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Tips For Healthy Teeth (For Kids)

Tessa Smith
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8
Tips For Healthy Teeth (For Kids)
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An estimated 17 million children in America go without dental care each year. A Dentist is there to help you keep your oral hygiene in check, so there shouldn’t be any excuses as to why this cannot be a priority to you. As a result, the most common chronic childhood disease is tooth decay. As National Children’s Dental Health Month kicks off, Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) is providing parents with simple tips children can follow for healthy oral hygiene.
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Following are some important tips to help your children maintain optimal dental health:
  • Teach proper brushing and break bad habits. While your child is young, introduce healthy habits when it comes to their teeth. Teach brushing habits at 3 years old and break thumb-sucking and pacifier by age 4.
  • Thumb, finger and pacifier habits. Children who continue these habits after the age of 2 can affect the way the child’s teeth bite together as well as growth of the jaw and bone. GEDC recommends parents talking to their children to get them to stop or have their pediatric dentists talk to them.
  • First visit by first birthday. It’s best if children visit their dentist similar to Princeton Dental Wisconsin when the first tooth comes in, usually between 6 and 12 months of age. This helps to establish preventative care and to avoid baby bottle tooth decay and nursing caries.
  • Primary teeth (baby teeth). These teeth serve a number of critical functions, including being involved in speech development. So it’s important they’re properly taken care of.
  • Limit snacking and eat healthy. Stray from sugary and starchy foods that destroy enamel and stick with drinking water, especially between meals.
  • Regular visits with your dentist. Visit the dentist before your child’s first birthday to learn how to clean your child’s teeth and learn the dangers of bedtime bottles and sippy cups. By the time your child is 5, dentist visits should be happening every six months. Visiting a Dentist Fort Wayne would be very beneficial for the health of your child’s teeth.
  • Brush and floss daily. As soon as two teeth touch, it is important that children brush their teeth twice a day and floss.
  • Orthodontic evaluation. Children grow quickly and orthodontists are trained to detect problems with the growth and development of the teeth and jaw. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends an orthodontic evaluation by 7 years old.
I am lucky that my girls love to brush their teeth. I mean LOVE to brush their teeth. They would sit at the sink all day if possible. I am happy to learn these other tips from Great Expressions Dental Centers. My youngest sucks her thumb and I am really trying to break her of the habit. We go to the dentist every 6 months – they both started around 1 year old. We have just started flossing as well. Follow these tips too and hopefully your children will have healthy teeth!

#NSNation Monday: 1 Month Down, 2 More To Go!

Tessa Smith
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8
#NSNation Monday: 1 Month Down, 2 More To Go!
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This was an off week for me. My daughter had a get together with some friends from school on Saturday. There were munchkins, cake, cookies, and all sorts of sugary goodies. I did fairly well but ended up having a slice of cake. I also munched on some Fritos mindlessly. Did not even realize I was doing it at first. As for working out, well we had a rough week with the girls having the flu in our house and I only got three days of it.

I maintained my weight this week – which is great – but I was down to 142.6 on Wednesday and then went back up over the weekend. I have promised myself I would hit the ground running today! I am a little nervous because we are going away this weekend for Valentine’s Day. I am hoping to at least not gain overall this week. But I do plan to take my eating out guide with me. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I should point out that my goal weight is a fit 135 – however, I have not weighed that since high school. My doctor actually told me she wants me no lower than 135 – and that low 140’s is great for my height (I am 5’7). I still would love to be high 130’s. I have 2 more months to go on Nutrisystem and I am confident that if I stick to it, I will be able to reach that goal.

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There were two real standouts for me this week. Both dinners. The broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken breast, and the margherita pizza. Both had great flavors. I was surprised with the pizza because I normally do not like chunks of tomatoes.

