Living Well Is The Best Revenge

Casa Chinoiserie Chic

I had a great day in the garden yesterday and my plans are starting to come together. Even though I am not an expert in gardening here, I do know landscape design, and I have found that most (not all) landscape design companies' work is a bit generic and plebeian. I can do far better myself for free. Also, I am a bit of a plant collector and like to incorporate unusual and heirloom plants. My plan is to keep what I have which includes beautiful palms, coral pink ixora, split leaf philodendron, hibiscus, ferns, and croton, and fill in the blank spots. Those of you who commented with suggestions - they were great and I am using many of your ideas.

Today I am making a favorite recipe. It will be my first serious effort in my new kitchen/house and I am not cutting any corners. This is a favorite of mine for company, and I hope the days of dinner parties and house guests will return for all of us soon. Especially since my new Mercer dining table seats 8 - LOL.

Seafood Lasagna via Coopcancook.com

Let me warn you that it's a lot of ingredients and over an hour to make, but it's beyond delicious. Do not eliminate the crab boil and Cajun seasoning - that makes it!

Ingredients:

For Lasagna
• 1 lb lasagna sheets
• 1 Tbsp. liquid crab boil
• 1.5 lbs medium shrimp
• 16 oz lump crabmeat (you can use imitation)
• 1 Tbsp. Creole or Cajun seasoning
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cups fresh spinach - I use 4 cups because I love spinach and it really reduces down
• 1/2 Tsp. salt
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded Fontina or Muenster cheese

For Sauce
• 5 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. crushed garlic
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2 1/2 cups half and half
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1 Tsp. liquid crab boil
• Creole seasoning and cracked black pepper to taste
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp. fresh basil

Filling
• 8 oz Garlic & Herb cream cheese
• 8 oz sour cream
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp. fresh basil chopped

Directions:

Lasagna:

Boil lasagna until al dente according to package instructions. Pour the liquid crab boil into the water as it boils. Drain and set aside
In a bowl, combine all seafood. Add Creole or Cajun seasoning evenly to the seafood. Set aside.
Heat the olive oil a pan over medium-high heat
Add in the spinach and a pinch of salt. Sauté until spinach has wilted.
Remove spinach from the pan and set aside
Sauce

Preheat oven to 375 F.
Add the butter into the same pan used for the spinach. When the butter melts, add in the garlic and saute for 30 secs
Stir in the flour and continue stirring for 1 minute
Pour in the chicken stock and half and half while stirring. Use a whisk to continue to mix the sauce while it heats and thickens.
Season the sauce to taste using creole seasoning and black pepper
Pour in the liquid crab boil
When the sauce has thickened, stir in Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat when the cheese melts.
Filling

Mix all filling ingredients in a bowl. Set aside.
Assembly

Spray a lasagna pan with nonstick cooking spray, then ladle a thin layer of sauce at the bottom of the pan
Place a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce
Spread on 1/3 of the filling over the noodles
Then, add 1/3 of the seafood and spinach
Sprinkle on 1/3 of the Mozzarella & Fontina cheeses
Pour on 1/3 of the sauce
Repeat the above steps 2 more times until you have 3 layers.
Bake, on the center rack of the oven, uncovered for 35-45 mins. Then, broil on high for 3-5 minutes until the cheese is as brown.
Allow the lasagna to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle on some fresh basil, and Enjoy!
Recipe and photo from CoopCanCook.com

Now, a little of this and that to share.

For my tropical climate friends, I now get ceiling fans completely. They feel wonderful, and save energy. In Virginia I kept my AC at 72 degrees. With my ceiling fans here, I have the temp at 77 degrees, and it feels wonderful.

I am nuts about my Dyson V7 Motorhead cordless vac. It was a great purchase. Dog hair is a thing of the past. It is a pleasure to use.

I just ordered this wonderful wicker garbage bin. I love beautiful things including the functional like my darling pink vac. Free shipping, no tax. The straps are real leather BTW.

Wicker Garbage Bin

Enjoy your day - I am going to go put a lovely bottle of Pouilly Fuisse in to chill before I forget. Cheers!