Lazy Perogy Casserole

Kim's been knocking "momming" out of the park these past few weeks that I've been working at inContact. One area that she's been doing amazingly well at has been in the kitchen. Now don't get me wrong, Kim's always been a good cook. However, as of late she's been out doing herself again and again. 


One of the dishes that she has tried a couple of times and has really perfected lately is Lazy Perogy Casserole. If you've never had a perogy, you really need to fix that. Basically they are raviolis that are stuffed with a mashed potato + awesomeness mixture of sorts. This casserole recipe replicates the flavors without all the work of stuffing individual pasta pockets. Tasty and awesome, FTW. 

Lazy Perogy Casserole

Ingredients 

• ~15 lasagna noodles
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 3-4 cups mashed potatoes (however much it takes to cover the pan)
• 1 tsp onion salt
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (plus extra to sprinkle over the top of the casserole)
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 finely chopped onion

Directions

1. Cook noodles (or use awesome shortcut). Drain, rinse, and set aside. 
2. Combine egg, ricotta cheese and 1/2 tsp onion salt. 
3. In separate bowl, combine potatoes cheddar cheese, remaining onion salt, salt, and pepper. Set aside. 
4. In a frying pan, melt butter and sautee onion until soft and yellow. 
5. In a greased 9x13 casserole dish, layer in the following order: 
1. 5 noodles (or however many it takes to cover the pan)
2. Ricotta mixture
3. 5 noodles
4. Potato mixture
5. 5 noodles
6. Onions
7. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over top if desired
6. Cover with foil and bake in oven at 350 F for 30 - 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. 
7. Spoon into bowls or onto plates and top with sour cream and/or green onions. Enjoy!

My Wife Blogs FTW

I really love my family. I love spending time with Kim, Jack and Tigger. I think that it is going to be awesome to get to know our little girl. I am really proud of the way that Kim has been handling her pregnancy. I also love the fact that she has been blogging about our life as a family and think that that is a really great use of time and energy, as it is something that we'll be able to look back on and see how far we've come and what we've been through together. I think it will be neat for our kids to be able to see our lives when we were first married and then as we grew and had them. Of course as they grow, it will be cool for them to be able to see their progression. 


Technology is an amazing thing. I am thankful for blogs, Skype, Facebook and all the other apps out there that allow us to chronicle and share our lives across time and space.  I am so glad that I get to live in a world that has such wonderful tools readily available to so many, allowing us to live richer, more meaningful lives. 

Look out boys...

Now that we know we are having a baby girl, Trip is planning ways to haze and possibly terrify her future suitors.  Today he told me that all he wants from a baby shower is for people to donate money so that he can get a gun.  His look got all gleeful as he then started pondering aloud what kind of gun would make the biggest impact.  It sounds like it is currently between a sniper rifle or an assault rifle.


I can already see the horrified and embarrassed look on our daughter's face.

What time did you say you were bringing my baby girl back tonight?

Friends, Family & The Far-East

The title of this post is a little bit restrictive. Between the two of us, Kimberlee and I have lived in 6 timezones, visited every US state, and have traveled to dozens of countries. In all that time we have been blessed to make so many wonderful friends. 

We are also both so lucky to come from amazing families. Our brothers and sisters are awesome. Our parents are loving, supportive, inspiring, and generally cool (yeah Dad, as you say, "It's like riding a bike."). We have a great time with aunts, uncles, and cousins. While we have spent the majority of our married lives closer to Kim's family, we love the Baker side just as much and hope to make our way back to the Northeast in the not too distant future. 

Our lives have been extremely blessed to know so many wonderful people. Couples like Kortney & Rustin, Leslie & Evan, Sandi & Travis, or Hailey & Jeff; that we could spend a lifetime as neighbors, having weekend barbeques and playing games. It seems that everywhere we go, we meet friends like that.

Here in KL we have gotten to know so many great people like Scott & Tobi, who have claimed the right to be a third set of grandparents for our future children. Kim and I love all of the hours we've spent with them enjoying food, fun, and especially Mexican Train together.

Back home in NJ/ OH we'd love to spend more time with Kathy & Chris, Tim & Megan, and especially my Mom & Dad. Which brings me to the point of this post, and the real meaning of the title. Where ever we go in this world we seem to expand our circle of friends & family, but as we continue our trek, we leave behind so many that we wish we could spend more time with. There is never enough time to see everyone. 

I guess the only thing we can do is to take advantage of the opportunities we have and treasure the memories that are made. 

Three Years of Marital Bliss

Three years ago today, Kim walked down the aisle, tripped on her dress, recovered gracefully and said yes to marrying an awestruck red head. Since then we have had a lot of good times (living at the cabin; adopting Jack & Tigger), a couple of bad times (me being unemployed), countless adventures traveling the world and enjoying life with friends and family.

Three years ago I never imagined that we would be where we are today. I won't pretend to know where we will be in another three years. But I do know that I'll always have my best friend with me no matter what. 

Kimberlee, marrying you is the best thing I have ever done and I am so thankful to have you as my eternal companion. Happy Anniversary! I love you. 

Rock the Lord

So today was another wonderful Sunday. I got to talk about General Conference with the Young Men today and share my conversion story with some family of our friend's the Sanders. It got me thinking about my testimony, the decisions I have made to bring me to this point in my life, and my love of the Gospel.

I am so happy about the decision I made almost four years ago to join Christ's restored church. I am amazed at the difference that the Gospel has made in my life and continues to make as I live its principles. I've been blessed to have the opportunity to share this Gospel along side our missionaries and will even be performing my first baptism this upcoming Saturday! Every time I get the chance to teach eternal truthes or bear my testimony of Jesus Christ, I catch a glimpse of a better version of me. Someone who I am not yet, but have faith I can be in the future. With that I'd like to leave you with my testimony. 

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that he died for each one of us so that we can have the opportunity to return to live in the presence of God, our Heavenly Father. I know that we are led by living prophets of God and that Thomas Monson is the man that has been called to serve as His prophet today. I know that Joseph Smith was called to be the prophet to usher in the restoration of the church that Christ originally established over 2000 years ago. Finally, I have a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true, that it testifies of Christ and that by living according to its teachings has blessed my life in more ways than I am aware of. 

If you want to read a bit more about my beliefs or how I became a Mormon, then take a look at this.

Fructose = Ethanol

I found this YouTube video a few days ago and was shocked when I watched it. Not that I didn't realize that high fructose corn syrup is bad for your health (there was the time that I gained 15 pounds in 8 weeks while sucking down soda and energy drinks on my first contract programming gig), but I never knew just how bad that stuff is for you.
 
In the video, Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, explores the damage caused by sugary foods. He argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin.
 
I know that it is long, but if you have ever struggled with weight, or have been affected by diabetes, I think that the 90 minutes of your life is worth the knowledge gained.