A Lasagna Story

Way back in 1995,

when I was a young wife and mother,

I barely knew my way around a kitchen.

In fact, I didn't even own a cookbook at that time.

My two year old was an extremely picky eater, so we ate very basic, very bland, very boring food.

In January of that year, when my baby brother's 

(one of my most favorite people in the whole, wide world and I would do absolutely anything for)

 birthday was just around the corner, I told him I would make him a birthday dinner.

He asked for lasagna.

"That should be easy enough," I thought.  "Noodles, meat, sauce, cheese."

Then he asked for a vegetarian lasagna.

"Even easier!" was my next thought.

I made him a piping hot lasagna and a humongous cake (from a box) in the shape of a fish.

(the fish... that's a whole 'nother story)

Feel free to laugh at this next part, because it cracks us up.

As I proudly serve him his birthday lasagna,

he looks at me and grins,

"Do you think you may have forgotten something, Alisa?"

"You said you didn't want meat in it," I reply.

"Yes, but this is just noodles and cheese."

"Yes."

"Oh."

"OOOOHHH!"

I had baked him lasagna noodles with cheddar cheese on them.

I won't lie.

Not my sharpest moment.

Fast forward 16 years.

I now know my way around my kitchen.

I also own a cupboard full of cookbooks of all kinds.

January and my baby brother's birthday rolls around again.

I text him, "Give me another shot at a birthday lasagna."

"LOL... Okay, but this time I want meat in it and a red velvet cake."

"Done."

Both were a HUGE success!

Not a bite of lasagna was left in the pan.

And the cake was gone almost as fast too.

Happy Birthday, Little Bubba.

I love you.

(both recipes came from The Pioneer Woman Cooks)