$50 CSN Giveaway and Zucchini Lasagna

I wasn’t sure what my work day was going to be like, so I knew I had to at least get a walk in before work.  I have this ugly bright yellow jacket I like to wear when I walk or bike outside – I want the cars to see me, but when the sun starts to set, the silver part is actually reflective.

no one is going to run me over when I wear this jacket 😀

I got as far as the end of my driveway and knew I had to come back for not only a winter coat, but hat and gloves too – with the windchill yesterday morning it felt like 20 degrees. 😦

I ended up walking for 40 minutes – I haven’t driven the route, but I think its about 2 1/2 miles – my cheeks were really rosy when I got back in the house.  It’s towards the end of the week so I used up some of my baby spinach for a bagel sammie with egg beaters – its my last bagel – I’ll need to make some more this weekend.

7 Plus Points

With cantaloupe on the side – don’t be judging my reusable tupperware 😀

It turned out that I was able to work out at lunch after all!  When I took my blood sugar before I left it was 99.  While that’s an excellent number, it too low for me to work out.  My fuel?  1 packet of apples and cinnamon oat meal and a cranberry cookie – 6 PointsPlus.

I ended up walking on the treadmill at 3.8 mph, tossing a 6 pound medicine ball back and forth.  I usually use a 4 pounder but I couldn’t find it – holy cow were my arms sore at the end!

For lunch I had leftover zucchini lasagna.  I believe this will be a weekly staple for me for a couple reasons:  1.  it tastes delicious and 2. its so low in points!

Zucchini Lasana

  • Makes two GIANT servings:  405 calories, 19.6 fat, 24.4 carbs, 4.2 fiber and 34.8 protein = 11 PointsPlus if you include all the ingredients, however since the tomato sauce and zucchini are free, it comes out to 7 PointsPlus per serving

Ingredient:

Ricotta Filling:

  • 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup egg beaters
  • 1/8 cup bread crumbs (could have left this out completely)
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers

Remaining Ingredients:

  • 3/4 pound zucchini (which was two large zucchini for me), sliced thin
  • 1 cup tomato sauce (I made my own with no added oil)
  • 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Layer:

  • sauce/zucchini/1/2 ricotta mixture/zucchini/1/2 ricotta mixture/zucchini/sauce/mozzarella cheese

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  I tend to like a bite to my zucchini, if you want it more tender, cook for 60 minutes.

oh, I also salt and peppered the zucchini between layers

ready for the oven 😀

let it sit for about 10 minutes before slicing (if you can wait!)

I ended up eating 1/2 of one serving before a work project, and then the other half when I got back from the gym – this serving is only 3.5 points!

I am submitting this to Friday’s First over at Dinner at Christina’s.

After I saw Marisa’s tostadas yesterday, I knew I was going to have some type of Mexican dish for my dinner.  (Also, don’t forget that Marisa is hosting BSI this week – you have until Sunday to submit your recipe using proscuitto!).

So while Tony was only able to eat some noodles and chicken broth, I had a nacho taco salad – this whole bowl is 9 points!  My dressing?  1 tablespoon fat free ranch (1 tablespoon is zero points) mixed with 4 tablespoons taco sauce (1 point).

So are you wondering by now what the hell the giveaway is all about?  Up for grabs today is a $50 gift card to any of the 220+ websites affiliated with CSN stores.  When Tony and I bought our house almost 10 years ago, during the final walk through I took one look at our dining room light fixture and thought to myself “that things gotta go!”

Yep, 10 years later, and we still have the light fixture.  It just wasn’t a big priority apparently!  So check out the pendant lighting! I think I need to start a saving for some of these gorgeous light fixtures. 😀  Thanks CSN!

How to win?  Leave a comment telling me what you would buy at the CSN stores to replace something you inherited with your house or apartment.

Second chance to win?  Tweet about the giveaway and leave a second comment telling me you did.  A winner will be picked randomly on Monday’s post – good luck!

Hope you have a great weekend – “see” you on Monday! 😀

132 thoughts on “$50 CSN Giveaway and Zucchini Lasagna

  1. Biz, I inherited everything from our last home–we built this house. If I win, I’d replace one of my small lamps. PS love your yellow jacket, I want to get one.

