In my morning post, I briefly mentioned that we had lasagna for dinner last night. One good thing about making lasagna for only two people?
Leftovers!
I was pumped to dig into our leftover lasagna around lunchtime today.
It doesn’t look like typical lasagna does it?
Well, that’s because there was a little less marinara sauce and a lot more butternut squash!
(And yes, it basically fell apart as I was trying to plate it. Leftovers will do that to ya!)
I made the lasagna last night by following a recipe for winter squash lasagna that I tore out of Woman’s Day magazine at the gym last week.
I followed the recipe almost exactly, only I used whole wheat lasagna noodles and substituted frozen spinach for fresh spinach.
(I made sure to drain the water out of the frozen spinach before adding it to the ricotta and mozzarella mixture because Ryan and I have neglected to do so in the past and were left with super watery lasagna.)
One thing I loved about this lasagna? The cheese to noodle ratio! Sure the noodles were good, but I love how there was so much ricotta cheese in the recipe that you could barely see the noodles underneath all the cheesy glory. That’s my kind of lasagna!
Both Ryan and I said we’d gladly make it again and it was ready in less than 45 minutes which is pretty great for homemade lasagna!
Cookie Recipe Link Up
And now for some fun!
I am going to a cookie exchange party on Saturday night and REALLY want to bring some fun and delicious cookies to share.
I know many of you out there are always in the market for new, yummy cookie recipes (especially around the holidays) and I thought a holiday cookie recipe link up might be fun!
If you have a cookie (or bar) recipe that you absolutely love and think needs to be shared, please link to it or share it in the comments section below.
I’m hoping to follow one of your recipes for this weekend’s party!
Here is my contribution to the link up:
Not exactly a cookie recipe I know, but they’re always a hit anytime I bring them to a cookie exchange! People love their Oreos!
I am doing 30 Christmas cookie batches right now! http://wp.me/P1BXgz-n6
My faves are Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookie Bark
http://breakfasttobed.com/?p=1398
and Cashew Joys
http://breakfasttobed.com/2011/11/30/the-mayor-of-munchkinland-can-never-be-a-rockette/
Hahaha now I know why the gym magazines are so boring!! All the good stuff gets taken out 😉 lol
These are my two favorites! Black Forest Cookies & Sugar Cake Cookies (add green & white sprinkles of course)
http://misspetitesweets.com/2011/06/01/black-forest-cookies/
http://misspetitesweets.com/2011/03/08/sugar-cake-cookies/
Oh man, Julie. My lack of directional ability is probably the source of Jesse’s only real peeve about me. I’m constantly lost and on the few times I have been right and he has been wrong, I think the earth actually shifted it’s tilt a little in shock.
So, yay! Go you. I know the victory of actually knowing which way to go for once.
Your lasagna looks super tasty. I like the cheese to noodle ratio as well. 🙂
I love this recipe for healthy no bake cookies. They’re super easy to make and taste delicious. http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/healthy-no-bake-cookies/
YUM!!!
Dangit, I clicked the wrong link. You know what post I was talking about though. haha.
I’m making these as we speak and they are AMAZING!
Peppermint Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 box of red velvet cake mix
1/3 cup of veg oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp peppermint extract
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
Mix all ingrediants together. Bake on 350 for 8-9 minutes.
They are really pretty and festive for the holiday! 🙂
4 ingredient nutella cookies! Yummy!
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/nutella-cookies/
I NEED (I mean want…) those cookies! Look delicious.
PS – I had really strange dream that i was dog sitting Sadie for you. I realize we don’t even know each other so thats not really possible. Haha. I think it’s because I was reading your blog right before bed, so some how Sadie ended up in my dream!
ha! that is fantastic!!
Hey Julie, this is completely irrelevant but I have always wondered what kind of peanut butter do you buy?
of course i love all the different fancy peanut butters out there, but i always have skippy natural peanut butter on hand. delicious!
Always a hit (including non-USA, non-cookie loving countries). I usually put in a little less than the recommended chocolate/chocolate chips and sub in extra caramels. This recipe is also very forgiving and I have never had problems with good results – I have used different types of flour, butter/oil, all brown sugar/white sugar/honey, etc. http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/whole-wheat-chocolate-chip-skillet-cookies-recipe.html
I must say that does look good.. Squash has become a fav of mine recently!!!
LOVE these cookies. They *are* rather involved, but they’re so good and rich, the time is totally worth it!