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#NSNation Week #5 Stats:

Weight: 143.6 lbs (down 12.4 lbs from Week #1, down 0 lbs from Week #4)
Waist Inches: 30 (down 3 inches from Week #1, down 0 inches from Week #4)
Hip Inches: 36.5 (down 2 inches from Week #1, down 0 inches from Week #4)
Photo:  Day 22

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Find out more about the Nutrisystem program here.
#NSNation #Ad
I received this free in exchange for my unbiased, honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

FanGirl Friday: ROBLOX

Tessa Smith
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0
FanGirl Friday: ROBLOX
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I want to talk to you this morning about something really cool – ROBLOX. I wish my girls were just a tad older because I could sit and play this game with them for hours! If any of you have children, even 6 years old I would say, check this out with them!

What is ROBLOX? 
ROBLOX is an online virtual playground and workshop, where kids of all ages can safely interact, create, have fun, and learn. It’s unique in that practically everything on ROBLOX is designed and constructed by members of the community.

Who uses ROBLOX? 
ROBLOX is designed for 8 to 18 year olds, but it is open to people of all ages.

How do you get started?
Each player starts by choosing an avatar and giving it an identity. They can then explore ROBLOX — interacting with others by chatting, playing games, or collaborating on creative projects.

Is ROBLOX educational? 
Yes. Each player is also given their own piece of undeveloped real estate along with a virtual toolbox with which to design and build anything — be it a navigable skyscraper, a working helicopter, a giant pinball machine, a multiplayer “Capture the Flag” game or some other, yet-to-be-dreamed-up creation. By participating and by building cool stuff, ROBLOX members can earn specialty badges as well as ROBLOX dollars (“ROBUX”). In turn, they can shop the online catalog to purchase avatar clothing and accessories as well as premium building materials, interactive components, and working mechanisms.

Whip It Up Wednesday: Adam’s Cheesy Potatoes from Our Mini Family

Tessa Smith
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5
Whip It Up Wednesday: Adam’s Cheesy Potatoes from Our Mini Family
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Today I have a guest post for you. I am dealing with a little one with the flu and Cathy from Our Mini Family has graciously let me share one of her awesome recipes with you guys today! Thanks Cathy – this sounds delicious, by the way, I cannot wait to try it!
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Come one, come all!

Enjoy these fabulously decadent cheesy potatoes made by my rockstar husband, Adam! Seriously Adam, if you are reading this I have to tell you: this is by far your best recipe yet.
#soproudofyou #omnom
Yes, it is simple in that it’s cheese and potatoes but you guys…you have NO IDEA how good these are until you try them! The combinations of cheeses he uses are just on point and seriously I would eat these every day (I would become huge from consuming so many potatoes with not enough exercise to weight out the intake of carbs from them, but OMG it would still taste just as amazing each and every day).

Details

Serves Cook Time Total Time Prep Time Publisher
2-3 1 hour 80-90 minutes 20-30 minutes CatharineMini

Ingredients

  • 4 Russet Potatoes
  • 1.5 cups of half and half
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1.5 cups of shredded cheddar cheese sharp
  • 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika
  • A sprinkling of fresh basil

Instructions

  1. 1. Skin and cut potatoes into medium slices (usually get about 6-10 potato slices per potato)
  2. 2. Cool the potato slices in water (with icecubes) for about 30-45 minutes in the fridge. It keeps them from going soggy during the cook process and if you have leftovers, you can make super crispy potato skins!
  3. 3. Melt butter in sauce pan on low-med heat.
  4. 4. Mix in flour to butter in sauce pan– the flour will clump as it mixes.
  5. 5. Mix in the cream and whisk for about 5 minutes on low heat until everything combines.
  6. 6. Evenly mix the parmesan and cheddar cheese into the sauce pan and mix until it is fully melted. Keep on low to stop it from hardening and move back to your potatoes.
  7. 7. Use a thin amount of oil (or butter) on the bottom of a casserole dish. Then line the bottom layer of the dish with your first batch of potatoes. try to keep them from stacking on each other as much as possible.
  8. 8. Cover the first layer in about 1/3 of the sauce and spread evenly. Most recipes will call for two layers of potatoes/sauce, but I have experimented and found that multiple layers (3-4) cook through just fine as well, as long as you are spreading evenly.
  9. 9. Repeat your layers even with sauce. On the top layer, I usually throw a bit of extra cheese (not from the sauce) on top, as well as garnishing it with a bit of paprika and basil to give it that “finished” look.
  10. 10. Cook at 350F for 45-55 minutes, and Voila–You’re done!

