Rag Doll

My granddaughters are at the age where they like to play with dress up. What would be more fun than dressing up a soft cuddly rag doll. I have a request from my youngest to have different clothing changes. Note to self make more clothes.

Cut out pattern. I use white material, that will painted on. There is a dart for the neck.

With acrylic flesh paint paint the faces, the arms, the legs.

 This is where it really get fun for me. I love to paint their little faces. The eyes make them come alive.

Out line the hair line.

Since I decided to paint under wear , I painted lace, and a ribbon.

The boots are painted on there is no way these will ever get lost. Paint with glossy finish to give a more realistic patent leather look.

Paint the eyes with a glob of glossy finish. This will put the sparkle in the eyes. See my rag doll.

Lasagna

Take a look at that, does that ever speak comfort food to a foodie like me. This meal takes me back to my childhood, the aromas the flavors.

Ingredients:

1 24 oz jar pasta sauce

1 box of Barilla lasagna (don't let the box fool you it will do a 9x13 pan)

3 Italian hot sausage links 

1 ball of mozzarella cheese grated

1 24 oz ricotta cheese

1 small package of chopped frozen spinach (defrosted)

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

First fry sausage in pan. Break the sausage down to very small bits.

Sausage should be brown, drained and set to the side.

\Take all the liquid out of the chopped spinach. by placing in a clean kitchen towel, squeeze till the liquid no longer runs.

At this time soak the lasagna noodles in a bowl with water for 5 minutes until the noodles are no longer stiff, but flexible. Pull out of water and set to the side.

In a large mixing bowl add ricotta cheese, dried chopped spinach 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, (save the rest for layering , and topping) 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, both eggs, salt, and pepper.  Mix together.

This is where the fun begins layering.. Pour about 4 tablespoons of pasta sauce in the bottom of a 13x9 baking pan. I like to use glass it leaves the favor more true.

Place the noodles on top of the sauce, layer the sausage meat next then the cheese spinach mixture , sprinkle a handful of grated mozzarella. Continue layering changing the direction of the noodles with each layers until all the noodles are used up. The noodles are at the very top, spread pasta sauce, and mozzarella cheese to finish.

Cover with aluminium foil, this will steam the noodle, to tender. Preheat oven to 350 degrees bake for 1 hour. 

Allow to rest for 10 minutes. 

Enjoy!! This may become one of your new comfort foods also.