Recipes That Rock: Classic Meat Lasagna

A bunch of you emailed me and asked me to post the lasagna recipe we used for Ella's birthday dinner. Here it is!

After many a failed/bland/watery lasagna recipes I finally perfected this one which has everything we want in a lasagna. We like the cheesiness of ricotta, but dislike the pasty texture, so we use half ricotta and half cottage cheese. This gives a smooth texture and is less expensive. This recipe also has the perfect blend of seasoning and spices in the cream mixture, which would otherwise be much too bland.



EMILIE'S CLASSIC MEAT LASAGNA

15 oz. container ricotta cheese
16 oz. container cottage cheese
3 c shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c grated Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1&1/2 pounds ground beef
3 cloves of minced garlic
1/2 c. diced onion
2 jars Marinara Sauce
16 flat lasagna noodles

1. Bring large pot of water to a boil (I hate the gummy texture of the no boil kind, but you can go for it if you want to). Cook lasagna noodles for 6-7 minutes. When ready to layer lasagna, take noodles out one at a time with tongs.
2. In a large bowl combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, 1 c. mozzarella cheese, 1/2 c. of shredded Parmesan Cheese, salt, dried parsley, dried basil, black pepper and eggs.
3. Cook beef in medium-large sized pot with onion and garlic until browned. Pour off fat. Stir in pasta sauce.
4. Assemble layers as follows...lasagna noodles, a third of the ricotta cheese mixture, then a third of the meat sauce mixture. Repeat layers. Finish with lasagna noodles and sauce.
5. Bake at 400* for 30 minutes or until hot in the center. Add remaining cheese and bake 10 more minutes. Let rest 15-20 min.

Old Navy SCORE!

I dropped by my Old Navy today and scored AMAZING deals!

All of their clearance is an additional 50% off
AND
we printed a 15% off coupon from online and stacked that on top.

Here is the loot we got.


2 toddler raincoats
8 short sleeved toddler shirts
5 long sleeved toddler shirts
1 long sleeved toddler hooded shirt
1 men's size work out shirt (a hubby's gotta feel loved too!)

Total? $50.11
That averages $2.94 per item.

the Birthday report

Last Night - The Birthday Fairies decorated the entire front room with streamers and balloons.

6:30 AM - Ella wakes up amped for her birthday. Ella was soooo excited by the decorations. She promptly picked up a balloon, studied the end thoughtfully and declared, "The end of this balloon looks like a penis!" Lovely, isn't it? She has only seen a newborn baby penis and it was almost a full year ago, but it clearly made an impact on her.


7:00 AM - Mommy serves up Ella's breakfast of choice. Scrambled eggs and toast with orange juice to drink. I made the toast, buttered it and then used small heart cookie cutters to cut two heart shapes from each slice. The girls loved it!


8:00 - 10:00 AM - The girls watch Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for the 1 millionth time.


11:30 AM - Daddy arrives home from work to take Ella to a Daddy/Daughter Date, which was lunch at Ella's restaurant of choice. She said she wanted to go to the place with the old, white man. We finally figured out that she was talking about Colonel Sanders and she headed off to Ken-ducky Fried Chicken with Daddy while Eva and I munched on PB&J's.

12:00 PM - Evangeline say she wants to use the potty. Her diaper is dry so we take it off and set her down. She uses the potty all by herself for the first time! Wahoo! The singing and dancing begin when the phone rings. It's Auntie Michelle calling to say Happy Birthday to Ella, but since she is still out with Daddy I hand over the phone to Evangeline to share her exciting potty news. It went a little something like this...

Evangeline: Hi, Auntie 'Shell. I went poo-poo and pee-pee on the potty all by myself.
Michelle: That's great! Good job, Lady!
{ ........silence........ }
Me: Tell her all about it Eva.
Evangeline: Well, it was yellow. And brown. You know...like poo is.
Me: That's not what I meant by tell her all about it.

12:30 PM - Daddy and Ella return home and Michelle gets to wish Ella a Happy Birthday on the phone.

1:00 - 4:30 PM - Children fight about everything imaginable. Most of these fights culminate with Ella screaming "You're ruining my perfect birthday!" I put the girls in the bath, hoping for peace, however the fighting continues, but now includes water.

4:30 PM - Mommy and the girls head out to the grocery store to get ingredients for tonight's birthday dinner. Ella says "It's my birthday today!" to each and every person we pass in the store. Against my usual standards I allow both Ella and Evangeline to get a treat of gummy pizzas. Ick. Nothing starts a new year of life like sugar, corn syrup and dye.


