A Trifecta IRL

 Hubby tells me when he talks to all three guys on the phone on the same day that he had a trifecta that day.  For a mere 36 hours we had a trifecta in real life this weekend.

The guys saw friends and family, hung out on the patio, went shooting, hiking, swimming, cliff diving, motorcycle riding and ate.  They enjoyed some good laughs and deep conversations.  

And then ate some more.

Hubby and I were busy cooking and grilling their favorites.  And having our parenting skills analyzed.  Why yes, they are scarred from their childhood.  But really, they all turned out pretty great in spite of their parents.  

So, HAH!  And they still love their mama's cooking.

Patio Summer

We've been on our patio.  Every day, each evening, with family, with friends, with good conversation, some tears and some laughing, with good food and fellowship, we just continue to land on the patio.  It's good.  There have been trips to the mountains, to the bay, to the city but we always land back on the patio.   And the weather has been so summer like that we almost don't recognize life in the Pacific Northwest.

 Tonight we have a field trip planned.  And there are some hikes, beach days and work in between, but mostly we are on the patio.   From morning coffee to gathered around the fire in the evening we are enjoying some wonderful patio time with Danny and family and friends.  It's good.

Caprese Lasagna with Italian Turkey

 I found this recipe on Pinterest, it originally came from Rachel Ray; however, between the changes another blogger made and the changes I made Ms. Ray may not want to claim it.  But I will, it is crazy good and a delicious summertime lasagna.  I don't always think of lasagna in the summer but when the temperature is low enough to turn on the oven this makes a wonderful dinner.  Sometimes it just isn't convenient to grill and this lasagna tastes like summer.

Caprese Lasagna with Italian Turkey Sausage

 2 tablespoons butter

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup milk* I use 2%, 1 1/2 cups

1 cup chicken stock* I use 1 1/2 cup broth.

Low fat cream cheese, about 2-4 oz.

nutmeg, *I use just a shake

Salt, to taste

ground black pepper, to taste

Italian ground turkey  *Rachel Ray didn't use meat in her recipe, I saw another adaptation  of her recipe where turkey sausages were used.  Foster Farms makes an Italian seasoned ground turkey that I add a few shakes of Italian seasoning to, even though it comes seasoned I add a bit of my dry seasoning and I think it's good.

1 box oven-ready lasagna noodles* I use regular and I do not precook lasagna noodles, ever.

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese *I add some fresh mozzarella to the top before I bake it but it's not necessary and it keeps it lighter to just use the shredded cheese.

1/2 bunch basil, chopped * I use 3/4 cup chopped basil* If you live in my area the Green Barn has wonderful fresh organic basil or Trader Joe has plants available this time of year.

5-6 Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced

Cooking Directions

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Place a large saucepan over medium-heat and melt the butter.  Add garlic to pan and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute.
*I put the butter and sauteed garlic with the cream cheese, chicken broth, milk and flour into the blender, whip it up and then heat it in a sauce pan until thickened.  I use 1 1/2 cup each of the broth and milk because I don't precook my lasagna noodles, ever.  Suit yourself if you enjoy making more dishes dirty.
(Sprinkle the flour over the butter and garlic, and cook for about 1 minute.  Whisk the milk and chicken stock into the butter-flour mixture and bring up to a bubble.)*Really the blender method is better!
Add the nutmeg, season with salt and ground black pepper, and simmer until thickened, 3-4 minutes.
Assemble the lasagna by ladling a small amount (about 1/2 cup, just eyeball it) of the sauce into the bottom of a 9x13" baking dish and laying 3+ lasagna noodles over the sauce.* I always put part of a noodle on the end and then switch ends on the next level.
Top the noodles with about a third of the sliced tomatoes, a third of the basil, 1/2 cup of sauce and about a third of the shredded cheese.
Repeat until all ingredients are used up, topping the lasagna off with a final layer of sauce and shredded cheese.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake the lasagna for 30 minutes.
Remove the foil from the baking dish and bake another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly.
When ready to serve, top with remaining chopped basil leaves.
Serves 4 *seriously 4?  More like 8.

