Mac & Cheese

I love this recipe - I don't even know why I tried it, since I'm not a big fan of cottage cheese. It grosses me out. But even though it's a pretty prominent ingredient, it doesn't really seem like cottage cheese. It's also really healthy too. I made it with some marinated chicken in the oven! Scott's pulling another long day, followed by some sculpting of his guns (ie: the gym) but he'll be so excited when he gets home!! :)

Ingredients
4 cups cooked elbow macaroni (2 cups uncooked)
2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 cup skim milk
2 tbs. chopped onion (The food processor is awesome for getting the onion ground to a pulp)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 eggs
4 tbsp breadcrumbs (I used saltines then threw 'em in the food processor)
1 tbsp. reduced-calorie stick margarine, melted

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine first 9 ingredients. Spoon into an 9x12 casserole dish coated with cooking spray.
3. Combine breadcrumbs and margarine. Stir well. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over casserole. Cover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover casserole and bake an additional 5 minutes.

I *heart* quarterlife.

It premiered on TV last night and it was so good! It's by the same guys who did My So-Called Life, and if they can get this show to stay on the air it will more than make up for being burned by that. Its normal night & time will be Sunday at 9, and I almost jumped for joy that I don't have to watch Desperate Housewifes anymore! I just love that Sunday slot, and DH always draws me in even though it annoys me. Woohoo! :)
http://www.quarterlife.com/index.php

Baked Spaghetti!

So, I had off work today to pick up my mom at the hospital for a surgery she had done (and she's doing great!) My grandparents are here too! Nanny & Pappy came down to help her out and take care of her in her recovery, though it's probably more to keep her company :) And today is Pappy's 70th birthday - lots to celebrate. I made dinner for everyone and it was a big hit (or they were all faking it and were very convincing...) I even substituted whole wheat pasta and turkey burger and I didn't tell anyone. Seeeee, told you they were yummy!! ;)

Beth Anne's Baked Spaghetti
Lifted from Domestic Diva Blog
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey (or beef)
16 oz spaghetti noodles
1 lb, 10 oz spaghetti sauce
cheese (I used cheddar and mozzarella)
1/4 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced

Directions
1. Spray the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with Pam & preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Brown the turkey/beef in a pan. Drain any fat. Stir in chopped garlic & onion. Stir in half of spaghetti sauce. Turn to low & simmer.
3. While the turkey simmers, boil the noodles al dente for about 10 minutes. You don't want to have them thoroughly cooked, as you will also be baking them.
4. Spread half the noodles on the bottom of the pan. Top with half the turkey mixture and 1/2 the remaining spaghetti sauce. Spread cheese on top.
5. Spread the remaining half noodles on top of this. Top with the remaining turkey mixture, spaghetti sauce, and top again with cheeses.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until hot & bubbly.

Baking Fool!

Lately, as we've been getting healthier and cheaper, I've started doing some Sunday baking to last us through the week and provide us with healthy and tasty snacks. I really love the fruity granola bars and No Pudge brownies in addition to the two muffins I made today.

Even though these are exceptional in the fall, they're still tasty and remarkably healthy all year round...
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin muffins


1 box spice cake mix
1 15-oz. can pure pumpkin puree (Libby's)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use mini chips for max distribution)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine cake mix, pumpkin and water, mix until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Divide batter between 20 muffin papers. Bake for 20-22 minutes.

Makes 20 servings
130 calories
3.3g fat
1g fiber

The Banana Muffins are a big hit with Scott. I actually don't like banana flavored things, but he's a big fan and being the selfless wife I am, I make them for him anyway :) They can be breakfast or a snack :)
Banana Muffins

Ingredients
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 large egg white
3/4 cup mashed ripe banana
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (6 ounces)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Cooking spray
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add banana and milk; beat well.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add to sugar mixture; beat just until moist.

Spoon batter evenly into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 22 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Place muffins on wire rack.

