Tasty Thursday: Mexican Lasagna

Yum.  I love lasagna.  And I love Mexican food.  And my husband loves Mexican casseroles.  Mix it all together, and you've got Mexican lasagna!  I initially pinned the idea from this blog on Pinterest, and decided that I could take the general idea and make it within my "healthy" parameters.

The recipe I made serves 2 easily (3 if you're eating lighter). 1/2 receipe: 695 calories, 13 g fat, 102 g cabs, and 48 g protein.

Use a loaf pan and preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Grease the loaf pan with canola spray or something similar.

Ingredients:
2 small corn tortillas (the kind that are 50 cal each)
1/4 reduced fat mozzarella cheese
1 cup black beans
1 cup frozen corn
1/2 c. Prego italian sauce, "Healthy" (a new type they make -yay!)
3 ounces ground beef (85% lean or higher), browned
1 can (about 2.5 cups) red kidney beans
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. paprika

After you've browned the ground beef, combine all ingredients except tortillas and cheese.  Layer the ingredients in this order:  mixture, tortillas, mixture, tortillas, mixture, cheese.

Bake at 400, covered, for 30 minutes or until warmed through and cheese is melted on top.

This recipe is great to make-ahead and then throw in the oven when you get home.  If you do so straight from the refrigerator, cook for longer than 30 minutes (probably 45-60) to heat through.

Voila!  My husband helped cook it after we got home from a long day, and served it up more casserole style. Nonetheless, it was delicious!  It would be great with tortilla chips if you wanted to add those in, as well.

Our house.. in the middle of the street...

Things have been happening over here. First, let me get it out -  We're buying a house!!!

It's been a whirlwind few weeks.  About 5 weeks ago, we decided that instead of moving into yet another apartment and dealing with landlord frustration and short-term living, that it was time to look into our options. As we discovered that it was indeed an affordable alternative, plus all kinds of other benefits, like owning your own place, paying money toward owning something, doing what you want with a space, and bigger space, we decided to take the plunge.

So, after a first time home buyers' seminar, meetings with the mortgage lender, and jam-packed outings to houses that were in no way what we were looking for, we found it.  And we made an offer.  And the offer was accepted!

So, with the full disclaimer that we're still in between the accepted offer and closing, we are so excited!  Our next steps include a home inspection, an 8-hour Saturday class, lots of little details, and then we close at the end of April!

We're just so excited, we had to share.

Tasty Thursday: Baked Mozzarella Sticks!

Love mozzarella sticks, but don't want to have to go out to get some?  Wish they weren't so greasy from the fryer? I found this recipe online (from Gina, who else?) and had to try it!

Here's what you need:

4 sticks string cheese

1/2 c. bread crumbs

1/4 c. flour

2 eggs (or egg substitute!)

To start, cut your string cheese sticks in half.  Put them in the freezer.  By freezing your sticks, they'll be more rigid, and they'll cook up better in the end. When they're frozen, take them back out.

Put your flour, egg, and bread crumbs in three separate bowls.  Dip the sticks in flour, egg, and then bread crumbs.  Make sure to shake off the excess egg before you go into bread crumbs, otherwise you'll end up with a crumby mess!

When all of your cheese sticks are covered, put them back in the freezer until you're ready to bake them.  If you don't do this, your cheese will melt increasingly faster than your bread crumbs get all nice and crispy.

Bake at 400 on a baking sheet.  Bake 4-5 minutes, and then turn and bake another 4-5 minutes. Again, watch closely to ensure they don't melt away, and then they'll melt in your mouth!  These taste great with tomato or marinara sauce, too :)