Notes

This recipe was conceptualized and written by Adam Mini of OurMiniFamily.com!
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So everyone, what do you think? 
Would you make Adam’s cheesy potatoes?
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Have an easy recipe you would like to share? 
Link it up below for everyone to enjoy! 
 

REWIND with January’s Loot Crate!

Tessa Smith
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6
REWIND with January’s Loot Crate!

REWIND with Loot Crate

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It is no secret that I am a huge geek. I love all things comic books, video games, and the list just goes on. I am not ashamed by it at all, in fact, I embrace it. When I had the opportunity to review a Loot Crate last year, I fell in love with it. So much so, that I now subscribe to it on my own dime. It is an AMAZING subscription box for us nerds and geeks! January’s theme was REWIND and it brought back all the oldies but goodies!

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I think my favorite thing from this month’s box is the Voltron shirt. It is super cute and looks amazing on me. Ha! Little bit full of myself there, but it really is an awesome shirt. It is comfy and great quality. I love when Loot Crate has shirts in the box! They are always really geeky and fun!

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My two year old immediately stole the glasses from the box. She wears them around the house all the time. It is so cute! Her older sister tried to take them and she flipped out. Guess I will never be wearing those. But that’s OK, I don’t mind sharing with her.

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January’s Loot Crate was filled with lots of other goodies. The Star Wars #1 Loot Crate Variant looks awesome and I cannot wait to read it. There was an amazing tie from Black Tie Geek – which I had never heard of before. My husband was pretty excited and has decided that he will buy all his ties from them from now on. This month’s exclusive figure is pretty cool too – a Fire Hunt Nintendo video game. I used to love playing NES with my sister and dad growing up. It was one of my favorite things to do. My husband and I recently found his NES and have had a blast playing the old games.

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This month there was a really cool doodle pad/note book. Each page is split in to comic book style pages. My husband loves to draw and is really looking forward to creating his own stories with this. And of course Loot Crate came with it’s monthly magazine and button. I have loved collecting these. They are fun to look back on. The box itself even turns in to a Nintendo – complete with controller. Too cool, seriously! I highly recommend this subscription box for any geek, so subscribe here. February’s Theme is PLAY! so you don’t want to miss out! Check out my #unboxing video below.

I purchased this box with my own money and was under no obligation to review it.

Whip It Up Wednesday: Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Tessa Smith
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1
Whip It Up Wednesday: Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Easy Baked Mac & Cheese Recipe

Baked macaroni and cheese is a go to dinner in our home. You can make it really easy by using a premade cheese sauce – I usually go with Ragu Cheese Cheddar sauce when I choose this option.

Mac & Cheese

What you need:

1 lb box of penne pasta
1 sleeve of crackers (I use Ritz)
½ stick of butter
1 can of premade cheddar cheese sauce
1 handful of shredded cheddar cheese

If making your own cheese sauce, you will also need:
½ stick of butter
1 quart of milk
3 tablespoons of flour
10 slices of cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook pasta (I like to use penne but have used elbows before as well) as directed on box.
3. While pasta is cooking melt ½ stick of butter in a medium sauce pan.
4. Once butter is melted, take off heat.
5. Crumble in crackers and stir until they are soaked in butter.
6. Drain pasta.
7. Stir in canned premade cheese sauce or make your own cheese sauce.

This is how I make my own cheese sauce:

  • Melt ½ stick of butter.
  • Add 3 tablespoons of flour while stirring.
  • Add 1 quart of milk.
  • Stir until sauce thickens.
  • Add sliced cheese in small portions – stirring it until it melts. Do not let it boil as milk could sour.

8. Pour pasta and cheese in to a 8×12 oven safe pan.
9. Sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the pasta.
10. Spread cracker mixture over the top of the pasta.
11. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
12. Cool and serve.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes

Easy Baked Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

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The whole family loves this macaroni and cheese dish!

