Where Does the Time Go?

     

Well Turkey Day is long gone and we just finished celebrating Christ's Birthday and we're well into January.  WOW....Where did the time go?  Just like everyone....we were very busy.

I love how the farm looks when it's covered in a blanket of snow.  I am not so sure my brother appreciated all the shoveling and blowing but I believe most everyone here in MN loves Snow at Christmas time.  My family does.......

Its the time of year where family gathers near and far and this year we were fortunate because we were all together again. My brother Bruce from China and his family flew home for Christmas and my other brother Dave and his family made it from SD.   It was definitely a whirlwind of activity.

It started with a trip to the airport early Friday morning after my 14 mile run.  Yes I was out the door at 5:30 am running with snow falling, wind hollowing and temps below 0.  UGH......training for a Spring Marathon in a MN winter is definitely challenging.  After my run, core and stretching, I quickly showered up was on the road before 10 am to pick up luggage and a couple of my nieces.  Although my brother rented a van, it was a bit difficult to fit all their luggage and 6 bodies into one vehicle..... I was happy to help.  Traveling with 4 teenage girls all the way from Beijing is no easy task when it comes to traveling light.  Bruce loaded my car with the luggage and my triplet nieces all piled into my back seat while Bruce, Lisa and my oldest Niece Lauren took off for the University of MN for a college visit.  I for one hope she gets accepted and more importantly picks our U!  Gosh I'd love to have her in MN for her college years.

Once everyone arrived back to Hutch, we headed to our favorite restaurant here in town, ZELLA'S to celebrate Lauren's  18th Birthday.
WHAT FUN!

Since the Schlueter family from Beijing is still on CHINA time (12 hour difference) they all went home and crashed after dinner.  Two of my nieces at my house, and the rest at my moms.

The next two days were quite busy filled with shopping, eating, more shopping and more eating.  Its a good thing I run and spend time at the gym:-)

As you can see.........when us Schlueter's get together, we have such fun.

Saturday and Sunday night we all gathered at my home for good food, drinks and most of all.......laughs.  We all had such fun and as you can see, the Men did what they normally do after dinner..........VEG in front of the TV.  You probably also noticed, my man cave isn't a "typical" man cave.  At least I am sure most man caves don't have stuffed animals, pillows, family pics and definitely not a white Chenille over sized chair.  The truth is, since our wedding, we've been too busy to look for a new home to call "ours" so we're still living in "my" home.  We have a very nice home but it's just not quite big enough and my Husband would enjoy a  "real" man cave.

OK.......I bet you're wondering what I made for dinner on Saturday and Sunday.  Since it was our Christmas, we had the "traditional" Christmas dinner we usually have when family comes home.  Saturday night we had Turkey and Prime Rib with all the yummy sides.  Everything was delicious!  But seriously........once you've seen one Roasted Turkey or Prime Rib for that matter.......Do you really want to see another?  How about we just move on.........

Sunday night for the last hurrah.........I made Shrimp Lasagna  Roll Ups with Creamy Marinara.

The recipe is quite basic but ohhhhhhhhhhh so good.  I'll paste it below.    ENJOY!  It came from one of my favorite cookbooks by  Giada De Laurentiis

• 1 pound lasagna
• 3 tbls. olive oil
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 (15 ounce) containers whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped basil
• 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella

DIRECTIONS

• 1
  Preheat oven to 350°.
• 2
  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and partially cook until tender but still firm to a bite, stirring occasionally, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain. Meanwhile , heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp and the garlic to the pan and sauté until the shrimp are cooked, about 4 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat and let cool. Coarsely chop the cooled shrimp and place in a large bowl with 2 cups of the ricotta, the parmesan cheese, eggs, basil, 3/4 tsp. salt, , 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, and the nutmeg. Stir to combine.
• 3
  In another bowl, combine the marinara sauce with the remaining 1 cup ricotta cheese and stir to combine.
• 4
  To make lasagna, cover the bottom of a 9x13x2-inch baking dish with 1 cup of the marinara mixture. Lay four noodles flat on a dry work surface. Spread about 1/4 cup of the shrimp mixture over each noodle. Roll up and place seam side down in the baking dish . Repeat twice more to make 12 rolls. Drizzle the rolls with the remaining marinara mixture and top with grated mozzarella . Bake until the lasagna rolls are heated through and the cheese is beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.