Seafood Lasagna

Today, we had my family over to celebrate Thanksgiving. I made two kinds of lasagna, one traditional with ground beer, and the other - a seafood lasagna. Served with two kinds of salad (Caesar and tossed) and garlic bread. All and all - I think it was a success! :)

Travis found this seafood lasagna recipe for us to try. It is from Paula Deen, and I think that should speak for itself! It's really easy to make and SOOOOOOOO delicious. Definitely adding it into our meal rotation!

Paula Deen's Seafood Lasagna

• 12 lasagna noodles
• 3 T unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced (or about 2 t of minced garlic)
• 3 T all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 cups half and half
• 1 cup grated romano (HEB carries this preshredded)
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/4 black pepper
• 3/4 pound medium shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 3/4 pound sea scallops (cut in half or quartered if very large)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F). Spray 13x10 aluminum foil pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the lasagna noodles until they are done (about 8-10 mins). Drain and set aside.
3. Melt butter in a large, heavy skillet and cook onion over low heat until very soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook about another minute or two. Over medium-low heat, stir in the flour with a whisk (stirring constantly).
4. Gradually add in the half and half, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly before adding more. When the sauce has thickened to the consistency of whipping cream, add the cheese and stir well.
5. Add the salt and pepper and stir again. Add the scallops and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, then add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes (or just until the shrimp turn pink). Turn off heat.
6. Tricky part: Make sure you are watching your sauce distribution so you have enough for each layer and some for the top! Spoon about 3 T of the sauce (with no seafood) in the bottom of the aluminum pan. Cover the bottom of the pan with 3 noodles, placing side by side. Spoon the sauce (with seafood) over the layer of noodles. Add another layer of noodles, more sauce. And continue until you get to the last layer of noodles. Cover this layer of the noodles with the sauce only (no seafood). Top with the parmesan cheese.
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, uncovered, until bubbly. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

A couple of MY notes: I used about 6 oz of crabmeat (claw) instead of the scallops and it was fabulous. I would make a little bit more of the sauce (basically I would increase all of the ingredients by just a little bit), just to make sure it was extra saucy and cheesy! And lastly, I added an additional 1/4 t of white pepper to the recipe.

I loved this recipe and would highly recommend it to anyone (that likes rich, cheesy, seafood dishes!). It's really easy to make - since most of your ingredients are made into one pot. The most time consuming part of this recipe is boiling the noodles (I did them in batches of 6).

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

21 Week Update

Today we went for our 21 week appointment with Dr. Schmidt. Everything is going great with our little girl... she is just over a pound now! The ultrasound tech took all of her measurements and checked all of her organs to make sure everything was developing properly (everything is great!). It was funny to watch her kick & feel it at the same time! She has been kicking so much lately and Trav has enjoyed being able to actually feel the karate kicks and jabs.

Travis and I thought she was the cutest (what parent wouldn't?!?) and loved getting to see her and watch her put her little hands up near her face. The first picture is just that, although it looks like she is sucking her thumb (awwww!).

The second picture is another profile shot and the third picture is of one of her feet. Too cute.

Travis and I are expecting Blair Melisse to arrive (as close to, or around) March 28th, 2011!

This past weekend Travis and I finished prepping her room (shampooing the carpet) and finally got to assemble her furniture! It was such an amazing experience (weird, I know). It felt like a rite of passage... putting together our first child's crib. It was really pretty easy to do and the changer/dresser came fully assembled. We were done in about an hour and a half. Once I get her room a little more complete, I will post pictures. For now I am just trying to decide how to arrange her furniture in the best way to make the most of the small space. I did take the time to put what clothes we do have, into her drawers. That was really neat and really made it feel more real.

As far as the pregnancy itself goes, I have been very lucky. No major issues and I am continuing to work full time. I have had some problems with my sciatic nerve, but other than that, just the normal side effects.... heartburn & indigestion, and a few other minor things. Pregnancy... so glamorous, let me tell you! Haha. I am enjoying it all though, even the adorable little stretch marks that have appeared. If this is what it takes, I'll do it happily to meet our little girl.

Tomorrow, following our first Thanksgiving (with the Bensons, Pikes & Cooks) we will be decorating our tree and putting out our Christmas decor. VERY excited about that! Friday, we will be having my family over for a less traditional style Thanksgiving... classic lasagna and seafood lasagna. I hear its supposed to get down to the low 30's on Friday night, so that will be really great and cozy to have on the heater! On Saturday, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with the Wrights. It will be so great to see everyone and to spend some quality time with our families!

Travis and I want to wish you all a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving spent in the company of family and friends!

XOXOX

Punch Recipe!

Ok, I forgot put this recipe in my post earlier, so I am adding it now. It's a great punch recipe using Southern Comfort that I used for the shower yesterday. It has been modified from Martha Stewart's recipe (go figure... she makes the best stuff!). It is super easy and doesn't take many ingredients to make. I heard it's delicious... and in about 4-5 months, I should be able to confirm.

SoCo Punch

• (2) 12 oz cans of frozen lemonade concentrate
• (1) 12 oz can of frozen OJ concentrate
• 3 liters of Sprite (one and a half 2 liters of Sprite) - chilled
• 1 liter of Southern Comfort (chilled in the freezer)
• 2 oranges, sliced
• 3 lemons, sliced

1. Slice the lemons and oranges and place on a cookie sheet using wax paper to separate each layer. Put the cookie sheet into the freezer (up to 2 hours before use).
2. Right before serving, combine the lemonade (2) and OJ concentrates, sprite, and SoCo into a punch bowl. Stir well to incorporate the concentrate.
3. Float the lemon and orange slices (would should be frozen to help chill the punch) in the bowl and enjoy!

