The Memory of an Elephant (again we are back to the Apple Tree)

I don't know if I have ever mentioned this but I have a fantastic memory.  I remember the most ridiculous things from my childhood, adolescent, and early teen years.  Late teens and on are a bit hazy for reasons I am not permitted to say.  Anyway, I must have passed this gene on to my son, who remembers everything!  Tonight's anecdote just needed to be shared.  As I am bathing him I used my daughter soap to wash his shoulders and face.  Now, mind you while I was pregnant with him, this article surfaced and he has never been touched with a lavender or tea tree product.   Anyway, last year when my friend had a son, she asked me if I wanted all of her leftover Johnson's Bedtime Bath that she hadn't  used with her daughter.  I asked her, "Why, don't you want B@$*% to have boobs?"  She laughed, and yes she had heard the same thing.  Anyway, now a year later, while I am bathing my own son and used the J&J Bath by accident, I exclaimed, 'Oh! I used your sister's babywash on you!'  He replied, "Mom! Now I am going to have boobies!"   I think there are 2 reasons for this, 1. He overheard my friend and I talking about it last year, and 2. His father probably tells him he can't wash him with it b/c he will grow breasts.  So that's my little anecdote, I hope you enjoyed it!  I haven't done any recent research about the boy boob theory, but feel free to do so and follow up with a comment!  TTFN!!

Moosewood Spinach Lasagna

check out those layers, mmm!

I grew up eating this lasagna and now have continued the tradition in my own home.  The whole family loves it! So for the last night before I return to work full time (agh!) we decided this would be a perfect family meal. If you choose to make it, Enjoy!

Moosewood Spinach Lasagna adapted slightly from the Moosewood Cookbook

Tomato Sauce ( I like Ragu Traditional)
12 lasagna noodles (I use San Giorgio Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles)
2 c. ricotta 

2 beaten eggs
Salt & pepper
1/2 lb. raw, chopped spinach
1 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

9x13 pan

Spread some sauce in pan

add 1/3 noodles (for the not math inclined that's 4 noodles)

1/2 filling 

another layer of sauces 

1/2 mozzarella 

1/3 more noodles

rest of filling

sauce

rest of mozzarella

rest of noodles

one more dose of sauce

Parmesan and any leftover Mozzarella ( i usually buy 4 cups and use a little extra here)
Cover with foil and bake 35 minutes covered at 375 degrees. 
Uncover last 10 minutes. 
Total cook time 45 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes

Yum-O!

Throwback Thursday: Dorney Park

Oh Dorney! Where do I even begin?   The weather is getting warmer and everyone is starting to get out and play!  Warm and breezy weather floods my memory with smells of funnel cake, cotton candy and sounds of games and rides.  Growing up in Allentown, Pennsylvania visiting Dorney Park was just part of life.  Dorney Park is about 5 miles from my home where I grew up.   We started going to 'Dorney' at a very young age.   And when they came out with Season Passes, you HAD to have one.  I think I got one in 5th or 6th grade.  I love, love, loved it so much.  It has changed drastically over the past 30 years!  There wasn't even Wildwater Kingdom at the beginning.  The clown, Alfundo, who is no longer there, scared the crap out of me.  He had these really creepy, long, red fingernails.  I really could go on and on about the rides I loved and memories I have of Dorney Park, but it would be a major research project because I don't remember the names of everything!  I'll try to do a top 5 list favorite rides:

1.  Music Express

2. Thunder Creek Mountain

3.  Sea Dragon

4.  Journey to the Center of the Earth (I am fairly certain this ride was made for making out) 

5.  Thunderhawk

Wow, that was great, with the help of this 1988 pamphlet.  I'd also like to add that my favorite game is by far the horse racing game.  It looks like this.  No need to make a top 5 game list. This is it.  I could sit there for days rolling that little ball making my horse bound across the track to victory!   

I think my son is the perfect age for his first visit to Dorney this year.  Opening day happens to be this weekend!  I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane and throwback to a true childhood delight.  TTFN!!

Throwback Thursday

I am thinking I want to dedicate Thursday's to throwbacks.  I do not plan on limiting where I pull these from and suggestions are always welcome.  If anybody knows me (and my family) we love to reminisce.  That is what Thursdays will be for.  Music, toys, vacations, food (think Bonkers), shows, etc....The possibilities are endless.  I do plan to keep this blog upbeat and positive, but I must dedicate this throwback to my first baby.  I feel so lost and empty without her.  I never thought having, or losing, a pet would have this much of an impact on me, though I dreaded the day anytime I thought about it.  I miss my protector, my companion, my nonjudgmental listener, my friend who would do anything I wanted her to (with some coaxing at times. like the time she found an old corncob on the street and it took me 10 minutes to get her to 'Drop it').  She would be lazy with me if i wanted or active.  She never begged to be taken out and she never begged to be fed.  I miss my warm friend who stole Jeff's place on the bed at any chance she got.  I miss my children's constant playdate. I miss smelling her paws (sorry). I miss leaving the door unlocked when going to the playground. I miss feeling safe in my car when traveling and I miss feeling safe in my house when Jeff is away.  I miss being greeted everyday (or almost b/c often she was too lazy to even come down to say hello!)  She was better than anything I could have imagined when taking on the task of raising a dog and I miss miss miss her dearly.