Friday, October 28, 2011

Gussy's Inspiration Workshop - Favorite Recipes :: Creamy Chicken Lasagna


This week's prompt over on Gussy Sew's Inspiration Workshop is Favorite Recipes.  And since I was making up my favorite recipe yesterday, I decided to reshare it here.  The recipe is Creamy Chicken Lasagna and it is soooooo good! 



I prepped the lasagna in the afternoon, so that I could just pop it in the oven when my company came over.  I have lasagna pans, but I used foil ones so that there was pretty much no clean-up at night except for throwing plates and silverware in the dishwasher.  This is a little time-consuming, so if you can prep it early, you definitely should.  Although this meal is a bit of work, the finished lasagna is so delicious, I promise that it is worth it!  Let's put it this way, my dad had 4 servings!!!  :)

I took a few pictures while I was making it yesterday, but I forgot to take a pic of the finished dish!  Here it is before I put it in the oven - the picture above is from one I made before.  The recipe follows below....

Creamy Chicken Lasagna

12 no-boil lasagna noodles
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 package of sliced portabella mushrooms
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 boxes of cream cheese, room temp (I used 1/3 less fat Neufchatel cheese and it's just as good)
2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
1 chicken buillon cube
2 tsps Italian seasoning
1 tsp garlic salt
ground black pepper
1 jar of Vodka Sauce

Put chicken in a pot of water and bring to a boil, once boiling cook for 20 minutes (check chicken to make sure it's cooked through), shred

Saute mushrooms and onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil until soft, adding garlic at the last minute

In a large bowl, combine chicken, veggies, cream cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella, Italian seasonings, garlic salt and pepper. Dissolve the buillon cube in 1/4 cup of boiling water and add to the mixture. Mix well.

Spread 1/3 of the Vodka sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan and top with 4 noodles. Spread half of the chicken mixture on top and then 1/3 more of the sauce. Add another layer of 4 noodles, the rest of the chicken mixture and 4 more noodles. Top with the remaining Vodka sauce and sprinkle with the remaining cup of mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 20 minutes.





Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Girls Best Friend Wallet


I took a break from sewing for the upcoming purse/jewelry party to make up this wallet for my best friend.  This is the Girl's Best Friend Wallet pattern from Jennalou Designs, made up in an awesome, mustard-colored fabric from Joann's.  It's lined with a chocolate brown Kona cotton. 

This was a tough one.  I sewed and resewed the zipper.  Then I had to cut all new pattern pieces for the zippered pocket and try one last time.  I have a zillion links saved under sewing tips, so I finally went through them and found one for inserting a zippered pocket.  Check it out here, it saved me!


As you can see, the zipper did come out good, although I put it in backwards!  I didn't have it in me to take it out again, so it stays that way!  Hopefully she won't even notice :)  I also struggled with the top-stitching.  I think next time I would square it up, so that I wouldn't have to sew around curves - I had to rip it out several times before I was satisfied with it.
All in all, I'm pretty satisfied with it.  If I could do it over again I would line it in gray, as there is a bit of pale gray in the flower buds and I don't love the contrast between the yellow thread and the brown fabric, but it does look pretty good.  This is not a pattern I would recommend to beginners, but if you have experience (and lots of patience!), give it a try :)  The Girl's Best Friend Wallet is available as a PDF downloadable pattern for purchase here

Saturday, October 22, 2011

I Tried It! Using Vanilla to Clean Your Microwave

My microwave was seriously nasty, so I decided to take 4 seconds and put this Pin I had found to the test - and it worked!  I should have taken before and after pictures, but that would be too embarrassing :)  Just take my word for it - this little trick works!! 

Source: None via Katie on Pinterest

Friday, October 21, 2011

Gussy's Inspiration Workshop -- Accessories!

Oops!  This post is a little late!  Luckily Gussy Sews gives us till Sunday to post :)  Anyhoo, this week's Inspiration Workshop prompt is Accessories - my favorite!  And of course, my favorite accessories are those that you can make yourself :)  I have TONS of DIY tutorials on my Pinterest for accessories that I want to make - here are some of my top choices:



Source: None via Katie on Pinterest

Source: None via Katie on Pinterest

Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Sewing! Little Pouches and Make-Up Bags :)

Finally!  These 2 Little Owl Pouches have been done for a week, except for their straps.  This is a super-cute and simple pattern from Keykalou Patterns that is only available as a lite pattern here on her blog.  I also made  a pink owl print pouch up, but it did not come out so good, so no photos!



I also made up 2 more make-up bags using this pattern by Studio Cherie.  This is fast becoming a favorite!  I especially love the fabric on the second one, it's a mini-chevron print that reminds me of the famous print by the fashion house, Missoni.  I got the fabric on clearance at Joann's and I like it so much I'm going to have to find more!  I got really lucky with my zippers, they match the fabrics perfectly!  And, I already have another make-up bag cut out and ready to sew - told you I love them!


Friday, October 14, 2011

Inspiration Workshop -- Red!

This week's Inspiration Workshop over on Gussy Sew's is Red!  I have been slacking on my participation in the Inspiration Workshop, but this week I took a piece of paper and started brainstorming ideas, and it really helped!  Here are some pics I found on Pinterest that show my favorite things in with the color Red :)




Source: google.com via Katie on Pinterest



Source: amazon.com via Katie on Pinterest

Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Lately

Hi there!  Been doing some fun stuff lately - including making this delicious soup and grilled cheese sandwich for lunch.  I also made chicken lasagna the other night, sooo good!  Try these recipes!!



I found a piece of Pink Daisy Pyrex!  Actually my Mom found it, I went right by it!!  Good catch, Mom!  The new one is the one on the bottom, I already had the 043 - building that pink collection!!


Picked up a Dream On inspiration vintage sheet for $3 at Savers.  Perfect condition!  What should I make with it??? I'm thinking beach bag for next summer.  Even though I don't really go to the beach :)  Maybe a pool bag!


Also picked up this adorable (and huge!) owl printed reusable bag for 99 cents!!!  Check your local Marshall's :)


Did a little bit of sewing, including this make-up bag and a glasses case (for me!) using this tutorial...



Lastly, check out my interview on dianapantz right here!!!  Thanks for reading :)