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/White-Velvet-Cutouts
Try these mint brownies…I know they’re not really cookies, but they are so addictive! http://kitchenambition.blogspot.com/2011/11/mint-brownies.html
Also – these peanut butter bars can do no wrong:
http://kitchenambition.blogspot.com/2011/07/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-bars.html
These aren’t cookies but they’re my favorite thing to bake! I’ve had the real deal at Magnolia Bakery but they’re even better homemade…super moist!
http://www.culinarygoddess.com/2010/01/vanilla-cupcakes-with-blood-orange.html
Last year I made peanut butter blossoms with a twist by using maple peanut butter and caramel Hershey kisses.
http://morefruitplease.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/tis-the-season/
Needless to say, they didn’t last very long in my household!
Sad I’m a little late on the link-up… I’ve been doing a blog challenge the last two weeks – 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Today is day #12 so I’ve got 12 days of recipes.
My favorites are probably Turtle Shortbreads (http://lifeinbeantownusa.blogspot.com/2011/12/day-4-turtle-shortbread-cookies.html), Peppermint Brownies (http://lifeinbeantownusa.blogspot.com/2011/12/day-3-peppermint-brownies.html) and Peanut Butter Cup Cookies (http://lifeinbeantownusa.blogspot.com/2011/12/day-1-peanut-butter-cups.html)
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Not cookies.. but they might be a nice change of pace at a cookie exchange! Also, scones are great to have around during the holidays- Christmas morning, New Years day, etc.
http://oneshotoflife.com/2011/04/scones-fit-for-a-princess/
These are not cookies but they are def. a fantastic holiday treat that must be shared. This holiday bark is legit addicting!!
http://pickyeatingrd.com/2011/12/uncle-sams-chocolate-covered-strawberries/
A bunch of Boston bloggers just had a cookie swap yesterday. I made nutella oatmeal cream pies that were a huge hit. I still need to write up and post the recipe, so I’ll send it to you tomorrow. In the meantime, I made biscotti for the first time ever over the weekend with Michigan dried cherries. I don’t usually go crazy over biscotti but they were fantastic and had a great almond flavor from the addition of almond extract.
http://freefoodboston.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/cherry-almond-biscotti/
I’ve been making these Italian Cookies for years now. My family loves them! And with red and green sprinkles, they’re really festive!
http://firstsweettaste.com/2011/09/22/italian-cookies/
THIS ALL LOOKS SO GOOD! DROOLING.
I just posted recipes for oreo balls & chocolate peanut butter pretzel balls (at end of blog post). Made them both this weekend and ate my weight in them! Yum!
http://thediaryofacrazywife.blogspot.com/2011/12/weekends-are-too-short.html
All these cookies look so good!
I just participated in the Food Blogger Cookie Swap. I made Cinnamon Swirl Cookies.
http://www.lifeofabamagirl.com/2011/12/cinnamon-swirl-cookies.html
I also recently made some Whole Wheat White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookies that turned out pretty tasty!
http://www.lifeofabamagirl.com/2011/12/whole-wheat-white-chocolate-macadamia.html
Anytime I make my mom’s Dishpan Cookie recipe, my friends and co-workers demolish the entire plate within seconds – then ask me to bake another batch. They’ve even begun referring to them as “Crack Cookies”, though I can assure you they are perfectly legal.
http://meggieslife.com/2010/08/10/c-is-for-cookie/
Enjoy!
This Peanut Butter White Chocolate Chip recipe is originally from How Sweet It Is but they are seriously the best cookies ever. I have had to ban myself from makign them because I eat the entire batch!
http://tiptopshape2.blogspot.com/2011/09/white-chocolate-peanut-butter-cookies.html
http://loveeatrun.com/2011/12/12/the-great-blogger-cookie-swap/
I just made these toffee oat cookies for the great blogger cookie swap and they are a-ma-zing!! So so good!!!
i know how much you like hot chocolate, so these will be right up your alley! i made them last year as part of the holiday cookie baggies i brought around to everyone at work, but these are just so whimsical and fun i had to point them out as a special one for you 🙂
http://elizpaige.tumblr.com/post/2319563699/no-need-for-a-hug-mug-with-hot-chocolate-cookies
You HAVE to make these gooey caramel chocolate oat bars. They are sooo chocolatey and buttery and I always bring them when I want to wow my cookie eaters. I like them because they always get lots of love and attention when I take them anywhere! : )
Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars
http://fitforfargo.com/2011/12/11/caramel-chocolate-oat-bars/
My Great Grandmothers Fluffy Sugar Cookies
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/indy_style/kitchen/holiday-memories
I love this!!! Make these hot chocolate cookies!! They are soooooo yummy!!!!
