the cheese. Add in some vegetables. Layer in fresh mozzarella and chopped up basil.

Use the recipe as a guideline and GO CRAZY.

Ravioli Lasagna
Recipe courtesy of Cate O’Malley

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
28 ounces spaghetti sauce (or if you have more time, make some)
1 package (25 ounces) frozen cheese ravioli
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese

Directions
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. In a greased baking dish, layer a third of the spaghetti sauce, half of the ravioli and beef, and then a third of the mozzarella; repeat layers. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Cover and bake at 400° for 40 minutes or until heated through.

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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