Alluring Addictions

If we're all really honest with ourselves, we can all acknowledge there is something or many things in our lives for which we possess addictions.  We have these compulsions for habits or substances that can be harmful to our lives.  When they begin to significantly interfere with our productivity in our home life, career, and/or health, it's time to acknowledge these vices and begin to make the changes that are necessary to regain control over our lives...so here goes nothing.

I have a confession to make...my name is Crystal and I'm both a caffeineaholic and televisionoholic.  I have this propensity to reach for dark, syrupy, sugar laden drinks that consume an excessive amount of my daily calories that should instead be filled with something that's leafy, green, and full of vitamins.  I usually only have one 12oz. caffeinated beverage daily and that's one too many.  Fortunately I haven't gotten this deep in the world of caffeine junkies...

Check your diabetes at the door.

... but I don't want to take any chances.  I am making efforts to improve the overall health of my life for my self, my fiancé, and the family we hope to have some day.  Working full-time, soon-to-be starting school full-time, and planning a wedding, you think I would be quick to have an IV of pure unadulterated caffeine pumping through my veins around the clock!

I also have a strong affinity for watching hours of mind numbing television because my brain is consumed with all the thoughts that come with working full-time, starting school full-time, and planning a wedding.  I can't get enough of reality t.v....which we all know is not much of reality at all, but it's this drivel that helps me wash away the stress of the day.  Biz wasn't much of a T.V. guy before he and I got together, but I was slowly, unintentionally of course, persuading him over to the dark side.  Before I knew it, I was contemplating fashioning an iPhone into one of these bad boys to get my fix...

Ok...no not really, but it was getting out of control.  Alas...my loving fiancé helped snap me back to reality, our reality...not the manufactured mess that is Bravo reality (which I absolutely LOVE!).  We have both begun to make changes to make sure we maintain a productive and more healthy lifestyle.  A few weeks ago we decided to put our cable on pause for the next few months and  have begun working out pretty consistently since the beginning of the summer.  I have never, EVER, in my life lived without television and was concerned that I would go Ramotional...but so far, I have managed to stay composed.  We compromised and I have a HULU account so that I don't have to go cold turkey.  I've also made an effort, although not consistent, on drinking more water over cans of carbonated caffeine.  I'm hoping these new changes will help keep us productive and healthy.  I guess only time will tell.

I'm hoping that sharing this with all of you will help keep me accountable in my mission.  So...now that we're all well acquainted with my vices, anyone else feeling the need to share and make some changes?

Peace, Love, & Nerdy Stuff

Rolly Good Lasagna

So...remember when I decided to create a list of things to accomplish this summer? As you can see, I am slowly but surely making my way through them...although the great t.v. line-ups of summer have been very distracting. One of my list items included cooking something new once a week. Now I haven't exactly stuck to the once a week part of my summer resolution, but I have been trying some new things out. A while back I tried making an easy version of lasagna and was extremely happy. Biz absolutely enjoyed this recipe! (I can't exactly remember where I found this recipe, but there are quite a few online).

You'll Need:

12 lasagna noodles
2 large eggs
2 1/4 cup chopped fresh spinach (stems removed)
2 cups (16 oz.) ricotta cheese
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
4 cups of pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

To Begin:

1. Boil 12 lasagna noodles so that they're a little undercooked (approximately 8 minutes) and drain.

2. While noodles cool down enough for you to handle, mix the next six ingredients in a medium bowl. (You can also add anything else you think might taste good that's not too messy, i.e. tofu or shredded chicken).

3. Pour about cup of the sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish and spread it around.

4. Spread the mixture onto your noodles and roll them up

5. Place your rolls, seam down, side by side in the baking dish.

6. Pour the remainder of the sauce on top of the rolls until they're covered. I absolutely love World Classics' Vodka sauce! I tried it for the first time with this recipe and its the perfect balance of tomato and cream. I've only ever seen it at Savemart...so check there if you want to try it out.

7. Cover your dish with foil and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

8. At the 40 minute mark, remove the foil and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and bake for another 15 minutes and....

Voila!

You have the most delicious and easiest lasagna ever! This freezes extremely well so I've essentially cooked two dinners in one night. I look forward to pulling the other half of these out of the freezer in a few weeks :)

Let me know if you make it and/or change it up a bit...I'm always looking for great ideas.