Homemade Lasagna Rolls

Lasagna Rolls aren't anything new under the sun.  In fact, they are everywhere on the internet.  (see here for some)  But I wanted to make them with homemade noodles, because let's face it, isn't everything better homemade?  Especially pasta?  I think so at least.  :)  And, pasta is really quite easy to make, and lasagna noodles are even easier because they are bigger!

Homemade Pasta: (same as homemade noodles, so go here for my tutorial.:)
~ 2 c. Flour
3 Eggs
Pinch of Salt

You'll also need:
Home Sauce or sauce of your choice
Ricotta cheese
Fresh Basil

1.  Place the flour in a bowl or on a pastry board.  Make a well in the center of the flour.  Place eggs (minus shells) int he center of the well and either mix with a fork or with your hands until well combined.  Then turn it out onto a well floured surface and knead until smooth.  (may need to add more flour at this point.)   Roll it out as thick or thin as you'd like or about 1/8".  Then cut into long wide strips like lasagna noodles.  Place on cooling rack while you repeat until all noodles are cut out.

2.  Bring water to a boil, then boil about 3 lasagna noodles at a time.  Since they are fresh pasta they cook in just about 3 minutes.  Place cooked noodles in strainer to drain, while you cook the rest.

3.  Assemble the rolls by laying out the homemade noodles, smearing ricotta on them and sprinkling them with bail.  Roll up and place in shallow baking dish.  Repeat.

4.  Cover the rolls of lasagna in sauce and Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes or until heated through.

Serve immediately and enjoy!  :)

Healthier Cookies (that actually taste good!)

Cookies, redefined.  :)  Yum!

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Healthier Cookies--yes, that actually taste good! :)
1 over ripe banana
1 Egg
1/4 c. Cane sugar (I use Domino Organic Cane Sugar)

1/4 c. Peanut butter

1 t. Vanilla
1/4 t. Salt
1/2 t. Baking Powder
2 T. Flour
1-1/2 c. Quick Oats (or steel cut)
1/3 c. Coconut
1/4 c. to 1/2 c. Semi-Sweet Chocolate chips

In a mixer combine banana, egg and sugar until smooth.  Add peanut butter, vanilla, salt, baking powder and flour and mix thoroughly.  Then mix in oats and coconut until well combined.  Then stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop by spoonfuls and flatten to about 3/8" thick on lined baking sheet.  Bake in 375 degree oven for 7-10 minutes.  Enjoy!  :)

Yield: ~20 cookies

Mix in a Jar: C is for Cookie Monster Cookies

This is the second in the series of Musically themed Mixes in jars.  Check out my first one here.  I wanted to do Monster cookies next because, well, I love them, and who doesn't?  What's not to love??  Peanut butter, oats and chocolate.  Yum-my!  This still goes in a quart jar and is quite colorful as you can see! :)  You can also make it seasonal (or coordinate with wedding colors if you really want!) depending on the colors of M&Ms you use!  Fun, yummy and customizable!  :)

For this one you'll need:

1 quart jar with lid

2.5 c. oats mixed with 1 t. salt and 1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 c. M&Ms (in a clear plastic bag preferably)

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. sugar

ribbon, fabric, yarn, etc.. if desired

Layer the ingredients as shown above.  Try to pack the oats down as you go because they are kind of fluffy. :)

 Dress it up and use the printable instructions below and you're gift is ready to go to its recipient!  

For the regular Monster Cookie recipe of mine, click here. :)

Mix in a Jar: Can't Fight the Moonlight Homemade Oreos

Finished "Can't Fight the Moonlight" Jar

This is the first installment of my new "Mix in a Jar" series here on A Delicious Melody.  It's intended to be for gift giving for all occasions really.  I primarily give these as hostess or house warming gifts, but I know others who give them for lots of other things.

