Snacktime. I wanted a munchfest. I had a small, flat bowl of Quaker Oatmeal Squares, granola, Bear Naked Trail Mix and 4 dark chocolate nuggets!
I munched along with some So You Think You Can Dance. OMG – Lauren + Kent’s kiss at the end of their duet – SO AMAZING and surprising!!!!!! Gave me goosebumps back to middle school 
Dinner tonight was of the Edible Perspective:
I was intrigued by the use of frozen peppers and dry pasta. Threw in the ingredients just like she did. Plus half an eggplant. And had to use Hunts sauce plus a TJ’s kind blended.
Got this Dreamfields as a sample sometime back. I’m not really into low carb pasta or anything.. prefer whole wheat myself!
KERF secret ingredients: olives + capers!!
And a whole lotta mozzarella.
We had to cook it for a full hour to get the pasta cooked. It tasted pretty good! Nice and cheesy
Served with a plethora of Kale Chips!
I’m working with Karen on her portion control. She wanted to eat 3x this much, but surprisingly, it was just the right amount for me. Karen made a second pan of kale chips for dessert!
Ever had Seeds Of Change chocolate? Karen gets these portion controlled bars.
How cute is this packet?!
140 calories per bar [and organic!]
I had half of one and It.Was.So.Good!! Almost tasted like it had liquor in it!?!?
and
Check this out: KERF Design!!!!
Goodnight!
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been wanting to try Ashley’s pasta bake! I love that you added olives and capers
Have a great night!
Those ARE cute! I just picked up portion controlled almonds from TJ’s – love the idea.
Your pasta bake looks sooo good! Cheesy goodness. Mm.
That pasta bake looks amazing. Ash has the best recipes!
I couldn’t believe Lauren and Kent’s kiss either! I really like Lauren, she’s wanna my favorites!!! What did you think of Alex’s crazy hip hop!
Looks like a yum and very easy dinner…It’s always good when you can just toss things together.
Portion is MY biggest weakness too. Have you got any tips to help out??
That’s how we do pasta bakes here too. I haven’t done one in a while since my husband was diagnosed with celiac. I worry that the gluten free pasta will turn to mush. Oh well…it is a really great meal! Have a great night!
I love those organic chocolate squares. They almost(almost) keep me from eating the whole bar
Portion control around delicious foods is commonly absent. You should post some tips to help regulate portions!
I actually had those chocolate bars last summer–portion controlled chocolate bars help out a lot
I can go forever and ever with chocolate.
That chocolate sounds delicious!! I love portion controlled chocolate, because I have a tendency to eat the whole bar
Oooh, love the final plated photos with the kale chips!! Pretty!! Wow an hour?? Crazy! I guess it will vary on what type of noodle you use. I used shells but they were pretty thick. Well at least it’s super easy to combine and then just bake awaaay in 1 pan! However, I just can’t get used to eggplant. That squeaky skin!!
I love the packaging + design of those chocolate bars!
Sometimes being able to throw a whole bunch of things in a dish without a lot of prep work totally makes up for the long baking time. Sometimes
That looks like it was worth it!
I need to work on my portion control. seriously, my meals keep increasing in size. i’m working on that!
Mmm, kale chips and chocolate! I need to try those bars.
I like the idea of the uncooked pasta and putting it all together in a pan, so simple.
Mmm that chocolate looks awesome – I love that it’s portion controlled…less for the control – more for the fact that you don’t have to unwrap an entire bar of chocolate for a small bit!
Yum, that pasta bake sounds great. I will need to try it!
Ha I saw that link this morning (on The Kitchn, right?) to that design company and thought of you! But when you posted it I forgot, and I thought you were starting a side business to help people with their blog design (which you could totally do and make $$$, but I’m guessing you’re too busy for something like that!).
I’ve recently discovered your blog and I really like it. You even made me try oatmeal for the first time in my life! And I actually liked it!
I also found this recipe on the bitten world and thought it should interest you: http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2008/06/steelcut-oatmeal-risotto.html#more
And by the way, I love SYTYCD too! I was so surprised by that kiss!
oooh what a yummy dish! I think I need to buy portion controlled chocolate squares! It is too tempting to go back for ‘just another row’
Those mini chocolates are so adorable, but I have a feeling I’d pop three or four of them! No idea how you only escaped with half
I love that you threw in Kalamata olives. Those are my favorite! I could put olives in everything I eat too.
I’m so glad to hear you’re a “So You Think You Can Dance” fan!! I know what you mean about that kiss! I swear there was something going on there
Were you as bummed as I was when Alex had to leave the show?? He was one of my favorites and I thought it was so sad that his journey had to be cut short.
That sounds delicious!!! I actually love Dreamfield’s! I’m not crazy about low carb stuff either but I just find their pasta tasty.
I to have problems with portion control!!! Any tips?
The pasta bake looks AMAZING, but I’m digging your snack fest even more.
I love those types of snacks. 
Those kale chips look great! I made a carrot, kale and avocado salad today and have so much leftover kale, so I might just have to try those!
