Keto Cabbage Lasagna

Ok guys, let me tell you right now that this lasagna is AMAZING. I love it, my husband loves it, I have brought it to work and my people there love it, IT IS YUM. If your anything like me and love pasta, this totally tastes the same and satisfies the craving. In my opinion it tastes even better than a traditional pasta lasagna.

Low carb keto lasagna

What you need

1 lb ground beef or ground chuck (cut from the shoulder)

1 flat cabbage ( I prefer flat because its easier to peel but round also works)

350g ricotta cheese

1 mozzarella ball shredded ( buy shredded if you can)

1/2 cup grated parm

1 organic egg

1 1/2 cup tomato sauce (I make my own from fresh tomato’s, if buying sauce buy low sugar)

Half a white or yellow onion

2 gloves fresh garlic ( finely chopped)

Chopped Basil

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Skillet

Large pot

Baking dish ( I use 13 length 9 width )

Instructions

  1. Fill large pot with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling add salt
  2. Gently peel the cabbage leaves apart, remove the top few leaves and discard. Once the cabbage leaves are removed add to boiling water for about 7 minutes.
  3. While the cabbage is boiling you can make your cheese mixture. Add the ricotta cheese, mozzarella( save some for topping at the end) parmigiana cheese, egg, salt, pepper. Mix it all together.
  4. Remove the cabbage and let it cool down. Lay cabbage out on paper towel and pat dry to ensure no water is left on the cabbage leaves.
  5. Heat a large skillet with some oil and add the onion. Cook onion for 2-3 minutes and then add the beef.
  6. Once beef has started to cook add the garlic ( make sure garlic is finely chopped).
  7. Add salt and pepper to beef ( you can add anything else you like, if you want beef spicy add some hot pepper)
  8. Add a little sauce to the beef just to give it a nice coating and throw in some basil. Once the beef is cooked remove from stove top.
  9. At this point pre heat your oven to 375 degrees.
  10. Ladle some sauce to the bottom of your baking dish just to coat the bottom. Then you will start layering – cabbage, meat, sauce, cheese mixture, and repeat this until you have made enough layers and you reach the top. Do not use too much sauce or your lasagna will be watery.
  11. Your final layer at the top should be a layer of cabbage with a thin layer of sauce and a good amount of mozzarella cheese.
  12. Cover with aluminium foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  13. Remove aluminum foil and bake an additional 10 minutes so that the cheese is completely melted. ( broil is an option for extra crunchy top)
  14. Remove from oven and let the lasagna sit for 15 minutes before serving.

I hope you enjoy!

Let cabbage leaves dry after they are boiled

Travel Essentials for Baby and Toddler

“Oh the places you’ll go.” -Dr. Seuss

Anthony Jr’s first trip. Mexico 2018

Taking your first vacation with your little one is an experience you will always remember. Creating memories is something I cherish and look forward to, but travelling, especially to destinations where you may not have access to things you need can be stressful. After traveling to Mexico and Cuba with my little one, I have made a check list of everything you need to bring to have a worry free vacation. I have spent hours, yes literally hours, making this list for my travel ventures, so I hope it makes your planning a little less stressful. I have also included some suggestions that I feel are important when planning your family trip.

When booking your vacation, wherever it may be, the first thing to do is make sure your hotel is child friendly. Some hotels cater to families but I find that not all cater to infants and toddlers. You want to make sure your hotel has a kids club, kid pool, a quite area in the building for your room location, nanny service or babysitting, and my favourite, kids entertainment in the evening.

The flight in my opinion is the most stressful part. What time to book and worrying how your child will behave are all things that add stress to this experience. Picking your seat is crucial. When flying down south we have only ever flown Sunwing and we always upgrade to the front row which is elite seating. It gives you way more leg room and there is no one in front of you. I would not sit anywhere different. If you have a child under two and you want them to travel for free they will share the seat with you so this is totally worth the upgrade. But book it fast because they tend to sell out fast. As for flight times, it all depends on your child. I personally like a 10:30am fight because it works well with nap time.

We made it!

Ready to pack? Here is my coveted travel list that provided me with everything I needed on our vacations. I used this when my son was an infant and altered as he got to the toddler stage. Some items may not apply depending on what age your baby.

Travel checklist:

Feeding

  • Formula (if using) , Organic Meadow milk tetra packs, munchkin fresh food feeder, pouches, apple sauce, crackers, goldfish, cookies, sippy cup, thermal sippy cup, bottles ( I bring four bottles), bottle brush & soap, snack containers, spoon/fork, bowl, paper bibs (shoppers sells these, use once and throw away), small kettle for boiling water (usually hotels will give you one, send an email to confirm)

Hygiene

  • Baby wipes, hand sanitizer, baby lotion, bath soap, diaper cream, vaseline, zinc, prescription rash cream ( I always pack incase), nail clippers/file, face clothes, diapers, toothbrush/paste.

Medicine

  • Advil/Tylenol, Benadryl, baby Gravol, any natural medication (0-9) or Stodal for cold, allergies, teething etc, probiotics/vitamins, thermometer, nasal aspirator, bug repellent, calamine lotion, rash cream.

Swim

  • Rash guard swim suits ( I bring one for every to two days) ten days equals 5, swim diapers, sun screen 50+, water shoes, sun hat, baseball hat, sunglasses, puddle jumper, pool floaty, sand buckets and water toys

Clothing Pack enough for each day, better to have more than less.

  • T shirts, tank tops, long sleeves, shorts, pants, socks, sandals ( 1 pair), sneakers (2-3 pairs if child is walking) , Pj’s.

Sleep

  • Pack and play, sheets, foam, sound machine, books for bedtime reading, monitor, blanket/sleep sac, Pj’s, favourite soother, teddy, blanket, light blanket to cover stroller for stroller naps.

Equipment/Miscellaneous

  • Stroller, beach tent for infants, pack and play, iPad/charger, phone charger, adaptor, extra batteries for sound machine, adaptor for outlets, infant laundry soap, cooler bag, ice packs, kettle if needed, stroller fan, mommy hook for stroller, beach bag, mosquito net for stroller, extra blankets, plastic bags ( dirty diapers or laundry), baby carrier ( this saved my life on the plane with my son was an infant)

Toys

  • Two favourite books, select a few favourite toys, purchase new toys to bring something they have not seen before, beach toys, bath toys, teething toys if needed.

Diaper Bag/Carry on

This bag is REALLY important. Once you are past security there is no turning back. Make sure you do not pack sunscreen and baby lotions here, I have seen so many people have this taken out of their bag. You can pack bottles with milk and water as long as it is for the baby.

  • Two bottles with water or milk (depending age), formula, sippy cup with water or juice, munchkin fresh food feeder, pouches, one book, a few small toys, iPad and charger (with shows already downloaded), baby Advil, baby Gravol, sanitizer, diapers, wipes, change of clothes, extra blanket, bib, tissue paper

Helpful tips:

Only invest in an umbrella stroller if your stroller is heavy and bulky. Mine is Bugaboo and its super light and durable, I bring it with me on all my vacations. Make sure your stroller reclines back all the way.

Hotels have cribs but in my experience I like having my pack and play. Hotel cribs can be smaller than you expect.

Ask your maid to aways have plenty of bottled water for you in the room at all times so you don’t every run out.

Be organized and give yourself a few weeks to pack.

Pack medicine and small things in ziplock bags so they are easy to find.

When packing diapers I usually estimate 6 diapers a day as a safe number. Its always better to pack extra.

Cuba 2019

I hope this list helps and makes your packing experience an easy one. Enjoy packing and happy traveling!