Monday, February 1, 2010

Happy Lasagne to Me! Memories of Me Monday

 
 {May 1958 - My First Birthday}

TODAY'S MEMORY JOGGER: "Describe at least one family tradition that you remember from childhood. Do you have a favorite tradition?"

EASY!  Definitely, birthdays.

On our birthdays we ruled the day.  My favorite part was not even the gifts . . .

. . . my favorite part was dinner!

The birthday person got to choose what we'd have for dinner that day.  My dad always wanted my  mom's special meat loaf and scalloped potatoes.  He still requests that.  Strangely, I don't remember what I chose for each of my own birthday dinners but I do remember, as I got older, that I usually requested my mom's lasagne.  MmmmmMMM!

Lasagna was a big deal, a special meal, at our house.  It's labor-intensive, as anyone who has ever made it knows.  Especially if you make your own sauce like my mom did (none of that bottled stuff!).  Then the layering of the noodles, cheeses and sauce, and the topping it off with yet more cheese.  Then it had to be baked for an hour or so.  Finally, it came to the table bubbling and fragrant and accompanied by a huge green salad and garlic bread.  Wow!  In my mind it even eclipsed the cake.

 
{My 9th birthday}

Our birthday cake was always homemade, too, by my mom.  It was usually a round, two-layer cake, carefully frosted, and with the appropriate number of candles.  It's funny, but I don't remember what kind of cake I usually had, though I'm sure I requested chocolate as often as any other flavor, but I sure remember that lasagne! Thanks, Mom!

FOR NEXT WEEK: "What is the most outrageous thing you did as a teenager?"

Uh oh.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

You're welcome! Thanks for remembering. Love, Mom

Judy said...

Hi girlfriend! Love your posts and the pics! We always got to choose our birthday dinner too, but in our house the big choice was always homemade HAMBURGERS! AND homemade cake like yours - round, two-layered cake with frosting. Ahhh, your memories bring back my own feelings and memories. Thanks for that! I wonder if most people get to choose their own b-day meals in their families? I'll bet they do!

Sharon Lippincott said...

Oh dear, why did I read this post on an empty tummy? The thought of that lasagna will drive me crazy, and it's too late to make some.

This post brings back lots of memories for me too, like the year my mother put a small storybook size doll in the center of an angel food cake frosted as her skirt. We didn't pick dinner when I was young, but I started that custom with my own children.

I look forward to reading more of your prompts. Nice work! And terrific pics too.