All men are not created equal (or How I nearly killed our dinner guest)

So, I've been feeling pretty cocky about my cooking these days.  With little-to-no recent mishaps, I felt confident enough to cook for company (normally hubby does or its a joint effort.  I decided to make my Mexican Lasagna as it had gotten very solid rave reviews from Dave.  The only changes I made from the originally recipe (which I had found on allrecipe.com) was to spice the ricotta-egg mix with chili powder and cumin, added a layer of spinach, and 2 jalapenos (1.5 diced into the mix, .5 chopped and sprinkled on top).  In hindsight, I shouldn't have been so keen to kick it up a notch and left the jalapenos out-especially when cooking for company as our idea of mild-to-medium may greatly differ. (I did email ahead of time to ask how spicy and was told mtm).

Anyho, the lasagna came out of the oven hot and crispy (hmmmmm, in the oven a tad too long?). Cue the appreciative mummers and exclamations of how good it smells!  As the plates heaped with the tantalizing  lasagna are handed out, I can't wait to see/hear what my friends think. Only, that's not what happened.....instead, I discovered that the husband has been suffering from painful acid reflux for years; and his attacks can be brought on by eating spicy and tomato-based food (check and check!).  Within a few mouthfuls, he was gulping water and hiccuping but still valiantly trying to eating my lasagna-it was an ugly sight.  His poor wife was trying to compensate by telling me how delicious the meal was!  How she would love to have the recipe!  (I noticed she finished only 1/2 her portion).  I felt, in a word, horrible-sweet Jesus, I had committed attempted man slaughter with food!  The only silver lining to this spicy catastrophe was that my husband had wolfed his down with great satisfaction; however, I could not help but wonder -how many beers had he had?

So, what have I learned?  When cooking for guests, play it safe and make a spicy dish at a gringo level unless you really REALLY know the company you keep (but still have them sign a release waiver). 

I will post the recipe for Mexican Lasagna as I had originally made it - I will leave it up to you to spice it up as I refuse to be accused of aiding and abetting.