National Lasagna Day

Easy recipe...
9 no cook noodles
2 jars (26 oz) sauce (your favorite)
1 lb. ground beef or italian sausage, cooked
1 1/2 Tblsp. italian seasoning
1 15 oz. container part skim ricotta
1 egg
2 pkgs. (8 oz each) italian bend shredded cheese

1.  Mix together ricotta, egg, and spice
2.  Spread 1 1/2 cup sauce on bottom of 13x9" pan.  Layer 3 noodles
3.  Top with 1/2 cheese mixture, 1/2 meat, 1 cup shredded cheese and 1 1/2 cup sauce
4.  Layer 3 noodles and repeat step 3
5.  Layer last 3 noodles and rest of sauce and shredded cheese.  Bake uncovered 40 min.
     at 350 degrees.  Uncover and bake 15 min more until cheese is melted and browned.
     Makes 6 large or 8 regular servings.

Summer entertaining

Ding dong!  The doorbell rings and there are Jim and Nancy from 'down the street' but down the street 8 years ago and now they're "in the neighborhood"  Barring another appointment that had you headed out the door momentarily, you ask them in.  Or you can say you have somewhere else to be and make a date for later to 'catch up'.  (Don't forget that you then must leave the house!)  If they're invited in, don't stress.  You've read the Party Bee posts and have made a plan .  (Buzz:  To bee-prepared always have ice in the freezer and you won't have to keep a variety of drinks chilled).  Head to the refrigerator where a container of tea awaits;  Pour in a pretty glass, then pop in one of your prepared lemon ice cubes.  Unmold a package of Alouette (a fridge staple) on a pretty plate (Buzz: place a fresh leaf underneath for elegant presentation) and add some crackers.  Sliced cheese works just as well.  Now enjoy your guests

Ice Cubes

I always cut up fruit  (shown here are lemon, lime and orange bits) and freeze them in an ice cube tray.  The addition of these festive ice cubes makes any drinking occasion, a party.

Summer entertaining

Summer is a time for outdoor activities and indoor visiting.  To be well-prepared for seasonal entertaining, imagine some scenarios ahead of time.  Are any friends or relatives from out of town expected?  If so, plan a get-together rather than risk impromptu visits when time, food offerings, or even your stress level aren't optimum.  Will there be any birthdays or anniversaries that need to be be celebrated?  Plan for them and the attendant guests that might visit.  Here on Cape Cod, unexpected drop-ins happen often.  Those who've moved away return unannounced to see old friends and neighbors.  Plan for that as well.  More to follow.

Starfish-al start of summer



  
         forgot to post these photos 

Invitation

 

Place setting 

scroll tied with raffia

was included in favor bag

An embarrassment of riches....and I mean friends, not cakes.  Deirdre gifted me with two more mini cakes.  Yum!  I'm so grateful for friends...with cakes.

Happy Birthday, me

I'm neither counting years nor calories today. Kitty arrived saying "let them eat cake" as there were two mini cakes in the package.  Playing the psychological profiling test, I saw two eyes.  Mel didn't.  'Nuff said.       Thank you, friend, for my celebration cakes.

Happy Birthday, OREO

When planning a garden party themed luncheon, I was reminded that this is the 100th anniversary of the cookie.  Not just for dunking, it is used in the following recipe:

OREO COOKIE CAKE (DIRT CAKE)

1 (16 oz.) pkg. Oreo cookies 2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese 2 (8 oz.) pkg. whipped topping 1 c. confectioners' sugar 1 1/2 sticks butter 1 pkg. chocolate pudding 2 c. milk Crush Oreos very fine. Spread 1/2 Oreos on bottom of pan or flower pot and pour butter over Oreos. Let chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar to 1 box of whipped topping until smooth. Prepare pudding as directed on package. Spread cream cheese mixture over cookies, then layer chocolate pudding and other container of whipped topping. Sprinkle remaining Oreos on top. If you use flower pot you can make more layers and stick an artificial flower in for a surprise.

Source:  Cooks.com

Say Cheese

The 'go to' hostess plate is a selection of cheeses and crackers.  But which to choose? Traditionally, there are usually three:  a combo of a hard , a soft and a blue or a combo of a cow's milk , a sheep's milk and  goat cheese. I tend to serve a sliced cheddar, cubes of a herbed havarti and a dish of Boursin with a decorative spreader. 

  At this party I offered an international plate  -

 Italian, French and Irish

National Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day

Always honored on July 1, this day has undoubtedly produced a gamut of flavors.  However, my new favorite has to be Baklava ice cream conceived of and served at Unique Eats in South Yarmouth.  This charming eatery serves mouth-watering Greek specialties and is the latest venture by oh, so talented Andreas Skiadas, well-known for his expertise with hair at Andreas & co. in the Windmill Plaza on Bass River.  Συγχαρητήρια