Tasty Tuesday -- A day late

Better late than never. This is a quick and simple dessert that's good warm or cold. Some call them chess squares, but my Grandmother calls them Cheesecake squares. This last time, I added a cup of toasted coconut just to add a slightly different flavor. Enjoy!

Grandmother's Cheesecake Squares

1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick butter (melted)
1 egg

Mix together and press into 9x13" glass dish that has been sprayed with PAM.

1 8oz. pkg Cream Cheese (softened)
1 lb confectioner's sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract.
(If you want to add something else like coconut, stir it in here.)

Beat until smooth, and then pour over bottom mixture. Bake at 325 for approximately 45 minutes. This is better a little under-done than over-done. Cool and eat. Refrigerate un-eaten portion.

Make a Difference Monday --Share a Coke

I must say that I have had a wonderful weekend filled with family and fun. I'm very thankful for times like this and hope I never take them for granted. I'm also loving the new coke commercial where the kid gives a whole bunch of people a bottle of coke with a bright napkin telling them where to meet at a certain time. So, I'm thinking.... how much fun would that be to do with friends? It may take a little planning, but it could be a really fun and random get together. Even if you can't get away from work, make it work in the break room. Try it and you just might make a difference in someone's day. Recycle and you'll make a difference in the envrionment too. Happy Monday!

Thursday Therapy - BFFL

I believe that every woman needs a best friend. No, your husband, boyfriend, family members, dog, cat, and guinea pig don’t count. We need the kinship of another woman because men don’t understand everything that we feel or go through. We need a friend who will be there no matter what. Who will tell us the brutally honest truth no matter how much we don’t want to hear it. Who will drop everything and be there for us when we go through a break-up, divorce, sickness or loss. A friend who will go to the terrifying Dr.’s appointment because they’ve found something that doesn’t look good. We all need one friend who will listen to us rant for hours on end without mentioning that they just had a horrible day too. One who will listen when we’re crying so hard they can’t make out what we’re saying. We need the friend who knows when we need a chick flick and a pint of double chocolate fudge brownie ice-cream. We all need a best friend who is funny and who doesn’t take themselves too seriously. We need a friend who isn’t afraid to be absolutely ridiculous in front of us. Who will work out with us, meet us for a quick lunch, who will tell is if we’re being awful to our men, who doesn’t back stab us, and who will defend us if we need it. We need a friend who isn’t jealous of us and doesn’t care to share any lime light that may be given. Best friends should laugh together and cry together. Your best friend should help hold you accountable in every aspect of your life. They should lift you up, and never tear you down. I have to say that I am so fortunate to have a best friend who fits all of these qualities, and I’m so thankful. So many days, talking with her or hanging out with her is my therapy. I hope all of you are as blessed as I am, and if you aren’t be on the lookout. I met my best friend in college and our friendship has just grown ever since. We went for years living hours apart, and now we’re so lucky to be in the same town. I just hope that am as good a friend as she is to me.

Wednesday Whatabouts -- All Things Coconut

I am craving coconut. I have no idea why. I'm craving it like a pregnant woman craves pickles and ice cream. So, I'm on the prowl for any great coconut recipes that anyone may have. I don't like sweet meat, so don't bother with things like coconut shrimp or chicken. I want some recipes for some sweet treats or breakfast foods. I love things like coconut syrup too. I first became addicted to coconut syrup on my honeymoon in Hawaii. Ever since, we've been bribing people to bring us bottles of it when they come back. It's perfect with fresh berries and pancakes. My family has a secret coconut cake recipe that is hands down the best coconut cake I've ever had. It's not traditional at all. it's moist, light and not sticky like most. If anyone has any great coconut cream pie recipes, coconut bars, muffins, etc. I'm up for trying out anything anyone sends (within reason). Man... I need an Almond Joy.

Tasty Tuesday -- Best Ever Lasagna

Today’s recipe is my go-to recipe for crowds, taking to people, or just when we need a great meal in our house. It is really scrumptious! My Best Ever Lasagna is so good, that we haven’t found any that’s better at any Italian restaurant around our area. Everyone I know thinks this lasagna takes some kind of special talent to make, but the simplicity of it will shock you. This lasagna is no fail too. I’ve never had it turn out badly. It’s also great because you can alter a few ingredients to suit your needs. I must warn you that in our house, we LOVE cheese, so this thing is loaded up with it. I believe it might just be a sin to only have cheese on the top. No worries… this recipe doesn’t have cottage cheese in it. Who came up with that anyway? Ick!

