Not much action, huh?

[Magot]

So, what are you doing today?
What's for dinner?
Any sewing going on?
What's the weather like?

MIL last day - took a run up to the coast and had fish and chips by the sea in glorious spring sunny ( but windy off the North Sea) weather 14C. Stopped off at a church that her BIL ran to see his memorial and she shed a tear or two. He was her husbands big bro and DH has only been dead 2 years. Worth going.

Still finishing the baby jumper - hoping to sew next week....

[MartySews2]

Back to the ENT doctor today for the nose bleeds (too yucky to discuss). He cauterized an abscess in the sinus cavity & sent me on my merry way. Now, I'm off to the university to pay a dining hall fee for DD who has never used the dining hall. It is required to be paid before she can register for the fall semester. We can (?) get a refund at a later time after school is out. Grrr ... I will be sewing at church this afternoon. Dinner tonight will be baked chicken & veggies.
Marty

[bridesmom]

Hey Dorothy - did you like your recipie for the pasti thing and if so can you post it cause I love that too and would like to try to make it. I love Greek food

[DorothyL]

Yeah Laura, It was pretty good. I think I need to tweak the spices just a bit but that is a personal thing.
Here it is:
Dorothy

Pasta and Lamb Casserole (Pastitsio)

ingredients

For meat sauce:
medium onion, finely chopped
tablespoon olive oil
large garlic clove, finely chopped
1 pounds ground lamb
1 (28-ounces) can whole tomatoes in juice
thyme
3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoons ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves


For béchamel sauce:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or kefalotyri cheese (2 ounces)
3 egg yolks

For pasta:
1 pounds ziti
1 cup coarse fresh bread crumbs (from 4 slices firm white sandwich bread)
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or kefalotyri cheese

preparation

Make meat sauce:
Cook onions in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Increase heat to high, then stir in lamb and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up any lumps with a fork, until meat starts to brown, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, drain tomatoes, reserving juice, and chop.
Pour off excess fat from skillet, then stir in tomatoes with their juice, thyme, spices, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Simmer over low heat, partially covered, until some liquid has evaporated but sauce is still moist, about 40 minutes. Discard thyme.
Make béchamel while meat sauce simmers:
Melt butter in a heavy medium pot over medium heat. Whisk in flour, then cook roux, whisking frequently, until pale golden, about 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat milk in a heavy medium saucepan until just about to boil. Add milk to roux in a stream, whisking constantly until very smooth. Bring sauce to a boil over medium heat, whisking, then cook, whisking, 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg, cheese, and 1/2 tablespoon salt.
Lightly beat yolks in a bowl. Gradually whisk in 1 cups béchamel, then whisk yolk mixture into remaining béchamel in saucepan. Cover with a round of buttered wax paper (buttered side down).
Cook pasta and assemble pastitsio:
Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle. Cook ziti in a pasta pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
Drain pasta, then transfer to a large bowl and stir in 1 cup béchamel.
Arrange one third of pasta lengthwise in 1 layer in a large (17-by 11-inch) baking pan (about 2 inches deep).
Add half of meat sauce (about 3 cups) to baking pan, spreading evenly over pasta.
Make another layer of pasta and top with remaining meat sauce, then arrange remaining pasta on top.
Spread remaining béchamel (about 6 cups) evenly over top layer of pasta.
Stir together bread crumbs and cheese and sprinkle evenly over top of pastitsio.
Bake until crumbs are golden brown and sauce is bubbling, about 45 minutes.
Cooks' notes:
•Meat sauce can be made 2 days ahead of assembling pastitsio and chilled (covered once cool). Bring to room temperature before using in pastitsio.
•Pastitsio can be baked 1 day ahead and chilled (covered once cool). Reheat in a 350°F oven, covered, until heated through, about 45 minutes.

[bridesmom]

Thanks! Will have to try it.

[DorothyL]

I wrote a story yesterday and I have to type all day and interview someone today so I probably won't get any sewing done until tomorrow.

We had an Asian style pork and vegetable dish last night.

Add scrubbing soy sauce and tomato paste out of the t-shirt I was wearing yesterday to the list of what I am doing today.
I am such a slob. I need an apron.

We will have salmon and sweet potato fries (But they won't be fried. They will be roasted). I might cook carrots with it and have an all orange dinner -- just for fun. Or maybe peas and corn. Depends on my mood.

Then it is a hockey game. One tonight and one tomorrow and our guys are done for the season. They really sucked this year.
Dorothy

[MartySews2]

Yesterday was DH's birthday but I wasn't feeling good so I slept most of the day. He didn't want to go out or do anything special. I asked him what he wanted for dinner & all he said was that he wanted some oatmeal with fresh blueberries. I wasn't hungry so I skipped dinner & he fixed his oatmeal. DD went out to dinner with friends. I will have to wash a blueberry stain out of DH's shirt. A few weeks ago, I had ordered DH some of his favorite pipe tobacco as a combination anniversary/birthday gift. It was a very quiet day for both of us. It is sunny & cool here with temps in the 70's. Next week, it goes up in the 80's so it will be getting hot. Today, the a/c units are being serviced & DH arranged for a mobile car wash service to come tomorrow to wash all 3 of our cars. That will be a nice treat. Sewing wise, I'm working on cutting out a skirt for me & I will try to finish up a top that I started last fall. I'm caught up on my mending for the moment.
Marty

[Mom of Six]

woke up this morning with a stiff neck. DH got up with DGSs when they got here & I slept a little longer. DD called & I went with her & all 4 grands to Chuck E Cheese for lunch. When we got back I folded some laundry & then we went to the library to pick up some dragon & alien drawing books I had on hold for DGSs. now the boys are out playing tetherball & then they are supposed to come in & mix up cookies for a party on Sunday. They really want to just eat the dough & let me finish baking. DD has to have a ride to work at 4 & if DH feels like it we are invited to Pizza Hut for a birthday dinner for DN who is in town from Tenn.She has to go back tomorrow so she is not going to be here for Sunday's party.
Maybe I will get more sewing done tonight. I got the pleats sewn & pockets in the slacks. I pinned the back darts but they aren't sewn yet.