    • I’m pretty sure the muniffs and brownies are pre-packaged from an outside source. Gluten-free items like pasta and breadcrumbs have gotten very popular lately, typically made out of rice, so they’re easy to come by. We used to buy them all the time at Whole Foods and made our own gluten-free pasta dishes at home. I’m not sure if SFMM makes those on-site or buys pre-made portions and heats them up, but I’ll try to find out.

  2. I would replace our mailbox, which is very ugly. CSN stores have some beautiful ones!

    Happy Friday! 🙂

  3. Oh my gosh! Just bookmarked this! I seriously can’t wait to make that lasagna- so yummy! Sorry to hear its still chilly- hopefully this spring thing will kick in soon for you! And I don’t need to replace anything but I need baby furniture! We’ve actually been looking at purchasing from CSN stores because they have such an awesome selection. Enjoy your weekend ❤

  4. The taco salad looks great! As for the gift card, I’d probably put it toward new window treatments.

  5. Hi Biz, I just tweeted about your giveaway.

    • It was great seeing you yeadertsy! I do LOVE your pizza blog. I am wondering, out of all the pizzas you’ve made, have you decided to tweak any of them? Or is there one that just was a never again sort of pizza? I am wondering if you’ve ever tried using fruit like a brie and pear blend on a light sort of sauce or a peach mango salsa or any other crazy mixtures. Your blog gives me lots of food for thought (pardon the pun!)

  6. I would definitely replace my living room throw pillows and blankets!

  7. Weighting For 50

    I would replace the shower head….ours is NOT good. Lasagna looks amazing, thanks for sharing. Hope you have a great day Biz!

  8. I have a bathroom exhaust fan/light that needs to go. Urgh. Every time I look at that stupid thing I want to rip it out. But like you, it hasn’t been the most important thing so there it still is, 5 years later.

  9. what a great way to start your day-with a long walk! i am getting ready to walk the pups here very soon. i would buy new pots and pans for my kitchen. hope you have a great weekend!

  10. OMG, we need new pots and pans so bad. They are rusting and the handles are falling off. This would be great!

  11. Oh, and I tweeted about the giveaway. 🙂

  12. I would replace my daughters ceiling light…it has to be from the 1970’s and is VERY outdated..even though her room is not 🙂

  13. There are so many things in this house that need replacing! I think I would have to start with our end tables in the living room, they are in terrible shape and falling apart.
    Love your blog!

  14. I almost always put zucchini in my lasagna…but never fully replace the noodles with it…I will have to give this a shot. It looks wonderful! Zucchini and anything Italian seem to be a natural partner! I just made stuffed three cheese manicotti last night and used zucchini in the stuffing!

    I don’t have any handme downs that came with my house, because we built it back in the 90’s…but I am with you…new light fixtures for the dining and kitchen would be great. We got just the cheap builders grade…and they are not only outdated but ugly. I love CSN…I got my hand mixer from them!

  15. We are currently remodeling and it feels like we need everything to be replaced 😦

  16. We have the UGLIEST light fixture in our hallway. Came with the house…I would replace that.

  17. Oooh seeing as my whole house is a hand me down (literally! I bought the house from my mom when she was dying so it’s all their stuff) I think I’d get kitchen stuff since everything in there is at least 5 years old (think like spatulas bought at a discount store) and most wayyyyy older than that

  18. I made Crock Pot lasagna this week and it’s too high in points….that zucchini lasagna looks like the perfect swap for me! 🙂 Great idea! 🙂 YUM!

    I love nachos at home yum yum yum! 🙂

  19. I think I would spend the gift certificate getting MATCHING bedding for our bedroom!

  20. Why is it that light fixtures seem to get old and dated so quickly? I have several that need to be changed out, but there always seems to be something else that takes priority. Great giveaway!

    The zucchini lasagna looks so good! Not sure I could get away with doing that, with my half Italian husband around…

    Oh, and I’m impressed that you can toss a medicine ball while on the treadmill…I can only do one thing at a time, else I’m flying off the back (and yes, the is while walking, sadly)!

