Lasagna Rolls

I wanted to make veggie lasagna with a twist so I figured I'd roll up the noodles instead of layering them. It tastes the same, but it looks prettier. It's also easier to dish out.



lasagna noodles (about 8 for an 8x8 dish)
ricotta cheese
2 big garlic cloves
half an onion
artichoke hearts
chopped spinach (I used frozen)
mozzarella cheese
tomato sauce

Thaw frozen spinach and boil water for noodles. Oven should be set to 350.

Add garlic, chopped onion, artichokes, and spinach to ricotta cheese.


I love my garlic press!

Spread the mixture onto one lasagna noodle and roll up. Then set in a dish with a little sauce on the bottom.

Top with mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until cheese is all melted and starting to brown.

Carrot Cake

I made this carrot cake for Easter. I like the semi-homemade version because you start with a box cake mix and then add some tasty ingredients.

Cake:
1 box (2 layer) Spice cake mix (plus ingredients for mix: eggs, oil, etc.)
1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple, drained
2 c. shredded carrots

Frosting:
2 pkg (8 oz each) cream cheese
2 c. powdered sugar
1 tub (8 oz) whipped cream

Optional: decorate with almonds, pecans, or walnuts.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box. Add the shredded carrots and crushed pineapple. Pour into two cake pans (lightly greased and floured) and bake for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Then fold in the whole tub of whipped cream.

Let the cakes cool before frosting. Decorate with nuts, I used almonds.



It turned out very delicious and moist.

Cinnamon Rolls

I've never made homemade cinnamon rolls before, and after trying this recipe I will definitely make these again. If you want them for breakfast you'd have to start preparing them pretty early in the morning and have patients, but these are worth the wait.

Dough:
3/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp warm water
2 Tbsp butter
2 1/2 c. flour (I used wheat flour for the 1/2 c.)
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp yeast

Filling:
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Frosting:
1 (8 oz) pkg. of cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tub of whipped cream (4 oz)

(I used leftover frosting from a cake I made, so the ingredients are cut it in half from that recipe.)

I let the bread machine do most of the work and it turned out the most perfect ball of dough I've ever held. All I had to do was load the machine with the dough ingredients (in the order listed), set it on dough cycle, and it just worked away for an hour and a half while I slept (it was very early in the morning when I started these).

If you don't have a bread machine you have to knead it by hand, and let it rise for about and hour until it has doubled in size.

When the dough is finished, roll it out to a 9 in. square. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Spread the butter over the dough and top with the sugar mixture. Then tightly roll up the side. Cut into one inch slices. Place in a 9x13 in. pan that is slightly greased, lightly cover with plastic wrap, and set them aside to rise for an hour.



Remove plastic and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Then frost them when they are still warm.
(Makes about 12 rolls)

Then frost them when they are still warm.
(Makes about 12 rolls)


The best part! mmmm