6:00 PM - The family sits down to Lasagna and garlic bread per Ella's request. Evangeline melts down and refuses to eat. Gets sent to her room for having a tantrum.

7:00 PM - Ella blows out the candles on the leaning tower of strawberry whipped cream cake. We try, in vain, to keep this thing upright beyond the candle blowing, but eventually it ends up in a bowl and become "Birthday Trifle". It's still delicious. While we eat dessert, Ella gets birthday calls from Grandma and Grandpa Ahern, The Chapmans and Our friend Matt M.


7:30 - 9:00 PM - Then comes presents...Some from us and some from Grandma and Grandpa Ahern. Then family watches Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Mommy falls asleep half way through.

she's five

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLA-BEE*
we LOVE you!

"The days are long...but the years are short."

This is the most true statement about Parenting I have ever heard. Some days as a parent seem like time is standing still. That laboriously long crawl of time passage when your life is a sea of diapers, stepping on hair-clips and going through 10 boxes of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese each month. But one day, you wake up, and a year has passed and it catches you off guard in a way you never expected on those days when you touched poo more times than anyone should have to.

Today was such a day.

I just got off the phone with the Donegal Springs Elementary School and set up an appointment to register Ella for Kindergarten. Kindergarten? Seriously?


Backpacks. Lunch boxes. First crushes. Freshly sharpened pencils lined up in a row. Squeaky new shoes that pinch your ankle a bit. The smell of newly cleaned elementary school hallways. Butterflies in the tummy and nervous glancing at the doorway as Mom says goodbye for the first time.

And it's a new journey for me too. Parent teacher conferences. PTA meetings. Ramblings with other Moms about the first Grade teacher you WANT to have next year. Putting my child on a school bus and waving goodbye. Letting her go a bit. Hoping you taught her to be kind to everyone. Watching her recite new things that you didn't teach her.

A new journey begins now.

Nerd Confession #7...Planet of the Apes Nerd

No, it's not a joke.
I love these movies.

And, as if that alone doesn't make me a nerd, I should probably add that I think they are a definitively profound look at social stereotypes in modern America. Yes. I am serious.

Oh yeah, and since it's confession time, I have the final scene of Number I memorized like a nerd-esque monologue. This scene...pictured here...

I highly recommend watching the first 4 installments of the original movie series. Skip the recent re-make starring Mark Walburg and the entirety of the television series.

What's YOUR nerd confession for today?

*To read more nerd confessions click here.

Lion Cupcakes

We had a lesson on Daniel in the Lion's Den for our Family Home Evening last night and whipped up these fun Lion Cupcakes (inspired by Liv Hansen's design from The Whimsical Bakehouse). They could be used for a Jungle Party too.



You'll Need
- Cupcakes (prepared from a cake mix)
- Vanilla Frosting
- Orange Food Coloring (mixed with frosting in dark orange and light orange)
- mini M&Ms
- Caramel Popcorn (Fiddle Faddle, Yellow Zonkers, etc.)
- Cheerios (optional)
- Pretzel Sticks

Directions
1. Frost prepared cupcakes with dark orange frosting. Add a small circle of light orange slightly lower than center.
2. Add caramel popcorn all around outer edge, pressing down lightly into frosting.
3. Add brown mini M&M's as eyes and a red mini M&M as a nose.
4. Break each pretzel stick in half and stick into cupcake top on either side of the nose to form whiskers.
5. Add a Cheerio for each ear (optional).

This week it was the big hit of the FHE! Of course, ours don't look nearly as fancy-shmancy as the originals, but that's part of the fun.

Four, going on Condescending

.
Ella: Mommy, eggs are very fragile.
Me: Yes, you're right, they are.
Ella: Do you need me to tell you what fragile means?

My New Church Assignment

Alternative titles for this post:
"Wait, Isn't that a calling for Grown-Ups?"
"They know I'm kind of a doofus, right?"
"Blast! Now I can't indulge in minor swearing anymore."

Note: In the LDS church we do not have any paid clergy, instead the congregation members teach and lead each other. There is a leader of our congregation (the Bishop) and he assigns "callings" to each member. You can always choose to accept or not accept the assignment.

Last month we were rushing in the morning. Matt had a Sunday School class to teach to his 11 year old primary class. I had a Sunday School class to teach to my 14 & 15 year old class. And both Matt and I had been asked to team teach a combined Young Men/Young Women's lesson on Choice and Accountability.

