Happy Mother’s Day 2008

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!!!!! We had a very relaxing Mother’s Day. We went to Panera for bagels and ate them in the van. Then we went for a nice drive out in the country. We drove to the river and Lauren and Dave threw sticks into the river. It was raining so I waited in the van with Carmen. Lauren did not want to leave but we told her we would bring her back sometime soon for a picnic by the river. For dinner, we ordered El Salvadoran food. Pupusas are yummy!

Mother’s Day is bittersweet for me. After having miscarriages, I dreaded Mother’s Day. I dreaded going to church and seeing all the moms standing up while everyone clapped. I still cringe every year for the women who cannot have children or who have lost children. At the same time, I am very thankful that I am a mom on Mother’s Day. I have two beautiful daughters and my favorite job in the whole wide world is being a mom.

Both my mom and Dave’s mom are good cooks. I am going to post two recipes, one from Dave’s mom, Grace, and one from my mom, Charlotte.

Grace’s Fabulous Easter Ham
(This is soooooooo yummy!)
1 cooked spiral sliced ham
1 can sliced pineapple, reserve juice
Brown sugar
Cloves

Place ham in large casserole dish. Stick cloves all over ham. Secure pineapple slices on ham with toothpicks. In small saucepan, combine pineapple juice, brown sugar to taste and a little water if needed to make a nice sauce. Bring sauce to a boil and cook until thickened. Pour sauce all over ham. Follow ham instructions and cook until warmed thru, basting occasionally with juice.

Charlotte’s Lentil Soup
(This is super good and healthy and I could eat it for lunch every single day!)
1 large sweet onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
Lots of celery
2 T. olive oil
1 package frozen chopped spinach
1 bag lentils, rinse
2 T. salt
14 cups water
1 large can diced tomatoes

Saute onion, garlic and celery in oil. Add all other ingredients. Cover and cook until lentils are done, about one hour. (I don’t like celery so I cut it into huge strips and then take them out after the soup is done.)

Thanks to my mom and mother-in-law for all you have taught me. I consider myself very blessed to have both of you in my life!