A good friend of mine encouraged me to make this series on ADM with songs as themes for the mixes, but I didn't get around to actually starting it till now.  Thanks for the inspiration C!  :)  I've also included a handy printable at the end of this, and some silly illustrations that will help you out in layering. :)

What you'll need for this mix in a jar:

1 quart jar

1 lid for above jar

2 c. Flour with 1/2 t. salt mixed in

1/4 c. Cocoa

1/2 c. Black Onyx Cocoa (found at Savory Spice Shops or other retailers)

1 c. Sugar 

1 plastic bag 

Optional fabric, ribbons, yarn, etc for finishing the top.  :)

Spoon the flour into the bottom and let it settle down in the bottom.  Then carefully layer, one cocoa and then the black onyx.  Then place a plastic bag in the top and fill with the sugar.  Close the baggie and put the lid on the jar.  Decorate jar as desired, then print up the printable with instructions and it's ready to give!  

 And here's the handy printable instructions:

Enjoy!  I just gave this as a part of a themed wedding gift this weekend!  :)

PS Yes, I liked the movie Coyote Ugly and especially this song "Can't fight the moonlight".  Oddly I liked it better when Piper sang it than LeAnn Rimes though...

For the regular homemade oreos recipe click here.

Rocket Cake

So, today's my sweet Rocket Scientist's birthday.  He is no longer 30, but now is officially in his 30s.  :)  So to help him celebrate I made him a Rocket (or really more like Space Shuttle) cake!  I used all the same ingredients as this Pocket Knife Cake last month, because I liked it all so well!  :) 

Here's what I was basically trying to make it look like:  

Valentine's Cookies

As you may remember, my hubby's birthday is the day after Valentine's Day.  So, when I went to make treats for him to take to his group meeting at work...I decided to do Valentine's themed ones.  It's been one rough week here...but I wanted to do something special for him and his staff.  So this is what I came up with.  I also found the cutest most gigantic heart sprinkles (edible confetti actually) ever!  :)

What you'll need:
Cookies:
1/2 c. shortening
1 c. Sugar
1/2 t. Salt
1 Egg
1/4 c. Water
1 c. Cocoa, (I did half black onyx and half Hershey)
1 t. Vanilla
1.5 c. Flour
Quick frosting:
1/4 c. Half and Half
2 T. Shortening
2 c. Powdered Sugar
1/2 t. Vanilla
Heart Sprinkles.  The bigger the better!  :)

 For the cookies, just mix together everything and roll out like sugar cookies.  I used a biscuit cutter to cut mine out.  Then bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes each.  Let cool.

 For the frosting whip it all up together until creamy.  If you want it thicker add more sugar, if you want it thinner add more half n half. :)

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Then just frost each cookie and spread the love on top of them with sprinkles!  Simple.  Cute and yummy!

Boneless Wings

 Boneless wings are super popular these days from appetizer menus at all types of restaurants to the freezer section of grocery stores.  So I thought I would make some at home and see if I could match the taste that I love.  Turns out, that they aren't so hard to do at home and if you bake them instead of fry them,  you can definitely healthy it up a lot!  Plus these are super versatile...buffalo, BBQ, or anything your little heart desires!  :)

Boneless Wings:
1/2 lb. Chicken breasts
1 Egg
1/4 c. Flour
1/4 c. Half n Half, Milk or Buttermilk
Pinch Salt
Flour (for dredging)
Oil (for frying)
Sauce of your choice:  BBQ, Hot Sauce, Buffalo Sauce, Honey concoctions, etc...

1.  Cut up chicken into "wing" sized pieces or so.  Mix up egg, 1/4 c. flour and milk.

2.  Dip pieces of chicken into egg mixture.

3.  Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour/salt mixture until coated. 

4.  Set aside until all pieces are coated.

5.  Fry the chicken in about 1/4"oil on medium high until there is no pink, turn occasionally, they should be golden to brown in color too.  (~10 minutes)

6.  Set on paper towel to drain some oil.

 7.  After all the chicken is cook throughoutly (and drained somewhat) place it in a medium sized bowl.

 8.  Heat up your sauce (~1/4 c. or more if desired) in the microwave for about 1 minute or until bubbly.  Then pour over the chicken and turn gently to coat.

Serve immediately and enjoy!!  Look at all the beautiful white meat chicken inside slightly crispy yummy gooey BBQ sauce!  :)  Yum!