I was making 3 dozen homemade Snicker Doodles for our joint lesson (because nothing says Choice and Accountability like Snicker Doodles...am I right?) when the phone rang. Matt got it, listened for a moment and then said, "The Bishop wants to meet with both of us before church at 10:45...can we make it?" And that's when it hit me full force....I am getting a calling to be in the Relief Society Presidency. I knew it. There was a spot as the 2nd Counselor made vacant just last week.

The Relief Society is comprised of all of the women in our congregation. The Presidency tends to their spiritual, physical and emotional needs, teaches and guides them. The Presidency also provides relief when needed for a sick or otherwise needy sister...including watching kids, taking meals in or helping them in any other way. It is the most work intensive calling there is for a woman in the congregation.

When we got to church the Bishop said his meeting had gone long and we would meet after church instead. Well, imagine my relief when my friend Amber was called as the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society during Sacrament Meeting. Whew! I must have been wrong! Close call, Ahern, close call.

And that's when Heavenly Father chuckled.

After church we met with the Bishop and I accepted a calling to be the 1st Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. I am humbled, nervous and a bit overwhelmed, but I know the Lord will bless me as I serve to the best of my ability.

MCC Pictures!

Nothing beats a Mixed Craft Club afternoon. I woke up and tidied up the house while Matt made Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Soup. Coolest. Husband. Ever. And it was deeeeeelicious! We had some crusty bread and butter (the butter wasn't crusty...just the bread) and some snacks for afterwards.

I always invite around 10 friends and there are always conflicting schedules and such, so we average around 4-5 women each time. I was thinking today how nicely it always turns out. We have had a different mix of girlfriends each month and it gives us the chance to get to know each other better before a different mix with a different dynamic appears the following month.

But one thing remains the same...good times, good food and good crafts. Alas, it was Jenny's very last MCC since she is moving at the end of next week. We will miss her family a lot, but are excited for their new adventures in North Carolina.

( Jenny and Kirsti working hard at being Crafty. )
This month we made Family Photo Books together. I am not quite finished with mine (since I was helping out others), but they turned out great! I also finished up a sewing project and mended a torn pocket on my favorite new hoodie.

( Jenny made this adorable receiving blanket for a friend's baby boy on the way. )

You may think I am crazy, but I have seriously been considering finding a larger space for MCC each month. That way we could invite everyone we know! I will have to do some investigating on that one.

Hooray! Today is MCC!

What's MCC you ask?
Mixed Craft Club.
Yep, 4-6 of my crafty friends from my area are headed over for our monthly Mixed Craft Club. There will be paper crafting, sewing, quilting and maybe other crafts going on. But no matter what there is always fun, good snack food and lots of laughs.

I'll share some pictures tomorrow.



But for now....
Around 1,600 different people visited this blog yesterday.
WOWZA!
Those top 12 lists really bring in the readers!

Top 12 Posts of ALL Time

What makes a person leave a comment on a blog?
I was wondering this the other day and decided to see which of my blog posts have yielded the most comments.

Now, you can't count it when there is a give-away. I mean, people will come out of the woodwork like crazy as soon as you're giving away goodies. So I didn't count those posts. The rest can be divided into categories BAD DAY, I'M A FOOL, FRUSTRATION and INSPIRATION.

I think this proves you people LOVE it when me life falls apart! :)

And now I give you....
THE TOP 12 POSTS

12 - BAD DAY
11 - BAD DAY
10 - BAD DAY
09 - INSPIRATION
08 - I'M A FOOL
07 - INSPIRATION
06 - I'M A FOOL
05 - FRUSTRATION
04 - INSPIRATION
03 - FRUSTRATION
02 - INSPIRATION (I really wish this post had been number one)
01 - INSPIRATION
Was one of these YOUR favorite?

Book Review: "The Help"

by Kathryn Stockett
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

I read this book for Book Club for February. I have to say, after purchasing it and reading the inside jacket I was very leery. And even throughout the first chapter I found myself hesitating a bit, but forging on because of the approaching Book Club Meeting. But within a few chapters I was engrossed in the plot.

The story is told by 3 different narrative characters. This is an approach I usually do not like, but the author truly gives each character a distinct voice, using language patterns, vocabulary and sentence structure that is definite and easy to differentiate.

The book unfolds as a story of three women living in the South during the racially charged 1960's. They are all linked together by other women in the community and by a frustration at the racial and social lines which define them. Together their lives become intertwined as they embark on a project which will shake up the community and take a step towards redefining "white and black" America.