  • 1 lb box of penne pasta
  • 1 sleeve of crackers (I use Ritz)
  • ½ stick of butter
  • 1 can of premade cheddar cheese sauce
  • 1 handful of shredded cheddar cheese
  • If making your own cheese sauce (you will also need:)
  • ½ stick of butter
  • 1 quart of milk
  • 3 tablespoons of flour
  • 10 slices of cheddar cheese
  1. 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. 2. Cook pasta (I like to use penne but have used elbows before as well) as directed on box.
  3. 3. While pasta is cooking melt ½ stick of butter in a medium sauce pan.
  4. 4. Once butter is melted, take off heat.
  5. 5. Crumble in crackers and stir until they are soaked in butter.
  6. 6. Drain pasta.
  7. 7. Stir in canned premade cheese sauce or make your own cheese sauce.
  8. This is how I make my own cheese sauce:
  9. Melt ½ stick of butter.
  10. Add 3 tablespoons of flour while stirring.
  11. Add 1 quart of milk.
  12. Stir until sauce thickens.
  13. Add sliced cheese in small portions – stirring it until it melts. Do not let it boil as milk could sour.
  14. 8. Pour pasta and cheese in to a 8×12 oven safe pan.
  15. 9. Sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the pasta.
  16. 10. Spread cracker mixture over the top of the pasta.
  17. 11. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
  18. 12. Cool and serve.

Add bacon if desired!

#NSNation Monday: Week 3 Kickoff!

Tessa Smith
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7

 

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I just finished up my second week on the Nutrisystem program and I must say – it was a lot easier than the first! Not only could I add in a lot more foods this week, but I was not as hungry. I actually talked with my personal counselor (an awesome perk of the program!) and they moved me down from the 1500 calories a day plan to the 1200 calories a day plan. I am feeling so good about myself – and proud of myself for really sticking with this. I fluctuated with weight a little bit – being down 9 pounds since I started this journey at one point, and then creeping up a little bit. I was weighing myself every day which is diet suicide, I know! I promise to be better about that in the coming weeks.

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Freezer meal – Turkey Medallions and Mashed Potatoes

After the Fast 5+ week, SmartCarbs and PowerFuels are added to the diet, as well as Nutrisystem desserts. You can also branch out to many other Nutrisystem foods – and their frozen meals – which are delicious! One of my favorite things is the 3 extras a day. These are items like creamer (yay for creamer in my coffee again!) and dressing, as well as cream cheese and condiments. I did not have 3 of these each day – but I had at least one – creamer in my coffee every morning!

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SmartCarbs won’t cause your blood sugar to spike and crash – which is what leaves you craving more carbs. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. Nutrisystem provides you with an example list of some SmartCarbs – my favorites include whole-grain bread, fruit, whole-grain english muffins, pasta, whole-grain rolls, and whole-grain tortilla wraps. With the 1500 calorie plan you are encouraged to eat 3 SmartCarb servings a day – and just 1 with the 1200 calorie plan (although it was recommended for me to eat 2 on T25 workout days).

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A SmartCarb / PowerFuel combo – multi-grain english muffin & egg sandwich

PowerFuels are healthy proteins that contain essential amino acids and healthy fats. You take a long time to digest these which leaves you feeling satisfied longer. Nutrisystem provides a great list of these as well, my favorites including: sting cheese, eggs, fat-free yogurt, and nuts.

Find out more about the Nutrisystem program here.

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Favorite Breakfast Meal: Cinnamon bun – I know I have mentioned before that I love sweets. So the cinnamon bun was a natural favorite for me. This is a frozen meal and it takes just seconds to prepare in the microwave. It is delicious and I am looking forward to having another one soon.

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Least Favorite Breakfast Meal: Nutriflake Cereal – This was very bland. It was exactly what I expected it to be. The next time I have some I am either going to use Vanilla Almond milk to add some flavor, or some bananas.

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Favorite Lunch Meal: Chicken & Cheese Quesadilla – This is one of the best lunch meals I have had since I started. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare in the oven and is so delicious. It is cheesy and the flavors are amazing. I added a little bit of Frank’s hot sauce to mine and it really pushed it over the edge.