I haven't ever gotten a picture of the  lasagna ready to serve.  As soon as everyone smells it and then sees it they immediately want to eat it.  So, good luck with that...

*Edited to add:  This is the recipe I use for Alfredo sauce and it is the guideline I use for the sauce for this lasagna.  I don't add the cheese and I use the chicken broth for this lasagna.

Greek Dip or Sheryl's Dip as I Call It

 Remember the Mexican layered dips of the 70's?  We still enjoy them today.  There are a zillion variations served hot and cold.  Now there is a new guy in town and he's Greek.  And he's pretty tasty.

I first had a layered Greek dip at Sheryl's house and ever since then whenever I make it I have to text her because I feel as though I am forgetting something.  I'll share it here on the blog and then I'll have something to refer to next time and you can make it too

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Greek Dip

Hummus, I use Sabra brand, either the red pepper or the spicy red pepper.

One half English cucumber peeled and diced, fine and uniform.

Two Roma tomatoes, gutted and diced.

Kalamata olives

Feta cheese

 Spread the hummus on a plate and then layer ingredients in the order given.  Serve with fresh veggies, pita chips or crackers. Enjoy!

Early Soiree on the Patio

 Chris enjoyed a milestone birthday in June and since I love any excuse for a party, on Wednesday afternoon I had the girls over for a small patio party.  Since it was the late afternoon before a holiday it felt a bit like a pre-func party.  That time before a holiday where you know you have a long weekend coming up, that time before you have to get your game on and feed the world(especially true for moms), that time when you know the sun will be shining for the holiday.  Definitely a time of anticipation!

There were gifts for the birthday girl, delicious food, cold drinks, good conversation and a lot of laughter.  

And Shelly brought her shrimp.  Enough said.

I need to do this more, get together with other women, enjoy their company and relax.

Like the ad where the little girl is rambling on about wanting more.  

"And then we want more, cuz  more  is  more  and  more  is better."

I couldn't agree more.

Road Trip

For Father's Day this year Hubby and I gave my Dad a day at the LeMay America's Car Museum in Tacoma, Washington.  We went yesterday and had a great time.  Right away Dad spotted this black and white Crown Victoria.  Many years ago he and his buddy Trenton took a cross country trip in one just like it except it was turquoise and white.  Good memories for Dad.

 About the time I was thinking that it was annoying that some of the cars had their hoods up I realized that looking at the engines was the best part for Dad.  Once a mechanic, always a mechanic.

 Mom remembered what a big job it was to keep those white walls white.

 My folks drive a Chrysler Town and Country now so it was fun to see the old time Chrysler Town and Country.  Definitely some "junk in the trunk" on this baby!

 Hubby thinks one of the wagons would be nice to tow our '57 Aloha to the campground.  I agree.

 I thought this one was cute with the cheerleader pompoms in the back window and the dice in the front.

 Hey, it's Fred Flintstone's car!  Every Fred should have one.

 We all tried to pick a favorite and this 1941 Buick convertible was my favorite.  I usually go for Cadillacs or Mercedes but this gal stole my heart.  She is just so sleek and the gunmetal gray had enough metallic to make me swoon.

 My mom admitted that she always wanted a red Mustang.  Who knew?  The reds are racy!  There was a red Mustang there but I didn't get a photo.  Now she found herself attracted to any of the blue cars.  Dad and Hubby couldn't pick a favorite, though Hubby liked the 1959 Chrysler 300.

We had hoped to see a '49 Ford since Dad had one but it wasn't there.  We also wanted to see a 1960 Mercury like we road tripped to Disneyland in when I was in first grade, but it wasn't there.  

Now, that was a car!

And lastly, a self portrait.

The LeMay has car shows on the lot on Thursday nights in the summertime and they offer drive in movies too.  It is a beautiful museum and worth the drive.