TIME for Christmas

As a child on Christmas, I looked forward to staying up late, going to midnight mass, and coming home to discover that Santa had left wonderful presents under the tree. 

My mom, on the other hand, looked forward to lasagna. 

Huh?  Yes, every year my mom’s best friend Carol would make our Christmas Eve supper.  Lasagna, garlic bread, Caesar salad with REAL dressing, and of course cherry cheesecake.  Well, except for that one year she made us a flambé, which was quite confusing to me as a child that anyone would light their dessert on fire. 

We all looked forward to that special meal every year!

Now as an adult, I get it.  Although Carol fed us all, the real gift was TIME.  She gave my mom time.  Time to not shop, not cook (not my mom’s thing anyways!), and not clean up.  Most importantly, she gave my mom time with family.

Wow.  What an amazing gift. 

What else was amazing?  Zero waste.  Not one crumb was wasted from that meal.  All the dishes were washed and returned after Christmas.  No wrapping paper was thrown out.  And we were happy…and full!

The hustle and bustle of Christmas can be undone by simple acts.  Simple gifts.  Gifts of time. 

And lasagna!

Recipe has been well loved and had been modified due to my mom’s allergy to mushrooms.  A few years back I started using shredded mozzarella.  Use the original recipe or modify according to your needs too!

Enjoy and SHARE some TIME with loved ones this year!