Saucy Crescent Ravioli

So, I love learning new recipes. Until recently I haven't been much of a recipe-follower. I'm an experimenter! I love to try a bit of this and a dash of that and even a squirt of something now and then.

But as the family has grown, my time and energy for creative culinary endeavors has dwindled a bit. Now my "concoctions" are becoming less frequent and my cookbooks are becoming familiar friends.

I recently purchased a Casserole Cookbook from a church fund-raiser. I bought it from my little sisters-in-law and I have to say -- it did not disappoint! This little book has some awesomely mom-friendly recipes. Usually not more than a few ingredients are required and they are all easily-accessible sort of things. Things you can find at Wal-Mart for the most part.

I had slated the Saucy Crescent Ravioli for tonight on my meal plan. Forgive the gross-looking photos below. My memory card was being used elsewhere and I had to use my phone. It was delicious. But must of the substance is hidden under the sauce.

The cheese was not the color of mustard. Ick. Again, this photo deceives. I'll do better next time.

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1 tsp. parsley flakes

2 c. spaghetti sauce, divided

1 (8oz.) tube refrigerator crescent rolls

1/4 c. onion, chopped

1 Tbsp flour

3 slices of cheese (one could use shredded cheese as well)

In a large frying pan, brown ground beef; drain. Stir in 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce, onion, flour and parsley flakes. Set aside. Separate crescent rolls into 4 rectangles. firmly press perforations to seal. Place 3 tablespoons beef along one long side of each triangle. Fold dough over filling, pressing edges to seal. Cut each triangle into 3 squares. Spread remaining beef in bottom of a 9x13in baking dish. Place squares over beef filling. Do not crowd in pan or centers will be doughy. Bake at 375* F for 15 minutes. Place a quarter of a cheese slice on each square. Pour remaining sauce over. Bake for 10-15 minutes more until cheese has melted and sauce is bubbly.

Okay, now. All of the crescent folding and cutting confused me. So I simply took the crescents out of the tube, laid them out in four rectangles pressing the perforations together, put in the meat/sauce/flour/parsley mixture, and folded over lengthwise. Then I pressed my finger down right in the center of each of those long, stuffed rectangles making it sealed in the middle (making two squares). Then I continued following the directions and baked.

I also sprinkled on some parmesan and romano mixture. So delish! I hope you love it too!

Tidbits

I trimmed my bangs today. They were super overgrown and I'd resorted to pulling them back all the time. But, like always, my square-ish forehead was a little too visible and I needed my bangs back to balance it out with my wide cheekbones.

Micah said, "Wow, you look BEAUTIFUL, Mama!"

Annika frowned hard at me and looked taken aback for all of fifteen seconds.

It was hardest on Mocha (our little porkachi puppy). She bounced around snarling a little and barking, backing away from me as if I had suddenly morphed into an entirely different person, but strangely sounded and acted the same. It was almost too much for her. :)

I am currently waiting for paint to dry on a little de-stresser project. (Definition: A craft project that is entirely unnecessary and protentially ridiculous, but accomplishes the objective of chilling me out after a long, crazy day)

I am using the ice cream bucket from the kids' birthday party last weekend to make a bucket for Micah's cars. Really, it's entirely useable as is, but I wanted to jazz it up and make it look awesome. Pinterest worthy, if you will.

Basically it's just Mod Podge and paint. But I love the cutesy little custom things for toy storage. The kids think it's so special when Mom makes them something!

 

Anyway.

This^ was our lunch today. Inside out grilled cheeseburgers! :)

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and I didn't realize we were out of conventional bread until I was already prepping the pan and ingredients for grilled cheese. We made do and the kids loved our creative twist on a lunch staple.

Random tidbit: I had forgotten how much I love Katharine McPhee. Consider yourself remembered, Kat (and please go back to brunette!).

Also, in the realm of tidbits. While playing with self-portraiture today I found myself appalled by how much the selective framing of this photo (and maybe the striped shirt) makes me look like a GUY. And look at my goofy smile, so unsuspecting. Would I at least be a pretty guy?

TTFN.