Chelsea's Vegetarian Lasagna

All Organic: estimating I might have spent maybe $2.00 more on the entire meal to make sure the ingredients are fresh and good for my family! 


Lasagna noodles 
1 container of Spaghetti Sauce
2 eggs
1 15 oz. container (skim or low fat) ricotta cheese
1 8 oz. package Mozzarella cheese (can use other cheeses if you like)
2 small (or 1 large) zucchini
2 small (or 1 large) summer squash
1 package mushrooms
1 medium onion
2 garlic minced 
1 green pepper and red pepper
1 small eggplant
Salt & Pepper

1. Cook noodles according to instructions (add 1 tablespoon Olive Oil and 1 teaspoon salt to water)


2. Chop all vegetables and saute with garlic & Extra Virgin Olive Oil


3. Add a cup of sauce in with the vegetables and set aside


4. In a pan place the ricotta, eggs (beaten), salt, pepper and blend


5. Layer in a baking pan : start with the vegetable mixture, then sprinkle the Mozzarella, then a layer of lasagna noodles, then spread the Ricotta/egg mixture, then another layer of the tomato/vegetables and so on until you run out of ingredients or the pan is filled.


6. Have the top layer be tomato/vegetables and Mozzarella. 


7. Bake at about 375 degrees for about one hour.


I also added whole fresh basil during the last 5 mins!


All cheese was made with milk from cows not treated with rBGH. Sourced from Family Farms. Organic by Quality Assurance International & USDA!

Not the greatest picture in the world but it was GOOD! Next time it will be prettier! 

kom·bu·cha

Kombucha is an effervescent tea-based beverage that is often drunk for its health benefits or medicinal purposes. There is limited scientific information supporting any health benefit and few studies are being conducted, although there are several centuries of anecdotal accounts supporting some of the health benefits attributed to the tea. Kombucha is available commercially and can be made at home by fermenting tea using a visible, solid mass of yeast and bacteria which forms the kombucha culture which is often referred to as the "mushroom" or the "mother".

So I just ran into Guava flavored Kombucha: Love it! The only advice I have is DO NOT SHAKE. I purchase it at Harmons or Whole Foods!

Grocery shopping just isn't the same

Whole Foods = amazing!

The problem is Justin & I went to Walmart tonight to finish up our shopping and we left with little to nothing in our shopping cart. Obviously our brains have started to mold into the Organic/Veggie Free lifestyle. So tomorrow we are making another trip to Whole Foods to finish up our shopping. And we are going to the Salt Lake Farmer's Market for the first time tomorrow morning!

http://www.downtownslc.org/farmers-market

Ten Benefits of Eating Watermelon

http://docakilah.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/ten-health-benefits-of-watermelon/

Vegetarian cooking for all

Veggie Burger Test

So it's been 5 days since I've taken the Vegetarian challenge and I managed to make it through my first vacation in Pueblo, Colorado over the weekend. I had a few moments where I was so hungry that I was about to say "It's okay... a little chicken on my salad won't matter" but I didn't do it. My last evening in Colorado I spent with my Mom & her boyfriend on the Pueblo River Walk at a little bar called Gold Dust Saloon. They served popcorn, peanuts, & a great Alaskan Ale.

I went in thinking I was just going to have a salad but instead I noticed a Veggie Burger on the menu. I ordered it with an open mind and an empty stomach; I was so hungry. It was awesome!!!

P.S. High Five to whoever decided to put hand soap in a plastic Ketchup bottle in the girls bathroom, you're my hero! Made for a good laugh.

Next in my journey: quoting Skinny Bitch "Sugar is the devil"

This is going to be the hardest part for me. That's probably why I chose to put if it off until now. We don't currently have the funds to just throw away all the food in the pantry and start fresh so I will be using up any processed, bleached, & un-organic food until it's gone. Slowly I'm turning my kitchen into a Organic haven. I'm so excited!

"By the way, sugar filters are commonly made of charred animal bones. Nasty." Skinny Bitch

Day 2 of NO MEAT

This is my second day of not eating meat and honestly all it did was make me crave sweets. Shared a donut with my youngest and now I'm ready to go 2 more days cow free. Weird I know.


We had Bean & Cheese Enchilada's tonight. Didn't even miss the chicken that's usually in there.


Yummo!

Graham Hill: Why I'm a weekday vegetarian | Video on TED.com

Graham Hill: Why I'm a weekday vegetarian | Video on TED.com

The "No Meat" conversation with my main man who loves a big juicy steak

There are truly hundreds of reasons I LOVE my husband. One being how much he believes in me. As I've been reading through the Skinny Bitch book and other resources he's been actively engaging in conversations with me. One day I sprung the word on him "Vegetarian". I told him I was hoping to one day become a Vegan but for now I would like to start with making our home meat free. And without hesitation he says... wait for it ... "Yes!" He believes that I have his and my children's best interest at heart and will try it out. 


You rock honey!

Put down the Caffeine and put your hands in the air

First hurtle was to stop drinking coffee and Diet Cherry Coke (My love) – I’m currently in nursing school and have two small children, really Caffeine was the only thing keeping me going or so I thought! I’m not going to lie; the first few days almost killed me. One night I almost had my husband take me to the Emergency Room because I was having a migraine that seemed like my head was going to explode. People asked me “Why don’t you just ease yourself off?” Well because with me it was all or nothing. Did I want a headache for 3 days or prolonged over weeks. Happy to say that a little over 1 month later I haven’t drank anything but Organic Green Tea & that refreshing good for you stuff called water! So besides school why did I decide to stop the morning cup of Joe? I was having headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, and massive anxiety and I was hoping it would go away. Could those symptoms have easily been linked to the stress of college? Maybe but within a week of stopping caffeine, 2 weeks before finals and I was able to focus much better with no anxiousness of the looming tests.

Decide for yourself: if you need it, give it up!

http://www.healthybitchdaily.com/post/coffee-french-frieshttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/NU00600

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931116,00.html