Sausage, Chard, and Lemon Lasagna

For some reason I randomly get a subscription to Martha Stewart Living. I don't love this magazine but I do love the recipes in it. This magazine is filled with tons of crafts and DIY projects. I don't mind an occasional DIY but I kind of hate crafts. I don't have the patience to make paper machie Easter Eggs or a bouquet of flowers from paper. But that's just me! No offense to those of you who love to craft, I wish for Sterling's sake I enjoyed it! The recipes in this magazine never disappoint though.

This recipe comes from the March 2011 Issue and the lasagna is truly amazing! I made it last week while my mother-in-law was visiting and we all loved it. I mean honestly I can't say enough good things about this recipe. It was very easy to prepare, as far as lasagnas go. I also love that it is filled to the brim with swiss chard one of the leafiest, healthiest greens for you! I highly suggest you try this recipe out!

Swiss Chard if you have never seen it before, because Matt thought Swiss Chard was a type of cheese:)

The Parmesan Cheese and Swiss Chard Sauce

Boiled Lemons

Cooked Sausage, I used Hot Italian Sausage because we like it spicy in the Mason House.

Assembled and Ready to bake!

Pure Deliciousness!

Sausage, Chard and Lemon Lasagna

Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
5 cups coarsely chopped Swiss chard (about 1 bunch)
1 pound sweet italian sausage, casings removed
1 lemon, very thinly sliced
6 no-boil lasagna noodles, preferably Barilla

Directions

1.Melt butter in a saucepan over high heat. Stir in flour; cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat. Simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Whisk in 3/4 cup cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in chard.

2.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook sausage in a skillet over high heat, breaking up pieces, until no longer pink, about 4 minutes.

3.Cover lemon slices with cold water by 3 inches in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon.

4.Spread 1/4 cup sauce in an 8-inch square nonreactive baking dish. Top with 2 noodles, half the sausage, and 1 cup sauce. Repeat. Top with a layer of lemons, 2 noodles, then remaining sauce and lemons. Bake, covered with parchment-lined foil, for 27 minutes.

5.Remove from oven. Heat broiler. Uncover lasagna; top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Broil until bubbling, 2 to 3 minutes.

Print Recipe HERE

Obsessions- Hanging With the Hewitts

Today I am super duper excited to have my true life friend Caycee sharing her Obsessions. I love this girl to pieces and feel so lucky to have her in my life. She is drop dead gorgeous (aka Jessica Simpson's twin) and has the biggest heart ever! If you have never checked out her blog it is a must read!! Thanks for guest posting today Caycee, can't wait for our next wine date:)



Hello to all you designer bags and dirty diapers readers! As many of you know Natalie and I are friends in real life, and get to have a date together once a week, jealous yet? The girl is just as funny, beautiful, and sweet in person as she is in blog land! We swear we were sisters separated at birth, and over the last year I really feel like we are sisters ;) OK enough rambling, on to the things that I am obsessing over right now!

 All white nursery's- really is there anything better? I have been obsessed with these for quite a while, and have a feeling this will never change! next baby(if I can be talked into doing it again) is totally getting an all white nursery!

Under Armour running shorts- Girls if you run, or even if you don't I highly recommend these! They are the perfect length, don't poof in the crotch, and make the booty look fabulous! Absolutely my favorite workout shorts!

Tory Burch- Need I say more! love everything this beautiful lady makes! I know this is something me and my girl Nat have in common. Here are a few of my favorite things right now!

 

Lily Pulitzer- The girl can do no wrong! To say I love Lily would be a understatement, honestly if I had it my way my closet would be Lily from top to bottom. 

Like this?

 

Last, but certainly not least, these two precious boys! Yup it's safe to say they are a big obsession! I don't know what I would do without these two sweet souls in my life! 

Thanks so much for having me over today Natalie, this was fun!

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Get Excited

Trina Turk, one of my favorite designers, is celebrating 15 years since she launched her line. I adore her fresh, geometric, 70's inspired, bright clothing and swimwear. In honor of her brand's 15th birthday she is working on two new exciting collaborations. First, she is launching a collection of adorable graphic patterned makeup bags for Clinique, filled with their best selling beauty products. These will be in stores from May 27-June 15. I don't really love Clinique products but I am seriously considering buying this just for the makeup bag!



Her second collaboration is with the funky Alice Supply Co. She has lent her signature patterns to some plain, old, boring household items to give them some much needed pizazz. I adore the Ice Bucket and Tool Chest. The brush and dust pan, almost make me want to clean, ALMOST.







