Yesterday, I had a hot dog for dinner

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and, yes, I had a hot dog for dinner.
Some important history for the story follows:

• The girls and I are Protestant, we attend a Congregational Church, we don't give up meat during Lent.
• Paul is Catholic and observes the practice of giving up meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent as does most of his family.
• I don't eat fish .... I don't like fish .... or any seafood really .... yes I leave near the ocean and NO I still don't like fish.

When Paul and I started dating way back in 2002 he bowled on Wednesday nights. He was on a team with 4 other guys and they were hysterical to spend a few hours with.  We had a routine, Paul went to the lanes on the way home from work (those were the days when he used to get home between 6:00 and 6:30) and I met him there.  We'd order dinner from the snack bar in the 2nd game and order the first pair of pitchers of beer.  Paul's dad, Joe Ro, came faithfully every week to watch for an hour or so.  Joe loved bowling, he was a bowler back in his hay day and even worked at the lanes.  He was serious about bowling and shook his head in disgust every time that food and beer arrived on the counter behind the seating area.  You were there to bowl, not to eat and drink.  There would be time for that later.

On Ash Wednesday 2003, I ordered Paul a fish sandwich instead of his standard burger and dog and I ordered my usual, "the split" - a hot dog and fries.  I walked back with my food and set it down on the table in front of Joe.  It took me a few seconds before I realized that he was looking at me, then my hot dog and then at me. 

"Oh crap, should I tell him, I'm not Catholic and I'm not breaking the rules?" I thought to myself. 

While I continued my internal struggle, Joe blurted out with a bit of an annoyed tone "Are YOU Catholic????" 

I quickly replied "No" and he seemed relieved. 

"Oh, I can't eat that today" he replied.

"I know, I'm sorry."

It is one of my favorite memories of him .... silly I know ... but it was so him.  He said what he felt, when he felt it, whether you wanted to hear it or not and sometimes you seriously wanted to crawl under the table. 

Yesterday, I was bowling in the CSC League at 4:30.  The girls were staying late with Miss Carol and eating dinner there, Paul was having the frozen fish filets he picked up on his grocery shopping trip on Sunday, so I had the perfect excuse to treat myself to dinner out at the lanes.

I walked to the snack bar and ordered a split and smiled as I walked back to our lanes.  When Paul got home we talked about our day and I laughed as I said I had my "traditional" Lenten meal.  It wasn't an official tradition but last night I decided that as often as I could, on Ash Wednesday, I'm having a foot long hot dog and french fries at the bowling alley. When the girls are older we're heading to the lanes together, ordering Splits and I'll tell them that story.  So even though they never had the chance to personally know their Grandpa Joe, they'll have funny stories and happy memories to hold onto. It stings a little less that way.

You are always in our hearts, Joe Ro !!!!!

I am not a gourmet cook ......

I am not a gourmet cook ........ but I try. 

I've made it a goal, resolution, a mission if you will to learn how to cook.  I mean stuff that doesn't come out of a box that you just add water, eggs or butter to .... but really learn how to cook.  I'm all about setting realistic goals - so I have no designs on landing my own Food Network or Cooking Channel show - I just want to cook basic, delicious and mostly healthy meals that we really LOVE to eat.  I feel this is a good time to mention for those of you who are not aware of this, my husband does NOT eat cheese .... no seriously, I am NOT kidding.  He does eat pizza with cheese but that is the end of it - no grilled cheese, no mac & cheese, no deliciously gooey, melty Mexican cheese on burritos, enchiladas .... NOTHING.  Let me also point out that when we met I could cook about 1 thing (meatloaf) that didn't have cheese in the recipe. It still to this day amazes me that I was able to win his affection ..... (that's a story for another post too)

Its another little known fact that I DVR The Oprah Winfrey Show every day .... there are 18 episodes on the hard drive and I'm listening and sort of watching an episode right now. Some time ago Jessica Seinfeld was a guest on an episode to promote her newest cookbook.  That episode has changed the face of our dining room table - since then we have roasted chicken almost once a week.  Another recipe I learned on that episode is her crock-pot lasagna.  We don't have this as often as the chicken - remember that whole "husband doesn't eat cheese thing" ... but its my favorite dish to prepare if I need something to take to a friend's house.  I rave about this whenever I make it  ... we had it again Tuesday night when Auntie Cindy and Uncle David came for dinner. 

So here is what you've all been waiting for .... the piece De resistance'

 

If you're inspired to give it a whirl here's the recipe (with my customizations in brackets)

3 cans 14.4 oz crushed tomatoes [I usually use 2 28 oz cans]

3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

2 tbsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 containers fresh ricotta - 15 oz each [I use one large 32 oz container - part skim]

2 cups (8 oz) grated mozzarella [part skim or fat free]

1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

12 lasagna noodles (about 3/4 of a 1 pound box)  [I use whole wheat pasta]

5 oz baby spinach

3 - 4 Chicken Italian Sausage links - cook ahead of time [I don't know if you need to but the thought of raw chicken totally grosses me out.  There is a name brand one I buy that says on the package it is already cooked, but when I buy the store brand I bake them in the oven first and then dice it up]

In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, garlic, oregano, salt, red pepper and black pepper. In a separate bowl, mix the ricotta, 1 c of the mozzarella and the Parmesan.

In the bottom of a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker, spread a thin layer of the sauce. Top with 3 of the noodles (breaking to fit as necessary).  Spread about 1 cup of the sauce over the noodles and layer with 2 cups of spinach, 1 1/2 c of the cheese mixture and 1 diced sausage link.  Repeat twice more with the noodles, sauce, spinach, cheese mixture, and sausage. Top with the remaining 3 noodles, sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella.

Cook on low, covered, until the noodles are tender - especially in the center of the lasagna about 3.5 - 4 hours. Serve with salad and garlic bread and enjoy!

This post is dedicated to my friend and co-worker May (she introduced me to one of my new favorite blogs The Pioneer Woman ) ....... I hope this helps you "picture" it.