Yields 12 servings (serving size: 1 muffin)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 183(28% from fat); FAT 5.7g (sat 0.9g,mono 1.3g,poly 3.1g); PROTEIN 4.3g; CHOLESTEROL 18mg; CALCIUM 61mg; SODIUM 155mg; FIBER 1.4g; IRON 1.6mg; CARBOHYDRATE 30g

Angels & Demons

by Dan Brown

I'll start w/ the good stuff. It was fun reading a book that took place almost entirely in Rome, and where the location was a central character in the action of the book. It was most definitely a quick read. D-Brown loves to have a revelation right before starting a new chapter. And the chapters last 10 pages MAX. The story gets thrown on its head multiple times, and it's a who-dunnit type of mystery, and it's always fun to try to predict who the bad guy is. And luckily so much happens that I really remembered almost nothing from the first time I read it.


When I first read this book, about 4 yrs ago I remember thinking it was "AWESOME!!"... and now I'm finding it to be more "just okay" ::shrugging shoulders::. I think I've really grown as a reader, not to be all emo on you. Dan Brown, I'm sorry, I've moved on. You were great fun back in the day, but for real, you're below me now. I can do better than you. In the immortal words of Scott "Good Rhythms"*.


So the plot is basically a scientist is found dead (gasp). He conveniently has a smokin' HOT daughter who is a physicist or something and she and symboligist Robert Langdon pal around for the whole book. The scientist has pioneered antimatter technology which is the future of energy and, oh yeah, it's like way more powerful than an atomic bomb. Woops. Obvs the antimatter is stolen and there's an elaborate plot by the Illuminati (the enemies of the Church, and esp the Catholic church) to destroy the church. Coincidentally, this is the exact night that the Cardinals are electing a new Pope, so the Illuminati are going to kill off all 4 of the Prefiriti (the preferred, I'm so fluent in Italian.) Drama ensues. Lots of action and running down the clock in a really unrealistic way. I especially enjoyed how Robert Langdon is a professor and has the physical stamina to narrowly escape death at least 5 times that I counted. Of course he doesn't die when jumping from a helicopter thousands of feet over the vatican - duh!

So I could say "The dialouge was lame" but I remember from HS & College that you need to support statments like this. So, I give you Exhibit A:

(when Vittoria, the hot physicist, is arriving at the science lab, this is how the other scientists greet her. They prob don't know how to talk to hot girls though, in their defense)

"Hey Vittoria! Welcome home. Disprove any more of Einstein's theories?"

"Your dad must be proud!"

[...very suave boys... yeah.]

and Exhibit B (to give you a feel for the humor this book tries to bring to the table.)

"Neutrinos have mass?" Langdon shot her a stunned look. "I didn't even know they were Catholic!"

[har har]

What to read next... hmmm... I actually have a pretty decent pile to read. It really won't take much to be a step up.



*Good Rhythms Backstory: My husband is a smart, smart guy. But he said this to me less than 5 yrs ago, as a 20something. "Good Rhythms, Jamie." He had no clue why I was in stitches bc he meant to say "Good Riddance". And obviously he didn't mean it bc I'm still here!

Cream Cheese Burgers, etc.

We made the most *delicious* burgers tonight! I had these when I visited St. Louis, and came home and told Scott we HAD to try these... and they were just as good at home. The directions are simple, a 1/4 lb of burger (do I even have to tell you we used turkey burger?), grill 'em, and instead of cheese use cream cheese. We recommend it with wheat buns and tomato.


And we had Scott's homemade beer too... which was actually really good and tastes like real beer. He's already starting on a red beer (it's fermenting in the guest bathroom - in the keg).


And, here's a picture of our romantic Valentine's Day! Super cheap but soo yummy. And we love Chianti now, which is the wine we're gonna drink a ton of in Italy.

We're gonna be ...

Aunt & Uncle!

Woohoo, congrats Kelly & Johnny! Can't wait until Sept 24!

