Mountain Bike Cake!

My husbands birthday was this week and I just wanted to share the cake I made for him!!!

Sorry there has not been many blog posts lately but as you can see the blog has been changed and not to my liking.  I plan to fix it and make it to nicer but finding time to do so has been a challenge.  I hope you enjoy the pics of the cake.

Home Made Lasagna

The above picture is of my husbands cousin who was severely injured this week serving our country.  His name is Ronnie Brandafino and he is a U.S. Marine.  He has been serving our country for 5 years and April 16th he was scheduled to come home for good.  

Ronnie's helicopter crashed in Hawaii last Wednesday and Ronnie was in critical condition up until a few days ago.  He nearly lost his leg and has had two surgeries already and two more to come.  Thank God he is recovering but it will be a long road.  My husbands first cousin Darlene who is Ronnie's mother flew out to Hawaii the moment she heard of the accident (a mothers worst nightmare). 

My husbands family are a very tight knit group of people and they are an amazing support system for each other when hard times arise.  You can make as many offers as you want to help but help is rarely needed because they all ban together and help one another.  

With Darlene in Hawaii and her husband here taking care of the kids, I felt like I needed to do something.  So what comes to my mind when I want to help someone?  FOOD..of course!

I made a tray of Lasagna and called Darlene's husband to let him know I would be dropping off a tray of food for him and the kids. While speaking to him it became even more apparent what an amazing family this  was and what strong people they are.  Alan (Darlene's husband) is an amazing man and is holding down the fort while his wife sits at Ronnie's bedside day in and day out.  

Ronnie's brother Derek is getting married in October.  Ronnie is the best man and he told his brother that he will be walking at his wedding.  If that does not show the strength and determination of this young man I don't know what does.  It is going to be a long and tough road for Ronnie but I just know he will get through this and walk at his brothers wedding!

I am beyond words to describe this family and the terrible accident that they have endured.  Please pray for Ronnie's full recovery and for the strength this family needs during this challenging time.

Here is a link to an article about Ronnie and the crash:
http://sachem.patch.com/articles/sachem-alum-marine-injured-in-helicopter-crash

Below is the recipe for Home Made Lasagna.

Here is what you'll need:

There's my little helper!

• 1 box Lasagna Noodles
• 1 container Part Skim Ricotta Cheese
• 1 1/2 lbs Ground Beef
• 1 egg
• 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped Parsley
• salt and pepper
• 4 cups Tomato Sauce

Make a pot of sauce and let simmer.

You can always use jarred sauce if your time is limited.

Brown the chop meat and set aside.

Cook the lasagna noodles according to the box.

In a mixing bowl combine the Ricotta Cheese, Parmesan Cheese, Egg, Salt and Pepper and Parsley.

My baby wanted to help!

Mix well.

Set aside.

Now spread the sauce on the bottom of a lasagna tray.

Next line the tray with the cooked Lasagna Noodles.

Now spread some of the Ricotta Cheese mixture.

Now sprinkle the cooked ground beef over the Ricotta cheese.

Next sprinkle some shredded Mozzarella Cheese over the meat.

Now spread some more sauce over the meat and cheese.

Layer more of the Lasagna noodles over the cheeses, meat and sauce. 

Continue to do this until you have reached the top of the pan.

For the final layer spread some sauce over the noodles and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.  Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

(sorry I don't have a picture of the cooked lasagna)

Serve with some fresh Italian Bread and Enjoy!!!

Home Made Whipped Cream

I have been making home made whipped cream for as long as I can remember.  It is so easy and so much better than cool whip! It dawned on me this morning when I was making it that so many people probably don't know how to make it..and it is soooooo easy.

Crazy Kid!

Here is what you'll need:

1 small container of Heavy cream (a pint)
1/2 cup sugar

Pour the heavy cream and the sugar into a medium size bowl.

With a hand mixer start to mix the cream.  Put the mixer on a medium to high speed. 

On my mixer I had it on a 4.

Do this for about 3 - 4 minutes .  You will start to see the cream thicken.

You will know it is ready when the cream has become stiff and you can create a peak with the cream if you touch it!  (don't over beat it as you will then have sweet butter).

Voila!  There you have home made whipped cream!

This morning my family had it with Challah French Toast and Strawberries...YUM!

Steak Tips with Mushroom Gravy

Like I said in my earlier post this week I love Woman's Day Magazine and they tend to have some really good recipe's. I found this recipe in the April issue of Woman's Day Mag and it was delicious.  

• 1 pound top sirloin steak, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp chopped scallops
• 8 ounces baby Bella mushrooms, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• 3 tbsp flour
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp thyme leaves
• 1 package egg noodles, cooked according to bag

Trim and cut the steak into 3/4 inch pieces.

Heat the fry pan with some cooking spray and saute the meat.  

Cook for about 5 minutes and set the meat aside.

Heat the butter in a fry pan.

Add the shallots and garlic. Saute for a few minutes.

Now add the sliced mushrooms and saute.

Saute for about 5 minutes

Now add the flour and mix.

Next add the beef broth and bring to a simmer.

Add the salt, pepper and thyme.

Simmer for about 5 more minutes.

Next add the cooked beef and cook for another 5 minutes. 

Serve over egg noodles!

Enjoy!!!

Asian Braised Pork

I love slow cooker meals.  Having a young family it can be challenging to get a nice meal together when the dinner hour arrives.  This recipe is from Woman's Day Magazine, I love this magazine and the recipes are great as well.  This week I am actually making a few recipes from their April issue.

This recipe appealed to me because it has an Asian flair to it.  I love that is is accompanied by a cucumber salad and can be served with some simple white rice.

Here is what you'll need:

For the meat:

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/4 crushed pepper

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 inch piece of ginger (half sliced thin and the other half grated)

2 1/2 lb Boneless Pork Shoulder, trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces.

For the Cucumber Salad:

1 seedless cucumber, sliced very thin

1/4 sweet onion, sliced thin

1 tbsp brown sugar

1/3 cup rice vinegar (i used seasoned vinegar)

salt and pepper

In a crock pot combine the cut up pork, soy sauce, ginger, red pepper, crown sugar and all spice, toss together.

Cover and cook for 7 to 8 hours on low or 5 to 6 hours on high.

Now add the cucumber, onions, and the rice vinegar.  I let this sit for a few hours to marinate.  When there is about half hour left before dinner add the brown sugar.

Now serve the cooked pork over white rice and place some of the marinated cucumber salad onto a plate.

Enjoy!