Helpful baby . . . sometimes

One thing about Alice these days that just melts our hearts is her helpful nature. She wants to be involved! She wants to be told how to help!

For example, as soon as she sees one of us start making the bed in the morning, she trots over to the pile of pillows and tries to pick them up bodily.

It’s time to make the bed?

DSC_0090I got this, you guys!

DSC_0089 DSC_0099 DSC_0088We keep her high chair in the dining area, but frequently move it to the kitchen when she eats her meals, for easier cleanup and so that I can work on cooking while she snacks/dines. As soon as I announce, “Alright Alice, I’m going to move your high chair,” she starts chanting “hachaaa, hachaa,” and helps out by grabbing any part of it that’s within her reach.

DSC_0157 DSC_0160

And shoes–she loves playing with them as she exclaims “ashhh! ashhh!” And as soon as Mama says, “I’m going to put on my shoes,” Alice leaps into action.

DSC_0142

Wanna wear these, or these?

Not those, sweetie–today Mommy is wearing her boots.

DSC_0137

No problem, Mom.

DSC_0148 DSC_0147

She also:

-Hands Dada his gloves and scarf when he’s suiting up to leave the house in the morning.

-Takes Dada’s keys and puts them in the drawer when he gets home.

-After we brush her teeth, she brushes our teeth. Teeth-brushing is a family affair and she is not going to let our pearly whites rot away on her watch.

Of course, sometimes she also likes to “help” pull every article of clothing out of my drawers . . .

photo (5) photo (4)

. . . and pull all the books off my night stand . . . and pull all her books out of the cupboard . . . and hide things in laundry baskets, trash cans, and under our rugs . . . but that’s another post for another time.

 

Spinach Lasagna Rolls

DSC_0256

Oh you guys–this recipe is a winner. I haven’t been posting recipes as often as I’d like, but I’m making this happen because it’s so tasty and awesome and it was so much fun to make on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I first encountered lasagna rolls on the internet. In fact, I saw them years ago and immediately wrote them off as too complicated and probably not delicious enough to be worth the (seeming) effort.

Then, in January I went to Arizona to visit my sister Erica and her babies, including the newly minted Joshua (born on New Years Day!).

DSC_0126

Arizona. It’s brown.

Someone brought us a meal the second evening I was there: lasagna rolls. They were so, so good that I immediately decided to make them upon my return home.

Then, the folks at Red Gold were kind enough to send me a promotional kit with the materials to make lasagna. I had everything I needed to make these little bundles of tomato and pasta love. It’s like the stars had aligned, or something.

So on a relaxing Sunday, I got out the step stool and put my baby to work.

DSC_0187

Mix this stuff! Roll that stuff! Bake that stuff!

DSC_0199

And what was I doing while my little one was slaving away? Well sitting on the couch eating bonbons, of course. Heh heh.

How’s the ricotta mixture shaping up over there Alice?

DSC_0193

Good?

DSC_0201DSC_0202

Wait Alice! Don’t eat it! There’s raw egg in there!

DSC_0208

Sorry kiddo. One day you’ll understand.

Phew–that was a close call. Okay, no more bonbons–gotta keep this baby on track.

DSC_0204

Anyway, I gleaned the recipe from Skinny Taste, and man is it good.

And about 2 rolls are just enough to fill the stomach of a hungry adult human.

DSC_0255

And it turns out it’s not so hard to make! Especially if you have a wee one to help with all the important parts–like banging the measuring cup on the counter and tasting the mozzarella.

DSC_0228

For the record, my husband said, “Wow, this is better than actual lasagna.” Then he looked up and said, “Don’t tell my Aunt Laura I said that.”

We can only hope that Aunt Laura doesn’t read this far down into the post. {cue evil laughter}

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

9 cooked lasagna noodles
10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
15 oz ricotta cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg
Salt and pepper, to taste
32 oz spaghetti sauce
9 TBS grated mozzarella cheese

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Spread out the cooked lasagna noodles on a large piece of wax paper and let them dry.
  3. Mix the spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, and egg with some salt and pepper.
  4. Spread about 1 cup of spaghetti sauce over the bottom of a 9×12 baking dish.
  5. Evenly spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture down the whole length of each noodle. Like thees.

DSC_01966. Roll each noodle, and place them all seam-side down into the baking dish.

7. Ladle the rest of the spaghetti sauce over the noodles, and top each roll with 1 TBS mozzarella.

DSC_02238. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

Ta daa!

DSC_0240

Serve hot!

Alice and I hope you guys enjoy it.

DSC_0205

Yay for babies and food! Two of my favorite things in life.

Click here for printer-friendly version: Spinach Lasagna Rolls