Easy Black Bean Lasagna

I just have to share this recipe that came from the Taste of Home Magazine back before it got all sponsored and stuff. (Now instead of recipes for the every day family there's quite the section with ingredients that I have never even heard of which translates into expensive.) It's so easy and it really is a tasty dish with a flare. It's one of the lasagnas that I will actually eat as a leftover. David's not as picky as I am when it comes to leftover food. Thank heavens. Anyway, enjoy!

Easy Black Bean Lasagna

15 oz can of black beans drained and rinsed

28 oz crushed tomatoes, undrained

3/4 cup chopped onions

1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

1/2 cup salsa

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

Combine in a bowl and set aside

In another bowl mix:

1 cup Ricotta cheese

1/8 tsp garlic powder (I like more than that, do it to your own preference)

1 egg

additional ingredients:

10 uncooked lasagna noodles

6 oz shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese (or more, I like cheese)

Spray a 9x13 pan with non-stick spray

Spread 1 Cup tomato mixture over bottom of dish

Top with half of noodles, overlapping slightly

layer half of tomato mixture spread across

layer all Ricotta mixture spreading carefully

layer half of the cheese

layer remaining noodles, remaining tomato mixture, and remaining cheese

Spray sheet of foil with cooking spray, cover baking dish with foil.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Uncover, let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

General Conference Chaos

New message on the home phone:
"Hi Lora, this is Abby. You really need to call me or Jarom before you come home! Just go to Jarom's house because there is no power at Mom and Dad's because of the fire. K, bye."

Isn't that a wonderful message to send you into a panic! Fortunately, we found out about the house fire before we heard the message. My parents had a bit of a house fire early this morning. Dad got up to get a drink and noticed that the front porch light finally started working... and flickering... odd. He went outside to get a better look and that's when he noticed the flames!

Apparently, the wind was so bad during the night that it was blowing some wires together against the house. The constant touching of the wires closed the circuit and the electricity kept trying to ground itself, therefore heating up the wires, melting them together, heating up the siding on the house and eventually starting the insulation on fire. Nice huh. Fortunately everyone was okay, dinner just got moved down the road to my brother's house. Always fun. And of course, thank heavens for insurance and a neighbor who also happens to be an electrician.

Then of course there is the general chaos of having a house full of adults and kids trying to cook dinner and watch General Conference at the same time. At least it kept us all awake!

Extra special treat:
I made a new cookie recipe yesterday. I meant to only do one batch, but upon completion of first batch I realized I had accidentally doubled the salt. So, another batch got made, sans salt, and mixed with the first. Result: I brought a salad and cookies to dinner. They were quite good though and people asked for the recipe. Here it is.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies (courtesy of Ocean Spray)
2/3 cup softened butter or margarine
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 oz craisins (1 package)
2/3 cup white chocolate chips or chunks

cream together butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
add eggs and beat till smooth
add oats, flour, baking soda and salt, mix well
add craisins and white chocolate chips
bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes
makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Enjoy!

I know, weird huh!

K, so this may not be the oddest thing I've ever posted, but I tried this recipe tonight and really liked it. Plus it was really easy. So I've decided to share.

Oh-so-easy Tomato Cream Soup

2 cups milk
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Place all ingredients in a blender; cover and process until smooth.
Transfer to a large saucepan and heat through.

Totally easy, I used dried basil because let's face it I'm not that good.