Virtual Crop

Susan at the ScrapyLand blog posted that there will be a virtual crop on Nov 13th. So mark your calendars for an opportunity to complete challenges, win prizes, and create some fantastic crafting items while online chatting with a bunch of wonderful ladies. As Susan posts additional information concerning the virtual crop, I will update my blog.

Healthy Lasagna

I haven't had much time lately to make cards or scrapbook, so I decided to make a little change to my blog. From now on, I will be sharing recipes and healthy tips, posting crafting projects or ideas, and any other little tidbits of information that I think will be helpful. Of course I will still be posting cards and scrapbook page layouts.

To get the ball rolling, I am including a recipe for Healthy Lasagna that is very weight watching friendly.



Healthy Lasagna

Makes 12 servings

9 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 lb extra lean (90%) ground beef
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 jar pasta sauce (approx 25.5 oz)
1 ½ Italian seasoning
1 egg
1 contaner (15 oz) reduced fat ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded reduced fat mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package. Place in cold water.


Meanwhile, in 12 inch skillet, cook beef and garlic over medium high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until beef is throughly cooked; drain grease. Stir in pasta sauce and Italian seasoning. Heating to boiling, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, beat egg slightly. Stir in ricotta cheese until blended. Drain noodles. Spread about ½ cup sauce mixture on bottom of baking dish. Top with 3 noodles, 1 ½ cups of sauce mixture, half of the ricotta mixture, and ¾ cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining noodles, sauce, and mozzarella cheese; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Spray 15 piece of foil with cooking spray and cover lasagna.

Bake 45 minutes. Uncover and make 10 to 15 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information:

1 serving – 240 calories (calories from fat 80)
Total Fat 9 g
Cholesterol 60 mg
Sodium 400 mg
Fiber 2 g
Sugars 5 g
Protein 20 g

For additional fiber (and veggies), add 10-16 oz drained thawed spinach and 2 cans drained mushrooms to sauce mixture.

It's a busy life!

I want to apologize to all my blog followers for being MIA the past week. My work has taken up most of my waking hours and I have been too exhausted to craft. Right now I am preparing for a weekend (Friday - Sunday) scrapbooking retreat, so I will not be blogging again until Monday. My camera is coming along on the retreat, so you will see some wonderful pages posted on Monday from all the ladies that attended the retreat.

Operation Write Home

I had to share the following post I saw on the DRS Designs blog this morning. It is for such a worthy cause that I knew there would be many who want to participate.



During the months of September and October DRS Designs will be collecting as many holiday and winter themed cards as you can make!!

To inspire you further DRS Designs will be offering a Total of 4 prizes!! Two prizes will be awarded at the end of each month (September & October):

Prize 1:

The stamper who has sent us (DRS Designs) the most cards during that month will win a $50 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!!

Prize 2:

We (DRS Designs) will pick our favorite card of the month that uses only DRS Designs Rubber Stamps and that stamper will win a $25 DRS Designs Gift Certificate!

Please be sure to get your card donations to DRS Designs by October 26th so they can be distributed in time for the holiday rush! Also, please be sure to include an envelope for each card donated.

Send to:

DRS Designs
217 Greenwood Avenue
Bethel, CT 06801

*************Remember - NO GLITTER for soldier safety reasons!!!*********************

Bat Favors

A few months ago I started to save the empty toilet paper rolls thinking that I could come up with a project for my niece and I to do together. After playing around a little bit, I came up with a Bat Favor for Halloween. Now that I have a prototype, I can't wait to print out more Whimsie Doodles digi-stamps to have her color to make more.

Supplies:

empty toilet paper rolls

snack sized Ziploc bags filled with wrapped candy

tissue paper

curly ribbon

pattern paper cut to 4.25" x 6" or 4.25" x 6.25" (depending on toilet paper roll size)

Stickles

Halloween Bits and Bites digital stamps - Whimsie Doodles

Here is the finished project:

And a close-up so you can see the cute bat digi-stamp:

Who wouldn't like to receive this as a party favor?!

Mummy Reese's Covers

After making the cute pumpkin Reese's covers the other day, I knew I had to make some more. This time I found an adorable Mummy digi-stamp from MyGrafico that I couldn't resist.

Supplies:

DCWV cardstock

2" Stampin' Up scallop punch

Stickles

wiggle eyes

'Halloween Ghoulies' digital stamp set - MyGrafico (Original art by Meljen's Designs)

These were really easy to print, add Stickles and wiggle eyes, and cut out. Can't wait to make more and give out for Halloween.

Sketchy Thursdays

Sketchy Thursdays is having blog launch prize-a-thon. Here are the details from their blog:

Day one of the Sketchy Thursdays blog launch prize-a-thon! One winner selected will win both of these new lines from Cosmo Cricket. The Boyfriend and Earth Love are quickly becoming must-have sets for scrapbooking! Personally, I love these two lines!

Here are the rules:

• All followers are automatically entered into every drawing (yeah!! we love our followers).

• Every post you comment on, you have a second entry into that drawing for that day.

• Want us to really love you?! Leave another comment telling us you talked about Sketchy Thursdays' prize of the day on a forum, your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and we'll count you again for that day.

• All winners for the prizes given away this week and next will be announced on 9/25.

So hop on over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog and sign up to become a follower. While you are there, read about the lovely ladies that make up the design team.