A Birthday for Mr. SS

With 10 grand kids, and 3 sons and their wives, we are always celebrating some one's birthday.

We have a birthday (or multiples) in every month except May.

We always have the family celebration for Mr. SS on Super Bowl Sunday, because the family is always together.  We call it our "Family Holiday" and you can read about it and it's origins here.

But since yesterday was  Mr. SS's real birthday, I wanted to do something special, as he will have his cake on Sunday.  He really didn't want to go out to eat. Even though he just turned 65, this man of mine still works so hard. He is remodeling a friend's bathroom and is pretty tired in the evenings.

Many ask me what Mr. SS stands for. Well it stands for MR. SEW SWEET, of course, and he lives up to that name every day, but today, I was thinking about his age, and how he still works so hard at taking care of us and still takes time to play with the kids and attend all of their activities that he can.  He tries to help out my son around here and jumps into any project I need him for. He loves the Lord and loves his family with all his heart.

So...I decided that Mr. SS also stands for SO SPECIAL too. I am so blessed.

SO SPECIAL, that I decided to make him one of his favorite meals. I don't make it often anymore because, let's face it, it is a little more work than spaghetti, and the grands don't like it. AND...it makes soooo much.

But it freezes well, so that's what I made.

Lasagna

Yes, he really did eat that much. (Well, I had a small portion of that.)

Any of you that know him, knows he is a big eater.

(But somehow he keeps his athletic physic...makes me so mad.)

Then he sat around saying how full he was, but how good it tasted.

 Just as we were finishing dinner we heard a knock at the door and this precious group serenaded him with " Happy Birthday" as only kids can do.

A little story about the Lasagna. (I know, my stories are never "little") Then I will give you the recipe.

We were in our first year at Long Beach City College when we started dating.  I was living in a small duplex near the bay with my high school friend, Kathy.  She had just started dating someone too, and we decided to cook dinner for them.  I really don't know where we found the recipe, because neither of our Moms made it,

but luckily it was a good one. After all, we wanted to impress... I have tweaked it a bit since, but here goes:

Lasagna

1 1/2 lb ground beef

2 Sweet Italian Sausages

2 pkg. Lawry's Spaghetti Sauce Mix

1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder

1/2 tsp. Pepper

1/2 tsp. Lawry's Seasoned Salt

Brown meat and add seasonings.

Then add:

4-14 oz. cans chopped tomatoes.

2-8oz. cans tomato sauce and

Simmer for 1 and 1/2 hrs.

You will also need:

l lb. Lasagna Noodles

2 Tbs. Cottage or Ricotta Cheese

1 lb. Mozzarella Cheese grated

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.

Cook noodles and layer in baking dish (I have an extra deep corningware dish. A 9X13 is not big enough)

in this order:

Sauce

Noodles

Mozzarella Cheese

Cottage Cheese

Repeat two more times ending with sauce

Sprinkle top with Mozzarella and Parmesan

Bake 45 min. at 350 degrees.

I like to make this ahead and freeze in smaller pans too.

I'm not finished with Valentines yet. Check back for a giveaway and cute little tutorial.

I am linking withDesigns by Gollum for Foodie Friday

and

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Visit each for great recipes and ideas.

God is Good!!

Life is Good!!