Best Ever Lasagna
No Boil Noodles (I like the flattest ones that I can find because the texture is better. I also generally substitute whole wheat noodles when I make this at home.)
2 jars Newman’s Own Marinara Sauce
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper
½ c Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese (Freshly grated is key)
1 15 0z Tub of Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese (The lower fat doesn’t do well.)
1 egg
1 lb of Ground Beef (browned) You can substitute sautéed veggies (mushrooms, zucchini, onions, yellow bell pepper , eggplant) instead or you can do a little less meat and add veggies too.
6 cups Mozzarella Cheese (Sometimes, I’ll use 2 cups of Italian blend cheese with 4 cups of mozzarella. We have also used the 2% and it does fine.)

Pre-heat oven to 375. In a 9x 13 glass dish, spoon just enough marinara sauce to cover the bottom of the dish. This prevents the lasagna from sticking. Combine, Parmesan, Ricotta and egg, and set aside.

Order for Layering:
1 layer of noodles un-cooked (Make sure they don’t overlap because they won’t cook through if they do.)
½ of the Ricotta cheese mixture spread on top of the noodles
½ of meat/veggies
1 jar of sauce (shake some garlic powder and ground black pepper to taste over the sauce)
Mozzarella
Repeat this layering once more in this order.

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking at 375 for 15 more minutes.
Allow it to stand 10 minutes before cutting or serving.

*I sometimes make this in smaller, deeper dishes to get more of a restaurant look.

Make a Difference Monday -- Military

Whether you agree with the actions our government takes regarding war or not, there’s no denying that if it weren’t for our brave, and committed soldiers, we wouldn’t have the feeling of safety and freedom that we do. There are so many little freedoms in our country that we take for granted that those in other countries are not so fortunate to have.
One of my good friends is the wife of an Army soldier, and she and her kids are so proud of their soldier. This wife and mother of three goes for months at a time without seeing her husband, without help running the kids here and there, without help disciplining the kids, and the list goes on. For the majority of the past 7 years, she has basically acted as a single mother. You’d never know it because she has somehow gotten a hold of some of that military fortitude that helps her make it through each day with a smile. She knows that her husband is with her in spirit, and he knows his family is with him. Every time her husband’s troop comes home, she makes sure they have TV cameras, a parade, and hundreds of people there to greet them so they know they are loved and appreciated. I have to be honest and tell you that the first thing on my mind on Independence Day isn’t the thousands upon thousands of soldiers who are serving and who have served to gain and keep our great nation’s freedom. It generally doesn’t come to mind until someone says the prayer before lunch. Then, I’m reminded again by whatever beautiful display of fireworks I’m watching and possibly Lee Greenwood ; ). Soldiers make a difference in our lives literally each and every day even when we don’t think about it or realize it. It takes the heart of a servant to be a soldier, to fight for your country, and fellow countrymen. A bomb squad Marine told me recently that not everyone is cut out for military life, or to be the servant that the military requires, but for those who are, there’s no better life. He told me this after I thanked him for his service. He had just come back from his 5th tour in Middle East. He said he’d only been shot at 7 times this past tour, and that was pretty good. He literally risked his life with hundreds and thousands of other brave men and women from all over the place, and all I could say was a simple, “Thank You”.
While we may not be the ones defending our country, certainly we can make a small difference by taking the time to thank those who serve, and also thank their families for all they do to support them. Maybe you can even make a difference by visiting and helping a veteran, finding a way to help out a military family or by sending a care package to someone who is deployed. Maybe it’s time to not only thank those who make a difference in our lives, but maybe it’s time to make a difference in theirs.

Fireworks!!!!

I've been really sick and totally out of it this week, thus, my lack of blogging. Sorry aout that. Anyway, I hope you all have a happy an safe 4th today and be sure to find a great fireworks display tonight. I love fireworks and if I could, I would go see a display every night. If you have the opportunity, enjoy some great b-b-q and good times with family or friends. If you're like me, and that's just not in the cards this year, enjoy your day just the same.