Another Birthday Party

i just got sahar off to sleep a little while ago. it's after 10:00 p.m. in the holy city of zefat. his aunt moran took care of him all day long. i went down to do the laundry at 12:00 p.m. it was rather cold this morning so i put it off.

i think i did about 6 huge loads. i didn't see any major improvement after investing 1100 shekels last week in maintanance. i think the machine was actually, noisier. go know!

last night we had a 'mock' surprise party for gal's mom. she turned the big '50'. next week i turn the large '60'. i was hoping to come in svelte to my party but it ain't happening. my stomach is the size of a basketball. i just have to grin and bear it.

anyway, gal asked me to make a lasagna for the party. i bought all of the ingredients last thursday. i was hoping that she would change her mind because i wasn't in the mood to potchka. later that day, at around 3:00 p.m. she asked if i could also bake a chocolate cake. she told me that she would pick it up and decorate it, herself. i was feeling rather sluggish yesterday morning and stayed in bed for most of the day. at 3:30 p.m. i jumped out of bed and got dressed and ran down to the supermarket to buy white flour. her family and especially her mom, doesn't like whole wheat flour. her dad, surprisingly enough, prefers it. next month, i'll make him another honey cake for his birthday.

at around 4:00 p.m. i forced myself to go into the kitchen to start the cake. a friend called to say that she was coming over for a visit. i was just whipping up the cake when she arrived. it took about 40 minutes and i had 2 lovely and moiste round layer cakes for gal to pick up. i couldn't start the lasagna while i was hosting my friend. the discussion was rather on the heavy side. i waited for her to leave. she left at around 6:30 p.m. i was already spent.

at 7:00 p.m. i started the tomato sauce. i ended up using the cardboard like lasagna noodles that you don't precook. i did manage to go back to the store where i had seen the real squiggly lasagna noodles, but i didn't find any. gal said that she would pick me up at 8:30 p.m. so i wasn't feeling too pressured. you might say, that i was lacking inspiration. i didn't even use fresh garlic in my sauce. i was hot and tired.

while the lasagna was baking, i melted the left over white chocolates that i had bought for gal's sister's bris. i did buy good 60% dark chocolate bars but i decided not to use them. i opted for the precut white plastic chocolates, instead. remember, i told you that i wasn't feeling very inspired. i made 10 large 'yom huledet sameach' lollypops and about 20 small 'mazel tovs'. i found my gold 'mazel tov' stickers and 2 plastic wine glasses to showcase the chocolates.

at 8:20 p.m. i took the lasagna out of the oven and covered it with foil and a couple of towels to keep it warm. gal called to ask me to bring up a couple of bottles of coke from the fridge. she said that her brother-in-law would pick me up in 20 minutes. i opted for not showering. i had showered earlier in the day but i certainly could have used another one. i threw on a fresh top and a vest to try and cover up my huge stomach. it didn't help one bit.

i went to carry out the lasagna, 2 bottles of coke, and the bag with the gift and the chocolates before shachar came to pick me up. just as he arrived, the little dog paco, got out of the house. i had to round him up and get him back in and lock the door. i almost forgot the lasagna, which i had placed on the stoop. we drove over to gal's sister on the next block and i was handed the birthday cake to hold. it wasn't wrapped up or in a box. it was resting on an inverted layer cake pan. i had to hold it in my hands and make sure it didn't fall or get squished while we were driving. i was a nervous wreck. the hot lasagna was to my right on the seat next to gal's sister and baby.

we got to gal's family at 9:00 p.m. and all the girls scrambled to make a party. they frantically blew up balloons, set the table, put out salads and crackers, and put barekas in the oven. they served potato barekas, french fries, sweet potato ravioli in mushroom sauce, spaghetti in cream sauce, mock greek salad with bulgarian cheese, and of course, the dreaded lasagna. they never cut the cake because everyone was stuffed. blame it on the lasagna. they did serve 4 different flavors of ice cream. everyone was overtired. sahar was in his element watching his favorite nursery songs on his aunt's cell phone. we left well after midnite.

i am planning a sit down dinner for my birthday on sunday. i do not want a 'mock' surprise party. i want to share the big day with a few friends. i am planning on serving chili con carne, corn bread, corn, white rice, curried brown rice, lentils, tossed green salad, apple pie ice cream and some type of cake. i am leaning towards a banana cake with chocolate cream frosting. i was planning on making a chocolate layer cake but i don't know if i'll be able to retrieve my layers cake pans on time. i'm kind of fantasizing about making ginger bread but molasses is very costly. i'll decide this week. i'd like to do it ahead of time and freeze it.