    • I did some checking on flgiht lessons here in town. $9500 for the course. Expensive. Although with some saving and discipline could be a reality someday. I live in Grand Forks, home of The University of North Dakota, known especially for our aviation school. An old college roomate went to it, and is now a pilot for Delta flying the Airbus 330 (I believe). The ultralight option is a good idea. I didn’t think about that. It may be more realistic for me at this time.BTW Nota, that is one of my all-time favorite poems. First time I heard it was after the Challenger dissaster in 1986. It has been stored in my memory ever since. When I first read it, I thought it was about a man who died and was on his way to Heaven. I still like to think that’s what it is really about.

    • This was so helpful and easy! Do you have any articles on rehab?

  21. The lasanga looks amazing!!!
    I would get the Chilewich Table Runner from CSN.
    aubreyfick@yahoo.com

  22. I’d definitely get a new mailbox!

  23. tweet-http://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/46234705384841216

  24. Yumm…..that lasagna reminds me of the WW Smart Ones meals – only yours looks MUCH better! 🙂

    Gosh, I would probably use the GC to go toward a new side table in my living room….I got mine (for $10 each!) at Goodwill, but they are very, very sad and beat up. Let’s just say I’ve had to be strategic about where I place things on the table to cover things up. 😉

    Great giveaway, Biz, and I’m so glad Tony is feeling more like himself!

  25. Id replace any number of ugly lights we have in our condo. Probably the bathroom one I’d do first.

  26. I would replace the ancient ceiling light that is in our hallway and doesn’t match any of our decor. Thank you for the chance.
    blondie_31971(at)yahoo(dot)com

  27. I just added your zucchini lasagna to the menu in a few weeks. It just needs some onions. 🙂

    I have super, duper old bakeware that needs to be replaced! I just replaced my 30 year old Montgomery Wards microwave from CSN not too long ago. I got it from a friend in college 21 years ago, who got it from his mom. That thing was like the first microwave invented, at LEAST 30 years old, maybe more.

  28. I would replace the same thing, an ugly light fixture above my dining room table!!! Only mine is worse than yours!!!!

  29. Anna aka missmommie

    Deb-Hang on to that thing!!! I am on my 3rd GE microwave in 1 year!!!! They are not built to last anymore!!!

  30. We also have some hideous light fixtures that could use replacing. That and the very odd drawer pulls in the bathroom.

  31. i’d buy food processor 🙂

  32. I would replace our light fixtures, they are horrid! Glad to hear Tony is feeling better 🙂

  33. The good news is that we are moving soon (check out my blog today for that giveaway) and we didn’t really inherit here anything we didn’t know we were giving back soon as this is a 2 year assignment. But, we have no counter space so I would want something moveable that could provide us additional counter space, like an island on wheels.

  34. Janet in Houston

    Kichler – 2020NI – Dover Chandelier in Brushed NickelSKU #: KI1935
    A chandelier for the my eating area.

  35. That zucchini lasagna sounds so delicious. I so love zucchini!

    If I won the CSN giveaway, I probably wouldn’t replace anything in my apartment, because it didn’t really come with anything! LOL I would probably just nbuy something fun for the kitchen 🙂

  36. new light fixtures! 🙂

  37. I am running a CSN giveaway also but I want a chance to win! I need a chandelier for my closet….a mini one and they have the greatest selection! Wooo CSN!

  38. 1 – the lasagna looks amazing! I love zucchini in pasta type dishes! YUM

    2 – I would definitely buy an area rug. I inherited light gray carpet. Doesn’t sound bad does it? HA. Add in 1 dog that formally lived in the house (brown 110 pound lab) and then add 3 babies who have ‘grown up’ and are now 5, 2 and 1. Oh yeah. I need a rug to cover some of the stains up. I’d get new carpet but get serious…they aren’t going to stop spilling anytime soon;)

  39. I’d use it for a new faucet. Thanks.

  40. Have you ever used this http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ to map out routes. It is great at giving you the distance. Jump to a location, start recording and then draw out the path. Cool stuff!

  41. I love the idea of using zucchini instead of pasta in your zucchini lasagne! It looks really scrumptious, and much better for you too.

