Hope everyone had a great summer and enjoyed it as much as we did.  Weddings, family birthdays, vacations, and often just sitting back resting.

Deb is on vacation in Southern France and I am holding down the fort, hoping and praying they will return home safely!

Hopefully, we will have something new to share in the months to come.

Picture from the grandson’s wedding table we had so much planning and putting it together.

We were really practical…used a piece of organza fabric to make a table runner, dark chocolate ribbons on napkins folded with silver tucked into the pocket and three low rose bouquets to allow lots of conversation, and lots of candles,  Barely visible in these pictures are the beautiful stemware from Germany that Deb inherited from Robert’s Mother, Mary, they are beautiful beyond words.

It was a small wedding with only special guests as the Bride arrived from the Philippines only days prior to the event and then they left shortly for Hawaii for a long honeymoon.

I whipped up these “cocktail napkins” for us to use while having appetizers and our fruity cocktail drinks Aren’t they fun?

Oh back to the menu, you asked? Well one of my goals was to use some of those herbs I planted in the spring, remember? I have a bumper crop now so I need to use some. We are having:

Appetizers/Drinks:

• Cut vegetables (red pepper, cucumber, carrots) with freshly made dill dip
• Colby Jack cheese and grapes
• Sangria with fresh fruit

Dinner:

• Balsamic glazed grilled salmon
• Fresh fruit kabobs
• Caprese Salad
• Fresh garden salad with lemon basil salad dressing
• Thinly sliced ham wrapped on asparagus spears, grilled

Dessert:

• Chocolate brownies (gluten free)
• Frozen strawberry banana all natural yogurt (I tested it last night and it is SO DELICIOUS!)
• Decaf Green Mountain coffee (the very best I’ve ever found, bar none!)

Wish you all could come join us! It would be so much fun to have everyone visit.

Skillet Lasagna

adapted from Family Fun

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups ricotta cheese or cottage cheese (I used low-fat cottage cheese)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 medium zucchini, diced (about 1 cup)
• 1 (26-ounce) jar pasta sauce
• 6 oven-ready (no boil) lasagna noodles

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta or cottage cheese, water, salt, basil, oregano, pepper Parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Set the mixture aside.
2. Brown the beef in a large skillet set over medium-high heat until cooked, about 5 minutes. Drain fat. Add the zucchini. Stir in 2 cups of the pasta sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low.
3. Top the mixture with 2 lasagna noodles, set in the center. Break 2 more noodles each into half  and fill in the edges. Spread the cheese mixture over the noodles.  Break 2 remaining noodles in half each and lay on top. Pour the rest of the sauce into the skillet and spread evenly, then sprinkle on the remaining cup of mozzarella.
4. Cover the skillet and simmer the lasagna over medium-low heat until the noodles are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the lasagna cool for at least 5 minutes. After about 10 minutes most of the liquid was absorbed. Makes about 6 servings.

A little garlic bread and salad on the side and you have all you need for a delicious meal on a budget too.

I found this really cool idea for Mom’s at Busy Bees blogspot.  The idea is to reward a child with ice cream treats.  You can pick the occasion and let it work for you and your children.

Check it out by clicking on the Busy Bees link above and you will find a free ice cream treat coupon you can download.

Some of you may recall the post I did on folding an Easter Bunny napkin.  Today I am posting a napkin Debbie made.

Can’t you just see this napkin setting in the middle of a pretty red, green, gold or any color plate?  It would “wow” my guests for sure.

I am “hoping” Martha, you know,  Martha Stewart whose instructions I gave you for Easter Bunny fold sees this so Deb can get her napkin in a national magazine!

Well I am her Mother so I can dream big for her.

I thought they were cute beyond words and loved the fold she put on them and wanted to make sure you had a chance to see how talented she is