Saving a trip to the store . . .

This is the second time I've tried this and my family has said this should be the only way I prepare lasagna now. I think I've mentioned it before, but instead of buying the packages lasagna noodles at the store, I make my own. It takes a little bit more effort but everyone says it tastes better . . . cheaper, too.

Making pasta dough is easy . . . flour and eggs. I usually go with 4-5 cups flour and 3-4 eggs. On dry days, you might need more eggs. It's a very forgiving recipe as your aim is a workable dough. I have my tomato/meat/spinach sauce at the ready. The cheeses are shredded and standing by. I divide the dough into as many layers as I want and then start rolling! You need a good amount of flour for rolling the sticky dough out. You try for a rectangular shape and cope with what you roll out. You just layer with the filling, cheeses, and layers of dough as you proceed. Top with extra cheese and bake at 350 until bubbling and hot. That was my main dish for our party, last night, and that is what disappeared the fastest.

What I like about making my own egg noodle dough is I can use the organic eggs that have less cholesterol in them. And, I never have to fret at the last minute, discovering I forgot to buy lasagna noodles when I went shopping. Between the flour bin and the eggs in the refrigerator, I'm ready to cook.

I also like to make this dough and cut it into wide noodles and simmer in chicken soup. The noodles take less than five minutes to cook through and really make a plain bowl of soup pretty special.

Quotes to grow by?

"A bore is a man who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company."
-- Gian Vincenzo Gravina

"You can only be young once. But you can always be immature."
-- Dave Barry

"By the time I'd grown up, I naturally supposed that I'd be grown up."
-- Eve Babitz

A poignant milestone . . .

Although there is always a sigh of resignation as each of my children reach the age of 18, there is something a bit more poignant about the youngest one arriving at that milestone. Sigh . . . my youngest turns 18 today! It surely is a measure of how quickly the years go by. I remember when he was born and I thought to myself, "I still have a baby in arms! I'm blessed." I've acknowledged the blessings over the years but that baby in arms certainly grew out of my protective grasp all too soon. Anyway, he is most happy with his birthday gifts and decided he would like German sausage, sauerkraut, and garlic mashed potatoes for his birthday dinner at home. Later in the week, he gets treated to lunch out at a favorite restaurant/fast food place. Cheesecake with strawberry topping is his birthday cake of choice.

Both he and one of his older sisters have December birthdays. It kind of rushes us through the season as we have Christmas and two birthdays for which to prepare. We have always been careful to not count Christmas presents as birthday gifts. I know families that do that but it doesn't seem fair to me to muddle their special day into a feast day for the sake of convenience.

We got together for an annual party with friends, last night. Lots of good food and much laughter. My daughter discovered our wedding album (28 years this February!) and I'm not sure I appreciated the gales of laughter coming from their viewing of it in the living room.

Today, I get to face the bills and bookkeeping that went by the wayside this last week. I imagine a lot of people are getting in the credit card bills and such this week and having to deal with it all. We don't carry a balance on our cards but don't use credit cards when there isn't money to back expenditures on them. I think a lot of people make the mistake of living up to their expectations in life when the paycheck doesn't cover them. And what an example we all have just watching our government in action! Seems like from the president on down all need a basic course in how a checking account actually works!

Somber and amusing . . .

"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."
-- Jack Handey

"What others think of us would be of little moment did it not, when known, so deeply tinge what we think of ourselves."
-- Paul Valery

"Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking."
-- Clement Atlee

"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone."
-- Anthony Burgess

On the Second Day of Christmas . . .

We had a wonderful but quiet Christmas at home with just our family. It was great to have three of our four children home and we very much missed our older son who lives too far away to visit often. In the face of the economy, we were careful in our Christmas buying and put a lot of thought into each and every gift. It made the preparation for Christmas more meaningful for me as I put much of my own 'talents' into making gifts rather than buying them.

One friend, a fellow quilter, surprised me with a box of well-chosen, unique lengths of fabric. I am not excited to begin another quilt once the holiday celebrations calm down a bit.

No weird stuff happening at our 7:30 a.m. Mass, yesterday! We always have the quirks of one of the readers to contend with but the beauty of the Christmas hymns overshadowed the wannabe, female priests of the congregation. Also, one of our favorite Carmelite priests helped out with the Masses and gave his usual, excellent sermon.

We got a visit in the afternoon from friends who came with a plate of homemade cookies and gift card in hand.

Today, is our Christmas party and we will have 14 people at the dinner table. I fixed the three salads yesterday which frees up my time to put bread to rise and get the desserts done this morning.

My first attempt at a crown roast pork with apple stuffing went well. Anyone interested in checking out the recipe, can Google Anne Burell's recipe on the Food Network site. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/crown-roast-of-pork-recipe/index.html I highly recommend it as her instructions are perfect and you are guaranteed an excellent result. My daughter remarked, "Whatever you have cooking in the oven, smells fantastic, Mom!"

Hope everyone had a wonderful day of happiness, blessings, and celebration. Remember to keep the people who are suffering in poorer countries or ones under bad governments in your prayers. The way our government is going, we might need to be on that prayer list by next year! Now, THAT is a sobering thought! :-(

On Beyond Christmas . . .

There is a reason they call it the Twelve Days of Christmas as there are so many things to celebrate and reflect upon from Christmas Eve until the Three Kings arrive at the manger. It is sad when people set up their Christmas trees and start the festivities weeks before the 25^th and then it is all over the minute the gifts are unwrapped and the party foods and treats are consumed. Here are a few of the days to remember and reflect upon.

Boxing Day is the day following Christmas when wealthy people and homeowners in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Now, Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on December 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day. It is observed in Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations.

In South Africa, Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in 1994. In Ireland it is recognized as St. Stephen's Day. In the Netherlands, Lithuania, Austria, Germany, Scandinavia and Poland, December 26 is celebrated as the Second Christmas Day.

 For Catholics, December 26^th is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr.

December 28^th is the Feast of the Holy Innocents. When the Three Kings were following the Star and seeking Jesus, they stopped by King Herod’s palace. He, jealous and fearful of competition, pretended great interest in this ‘new king’ and asked the Kings to come by and let him know where they had found the child. They were given heavenly knowledge to not return so, in his fury, King Herod had all the male children, two years and younger, slaughtered. Given this wholesale murder of babies, it is a good day to reflect on how our world had gone way beyond that massacre and call it abortion today.

Thinking into the New Year . . .

Dreams, ideas, and plans not only are an escape, they give me purpose, a reason to hang on.

- Steven Callahan