Rolling out the Red Carpet....

We have been travelling for most of the month of June....it's been total craziness with driving from one state to another...anyways, there was a neat hospitality moment that I wanted to share here. We lived across the hall from a sweet family in seminary and they were constantly having people over....whenever they would have a guest over they would "roll out the red carpet". I don't know where they got it, but they have a red carpet (with a gold colored edging) that they would welcome their guests in with. Anyways, we spent the night with them on the way to one of our many destinations and joy of all joys they had rolled out the red carpet for us!! What a fun way to welcome a guest....we felt very loved. :) Such a little thing, but so much fun!

Time Out!: Lasanga Recipe

Okay, I am still going to tell you how I fell into actually liking hospitality as soon as I can figure out how to say it best. I've been messing with the post all week and I just can't say it the way I want! So-I thought I'd post my lasanga recipe in the mean time.

Like the chicken pot pie-if you are going to the trouble of making one, you should go ahead and make one to share with someone else! :-)

The Recipe couldn't be easier.

Kelly's Lasanga Recipe

Buy a box of Muellers Lasanga Noodles. Follow the traditional Lasanga Recipe on the back. For your Tomato Sauce use Prego Traditional Spaghetti Sauce and Ricotta Cheese. I use lean ground beef and part skim cheeses. (to try and shave off some of the fat) Prego even has a healthy heart version of their traditional sauce-still tastes good.

That's it. It's super easy and most people enjoy it. It can get expensive-so be sure to keep that in mind.

I typically serve it with fresh bread and a salad.

The Mad Hostess: Hello, My Name is Kelly. I Get Mad.

Okay, so I have a confession to make. Having people over was always a big deal to me. In fact I would get mad. Not at the people coming over, but mad at my husband for inviting them (yeah I know real mature), my kids (for being kids and making a mess) and myself (for not being really good at being a housekeeper, cook, etc.).

If you've been to my house, I loved having you here. I am always okay, once my guests arrive. And I enjoy them. My freak out/temper tantrum usually happened/happens before people come over. I've mostly grown out of this problem, but like any problem (or sin), I am confronted with it from time to time.

Look, some people just have the gift of hospitality. Some people are extroverted and love to be around other people. Some folks can whip up something in the kitchen effortlessly and serve it on fine china. Some people have immaculate carpet and a well decorated house. Some have all of the above. I am an introvert, I didn't enjoy cooking, I am not a great housekeeper and learning to decorate has been an uphill battle. So, when people were coming over it seemed like a lot of work for me physically and emotionally--I'd get mad.

My perfectionism also made me mad. My expectations, you got it, made me mad.

Do you have something that just really makes you mad? What do you do with that kind of anger? How do you move past a road block? Why do you keep falling into the same trap? Are you as tired of being angry as I am/was?

I am going to attempt to talk about what changed...how I went from becoming extremely aggravated and mad about having people into my home, to actually really enjoying it. So, check back in a couple of days...

The Mad Hostess

So, over the next few days I am going to explain why I gave myself the title of "The Mad Hostess".

But, Kelly, I thought you liked to entertain folks? You seem to like it when we come to your house?!? What's going on here?

Well, stay tuned and you'll find out!!!

This is the whole reason behind the blog. :-)

In the mean time it is freaking hot in North Carolina! This is just craziness.

Roasted Red Potatoes

Roasted Red Potatoes

2 lbs. small red potatoes, halved (or quartered)
3 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. paprika

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a small roasting pan/cookie sheet toss the potatoes with oil. Arrange potatoes on pan so that the cut sides are down. Sprinkle the salt, pepper and paprika on top. Bake in oven for 25 minutes (took longer for Kelly!) until potatoes are tender inside and the undersides are crusty brown. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Editor's Note: They weren't good reheated- so be sure you are serving them to a crowd that will finish them off. They make the house smell really good while they are cooking.

Girl's Night In!

I had a girl's night in with some friends....we brought appetizers to one of our house's and shared them and some conversation....less expensive than going out and nice to be somewhere quiet where we could talk and eat. I brought a recipe that a college friend had given me for spinach dip and hawaiin bread....

Buy a loaf of hawaiin bread and cut a circle out (cutting that piece up in bite sized pieces)

the dip: thaw and squeeze out a 10 oz. package of spinach,

mix that with 16 oz sour cream and 1 cup of mayonaisse, and a knorr vegetable soup package.

It is easy and delicious!