Hey Geography Buffs!

I've been playing with this game for a few minutes - it's [addicting - my sister is a Spelling Nazi] adicting! And fun! And educational...

http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq/game1

Good luck!!!

Jamie's Spring Race Schedule and Thoughts on Running

So, I have finally settled on my spring race schedule. I'm super excited, going to be running more challenging races and using it as quality time w/ friends and family too.

10k - 3/30 - Cary, NC

**big challenge here will be staying in shape while visiting Italy 4/5 - 4/15...**

10 miler - Philadelphia, PA - 5/4! I'm so excited for this one, I'm doing it with Nikki Rodgers and her entourage, and any of my friends from PA who are man enough!! :) It's the Broad Street Run, expecting 17,000 people. So yeah, it'll be pretty big. I'm hoping to place (haha, jk, actually I'm hoping to finish w/out walking!) Plus it's also a fun weekend w/ friends in the city.

5k - 6/14 - Komen Race For The Cure in downtown Raleigh! I roped Ashley and Dad into doing this w/ me too...

I've been really enjoying running through the winter in NC (which is mild enough so that most weeks I get at least 1 run in where I get to wear shorts - don't hate.) I've been running over my lunch break too, which is admittedly a little crazy, but I like it. Yesterday I got downpoured on, which was not as good as it could be.

I am loving the Nike + bc it motivates me so much. I just got to a big milestone - I've run 100 miles!! Since my birthday! Do you want to view my certificate from Nike +? I know you do.

Oh...and Happy Valentine's Day! :)

We booked our tickets!!

We're OFFICIALLY going to Florence and Rome! In a stressful and high stakes dual laptop online fare search, I had 2 fares in checkout and Scott had 2 fares on the same site for $50 more each!! Oh heck no, UsAir! We hurried up and checked out w/ mine... Wooooohoooo!

So, from April 5 through April 15, we will be in Italy! :) Time to get on the hotel booking...and figuring out the trains... oh boy!

Girl With A Pearl Earring

by Tracy Chevalier

It was *pretty* good. It was a very well written book and a quick read. Told from the perspective of Greit, the maid for Johannes Vermeer, it was a very interesting fictional account of how the famous painting came to be. It started out reeeally slow, and I was worried it'd be that dry the whole way through, which happily it wasn't. There was a lot going on, and I think it was different enough to hold my interest. Something that always intrigues me about historical fiction though is how much is based on research and how much is just creative license?

I had some reservations about the main character, Greit. Don't ask my why, but she annoyed me! It's hard when you read a book where you don't *like* the main character at all. I'm not talking Scarlett O'Hara dislike the character (bc even if she's evil, she's at least interesting to read about and amusing!), this was more fundamental. The stuff she did annoyed me and I just wanted to shake her the whole time for being such a brat to the hot butcher stud who liked her.

It also took place in Holland, isn't that veird? What? No Austin Powers 3 fans reading this. Dang.

What's next you ask? Until I Find You by John Irving. JI is my favorite author, and I've been making myself wait to read this book, though I can't really say why. I just got it in the mail from paperbackswap the day after I started Pearl Earring, which was only further motivation for me to hurry up and finish it!!! :) Hope it's all I am anticipating...

Stuffed Shells & Roasted Veggies

This was a fantastic meal, if I do say so myself!!! I think we were a little inspired by our upcoming Italian vacation, so Stufed Shells sounded wonderful. Scott was only mildly excited, until he ate them... then he got really happy. Apparently when I said "Stuffed Shells" he thought of some other dish I made once which was kinda gross... He definitely likes the stuffed shells, and is now giving them the enthusiasm they deserve.

And a picture, for your viewing pleasure...

Stuffed Shells
(from Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook)
1 tsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 oz) can tomato puree
1/2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 c part skim ricotta cheese
1 1/4 c shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
3/4 c grated Parm cheese
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c parsley flakes
1 box jumbo pasta shells/12 manicotti shells, cooked. (I use shells bc manicotti is harder to stuff!)