  42. Love your blog!! I want a new set of dishes.

    • Bman,Do it. I got my private pilot’s linesce in 1970 in Palmer, Alaska. It’s a lot more expensive today, of course, but if you dream of something like this, do it.You will not be able to do it if you have serious physical problems, like diabetes, that will keep you from passing the physical.Keep in mind, though, it’s expensive. The lessons are expensive, the planes are, and the insurance is. Cheapest way has always been to join a flying club. They have club airplanes at a discount rental rate and have usually got members who are instructors. Also, memberships can sometimes be bought from current members at a discounted rate, especially in an economic downturn.It’s a kind of an elite group to belong to, but better than that is what you describe: the freedom. My wife and I used to fly up to Talkeetna, about 70 miles, for lunch. Great memories.

  43. I would replace the lamps in the livingroom.

    hillaryanna at yahoo dot com

  44. tweet

    hillaryanna at yahoo dot com

  45. The lasagna sounds awesome – love how you layered the zucchini down like that, and how you served it on a bed of spinach – YUMMMMM!!!! As far as CSN, great giveaway, I would order a new shower head -ours sucks SO bad! It just sprinkles on us – ew.

  46. First – that lasagna looks delish!

    As for what we inherited that I’d want to replace? The “mushroom” lights in the bedroom. Blech.

  47. i need to replace my ugly ass sheets!!!

  48. i need to buy picture frames -i bought my parents old house- so you can imagine what all they left for me-ugh

    tcogbill at live dot com

  49. Kitchen Wear to help keep me moving down the scale. I get tired of washing out stuff cause I still need it. This way I can still wash as I cook but have everything handy.

  50. The lasagna looks amazing! I am the only lasagna eater in my family so this would be perfect for me. Thanks!

    I would get a ceiling fan to put in hubbies office. He gets so warm in the summer and a ceiling fan would help a lot.

  51. I have been in my house 24 years and I too have an ugly light fixture. I would love to change but have never taken the time, had the money, etc. That is what I would spend the gift card on.

    P.S. Glad Tony is doing well. Keep up the blog, I love it…..

    • This looks so good! I don’t normally make lasangas but this one I’ll have to try! Thanks for the great pictures and easy directions they are really great!

    • Thanks for that! It\’s just the answer I needed.

    • If my problem was a Death Star, this article is a photon torpedo.

    • For the ricotta miurxte I put in about a cup each of freshly grated Parmesan (don’t use the stuff in the green can) and Pecorino Romano. 2 eggs, maybe 3 if the Ricotta is the drier kind and about a 1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley. Brad’s in charge of the meat sauce and I’m pretty sure it’s what makes it taste so good. I think it’s the aromatics Oregano, basil, lots of garlic, balsamic vinegar and red wine. I think he puts worster sauce in it too. We had the oven roasted tomatoes and I’m sure those contributed a lot of depth to the sauce. Don’t forget the pound of mozarella.

  52. I inherited my desk chair from the woman who rented my room before me, and I would LOVE to replace it!

    By the way, that zucchini lasagna sounds totally amazing…definitely have to give it a try!!

  53. Hey Biz – I’m just here to tell you I tried your cauliflower recipe – Cauliflower Gratin – and it was mmm mmm good. Thanks so much for posting.

  54. I would totally buy new bar stools!

  55. I would replace a motion light.

    tahearn at roadrunner dot com

  56. We bought a new house this time around (it’s our 4th house in 12 years of marriage) so I wouldn’t replace anything! However, I have some baking pans that were wedding gifts, and they have had it. I really need new baking pans, and some cooking utensils!

  57. I’d replace my bedside lamp.

  58. YUMMMM! I’d get a new set of sheets, we’re using some pretty old ones.

    shannoncarman at yahoo dot com

  59. Hey Biz. That lasagna, I think even my daycare little ones would try. Thanks for sharing.
    As for the CSN, the light fixture about my kitchen sink is ugly I’d love to get something that hangs a bit.
    Take care and have a blessed weekend.

  60. I’d replace the light fixture in the entryway…it looks like a giant acorn!

    danielleaknapp at gmail dot com

  61. i’d replace my toaster oven 😉 i was looking at it today in disgust, lol. loving that taco salad… maybe i’ll have to make tacos soon! have a great weekend 🙂

  62. I’d buy a new sink, the faucets from when I moved in are, errrm, not so great. Thanks so much for the chance to win!

  63. I would get new house numbers for the alley side of our house. The middle number has been missing since we moved in 10 years ago!

