Cooking with the Fuentes Family

For weeks now, Carlos Mario and Angie have been asking me to make lasagna with them. Since the banana bread class went well, I figured it would be at least possible to give it a go. Tyler and Rosellen came up to help with the effort. Actually, Rosellen lead the charge and made her family's recipe. I helped a little bit and took pictures.

Carlos Mario stepped up and was a big help in the kitchen. He offered to taste test every ingredient before we used it, just to make sure everything was good. Turns out the kids LOVED lasagna and garlic bread. There was none left by the end of the night! It was a blast finally getting to cook for the family that has taken such good care of me, and invited me to so many meals at their home. Hopefully I'll be able to do it again before I leave.

(Then you add the cheese...)

(A sneaky smile as he watches Rosellen work.)

After dinner was over, we started making Christmas cookies. I brought back some cookie dough mix (just add water and butter!) and cookie cutters. Rosellen brought powdered sugar to make frosting, and we found sprinkles at a grocery store. I think it was the first time the kids ever made Christmas cookies. It was so much fun for me to share with them a tradition I've always enjoyed with my mom. Now I know how much of a saint my mom is for putting up with us kids and making cookies with us every year. It was exhausting!

(Four spoons mixing up the dough.)

(Teaching the little ones how to frost cookies. I now realize there was a reason why my mom always frosted and only let us put on the sprinkles!)

(A cookie!)