An easy, fantastical soup!

Because it's fall in the world of my dear readers, I thought it would be appropriate to share a recipe I came upon during my fall, which was earlier this year. I was perusing Pinterest when I first saw it, and the title was intriguing: lasagna soup. I love lasagna, but my dairy intolerance keeps me from sampling more than a bite or two (or five) from Todd's helping.

I was probably skeptical when I read through the recipe, wondering where the "catch" was. I mean, could it really be a dairy-free soup that actually tasted like lasagna?

The truth: yes it could.

This recipe is easy, delicious, and possesses that rare gift of living up to its name. It really does taste like a classic lasagna! I don't follow the recipe perfectly...for example, we don't do peppers and I buy two cans of whole tomatoes and blend them to liquid instead of doing anything diced. I don't like chunky vegetables in my soup. Also, why on earth go to the trouble of breaking up lasagna noodles? I throw in a couple handfuls of bow tie pasta and we're quite happy with the outcome. I add some extra water sometimes, but that just depends on how thick/thin you prefer your soup.

Here's an opinion: If you don't have any basil (either fresh or dried) then just wait to make it until you do. I think it "makes" this soup.

I sprinkle Todd's serving with cheese and leave mine without and we both feel like we've eaten a real lasagna dinner :) Easier to make than a real lasagna (unless you're doing Stouffers, and who doesn't do Stouffers? I'll rephrase: easier than homemade lasagna), fewer calories, and it hits that it's-fall-so-I-want-soup craving.

Need I say more?  Go check it out here!

And no, this is not my picture. I got it from the link with the recipe. My soup is not quite this picturesque :)

http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/recipes/recipe_detail/bobbys_lighter_tastes_like_lasagna_soup/

The Wednesday Stork: Week 18

It's been a pretty regular week around here...nothing too exciting to report, especially compared to the "big news" of last week :)

Weeks: 18  

Weight gain so far: 6 pounds. That's up 2.5 pounds in ONE week! Yikes...I hope somebody (and not me) was just going through a growth spurt, because that's a rate I certainly can't afford to keep up!   

Wearing maternity clothes? No, and the fact that I still don't have any is starting to scare me. 

Got any prego stretch marks? Not that I know of. I had some stretch marks anyway, but I don't think I have any new ones.  

How am I sleeping? The past few days have been great! I have been falling asleep no problem, getting up for a bathroom break and falling back asleep, and then waking up around 6am and just relaxing in bed until 7. I cannot complain :) 

Feeling anything in there? I'm going to go with yes. Not all the time, and it's certainly subtle, but I'm going with yes. And, just because I read/heard a lot of different things described to me, I'll give you my take on what it feels like: at this point, it's like I'm being gently flicked on the inside. That's why I call the movements "flickers." :)  

Aversions or cravings? Chinese: no. 

What’s the gender? Boy. 

Any labor signs? Nope. 

How pregnant do I feel? I feel like I should be sticking out to "here" sometimes, but there's still not a whole lot to see. Todd was commenting today how I didn't even look pregnant. Also, I've been having a little more heartburn than usual but nothing severe. 

Belly button status: Hanging "in" there ;)

Still sporting my wedding rings? So far, so good!

And that's the week in review! I haven't forgotten that I said I'd post a picture when things got...interesting. I'm just waiting to look pregnant. I find myself in that awkward, chubby phase for now, but I don't expect it to last indefinitely :)