  64. I would buy a Le Crueset Casserole dish to replace my old, inherited pyrex!

  65. Does CSN sell toilets? ours is old and toooo low LOL-you need a lift to get up!!!!

    • Black bean burgers, chdaedr potato soup, rice and bean burritos, veggie chili and black bean soup! All of these recipes are meatless and my whole family loves them! Let me know if you want the recipes! =) Also- I love the little snow scenes your mom did in those glass jars! What a neat and creative idea![]Dreawood Reply:December 28th, 2011 at 1:15 pm, ooo Id love your veggie chili recipe!![]

    • I’m finding these posts very uesufl; I already do most of the things you suggest. Could you please do a post on canning using a water bath for us in the UK? I am wary of trying it in case I make a mistake in translation! I would like to be able to preserve my tomato crop, possibly with other vegetables, such as onions, courgettes, peppers and mushrooms as pasta sauce, or tomatoes alone to use instead of tinned tomatoes. I have a small freezer but it’s too small for this. Canning apple sauce would be good too. We don’t eat much jam, so I’m freezing pureed strawberries from the garden to use in smoothies but there’s no more room. Thanks.

  66. I would love that lasagna! As for what I would replace…the ugly old ceiling fan in our master bedroom. I’d get a pretty light fixture and I saw some beauties on that website!

  67. great giveaway! i would get some pretty curtains, i’m so sick of our nasty blinds. i’m SO in love with that lasagna.

  68. I’d get some things for the walls–my apartment needs a little more decor!

  69. I love your bagels, Biz!!!

    I made zucchini lasagna a while back, too! You are right, so filling and delicious for low Points! Thanks for the reminder! And the shout out 🙂 Your taco salad looks amazing!

  70. That lasagna looks seriously delicious! Bookmarking right away!

    I’d pick up some new cute bake ware. Just can’t get enough of that, plus CSN has SO much to choose from!

    • Hi Don,Thanks so much for your kind words about my blog, you’re my first reader who isn’t my brifoyend or my sister! I’d love to be added to your blogroll, and after checking out your site, I’ll definitely add you to mine as well. Your recipe for onion rings might be the final push I need to try them out in the kitchen! I read a secret ingredient to making onion rings really, really crispy is to use instant mashed potato mix in the batter. Who would’ve thought?As for the lasagna recipes I like the addition of bell peppers in yours. With lasagna, you can basically add anything you like and it will still taste yummy!Thanks again for the comment and I’ll be reading This Guy Can Cook! ,Molly

  71. I want new table cloths for my kitchen table!

  72. I want some home cooked food. Stuck in Tokyo, Japan until Sunday night (Monday morning for you)

  73. I’ve never owned a house and inherited something ugly. Right now, I’m in an apartment and our bedroom gets an obnoxious amount of light so I would perhaps look into some dark curtains. Or I would buy a wall-mounted spice rack. Just because 🙂

  74. Awesome recipe…it goes in my folder of things to try..

    Oh and I really need some new lamps.

    • I have been so busy getting back into the swing of thgnis after the holiday week off that I am just getting to my emails now!!! But Not a HOLIWEEK is what gets me through the holiDAY. I love that saying and so grateful you taught it to me.The saturday after thanksgiving, it was back to proper eating and exercise. This week one week later I have not gained an ounce and lost a 1/2 a LB to boot!!!! Keep the inspiration coming ..

  75. Ooh yummy lasagna! I would replace the little table in the kitchen. It wobbles like crazy:)

  76. Your zucchini lasagna looks awesome, love the ricotta filling layer!

  77. Thanks for the giveaway! Like you, we have a hanging light fixture that needs to go! It’s over our bed (?!), but it looks like it belongs over a mobster’s card table in a gambling den!

  78. I tweeted!

  79. I would love to replace my old doormat with this one:
    Imports Unlimited – Recycled Rubber Fleur Di Lys Oriental Doormat
    Elenna @ sbcglobal.net

    • This looks so much better than hugearmbr helper! So comforting! I had you for this month’s SRC. We loved your black bean salsa! I’ve been enjoying it for lunch and dinner the past few days Thanks for a great recipe!

