nyc

Snapshots of our last trip to NYC to visit my bestie, Megz and her future hubby!

spinach lasagna rolls

Another great recipe from skinnytaste.  I enjoyed the presentation of this dish but would serve with additional marinara sauce as it turned out a bit dry.  Enjoy the sneaky pic of A and Shorty!

spinach lasagna rolls
recipe below from skinnytaste

10 lasagna noodles, cooked
10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and completely drained
15 oz fat free ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
salt and fresh pepper
1 jar marinara sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Ladle about 1 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 12 baking dish.

Place a piece of wax paper on the counter and lay out lasagna noodles. Make sure noodles are dry. Take 1/3 cup of ricotta mixture and spread evenly over noodle. Roll carefully and place seam side down onto the baking dish. Repeat with remaining noodles.

Ladle sauce over the noodles in the baking dish and top each one with 1 tbsp mozzarella cheese. Put foil over baking dish and bake for 40 minutes, or until cheese melts. Makes 10 rolls.

Serve with garlic bread and red wine.

fruit pizza

I absolutely love this recipe because you get the thrill of eating dessert but can feel great about eating fruits in the process!  Feel free to change up the fruits, next time I will add kiwi for more color.

fruit pizza

1 frozen sugar cookie roll
1 can of icing
various fruits (i used grapes, peaches and raspberries)

Roll out the sugar cookie dough on a pizza pan in any shape desired.  Reduce baking time by 1 minute to ensure it is not crispy.  Once baked and cooled for at least 1 hour, spread an even layer of the icing.  Add the fruits immediately prior to serving.

eggplant panini & avocado white bean hummus

My brother and sister-in-law gifted us a panini press/grill several months ago so we've been discovering more recipes to utilize this great appliance.  I found this recipe on skinnytaste one morning and knew I had to make it that evening.

eggplant panini
adapted from skinnytaste

1 large eggplant
olive oil spray
1 whole grain loaf
1 mozzarella ball
4 basil leaves (didn't have enough to make a pesto due to a pesky grasshopper in my garden)
1 tomato, sliced
s & p, to taste

Slice the eggplant into slices. Place the eggplant slices on a plate and season with salt; set aside about 30 minutes. Pat the eggplant dry with paper towels. Preheat panini grill. Spray the eggplant with olive oil and s&p.  Grill eggplant about 7-8 minutes, turning once half way through. Set aside.  Layer the ingredients on the bread, lightly spray the bread and place on panini press.  Once cheese has melted and bread is toasted, remove from the press and serve immediately!

avocado & white bean hummus

1 avocado
15 oz. white beans (I used fresh that I had prepared and frozen)
3 garlic gloves
s & p
paprika
1 lemon, juiced
2 tbsp olive oil

Place all ingredients in the food processor and pulse for 1 minute.  Taste and add any seasonings if necessary.  Serve alongside the eggplant panini as a dip or with pretzel chips.  Enjoy!