Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Mine didn't look as pretty as the picture online, but it tasted great! I like using the Slow Cooker when it's super hot outside, so we don't have to heat the house.

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

Servings: 8
Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Ease of difficulty: Throw in the crock pot and let it cook. Easy!
Variations: Change up the pasta, cheese, and pasta sauce
Source: Tablespoon

1 (15 ounce) container part-skim Ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 pound ziti pasta
2 jars of pasta sauce
2 tablespoons fresh finely chopped basil leaves
2/3 cup water

In a medium bowl, combine all three cheeses and the salt. In another bowl, pour the pasta sauce and stir to combine if using different flavours.

Pour ziti into colander and rinse with cold water allowing water to stick to the pasta.

Spray the inside of the crock pot with cooking spray.

Pour half of the pasta in an even layer on the bottom of the crock pot. Pour half of the sauce on top. Evenly distribute half of the cheese mixture on top of the sauce. Repeat again, layering pasta, sauce, and cheese mixture. Sprinkle the chopped basil on top.

Pour water into slow cooker and place lid on top. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or until pasta is tender.

Early Christmas

Long story short, my brother has decided not to do Christmas with my parents this year. Instead, he asked to come over this past weekend and open gifts, and call it a day. If nothing else, the girls loved playing together, and Isaac showed Addison and Morgan the mandolin.

 Hannah

 Morgan

Mando

 Morgan's first RC

 Hannah opening crayons

 

Hannah eating crayons

 Addison's first car

 Morgan likes to help open gifts

 Addison was more interested in the scotch tape than the books

Addison's new winter sled

Just.Stop.Screaming.

Someone help this poor girl out. Addison is teething like crazy and it's awful, to say the least. She's chewing on everything (especially her hands) and doesn't want to eat. She's had a fever, puked, had a runny nose, and hasn't slept in a week. Not just slept poorly. No sleep at all. No nap for three days in a row, and up countless times each night. Thankfully Isaac came home on Wednesday so I had an extra set of hands, which is always much appreciated. It's really hard, and incredibly exhausting. Thankfully this semester is done and Christmas is right around the corner, so we'll be home together a little more often over the next few weeks. I hope Addison feels better soon so she can actually enjoy it.

"Oh yeah"

RIP Mike M

My parents neighbour and a great man. At 67, he leaves behind a wife, three children, and three grandchildren.

Cancer is an "ugly, disgusting, hateful disease." (MSC)

Update

My posts have been pretty scattered lately. Sorry. I've been really busy with a sick baby and reading for school.

Addison's finally starting to get back to her normal self. I can see a few teeth coming in, so that on top of a nasty cold equals one angry baby! Yesterday I had a break from both baby and school. I did a little shopping while she stayed with Grandma. I'm told she had a great time dancing, checking out the Christmas tree, and playing with all the kittens.

I bought all my gifts a while back but still needed some stocking stuffers and had to (finally) put up Addison's Advent calendar. This year she's getting LeapFrog's Fridge Phonics Magnetic Alphabet Set. Most days will be one random letter, but there are some snacks in there as well. On the 25th she'll get an ornament and the remaining pieces to put it all together on the fridge.

I have no idea what anyone's getting her for Christmas. I had a few toys we had been looking at for her for her birthday, and she got every single one! Now our house is over-flowing so who knows what this month will bring, or where we'll put everything. I'm trying to stick with the four present rule from us, as well as one thing from Santa. Something she wants, something she needs, something to wear, and something to read. Check back with me in a few years and I'll let you know how we're doing.

As for me, I've been reading, reading, reading. I've never been stressed about an exam until now. The one on Friday is worth 70% of my grade! 70! It's a subjective final, where I'll be asked to write short essays on a select group of topics that we've discussed this semester. I have a decent grade going in but I'm worried because a) 70% is an awful lot, and b) I don't know that much about the topics for this half, compared to those we discussed for the midterm. I was much more interested in that half than this. It's also hard to buckle down and read about child soldiers or terrorism for a day, while you have a baby attached to your feet. I think I've got the basics down pat. Hopefully. Wish me luck!

I'm considering applying for a few local jobs in the new year just to get out of the house a few times a week. We'll see. I think it would be good for me to have some adult company, and good for Addison to spend more time with the Grandparents. I'm so thankful that I am able to stay at home full-time with her but part of me wants a little change. Again, we'll see.

Tortellini Spinach Bake in Creamy Lemon Sauce

Bacon. Cheesy pasta. Spinach. What's not to love? Addison devoured this.

Tortellini Spinach Bake in Creamy Lemon Sauce

Servings: 4-6
Time: 45 minutes
Ease of difficulty: I was pretty worried about doing bacon in a pot, or burning the sauce. It was all easier than I thought, and I had a screaming toddler at my feet.
Variations: The original recipe calls for dry pasta. I used fresh because it's all we carry. It says you can omit the bacon for a vegetarian meal, but who would ever omit bacon?
Source: Our Best Bites

12 oz bag Barilla Cheese & Spinach Tortelini (find them in the dry pasta aisle)
4 oz bacon or pancetta, (about 4 strips bacon)*
3 cloves garlic, pressed in garlic press or finely minced
2 Tbs flour
2 C milk
¾ tsp kosher salt
⅛ tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp dry basil
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (1/2 tsp or more if you like spicy)
1 medium lemon
2 C loosely packed fresh spinach, roughly chopped
¾ C grated mozzarella cheese, divided
¾ C grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Fill a large stock pot with water and bring to a boil.  Add tortellini and cook according to package instructions.

Place bacon in a medium sized skillet on the stove-top at medium-high heat.  Cook until crisp.  Remove bacon from pan with slotted spoon and set on paper towels to drain.  Reserve two tablespoons bacon drippings in pan and discard the rest.  Add garlic to pan and cook until fragrant and tender, about 1 minute.  Add flour to pan and stir with a whisk for about 1 minute. Slowly add milk and continue to stir with whisk until smooth.  Add salt, pepper, basil, and red pepper flakes and bring sauce to a simmer.

While sauce is heating, use a microplane grater or a fine-holed cheese grater to zest lemon.  Then cut lemon in half and remove juice.  Add 2 teaspoons zest and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to sauce.  (Note:  I really love lemon so I added this to my tastes.  If you don’t want as strong of a lemon flavor, I suggest cutting it down to 1 teaspoon zest and 2 teaspoons lemon juice) .  Continue to stir until thickened, 2-3 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Drain tortellini and place back in stock pot.  Reserve 1 tablespoon of the cooked bacon and add the rest to the pasta mixture.  Add spinach, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.  Add sauce and gently stir to combine.  Place pasta mixture in an 8×8 or 9×9 baking dish and top with remaining 1/4 cup mozarella and 1/4 cup parmesan and also crumbled bacon.

Cover pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until cheese on top is melted and pasta is bubbly throughout.  Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.