http://eatdrinkandbesperry.com/2011/10/18/the-best-chicken-recipe-and-treats-too/
Also my “Pay Day” Holiday bars that you can add Christmas Candy to, instead of Fall Candy
http://cheeseandicecream.wordpress.com/2011/11/03/fall-yall/
Moms Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies….these NEVER get old
http://cheeseandicecream.wordpress.com/2011/12/05/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/
Oh, it’s all about Swedish Creams, a great sandwich cookie. They have a few more steps than regular drop cookies, but they’re so much prettier. The cookies are light and flaky, like baby pie crusts, and combined with the buttercream filling, they just melt in your mouth. Don’t have a link, so here it is:
Swedish Creams:
>> 1 cup soft butter
>> 1/3 cup whipping cream (35% butterfat)
>> 2 cups Gold Medal flour
Measure the flour by the dip-level-pour method or by sifting. Mix
ingredients thoroughly. Chill 1 hr. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Roll 1/8 inch
thick. Cut into 1 1/2 inch rounds. Transfer to waxed paper heavily
sprinkled with sugar . . . turning to coat both sides. Place on ungreased
baking sheet. Prick in 4 places with fork. Bake 7 to 9 minutes, or until
slightly puffy. Put two cooled cookies together with Creamy Butter Filling.
Makes about 5 doz. 1 1/2 inch double cookies.
>> Cream Butter Filling
Blend 1/4 cup soft butter, 3/4 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar, 1 T. whipping cream
yolk, and 1 tsp. vanilla. If desired, tint red or green with food
coloring.
I’m pretty sure you’d like these chocolate peppermint bark cookies. 😉 http://www.littlebittybakes.com/2011/12/chocolate-peppermint-bark-cookies/
It’s a great recipe if you have some allergic to egg like we do in my family, plus they are amazingly yummy:
Mini Chip Snowballs
1 1/2c. butter
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. flour
2 c. mini chocolate chips
powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter, sugar, vanilla & salt in bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in flour. Stir in chips. Shape into 1 1/4inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. immediately sift powdered sugar on top out of the oven. cool 10 minutes and sprinkle again.
My favorite Christmas cookies:
PB Blossoms
Eggnog sugar cookies: savvyeat.com/eggnog-sugar-cookies
White choc tangerine tea cakes: http://www.savvyeat.com/white-chocolate-tangerine-tea-cakes/
Julie–you must try The Crunchy Mamacita: Jumbo 3-Chip cookies–I already sent you the link and I can’t get my computer to cooperate tonight. Hugs! E
you must try these! a classic recipe that everyone goes ga ga over! http://www.thedailycrumb.com/2011/11/11/mattys-cookies-chewy-butter-cookies/
I just got this email from Blue-Eyed Bakers and I can’t WAIT to make them! Bark is always a nice change from the typical cookies and I’m always looking for something besides the go-to peppermint bark. Check them out! Can’t go wrong with Oreos!
http://www.blueeyedbakers.com/home/2011/12/12/oreo-bark.html
Such a great idea! There are so many good cookies out there this time of year. I must’ve already bookmarked 50!
Here’s my recent favorite:
Cranberry almond biscotti. My great grandmother always made biscotti at Christmas so we’ve used this recipe forever in my family. I just tweaked it this weekend to be a bit more festive with cranberries!
http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2011/12/cranberry-almond-biscotti-a-tree/
When oreos are involved, they are a guarantee crowd-pleaser!
Actually, two of my favorite recipes are from the Williams-Sonoma recipe site:
favorite bar cookies – Peanut Butter Bars
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/peanut-butter-bars.html
favorite cookies (of all time!) – Spiced Molasses cookies
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/spiced-molasses-cookies.html
My go-to holiday cookie recipe is an oldie but goodie: My Mom’s butter cookies. Not healthified in the slightest, but delicious. (This post also includes Mom’s Mexican Wedding Cakes recipe.)
http://kyree90.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/cookie-recipes/
I alluded to these in my above comment, here’s the recipe for the Nutella Oatmeal Cream Pies
http://freefoodboston.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/nutella-oatmeal-cream-pies/
These were a part of every one of my childhood Christmases. I lost my mother’s recipe after she died, and then – a Christmas miracle! – found a similar one in a cookbook when I moved in with my husband! Story and recipe are here:
Enjoy your cookie party!
Hmmm … why didn’t the link show up? Trying again:
http://knitrunrepeat.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-go-to-christmas-cookie-part-one.html
I made frosted eggnog sugar cookies! So delicious!
http://www.theavidappetite.com/home/2011/12/6/virtual-cookie-swap-party-a-whole-lotta-holiday-cookies.html
I tend to make most of my recipes without grain or dairy, and I’ll admit they aren’t always the most amazing things ever…. I mean let’s face it, butter + sugar tend to be the tastiest combination ever. But these cookies were literally Delicious.
Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
They aren’t really cookies, but they are super yummy – peanut butter and jelly bars!! They were eaten in a flash at work. Didn’t make it an hour before they were gone.
http://laurenbrapp.blogspot.com/2011/11/peanut-butter-jelly-bars.html