Mmm...Marinara!

Mmm...doesn't that look delicious?

I don't know about you guys but I definitely prefer to use homemade ingredients over store bought. Unfortunately, like most people, I simply don't have the time on a regular week night and pre-packaged wins. 

However, when I do have the time, I go all out. This week I found this delicious Turkey Lasagna recipe in Clean Eating magazine and part of making it is making the sauce! Since I had Monday off, I knew I had to try it! And you know what? It was really easy and really tasty! I'm really glad I ventured out and tried it because now I have this in my arsenal and nothing impresses more than saying "I made it myself".

What you'll need:

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot, peeled & chopped
• 1 large celery stalk, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 28oz cans unsalted, whole tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

What you'll do:

1. In a dutch oven(or large saucepan) heat oil on med-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and lightly browned. About 10 minutes. 
2. Add garlic and oregano and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Add vinegar and let bubble 10-20 seconds while you scrape browned bits from the bottom of the pan. 
3. Add tomatoes and stir to combine, breaking them up as you go. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium or med-low to maintain a steady simmer.
4. Cook for 1 hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes, until thickened. 
5. Stir in honey, salt and pepper.
6. Using an immersion blender, blend the sauce to your consistency liking. If you don't have one, carefully transfer the mixture to a food processor or blender and proceed. Just be cautious as the mixture is still very hot.

This sauce can be made up to two days in advance, provided it is stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. So you don't even need to have a whole day free to make this tasty meal! Just make the sauce the night before! Oh, and don't worry, the lasagna recipe will follow in a later post!

Stay tuned,
Lauren

Slow Cooked Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

Now that I've got your attention, let me assure you that this pork loin was just as delicious as it looks. Actually, it's probably more because those Cinnamon Orange Glazed Carrots were pretty darn tasty too! 

Pork loins were on sale last week so I knew that the slow cooker was going to make an appearance at least once! I bought two but the other one is still sitting in the refrigerator waiting to become pork chops. *drools* Uh, sorry about that...Let's get on with it shall we? I also couldn't pass up a chance to use my new serving platter, a Christmas present from my grandma. I stole this recipe from Six Sisters Stuff, I love their blog, and have probably gotten a third of my food pins from them. Check 'em out!

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar & Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin

What you'll need:

•  boneless pork loin (2-3 lbs)
• 1 tsp ground thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce

What you'll do:

1. Combine thyme, salt, pepper, garlic and rub over roast. Place in slow cooker with the water and cook on low for 6-8 hours. 
2. About an hour before the roast is done, combine remaining ingredients to make the glaze in a small saucepan. Heat and stir until mixture thickens. 
3. Brush roast with glaze 2-3 times during the last hour of cooking.
4. Serve with remaining glaze - I spooned the remaining onto my platter before transferring the loin to it.

Cinnamon Orange Glazed Carrots

What you'll need:

• 32 oz pkg baby carrots
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup Leinenkugel's Orange Shandy

What you'll do:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Place the carrots in a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain.
3. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients EXCEPT for the honey. Add in the carrots and stir.
4. Transfer mixture to a baking dish and bake 15-20 minutes.
5. Allow carrots to cool a few minutes before drizzling with the honey.
6. Devour.

Hope you guys enjoy this double feature! 

Lauren

Resolutions!

Wow! 

We've already seen a whole week of 2014 come and go! How does that happen so fast? I'll admit, I'm like most Americans in that I set a New Year's Resolution. However this year I only picked one. Why? We'll let me tell you! I read an article in Fitness Magazine that said you're more likely to stick to your resolutions if you only pick one or two. Which, when you think about it, is totally believable. Instead of spreading yourself thin and stressing over multiple rules you get to channel all your focus and energy on one. So, since I really want to commit to this change, I'm sticking with just one.

What is it you ask?

 I am giving up pop/soda/coke whatever you call it. In all forms, diet, regular, caffeine free or not. This is a change I've wanted to make for a while and while I could have started earlier, making it a resolution was just so convenient. I'm proud to say that I've made it the whole week without a sip AND without any cravings. I say that last part with a little apprehension because I usually turn to pop when I'm stressed or mad, and thankfully I have not been either of those(at least enough to trigger cravings).

All that being said, I'm still going to strive to keep up on my blogging. However, since I pay myself for writing them, I'm not considering it a resolution.

Good luck on yours, help keep me honest!
Lauren

A Real World Snow-day!

Well guys, I guess hell has frozen over. I couldn't make it to work today because of the weather. 

I get a snow-day!!! 

Seriously though, I never get the day off of work for something like this. 

I mean, I worked Thanksgiving and Christmas...

Don't get me wrong, I tried to go in. My roommate and I were outside at 4:45AM shoveling
 and scraping to get my car out of the parking lot. It took a little rocking but I finally made it out of my spot. Then I drove 30-40MPH for 40 minutes to get to my halfway point. At this point I'm thinking

"Well, I made it this far, who cares if I'm late?!?!" 

Sadly, it was not meant to be. I got stuck on the small side of a major snow drift blocking my one route

to work. I really wasn't sure I was going to get out of it by myself. But with a little determination 

I was able to rock myself back and forth until I finally broke loose! 

The fun part came next when I had to back about 150 feet down the road until I could turn around in the nearest driveway. At that point I called my boss, apologized and headed home. 

So now I'm just bumming around, trying to be productive on this rare extra day off. 

Honestly, if I get some blogs pre-written, I'll consider it a productive day!

In the meantime, I hope everyone is smart and stays safe indoors! 

Enjoy your snow-day!

Lauren

My commute ending snowdrift!