By mid-novel I was heavily immersed in the story-line and was really invested in the characters and how their story would unfold. The ending was a perfect balance between closure and realism. Somewhere between tying it up with a pretty bow and tragedy. It's closing hits the truest note it could have and, in my opinion, that is the most difficult part of a novel to get right (even Charles Dickins had to re-write the ending of Great Expectations).

Overall this is a very good read. Engaging, thought provoking and well-written.

To buy this book online click here.
Click Here to view all of my Good Reads reviews.

Have you read this book?
If so, what do YOU think?

Beware the Mommy Blog Topic

Is anything more scary than potty training?
I swear I would walk across hot coals,
go through natural childbirth again,
and stop sinning entirely...
if I could just avoid this parenting step all together.

And Evangeline has been extra tough.
Not common for a second child.
We bought the books, borrowed the Elmo potty video, picked out cute panties...all to no avail. Until today.
Out of nowhere she informs me that the potties are coming. I grab the "Princess Potty" and bring it upstairs to her. She sits down and promptly uses it perfectly.

Well, we hoot, we holler, we sing the official Ahern Potty Song, we dance, we give treats and then call everyone she knows to tell them the news. Yes, we're WAY into positive reinforcement.


I am hoping this is the beginning of a relatively smooth transition to ditching the diapers.
Wish us luck!

Almost 3

Evangeline will NOT allow me to take photos of her recently. I fear we have no photographic proof of her existence from the past 4 months. I snapped this shot of her today while she was unaware. She is such a beautiful girl.

Tuesday Tell All

The Random Integer choose Question #937 from The Complete Book of Questions. I was a bit scared, since That is the final section in the book and contains "Extreme Spiritual Matters". Here's the question...

QUESTION: What's Your Favorite Bible Verse and Why?

Now, that's not too tough. But funny enough I have never really thought about this. My "scriptures" include additional books of scripture and my favorite verse of scripture is found in the Book of Mormon. I love the Bible, but had not singled out a single verse which was my favorite for quite some time.

A. Isaiah 40: 28-31

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

This passage came to mind immediately after really thinking about the question. What more amazing promises could there be? I think that in all religions there has to be an element of faith. No amount of certainty can erase the need for complete and utter faith. But sometimes that faith is difficult to sustain when the world shouts at you from every corner that religion is a crutch, a farce, a myth that those who cannot stand on their own.

In my mind I always feel as if the reference to youth and young men fainting away is really a metaphor for the worldly whisperings of doubt. And that those who the world would label weak are made strong by their faith and dependence on the Lord. So many times in my life I have felt exhausted...spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally, but this passage serves as a reminder that true, lasting strength comes from above.

What is YOUR favorite verse from the bible?

*to read other posts in this series click here.

Team Ahern Updates

It's been a while since I updated you on our family.
So here goes.

Matt
Still doing very well at his work. He recently spoke one on one with a bunch of his immediate supervisors and they all said he's going places. Matt is still waiting for the snow to clear so he can start making manly food in his new smoker. As the Olympics #1 fan he is happy as a clam these days.

Emilie
Busy busy busy. We are having great success with our FHE and have not only not missed a week yet, but have seen an increase in blessings and the Spirit in our home is more loving. Also, my craft blog is gaining steam and was recently chosen as a highlighted craft blog on the Ucreate blog. Seriously...how did I live before blogs? I am sadly saying goodbye to my church calling as Sunday School Teacher to the 14-15 year olds and prepping for a new calling (Sorry, I can't tell you what it is until this Sunday).


Ella
Is looking forward to her 5th birthday this month. I am in the midst of planning a great combined birthday party for her and Evangeline and they are both so excited. Ella is filled with curiosity and has recently asked me..."What is Jewish?", "What is snow made of?", "Will my bum ever get bigger?" and "Are there any colors I don't know about?"

Evangeline
Eva is at that great age where she is content in her own little world. At any given moment she can be found singing a made-up song to herself, organizing toys in a row, making her barbies dance and asking to use the potty like a big girl. By the way, we can't potty train her until she is older because she has Urinary Reflux and the doctors have all advised us to wait until at least 3-3.5 years old. She wants so badly to be big and do everything Ella can do...both good and bad.

Crafter & Laughter

Awwwww.....Philly Day was glorious, eventful and exhausting!




First Stop: Floral & Craft Warehouse, Blue Ball, PA (giggle!)

I loved this place because...well....it's a Craft Warehouse. Need I say more? We arrived nice and early and got sucked into a time vortex of knitting, beads, scrapbook paper, sparkly bits and vintage inspired buttons. We emerged as if in a Rip-VanWinklian state (did 2 hours just elapse)? Yes it did. I scored: Some luscious mustard yellow beads to string a necklace, some gaudy baubles for the girls' combined birthday party and this delightful polka-dot felt.