    • I tried it with the cocoa. I used 1/2 cup in place of the choc chips, that was probably a lil too much, thugoh, they still taste ok. because of tha lack of sweetness from choc chips, and added bitterness from the cocoa, I rolled them in cinnamon-sugar before baking. after baking for the 20 minutes it called for, the bottoms were more done than the sides and obviously the top, nut I think that’s due to my old oven! All in all, I like them, but I am sure I would like them more with the choc chips instead of the cocoa powder!

  80. Hi. I’ve had your blog saved forever (ok, just since the chobani mitt recipes) and finally got to know you 🙂 also gotta make that bagel recipe, the zucchini, ect.
    Anyway, when we moved into our house 19yrs ago, we replaced our dining room ceiling light with one that looks just like yours there. of course now i don’t like it so it would be a re replacement 🙂

  81. That lasagna looks yummy! I am not a huge zucchini fan but tend to like it when it is “hidden” in things. I would love to replace the lamps in my bedroom. I did not inherit anything with the house since we built it:)

  82. I love your taco salad. The dressing sounds amazing..and so simple! Will have to remember that one!

    I am changing out the decor in my living room and I would love to get a new rug!

  83. I would look at replacing my office desk. It was inherited from my grandmother and is not very practical these days, especially with the big cushy office chairs. I would refinish the old desk and use somewhere else in the house.

  84. I would probably replaced my china cabinet, mostly because its too small.

  85. I’d replace our rice maker, it just died.

  86. We have an old, non-descript door mat that we inherited when we purchased our home. I’d like to upgrade that to a more modern, appealing one!
    sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com

  87. We have a terrible light in our guest room! Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂

    Kelly

  88. That lasagna looks great….AND great idea to toss the med ball at the gym!! With my luck I’d prob throw it and hit someone 🙂 Hmmm, well my apt was empty when I moved…but I would love a food processor, which I inherited from my momz but have yet to bring to Boston!!

  89. I tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/anashct/status/47298032013819905
    email: anashct [at] yahoo [dot] com

  90. Mandatory Entry: I love csn..I would want Kathy Ireland Home by Martin Furniture – Mt View End Tables…I think your blog is awesome…love the food recipes!

    Anashct [at] yahoo [dot] com

  91. first off, sooooo gonna try that zucchini lasagna! secondly, i would like to get a card table and chairs to replace my dying set =)

  92. We have a funky light fixture I would love to change out! It is sooooo 70s!

  93. Feeling lucky? Go here to enter Biz’s CSN giveaway http://mybizzykitchen.com/2011/03/11/50-csn-giveaway-and-zucchini-lasagna/#

    Tweeted as well… hoping I did it right! LOL!

  94. I would buy a new bathroom lighting fixture to replace the old and ugly one

    • Wow laura, you have a hopin crowd today! LOL linking up a great whole wheat blmuertitk biscuit recipe that is a great place to use up any soured raw milk if you have it. Also, mine calls for rendered lard, but to make it vegetarian, simply use more butter! Still waiting to hear back from you! Hope you write back soon! Alex

  95. Too funny about the Tupperware – when I saw that pic I thought to myself “oh yes she reuses plastic containers like me and my mom!” I just put them in the dishwasher and reuse. They’re great to bring places or to freeze b/c you don’t care if they get lost or damaged.

    I love love love the zuchini idea!! So cool!

  96. WOW that lasagna sure looks delicious.

  97. I would LOVE to change my outside light with the Craftmade – Z7064-63 – Mandalay Hanging Outdoor Wall Lantern with Leaf Detail in Antique Bronze. I hate the old one so out dated.

    Your lasagna looks and sounds so yummy a must try.

  98. Tweet

  99. I love zucchini lasagna — we roast our zucchini first… oh, my!!

  100. what size baking dish do you make the lasagna in?? is it an 8×8?

  101. […] was my zucchini lasagna, but instead of two servings, I made it four, since I wanted a salad on the side with shaved […]

Leave a reply to SnoWhite @ Finding Joy in My Kitchen Cancel reply