All Household Products can be purchased at Alice Suppy and Co or Bobby Berk Home
What's your favorite?

Shocked

That's right I am shocked that this cute dress is from Old Navy. I have no luck at Old Navy, Ever! I think their clothes just don't fit me right and seem kind of cheap. Then I come across this dress in my US Weekly Magazine and I am in love.



It looks amazing on all these ladies. Sadly, I went online to try and order but all the smalls are sold out, so get it while you can. The dress is only $34.50, and right now through the weekend it is on sale for $30! A real steal for a cute summer dress!

Buy Dress HERE

5 Things

Happy Friday or should I say TGIF. I know I promised ya'll some fashion pics of me in my birthday week outfits and it's Friday and there is still no post and I am super sorry. Its been a hectic week! The hubs has been working late most nights, my mother-in-law came in town for a visit and on top of that my sweet baby has been sick. So, no time to be vain and take pictures of myself. I promise my best to have it ready for next week. In the meantime...

The gorgeous and insanely sweet Michaela tagged me in the "Name 5 Things You Can't live Without" Series. This was kind of a tough assignment. I mean there are alot of things you can live without, so I tried to think past the obvious food, shelter, and clothing. I feel pretty confident with my answers (although a few are probably a little shallow, but I'm just being honest)!

ONE: IPhone

I just got this bad boy about 3 weeks ago and we are officially attached by the hip. Before my Iphone I had a love affair with my Blackberry. So you see I really can't live without my phones.

TWO: DVR

Yes, sadly two things on my list are technology related! I watch alot of TV and most of it I can't watch while Matt is home because, he despises Reality TV and Teeny Bopper Shows, which are really what I love to watch. I usually end up recording most of my shows and watching them while he is at work thanks to my DVR

THREE: Cooking + Fashion

Ok, I kind of cheated and grouped two things together but they are my two biggest passions and I can't imagine my life without them! Here is my girl crush showing how its done in her bad ass dress and dream kitchen. The perfect combo of food and fashion!

FOUR: Wine

Technically I can live without this. I mean I did go 10 months with almost no booze, but I sure do love my glass of wine!

FIVE: My Family + Friends

My family means the world to me. Matt and Sterling are the two loves of my life. My parents, sister and brother are also some very important peeps! I don't know what I would do without all their love and support. I love them all to the moon and back again a million times. I feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and close group of friends.

Now I am going to tag one of my favorites, the fabulous Jill at A Beautiful Life! Have a Great Weekend! xoxo

Home Tour- Guest Bedroom

I have really been enjoying all the Home Tours in the blogasphere recently. I mean who doesn't love a sneak peek in others homes? I thought I would join in and share one of the rooms in my house. This is probably my favorite room in our house because it is almost completely finished. I am constantly changing things around and decorating, so it is hard for me to ever admit a room is totally finished. This room is pretty close though....

There are only a few things I want to change. I would like a bigger rug, perhaps with a geometric pattern and a new bedskirt. Oh, and maybe some custom curtains. Otherwise I am quite smitten with the way our guest room has turned out. Anyone else have a favorite room in their house or one room that is completely done and you love it?

And please ignore the plastic blackout shade hanging down from the window we would remove them but the curtains are sheer and it gets so bright in there in the am. They may be butt ugly but serve a purpose.

Confetti Corn

This recipe is compliments of my home girl Ina. It comes from her cookbook "Back to Basics." We were grilling burgers this weekend and I was looking for a healthy side to accompany our burgers and this fit the bill. It was so easy to make and only involves a few ingredients. The best part is all the ingredients are fresh veggies and herbs, so you can feel good about chowing down on this! I ate this again the next day and it was just as tasty served cold. This is the perfect summer side for any cookout. Even the hubs who snubs his nose at all veggies loved this and ate it two nights in a row. Enjoy!







Confetti Corn
Ingredients
2 tablespoons good olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 small orange bell pepper, 1/2-inch diced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Kernels cut from 5 ears yellow or white corn (4 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons julienned fresh basil, minced fresh chives, and/or minced fresh parsley leaves

Directions
Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saute pan. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, until the onion is soft. Stir in the bell pepper and saute for 2 more minutes.

Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt. Over medium heat, add the corn, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, until the corn just loses its starchiness. Season to taste, gently stir in the basil or other green herbs, and serve hot.

Print Recipe HERE

** Be sure to check out my friend Caycee's Blog today.

She has lost a bunch of weight (I'm so proud of her) and is selling some of her super cute clothes on her blog. Here is the LINK, so shop away! **