Commute: We were almost run down by a very aggressive semi. He was swerving in and out of cars and tailgating at no more than 2-3 feet from our back end. Jenny gave someone the finger for the first time in her life...then called her husband to let him know. (Yes, I got her permission to write that).

Second Stop: Tony Luke's, South Philly, PA

Waited in the cold for our Philly Cheesesteaks. Jenny decided to go authentic since it was her first real Cheesesteak ever...hated the Whiz after two bites and instead demolished my french fries. We brought the extra sandwich home for Matt who exclaimed, "How could anybody NOT finish this?" I scored: a Cheesesteak...Whiz...Wit'.

Commute: Headed to a gas station to fill up and spotted an oasis in front of the Wawa...Girl Scouts!!! We practically mauled them in our over-excitement. I scored: Thin Mints, baby!



Third Stop: Ikea, South Philly, PA

Another first for Jenny. By this time we were starting to realize our time was running out, but how do you tear someone away from their first visit to Ikea? We made a new discovery (which may, in fact, be common knowledge) that Ikea sells fabric. And it was SO freakin' cute too. I loaded my cart, then paired down later when I realized I was going to single handedly bankrupt my family and double the GNP of Sweden. I scored: A new paper lamp for the girls' room, the quintessential multi-colored Ikea kids' cups and a warm cinnamon roll on the way out.

Commute: We arrive at our next destination and cannot find a parking space on the very un-plowed streets. Jenny spots one and tells me to pull in, I think there is too much snow, but she insists....I think you can guess what happened next. We got stuck in snow with our tail end obstructing street traffic. Within 20 seconds the man in the car behind us had come to the front of our car and was trying to push us out. Then 3 other men joined him and finally we made it out. As my heart was filling with the warmth of being the recipient of a selfless good deed by a true heart, the man who helped us barked, "Straighten your wheels, keep driving and GO BACK TO DELAWARE!" (the plates on our new car are not yet switched over). Thanks for your help sir....kind of.

Fourth Stop: Spool Sewing, Central Philly

This is a delightful little fabric shop on a busy street in Philly which is often frequented by Jay McCarroll, Project Runway's Season I winner (no sign of him today though). This turned out to be a cozy little shop, filled with luscious fabrics from my favorite fabric designers like Michael Miller, Erin McMorris and Heather Bailey. Jenny went a bit hog wild, composing symphonies of fabric combinations for quilts yet un-sewn. I scored: The greatest little pack of Fat Quarters in mustard yellow and nutshell brown.

Whew! What a day!

We returned home...
exhausted,
happy,
and
devoid of disposable income!

L-O-V-E

Today is my Philly day with my friend Jenny.

We had it all set up so that our hubbies would be home to watch the

kids so that we could have a break and enjoy our day.

Then Jenny's husband was called away on a last minute trip for work.

We started making plans to take Jenny's kids along,

which meant shortening our trip and skipping a few stops.

And my hubby volunteered to watch all of the kids so we could go alone.

That's right....volunteered. 

my hubbs + 4 kids under 5 years old + 6 hours = best. husband. ever.

How did I get so lucky?

About Ella

Evangeline is over her sickness.
I am over mine.
Matt is just starting.
And then there's Ella.

Poor kid spent the entirety of last night with a bad asthma cough. She could not get to sleep because of constant coughing and we were out of her Albuterol treatment (and all of the 24 hour pharmacies were closed due to the storm). So I stayed up with her. Around 5:00 AM she fell asleep snuggled next to me on the couch, wrapped up in her Grandma Blanket (which I am a little jealous of, Louise).

All day today she slept, awoke to eat a few spoonfuls of applesauce and slept some more. Today we got her medicine and finally gave her a breathing treatment before bed.  Now, all is quiet.

It is times like these when I am suddenly reminded of Ella;s beginnings.  Born a preemie, little Ella stayed in the NICU for 19 days.  During her stay she used the billiruben tank, incubator, oxygen tanks, heat beds, feeding tubes, IVs and pretty much every other machine they had to offer.  When she came home she still had oxygen for another month.  We went through rounds of RSV shots, winters shut indoors, many prayers, tears and a lot of Mommy-worry.  But she made it out okay and the only lingering reminder is her asthma.

These days she is filled with sunshine, energy and life! What a difference a few years can make.  We were so blessed to have her make a full recovery when she started with so many problems. 

So, I don't mind sitting up until 5:30 am. 
In fact, it's my pleasure.