Yellow Squash Lasagna

It's no secret that I love pasta, bread, and pretty much any carbs. I also love to cook- and I try and make some of my favorite recipes a little healthier. Below is a new recipe for my favorite lasagna (adapted from my mother in law's recipe). Enjoy! PS- this makes about 8 servings.

Ingredients:

Meat layers-

1.5 lbs of ground turkey

1 onion

2 cloves of garlic

15 ounces crushed tomatoes 

1tsp oregano 

1tsp basil

Salt and pepper to taste

"Pasta" layers-

5 yellow squashes 

Cream layers-

1 stick of butter

8 ounces heavy cream

2 cups whole milk 

4 tsp corn starch 

pepper to taste 

Start off by browning the onion and garlic in some olive oil. Add the meat and the other meat layer ingredients and let it simmer.

While the meat cooks, cut your squash and arrange it to form the base layer of the lasagna. 

It's now time to make the cream sauce. Melt the butter and add some pepper.  Wisk in the milk cream and corn starch on medium- high heat. Keep wisking until the cream sauce thickens. Turn down the heat and let it rest.

Now you can layer the yellow squash! 

Add a layer of cream sauce, then meat, and more squash.

Keep layering and finish off with a layer of sharp cheddar cheese. 

I know this is not the most traditional lasagna, but it's delicious! Pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 375F (180C) and it's done!

Enjoy! 

Spring Break in South Africa Continued

Hello! I hope you enjoyed some photos from our first week in Johannesburg. It was so great to see our friends and family and enjoy some fun activities around my husband's hometown.

During our second week in South Africa we drove six hours southeast to the Kwa Zulu Natal coast and stayed in Umhlanga Rocks (just north of Durban).  While in Durban we stayed with close family friends at the Breakers Resort and also spent a night in the Hillcrest area while visiting my husband's aunt and uncle.  Spending a week on the Indian Ocean was amazing- I didn't want to come home!

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Sunrise on our early drive down to the coast.

We caught the Sharks vs. Crusaders game 

Chilling on the beach!

Breakfast at our first hotel in Durban, The AHA Hotel 

We explored the nature preserve near the breakers resort.

We found a secluded beach.

We took a short trip to Hillcrest to visit more family. A gorgeous view from their home. 

Relaxing with family before dinner. 

We explored Kloof gorge.

Gareth's aunt and uncle took us to the Nelson Mandela capture site in the Midlands. 

                                   

Our lunch stop in the Midlands. 

We finished our day in the Midlands with a trip to Howick Falls

Enjoying the Falls.

You may not be able to believe this. . .but I have more pics! More to come next week. Our finals days in South Africa!

Spring Break in South Africa

Hello! I've been away far too long- since my most recent post (in November!) I have been up to so much. Here are a few highlights before you read all about my recent African adventure.

November: I turned 30 and had a amazing birthday trip at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
December: My husband's family visited and we spent the holidays together.
January/ February/March: I got to visit DC and Tallahassee for work multiple times.

Now onto our most recent adventure to South Africa...
We spent two weeks visiting family and friends in Johannesburg and Durban and took lots of amazing side trips to Pretoria, Hartbeespoort, and the Midlands. Here are some photos form our first week in South Africa.

Enjoy!

Our first stop in downtown Johannesburg at the SAB Brewery for a tour and tasting

We were lucky to have such great weather 

We stopped for lunch at One Fox Street Market

We also had time to visit Gareth's grandmother and nanny

We drove to Hartbeespoort ant took a cable car to enjoy the view 

The ride up was a little scary! 

View from the top!

On Easter we visited the Union Buildings in the capitol, Pretoria 

We visited the Mandela and Gen.Hertzog monuments 

I will post more soon!

Ridiculously Easy Hot Cross Buns

It's almost Easter and if you want a special, yet simple to make Easter treat, read on!

Happy Easter!

Hot cross buns are similar to a cinnamon roll; but not as sweet  and are usually filled with raisins and candied citrus peel.  They're a popular Easter treat in South Africa, so I wanted to make a surprise batch for my husband to remind him of his family Easter traditions.

I didn't have much time so I cut a few corners and was so happy with how my hot cross buns turned out. You really only need a few simple ingredients:

- 1 tube crescent roll dough
- cinnamon 2 tsp
- ground cloves 1/2 tsp
- allspice 1/4 tsp
- dried cranberries 3 tsp
- a tube of frosting

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Gather your ingredients and measure a small bowl with spices and dried cranberries.

Make a dough ball with the crescent dough knead in your spices and cranberries. 

You may have some cranberry casualties. 

Tear up the mixed dough and divide into 8 rolls. Use parchment paper for easy clean up!

I scored my buns for an easier time frosting (this did nothing and the marks vanished while baking). 

Bake for about 15 minutes and let the buns cool. 

Arrange and frost! 

We enjoyed our buns with some rooibos tea!

Have a lovely weekend!

Favorite Recipe: Bobotie

I first tried bobotie in Cape Town at Gold. It's a traditional South African mild curry with a savory custard topping. It's delicious. Every time I make this it seems to please, so I wanted to share my simple recipe with you! I made some this week and here is the finished product. 

Filling:

• 1 slice white bread (gluten free works best)
• 1 onion, chopped
• olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1.5 lbs minced beef or turkey
• 3 tsp madras or yellow curry powder
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp allspice
• salt to taste (I don't use it)
• 2 tbsp apricot preserves
• 1 clove garlic
• 2-3 bay leaves

Topping:

• 8 oz heavy cream or kefir
• 2 large eggs

Preheat your oven to 375.

Start by putting your slice of bread in a bowl of water, and let is soak. While soaking, chop up the onion and garlic and brown in olive oil a frying pan.  

Add the meat and let it brown, then add the spices and preserves and one bay leaf. 

Let it cook for a few minutes and then crumble the soaked bread slice into the mixture. 

While the mix cooks, beat the two eggs and cream in a small bowl and set aside.

Place the mixture in an over proof dish and then pour the cream on top.

Garnish with the remaining bay leaves and cook uncovered for about 20 minutes at 375.

When the topping is golden, it's done!

EAT IT!