Weekend Update

This cold and (somewhat) dreary Sunday finds Travis and I snuggled up on the couch, watching the Texans game. Yesterday we helped Loren and Shaun host a Couples Wedding shower for Shaun's brother Shelby, and his fiance Marianne. The house is now super clean and everything went really well! The "Shoe Game" (played at mine and Travis' shower) was a big hit. Loren was a great host and did a wonderful job! :)

So did I mention that I am loving this clean house? Because I am!

I guess I should rewind and give a 'last weekend' update. Last weekend we were in East Texas visiting family. We got to watch Kelly do her "Cherokee Charmer" thing at the Jacksonville High School football game, which was so much fun and neat to watch. It was also the 70th Anniversary of the Tomato Bowl, so it was an extra special night to be there. Uncle Windol and Aunt Sharon were so hospitable and let us stay at their lake house while in town. We had a great time seeing the family and we are looking forward to seeing them again for Thanksgiving.

We also went to Tyler to visit Granny, Grandad and Aunt Lori. It was so nice to visit as we don't get to see them near often enough! Aunt Lori got Blair some adorable baby gifts, including bibs, blankets and the smallest, cutest white shoes I have ever seen. We enjoyed having lunch and catching up with them! Blair will be so lucky to not only have her grandparents, but great-grandparents as well. I know that they Tyler Wrights are looking forward to meeting our little girl.

Ok, back to this week. Blair has been quite the active little mango. The flutters have been replaced with stronger kicks. She seems to like to move around and kick at night while I am laying on my back (and trying to sleep!). She also seems to be a little shy when there is an audience, as I keep grabbing Travis' hand so he can feel any movement or kicks, and of course, she stops moving. This past Wednesday night, he did get to feel a nice hard kick. It was really exciting! I know as she continues to grow, that he will feel more.

Speaking of active, Travis and I had dinners with our close friends, the Ashmans and Lyssys on Wednesday night and the Jetts on Friday night. We haven't seen any of them in ages, so it was so nice to catch up and visit. Matt and Megan's son, Caleb is getting so big. He will be 3 in March (right around when Blair should be here!) and we got a kick out of watching him try calamari (and liking it!) and eating a plateful of croutons. He was really too cute and so well behaved during dinner! :)

This Wednesday will mark two years since Travis' grandmother, Gaga, passed. We went out to Houston National Cemetery this morning to take her flowers. While sitting in the grass, holding Travis' hand, Blair gave me a nice strong kick... just one, I think to let us know that she knew we were visiting her Gaga. I am sad that Gaga will miss the chance to meet Blair and to share in all of the joys that her great-grandchildren will bring, but we will make sure to tell Blair and all of our children about their Gaga and what a special and incredibly strong woman she was. We all miss Gaga very much, but she is never far from our minds, especially around the holidays.

As I am hitting the half way mark this week (20 weeks!), it has made me realize the incredible journey we've been through and what is yet to come. I am so thankful for all of the blessings in my life. For my husband, for our health, for our growing, healthy baby girl, our family, our friends, our home. So many wonderful things have happened in the last few years... life continues to get better and I can't believe how lucky I am.

Exciting Buys and Finds for the Nursery!

Yesterday, we received a big box from "The Land of Nod" containing Blair's bedding! It is lavender and white damask and SOOOO cute! Here is a picture from their site:

Although her bedding is lavender, we'll have lots of pink accents and pretty, girly things! Speaking of.... today, my Mom dropped off the rocking chair that my parents gave me for my first birthday! It's so little and will be so precious! After 27 years, it's in really good shape and will only need a little tightening. Will post pictures soon!

Ok, another cute thing I now have for the nursery... my Mom found this amazing Lladro lamp on Ebay... it's called "Dont Cry Dolly" and it's circa 1982. How amazing is this? And the best part - I got it for a steal! It was my first Ebay win (and bid!) ever, and I couldn't be happier. I know it's going to go so beautifully in Blair's room and we should have it in the next few days! Thanks Mom! :)

We are so excited to incorporate such beautiful, amazing things in the nursery. I can't wait to show everyone the final pictures when it is all done...

What I am Loving Right Now...

1. Ritmo Maternity Sound System

Last week, my Ritmo sound system (by Nuvo) came in. It is this awesome belt that you wear around your tummy that has speakers built in so that Blair can hear music. It also has two little pockets, one for the MP3 plater and the other for the sound system, so you are completely free to do dishes, do laundry, or just relax without the system getting in the way.

As you know, Travis and I are such big fans of music, this was an obvious purchase. Travis has loaded up an old MP3 player with everything from classical to rock. I must say, it's awesome and I love it. I will wear it for about an hour at a time, a few days a week. I hope that Blair loves music as much as we do!

I have attached a picture of what it looks like (PS - that is not my stomach, the pic is taken from their website: http://www.nuvo-group.com/music-belt-pregnancy). Such a neat little gizmo! :)

2. Candy

Thank goodness for Halloween! I am loving the candy! We bought a ton of candy for the trick-or-treaters (and because I wanted to make sure there was some left over to satisfy these sugar cravings!), but unfortunately got maybe only 20 or so. Darn, I guess I'll finish the bowl. :)

3. The Weather!

Ahhhh, we had a lovely cool front blow in today and it is wonderful! Our windows are up all over the house (of course I am in long sleeve PJs), but I love it. Raleigh is even happier about the weather!

Oh! One more thing I just had to tell y'all about... I gave Travis a gift with a bunch of little gifts from Blair and I. I found this hilarious mug that I felt Trav just HAD to have. The picture is sort of small, but it says "Guns Don't Kill People, Daddies with Pretty Daughters Do."

How great is this?!?