Dinner looks great!
When I clicked that link, at first I thought you were starting a design company. Silly me
Your snack AND your dinner look really good to me today! I really love mixing cereals, granola, and whatnot together for snacks – so good!
i love pasta bakes where you don’t have to precook the pasta – saw it once on martha stewart and have been wanting to actually try it – i love that this one uses frozen veggies too.
That pasta bake looks divine! I’m totally with Karen on the portion; I’d definitely eat at least twice as much as yours, lol.
Jenn
Shoot, a pasta casserole skipping the step of getting out a pot, boiling water and cooking the pasta first? I’ll trade an hour of not thinking about it in the oven for that! Looks incredibly delicious.
Kale chips too. Mmmmm.
I love pasta bakes!!! Especially the type where you dont have to cook the pasta beforehand!!! So jealous of your dinner, especially the kale chips!!
OMG! Kent + Lauren’s routine — I watched it over and over again…probably 6x!! It was adorable and so “real”. Loveee. So sad for Alex =(
The pasta bake looks great. I’m so on an Italian food kick right now, you have no idea. And I have never heard of that brand of chocolate. I might have to try some
Did you stir it during cooking like Ashley did or leave it in layers?
Portion control is hard for me too. Did you ever have this struggle? If so, how did you get it under control?
mmm i love capers – i also love that snack bowl you had this afternoon! I always want a little bit of everything!
Oooh, that pasta bake looks so good! And so simple, too!
Fabulous! I desperately need to work on my portion control.
I have to say that thanks to you and your blog I am now a kale chip connoisseur. Thanks for sharing your recipes.
I actually have found Seeds of Change chocolate really disappointing, but admittedly this is one of the flavours I haven’t tried. So maybe I got the dud ones
Wow! That pasta looks delicious!! Love the Kale chips also:)
The Kale looks really yummy! I need to try it soon! Love your blog!
Pam
I probably would have been with Karen on the meal size thing – my meals are WAY bigger than your meals!I guess some people just need more to feel satisfied?
It can be so hard when you’re eating something nice to just stop and realise you’ve had enough. It doesn’t help that my brain takes a long time to catch up with my stomach and actually relaise that I’m full!
oh that chocolate looks so good!
Seeds of change is owned by nestle and also sells actual seeds. I work at a tomato lab and we ordered many varieties of heirloom tomatoes that we planted in the field and did taste panels on. They should change the name to Seeds of Gross…almost all of them were disgusting
I love Quaker Oatmeal squares..I used to eat them straight outta the box growing up
I love pasta bakes! I’ll have to try this one tonight! That portioned chocolate is such a good idea.
Do you think that staying at Karen’s will cause you to eat a few more sweets since you will have a willing participant all the time? I know when my cousin visited I wanted froyo or something fun every night because I wouldn’t have to eat it alone- she would too. PB doesn’t really like sweets so I rarely eat any when it is just us two.
Actually YES! I have to set the example
Oh… that pasta bake does sound interesting! It didn’t turn out watery at all with the frozen peppers?
You know what I realized about portion control:
STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH YOURSELF!! I spent years trying to cheat myself into thinking I was still hungry or something was healthy so I could have more or whatever. Just be 100% honest and accept the truth – the portion you ate was probably plenty in the grand scheme of human evolution.
I don’t really believe in tips like “chew gum after dinner” or “brush your teeth.” I think if you don’t get at the core mentality, you’ll just spit out the gum and go back for more (I know I have!)
The more honest I get with myself, the more food is just all pleasure.
I love this comment.
Thank you Kath- you are sooo right!!
Hi Kath,
When making lasagna the pasta should always be cooked – that way the rest of your ingredients won’t turn to mush by the time your pasta is cooked. At least that’s what I learned in culinary school.
I liked your addition about portion control. I think being honest with yourself is the hardest, yet most rewarding part.
Portion control… ah, I just don’t know when to stop when I’m full
I was full halfway to dinner tonight, and the noodles my mom were making hadn’t even been served yet. I finished them anyway… how’s that for intuitive eating? Do you have any tips?
Wei-Wei
What a great looking snack!
When you put chopped eggplant in a baked dish like this one, do you salt it and let it sit to remove the bitterness before adding it to the casserole? I’m always hesitant to use eggplant that way because I hate bitter eggplant! If you didn’t, did it taste bitter? I think eggplant would be great in the recipe, so let me know!
When I make Lasagna I assemble the whole dish (except for the cheese on top ) either in the morning or the night before,then refrigerate, the pasta is not only softened and easy to cook but the flavours combine better.
I have never had a weight problem, I eat very slowly and chew lots, I don’t like to swallow lumpy food (many throat infections as a child)…..so you get the time to feel full when you should.
I think if you have two thirds salad or vegies to one third meat or pasta dish etc. this would also help, good luck everyone with the portion control.
I’m also intrigued by that recipe – The end product looks delicious! I might have to give it a try myself, I adore spinach! and would probably add broccoli too because I’m just a little broccoli obsessed.
And your snack is to die for!