Ana's Birthday!

Ana was SO excited when Uncle T. and Aunt Linda Sue invited us to their lake cabin to celebrate Ana and Aunt Linda Sue's birthdays!  We had a delightful time swimming, boating, tubing behind a speed boat, and eating a delicious supper together!

Dad helping Ana get ready to go tubing! (Uncle T. and I are in the boat.)

 The birthday girls with their Key Lime Mousse Pie "cake".

Uncle T. on the pontoon boat. 

After the birthday supper, Uncle T's sister gave us all a pontoon boat ride around the lake as the sun was setting. It was beautiful end to a lovely day! Thank you Lord!

Amy's Birthday...

 ...was on Friday!! 
She picked out a new recipe for us to make called Pasta Pie.  (Although I think it looks a bit more like a cheese cake myself...)  Ana and I had fun making it together and it was delicious!

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY!!!!!!

This was her 'cake' - bars witrh layers of cookie dough, Oreo cookies, and brownie batter all baked together!

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Edited to add a recipe! :)

Pasta Pie
Adapted from Martha Stewart
1 pound rigatoni
1 Tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground beef
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 can (28 ounces) good quality crushed tomatoes
Butter, for pan
Salt
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
8 ounces coarsely grated mozzarella

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until slightly underdone (I cooked mine for 12 minutes when the box indicated 14 minutes).  One pound of pasta should be cooked in 6 quarts of water, make sure you are using a big enough pot so the pasta doesn't stick together.  When done, rinse in cold water and drain again.  Toss pasta with 1 Tablespoon olive oil to coat.  Set aside.

Cook ground beef, stirring occasionally until browned.  Add garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper.  Cook 2 minutes more.  Add crushed tomatoes; simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes.

Toss pasta with Parmesan cheese.  Butter a 9-inch springform pan.  Tightly pack pasta into pan, standing each piece on end.  Spread meat sauce on top of pasta.
Push the meat sauce into the pasta holes filling each one up.

Place springform pan on a jelly roll pan in case of leaks and bake in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top and bake another 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden.  Remove from oven and let stand for 15 minutes.  Run a knife around the edge to loosen and then unmold. 

Cut into wedges and serve with any remaining meat sauce you might have.

A Birthday...

Monday was Dad's birthday and Ana made him this delicious 10 layer cake....oh yum! 

He requested lettuce from the garden with a bunch of different toppings for his meal. It was very hot and humid that day so we mostly stayed indoors ...playing games...eating cake....reading.....and trying to stay cool.  :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!! I am so thankful for you!!

Mom's Birthday!

 Yesterday was Mom's birthday!

 We made her favorite quiche for her meal, and a peppermint ice cream cake for dessert.  In the afternoon we watched the film "Miss Potter" and then played a game. :)

 Yum!

 

 I am so thankful for my mother and all she has done for me. 

She is so creative and always encourages us to be creative with what we have.  

She taught us girls at home, something I am truly grateful for and want to do for my children someday.  

She is always there for us!

Happy birthday MOM, I love you!!!

In Which is a Birthday

The birthday rose from Dad!

My sisters prepared a delicious meal....

 ....Cashew Turkey and rice!

Ana made Pavlova..with bananas, blueberries...

...and strawberry sauce, for my 'cake'.  It is a very light, airy dessert and quite yummy!

 Smile!!

In the afternoon, we watched the Tribute to the Cathedral Quartet DVD that I had bought a couple months ago and was saving for this very day!  It was quite good!!  

In the evening we played Sequence, and then listened to a CD from the Semper Reformanda conference.  

It was a good birthday. :)