I love this picture my friend Lynn took of Luke at preschool. Maybe she used one of those new-fangled filters or something (yes, way behind the times on this), because he looks like he could be circa 1974.

Speaking of which, I borrowed a Mr. Rogers video from the library and watched it with the kids the other day. Was he the world's nicest man, or what? I long to have and to give that kind of quiet, gentle attention. To walk in and change my shoes and sweater, everything neat and orderly. To usher us through transitions with a song. To slowly pay attention to something like a flashlight, the batteries that go in, the sounds of these things and the quiet in between the sounds. Simple stuff that's full of appreciation and approval.

The puppets were still a little weird. Lady Elaine still disconcerting. The trolley taking us to the land of make pretend still a bit otherworldly. But whenever there are real people on with Mr. R., or when he is just talking to singing to us, it is the best, nicest, most genuine stuff. It is like being in parenting church.

I neglected to blog about some amazing things this summer, and last summer, and in between. I know looking back can make for a boring blog entry. I'm trying out online photo strorage/sharing sites now and tested out this photo of Halina in Annie from back in late August. It's such a gorgeous picture that I decided to post it. And to see if this photo sharing site works with Blogger.

It does!

Maybe I'll risk boring you and post a memory photo here and there. There are so many good ones.

My first recipe post. This is really, really good lasagna. Thanks to Leslie who advised me on adapting the recipe from the Trader Joe's box (and whose easy and satisfying home-made bread recipe is worth checking out. I've made this bread three times in the last two weeks!). How about I call it...

Meat and Spinach Lasagna with Mascarpone

Makes two 8x8 (or maybe one could be larger, like ~8x10) lasagnas. Eat one and freeze one!

• 1 box Trader Joe's (TJs) no-boil lasagna noodles (you won't use all)
• 1 package TJs sweet Italian sausage (1 lb.)
• 1 package TJs ground turkey (1 lb.)
• 2 jars TJs bolognese pasta sauce 
• 1 sweet onion 
• 3-4 diced or pressed garlic cloves
• 2+ tsp. dried basil
• 1 bag TJs sliced mushrooms (use 3/4 of a bag)
• 1 large bag frozen spinach (or chard would be yummy, I bet)
• 2 8oz. tubs TJs mascarpone cheese
• 2 8oz. tub TJs ricotta cheese
• ~ 1.5 c. grated parmesan
• ~ 2 c. shredded mozzarella
• 1-2 c. milk
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

1. Microwave the spinach according to package directions. Set aside to cool. 
2. Heat olive oil in a large sautee pan. 
3. Dice and sautee the onion until translucent and light brown.
4. Add mushrooms and sautee until soft, breaking up mushrooms into small pieces with spoon.
5. Add garlic and sautee until fragrant (1-2 min).
6. Remove sausage meat from casings. Add sausage meat and turkey to pan and cook through, breaking up meat into very small pieces with spoon.
7. Add 2 jars of sauce and basil, and simmer for 5 - 10 mins. Set aside to cool.
8. Preheat oven to 400.
9. Mix mascarpone and ricotta with about 1/3 - 1/2 c. milk, so the mixture is like a thinned paste (pourable, but not watery).
10. Dip noodles in mixture, slathering noodles completely with your fingers or a pastry brush. Stack coated noodles and set aside to soften. Continue adding milk to the cheese mixture so that it remains fluid enough to work with and to cover about 14-16 noodles.
11. Put the cooked spinach in a mesh strainer and, using your hand, press out as much of the liquid as possible.
12. Spray two baking dishes with cooking spray. 
13. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture in each dish.
14. Carefully remove cheese-covered noodles from the stack and top the meat layer with a noodle layer. The noodles should be coated in the cheese mixture. Dollop some leftover cheese mixture here and there over the noodles.
15. Add another thin meat layer.
16. Add another noodles-with-cheese layer, dolloping extra cheese.
17. Add a spinach layer, spreading it out thinly and evenly with your fingers. Grind a little salt and pepper on the spinach layer.
18. Add one more noodle layer, and one more thin meat layer. (Maybe even add one more layer, if you have enough stuff left!).
19. Top with a thin layer of parmesan and a thicker layer of mozzarella. The top should be completely covered with cheese.
20. Let lasanga sit 10 - 15 minutes so the noodles can soften.
21. Spray tin foil with non-stick cooking spray and cover the lasagna dish with the foil.
22. Put lasagnas in the oven and reduce heat to 375. Cook covered for about 20 mins, then remove tin foil and cook uncovered for about 20 more mins, aiming for a 40 - 45 min cook time.
23. Let lasagna rest 30 - 60 mins before serving.

Note: Next time I might try more than 2 jars of sauce. Just curious if more would be better, but not sure it's needed. 

So, writing a recipe is an art. This is not that. And all that TJs stuff is probably a little weak. Nonetheless, if you follow these steps I'm pretty sure you'll end up with a delicious lasagna (or two).

I don't have a photo of the lasagna. So here's are a few shots of Luke and Halina from the first day of first grade that I've been meaning to post anyway.

Luke and Halina sometimes do this thing where they take turns playing post-modern sounding art piano (improvised, silly, smart, and a little soulful) while the other one dances. Luke has great titles for his typically feisty pieces. Examples: 

Mouses Jumping on a Trampoline

Robot Ears

Touch the Camel

Halina does dramatic tempo and volume changes while repeating lyrics about something like wind chimes. 

It's hilarious. I swear sometimes they've been sneaking off to watch old SNL skits ("Choppin' Broccoli," etc.) and working on their ironic humor.

Special alone time at home with Halina, playing cards.

Halina showing Luke her old MCPC photo book at bedtime. Maybe he'll get one of his own this year.