Directions:
1. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Saute garlic until golden, about 2 min. Stir in tomato puree, oregano, basil and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally for about 15 min.
2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350F; spray a 9x13 baking dish w/ non-stick spray.
3. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, parm, egg and parsley. Fill the shells w/ cheese mixture; place seam down in the baking dish. Pour sauce over the shells. Bake until browned and bubbling, 30-40 mins.

(As manicotti, 2 manicotti shells were worth 8 points, and it's very fuzzy pointswise as stuffed shells... So about 1/6 of the pan = 1 serving, and therefore 8 points.)

Roasted Vegetables
From my dear mom :)

2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice (I use RealLemon)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 yellow squash, cut into 1 inch pieces
Zucchini, broccoli or any other vegetable your heart desires, cut into 1 inch pieces

Directions;
Stir together 1st 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add veggies and toss to coat. Place in a single layer of aluminum foil lined bowl. Bake at 400 for 10 min, stir. Bake for another 10 min until tender.

(Sometimes I add parm cheese to it too, which is also delish.)

Guess Where We're Going?

Florence and Rome!!!

Scott is presenting at a conference in Florence in early April and he's taking little old me along! This will be our big vacation to celebrate Scott's getting his PhD. ** We're so excited, and we've been monitoring airfares all week to try to get the lowest rate. It's stressing me out, since they fluctuate so much. For instance we were *thisclose* to buying the tickets last night, but didn't. Bam, this morning they're up $200. Ugh. So we're still waiting, and will likely make the big purch mid next week since that's when they're supposed to be cheapest. (By the way, I saw an article that online tickets are at their cheapest at midnight on Wednesdays. Untrue, and I had to stay up til midnight to debunk that, too!)

So, just had to share that in an official way w/ the world. :) If anyone has any books that take place in Italy I could read to get any more excited (yeah, like that's possible...) I'd love some suggestions. I'm looking for a copy of Angels & Demons (which I used to own but think I loaned to someone...)... any others I might enjoy?

And any of you who have been there done that to Rome or Florence, I would love some trip advice, since we have to see the eternal city in 3 short days, and I'll get to do lots of sightseeing on my own in Florence (possibly even a daytrip, I was thinking Pisa). I think we're going to take Carmen (our Garmin), and download the European maps. Feel free to email me.

--
**IF he passes his dissertation. Which he totally will, but he keeps reminding me it's not a sure thing. Of course he'll pass, but I'm just humoring him. :)

Taco Dip...it's what's for dinner. :)

So, we totally are staying in for the Super Bowl this year but decided we wanted some "party food" anyway, just cause it's the S-Bowl and that's what you do. Even though we don't really care much about the teams playing.

We made quick work of this, hopefully I'm not making me & Scott look like hogs if I say we polished it all off in like 20 min. We ate it w/ tortilla chips, but we also think we might make it again and heat it up before putting the lettuce & tomatoes on it and eat them like tacos.

Taco Dip (we halfed it - so feel free to double it.)

1/2 lb of ground beef or turkey (I always use turkey)
1 pack of taco seasoning
1/2 pint of sour cream (we used reduced fat)
1 cup cheddar
lettuce
tomatoes

Directions:
Cook the meat with half a pack of taco seasoning and 2 tbs of water. Let that cool in the fridge.

In a bowl mix the sour cream and the rest of the taco seasoning.

Layer the sour cream on the bottom, top with the meat, cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes (in that order)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

By Mark Haddon

Just finished this one, and as promised, it was a very quick read. It was so adorable! Written from the perspective of an autistic kid, it showed his interpretation of his family's issues and takes him on an incredible journey. (I know that sounds dorky, but it was very exciting!) It all starts with a curious incident with the neighbor's dog being stabbed w/ a garden fork. I adored the main character.

I highly recommend it. Now I have to figure out what's up next...hmmm...