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Least Favorite Lunch Meal: Fudge Graham Bar – This was OK. I mean, I could eat it. I did not have to choke it down. But it was hard to bite into and wasn’t as delicious as I was hoping. It was still pretty good, just not my favorite.

Pizza

Favorite Dinner Meal: Italian Sausage & Turkey Pizza – I am a sucker for pizza. I love it. I could eat it every single day. This pizza was delicious. I really enjoyed the flavors of the meats. I had not had meat on my pizza in a long time and I am so glad I tried this out.

Least Favorite Dinner Meal: I just could not choose a least favorite this week. Sorry guys! Every meal I ate, I loved. I couldn’t fault any of them for anything.

 

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Favorite Dessert: Fudge Brownie – I have said before how much I love chocolate and sweets so this was an obvious favorite for me. It tasted like it was so bad for me – which is awesome. The flavor was great – I actually ate my two fudge brownies this week!

Least Favorite Dessert: Zesty Herb Snack Mix – I was thinking there would be more flavor to this. Honestly, it was a little bland. When I saw the word zesty, I thought spicy. I really like hot stuff and for me, it just wasn’t spicy enough.

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Full Disclosure: Saturday night this week my husband and I did go on a date night. We went to dinner and a movie. I brought along a Nutrisystem dessert (pretzels) to munch on during the movie. At dinner at T.G.I. Fridays, I used my “Eating Out Guide” that Nutrisystem provides and chose a half portion of the Balsamic-Glazed Chicken Caesar Salad – which was so good! Also, this week I had a horrible cold. I did not work out at all this week – and I think that is a huge factor. I bet I would have lost more this week if I did work out. Starting up again today with Beach Body’s T25!

#NSNation Week #3 Stats:

Weight: 148.2 lbs (down 7.8 lbs from Week #1, down 1.4 lbs from Week #2)
Waist Inches: 30.5 (down 2.5 inches from Week #1, down 1 inch from Week #2)
Hip Inches: 37 (down 1.5 inches from Week #1, down 0.5 inch from Week #2)
Photo:  Day 15

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Find out more about the Nutrisystem program here.

 

#NSNation #Ad
I received this free in exchange for my unbiased, honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

The Deflated Balls Debacle

Tessa Smith
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7
FanGirl%2BFriday

OK, so this post isn’t going to be so much about geeky things as it is about football. I am a huge New England Patriots fan – I grew up outside of Boston after all – so I know this will be a bit bias and that is fine with me. I need to get some things off my chest and I think “FanGirl Friday” is the perfect time to do it – after all, I am a fangirl for the Patriots.

Unless you have lived under a rock this past week, you should know about the “deflated balls” incident. Per regulation, footballs have to be inflated a certain amount during a game. Well, apparently 11 of the 12 Patriots’ balls used during the Patriots vs. Colts AFC Championship game were under-inflated 2 pounds per square inch. Big deal I say. Anyone who is calling for the Patriots to be taken out of the Superbowl is just being….ridiculous.

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Here are some reasons why people should stop talking about this:

A referee inspected and approved the balls prior to game time. They were then placed in a ball bag and brought to the sidelines. OK, so they were not guarded by any means but how do we know who messed with them, if anyone. It could have been the referee, it could have been the Colts because they were scared, and yes, it could have been the Patriots. But it could have been ANYONE or NOONE.

The balls were all replaced at half time. The balls were questionable and therefore replaced for the second half. The first half of the game, the Colts intercepted Tom Brady twice. The score was 14-7. In the second half the Patriots scored 28 unanswered points. Sounds like the Colts trying to come up with an excuse as to why they got their butts kicked if you ask me.

Aaron Rodgers admitted to using an overinflated ball. Why is nobody talking about this? If it is such a big deal how inflated the balls are – how did this fact just get breezed over? “‘I like to push the limit to how much air we can put in the football, even go over what they allow you to do and see if the officials take air out of it,’” That is quote from the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. Just sayin’.

Who cares. Come on. We all know that this did not effect the outcome of the game. I know a lot of people hate the Patriots. And I know why. To take a line from The Interview – “They hate us, cuz they ain’t us.” – pure jealousy. This is our 6th Superbowl appearance in 14 years – and we deserve it. Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. Colts tight end, Dwayne Allen, agrees that this had no effect on the game whatsoever. So lets all just move on.

