Mexican Lasagna

Buenos Dias!

Aqui' esta' una receta muy deliciosa!

Or: Here is a recipe guaranteed to tickle your taste buds!

This is a favorite of Abby's. She offered to stop by the grocery, on the way home from work yesterday, to pick up all the ingredients I didn't have on hand if I would make this for supper last night.

I have my friend Jean to thank for this delicious recipe. I hope you like it as much as our family does.

Mexican Lasagna

• 6 10-inch flour tortillas torn in half
• small onion, chopped
• 1 lb hamburger
• 1 pkg. taco or chili seasoning
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 15 oz. can tomatoes

***********

• 8 oz. cottage cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese

***********

• shredded lettuce
• chopped tomatoes
• chopped green onions
• chopped black olives

Grease a 13X9" casserole. Layer 1/2 tortillas. Brown the beef and onions; drain. Add seasoning mix, canned tomatoes, and cheddar cheese. Pour this mixture over the tortillas. Layer second 1/2 of tortillas. Mix cottage cheese, eggs, and Monterey Jack cheese. Pour over top of tortillas. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes till firm. Garnish with lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, and black olives.








This makes a beautiful presentation and is great for company. Serve it with chips, salsa, sour cream, and a big ol' salad! Crank up the Mexican music and have a fiesta! Ole'!

Adios!
Laura Lee

Christmas Quilts and Wacky Birds

Isn't this a gorgeous quilt? My great-grandmother Hattie Brinson made this quilt for my father when he was 12 years old. It is a full bed size quilt. My father very generously gave this quilt to me recently. I think it looks beautiful all year long, but especially at Christmas!

Below is a Christmas quilt I made a few years ago. The blocks in this are called "cake stand."



And finally, I wanted to show you these adorable birds that my father-in-law carves from pine knots. He calls them "ugly birds" but I think they are really cute. At Christmastime, they don their scarves and muffs and go visit Santa bird.

"I want it all and I want it now!"

More holiday decorating to come!

Enjoy your Thursday.

Love,
Laura Lee

Stitchin' Snowmen

I'm worse than a kid at Christmas. I've been busy, busy stitchin' snowmen ornaments and I couldn't wait to show them to you.

We're off to take Ryan back to college this afternoon. I have a whole bag full of snowmen waiting to be stuffed.

Have a lovely Sunday.

Love,
Laura Lee

Willy Melt?

I sure hope he won't!

Alyssa, he is coming to warm your heart and your home. Congratulations on winning the snowman quilt! Please email me with your mailing address so I can send him out to you in a scurry! Thanks to everyone who played along with the name game. They were all so cute. Tom, my impartial judge, studied all the names and had a difficult time making his choice. In the end, he said he was sure a lot of thought went into "Willy Melt?"

I have ornaments for everyone who participated. If you would like one and I don't already have your mailing address, please send it to me at:

thomastemple at bellsouth dot net

Obviously, type it the "normal" way.

Tootles,
Laura Lee

Wii! What a Day!

It's been a lovely day. We consumed enough food to feed a small army. Erika informed us that the average American eats 5000 calories on Thanksgiving. We made every effort to be average today.

Then, at least the men of the household attempted to get a little exercise playing Wii and pretending to be Tiger Woods.

I didn't bother. I'm allergic to exercise.

How was your day?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Come in! We've very happy you're here.

The candles are lit.


The pumpkins are standing at attention.


The centerpiece is finished,


...complete with pheasant sentinel.


All the children are home!


The pies are baked.


Fat turkeys are everywhere.


We have so much to be thankful for.

God bless you this Thanksgiving.

Love,
Laura Lee

From the fullness of his grace we have all received
one blessing after another. John 1:16

Breakfast Treat?

I have a girl who eats sauerkraut for breakfast. Yep, you read that correctly. I knew you wouldn't believe me if I didn't photograph my epicure as she prepared to devour her after-breakfast treat. She'd eat it every day if I let her.

Guess who else has learned to love it??

Afghan of Many Colors

On a chilly November morning, nothing is quite as cozy as a warm fire and a bright, cheerful afghan. This is the afghan that Grandmama made me for Christmas. Of course, I told her exactly what I wanted! So, she gave it to me a little early, so we can enjoy it all winter long. Thank you, Grandmama!

"I like it much better up here!"

If you haven't already, please submit a name for my snowman quilt and take a chance at winning him next Friday!

Stay warm!
Love,
Laura Lee

Christmas Give-Away!

'Tis the season for another give-away!

I love Christmas. I really do. I'm not the type who leaves my decorations up all year. Nor do I start putting them up before Thanksgiving. Just as soon as Thanksgiving is over, however, I enjoy turning my home into a winter wonderland. And since Thanksgiving is a mere 9 days away, I decided I better get this Christmas give-away ball rolling.

While dreaming of a white Christmas, I dreamed up this cheerful snowman, using scraps from my Christmas quilt project. Snowmen are my chosen holiday motif for the kitchen and family room. And as much as I like him, I thought maybe he'd like to come to your house instead and bring to you a little bit of Laura Lee Christmas cheer. Problem is, he doesn't have a name. And he definitely needs a name.


Just for fun, this give-away will be a little different. Here is where you come in. Please suggest a name for this affable fellow, either by posting a comment to the blog or by emailing me. I'll keep track of who submitted what name, but will only let my impartial judge see the name suggestions. (I haven't yet decided who my impartial judge will be. Obviously it won't be me, or anyone else I know who reads this blog.) Whoever suggests the winning name will win! The winner will be chosen the day after Thanksgiving, when the Christmas holiday season begins in earnest.

"I need a name, please!"

There are two names that I will definitely veto: Frosty and Snowy. Sorry folks, but we're going for something a little more creative than that.

Additionally, I would like to send a handmade snowman Christmas ornament to each person who enters. So, if I don't know you personally, I'll need your mailing address for that. You can email me at:

laurat1962@yahoo.com

edited to add: I'm afraid the above address may not be working. Please try this one:

edited AGAIN to add: So sorry guys. I had com instead of net!!!! I heard this one was bouncing and couldn't figure out why. PLEASE try again!

thomastemple at bellsouth dot net

Obviously, type it the "normal" way.

Let the name game begin!

Love,
Laura Lee