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.