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…and one last thing… 
GO PATRIOTS! Superbowl baby!

#DeflateGate

Super Easy (and Delicious!) Lasagna Roll-ups Recipe

Tessa Smith
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18
Super Easy (and Delicious!) Lasagna Roll-ups Recipe
Lasagna Roll-Ups Recipe

This is a family favorite. I had an old recipe that I doctored up and made my own. I have had many friends and family members ask for the recipe. These are delicious and super easy to make!

What you need:

9 lasagna noodles
1 lb ground beef
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
grated Parmesan Cheese
shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Pasta sauce of your choice

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooktime: 1 hour 15 minutes
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

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Directions

1. In a large stockpot, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions.
2. Drain and lay out on a smooth, clean surface.
3. In a large bowl combine beef, bread crumbs, egg, oregano, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.
4. Divide into 9 even portions.
5. On lasagna noodles spread 1-2 spoonfuls of pasta sauce.
6. Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese over sauce.
7. Spread out beef portions.
8. Roll lasagna noodles up into tight pinwheels.
9. Arrange pinwheels side-by-side in a small casserole dish. Sprinkle the tops with Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella if desired.
10. Bake at 375 degrees covered with foil for 45 minutes.
11. Uncover and bake for 30 more minutes or until top is golden.

Whip It Up Wednesday: Lasagna Roll-ups

Lasagna Rolls 1

Super easy and a huge hit with the family!

  • 9 lasagna noodles
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • grated Parmesan Cheese
  • shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Pasta sauce of your choice
  1. 1. In a large stockpot, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions.
  2. 2. Drain and lay out on a smooth, clean surface.
  3. 3. In a large bowl combine beef, bread crumbs, egg, oregano, garlic powder, and pepper. Mix well.
  4. 4. Divide into 9 even portions.
  5. 5. On lasagna noodles spread 1-2 spoonfuls of pasta sauce.
  6. 6. Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese over sauce.
  7. 7. Spread out beef portions.
  8. 8. Roll lasagna noodles up into tight pinwheels.
  9. 9. Arrange pinwheels side-by-side in a small casserole dish. Sprinkle the tops with Parmesan cheese and Mozzarella if desired.
  10. 10. Bake at 375 degrees covered with foil for 45 minutes.
  11. 11. Uncover and bake for 30 more minutes or until top is golden.

An easy dinner for the whole family!

#NSNation Monday: Fast 5+ Results!

Tessa Smith
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24
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I had been told that because the Nutrisystem Fast 5+ is so low calorie, you want to do minimal to no exercise. So for me, I just did the modifications for the T25 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I couldn’t not work out all week. But I will say that I was dead on my feet by 2pm on the days that I did workout. I burned an average of 150 calories a workout, where I normally average about 300. I recommend not working out if you are not used to it however. Like I said it really exhausted me.

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For some people, being sure to drink 64 oz a water a day is the hardest part of this. I have never had a hard time drinking water. I usually drink about 100 oz a day. The easiest way for me to be sure to do this is using a 24 oz Tervis Tumbler. If I drink 3 of these a day, that puts me over what I need a day for the Nutrisystem Fast 5+ and I was drinking 6 or 7 of them a day.

Breakfast

So let’s get to what y’all are wondering about. The food. Honestly, I was shocked by how much I loved the food. I really enjoyed nearly every meal I had. The muffins were a bit dense but still very tasty. I had a blueberry muffin, cinnamon streusel, and double chocolate – all delicious. The breakfast bars were all great too. No complaints on the breakfast front at all – I would eat every single one of these again and again.

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As far as lunch goes, I know many people are put off when they are given just a bar for lunch. I know I thought “Oh man, today is going to be rough. I am going to be hungry.” But on the days that I chose to have a bar for lunch I had a huge bowl of veggies as well. On the Fast 5+ plan we are told that we can only have calorie free salad dressing. Well I could not find any so I just skipped the lettuce (the one veggie I really cannot eat without dressing) and had a plate of tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, peppers, and carrots. I got really stuffed – and had 3 of my 4 veggie servings just as my lunch! I was glad that you can go over the 4 servings of veggies and that they are just a minimum, because I averaged 6 servings of them a day.

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The dinners were a whole lot better than I expected. I was nervous about chicken meals that came from my pantry, not the fridge. But I was extremely pleased with most of the meals. The pasta dishes all tasted great, in my opinion. The Turkey Sausage and Bacon Rigatoni was not the best, but it was alright with broccoli mixed in. I also mixed broccoli in the Chicken Alfredo and loved it. The pizzas were amazing – with and without veggies added.

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As for the shakes – Energi-zing and Cravings Crusher – they were great. I looked forward to having them. I would have my Energi-zing shake about 9am and my Cravings Crusher in the mid-afternoon (usually around 2). They really helped take the edge off any hunger that was starting to creep up.

When it comes to snacking – let’s just say I am really excited about starting a “regular” week today! I love my desserts! I really got used to sitting down after the girls were put in bed with a bowl of carrot sticks or cucumbers though. Growing up my mom used to call me a rabbit, so I have never had an issue with veggies. I was so happy to fall back in love with them this week!

I am seriously considering purchasing some breakfasts and lunches on my own dime to keep going with this after my three months. I know this is only week one, so let’s see how I feel at the end of it – but for now, I would love to have some of these ready to go in the pantry. Find out more about Nutrisystem meals here.

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Favorite Breakfast Meal: Double Chocolate Muffin – This muffin was a great breakfast. It filled me up and tasted amazing. I love sweets and chocolate so of course, this was a standout for me. If you do not like sweets as much though, the other muffins were great too!

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Least Favorite Breakfast Meal: Harvest Nut Bar – This is really a case of me having to choose a least favorite. It was hard for me because they were all very good. I am a not a giant fan of nuts, so that is why I went with this one. Still a really good choice though.

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Favorite Lunch Meal: Three Cheese Chicken – I loved the flavors in this lunch. It was spot on. I am a huge fan of broccoli, chicken, cheese, and pasta – so really, this was a front runner for me from the beginning. I had it my first day and have been longing for it again all week. I am excited that I have another one waiting for me!

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Least Favorite Lunch Meal: Trail Mix Bar – This was another hard choice. I really liked all of the lunches. They were (for the most part) filling and tasted great. I am not a huge fan of an assortment of nuts so that is why I chose this bar. It was also a little hard to bite into. But I did enjoy it. And if you like nuts, I am willing to bet you would love it.

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Favorite Dinner Meal: Italian Herb Flatbread Pizza – I was immediately reminded of lunchables when I opened this box up. There was the bread, the sauce, and the cheese in separate pouches and I got to put my pizza together. I loved the flavor of the sauce. The first time I had just cheese, but the second time I added peppers and broccoli on top.

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Least Favorite Dinner Meal: Chicken & BBQ Baked Beans – I have never been a huge bean fan. Something about the texture. I got through 2 bites of this and just could not finish it. I passed it along to my husband (who happily ate it and LOVED it, by the way) and grabbed myself another pizza.

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OK so let’s get to the results. For the record, I followed the Fast 5+ plan to a T. Even when I went to my in-laws for the Football games yesterday and they served chili and hot wings. I LOVE hot wings. I sat on the couch munching my celery and carrot sticks. But it will be worth it!

#NSNation Week #2 Stats:

Weight: 149.6 lbs (down 6.4 lbs from Week #1)
Waist Inches: 31.5 (down 1.5 inches from Week #1)
Hip Inches: 37.5 (down 1 inch from Week #1)
Photos:  Day 8

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This upcoming week I get to add a lot more in to my diet – SmartCarbs and PowerFuels (more on them next week). I am so excited for creamer in my coffee again, and eggs! Having chickens and not eating farm fresh eggs has been really hard this week. I am very pleased with my results so far and am excited to continue sharing my journey with you. Discover more about Nutrisystem by clicking here.

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I received this free in exchange for my unbiased, honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
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