You know those perfect photos of lasagna that you see in magazines – the ones where you think – that can’t be real – someone has definitely doctored up a 2″x 2″ cube with sauce and cheese and bits of sausage, and made it to look like a piece of lasagna…
Well, I am here to tell you, perfect lasagna does exist.
It can be done.
And you know how I know?
It was the lasagna I grew up eating at my grandparents’ house.
Gram’s lasagna was perfect.
But as pretty as it was – it tasted even better. To this day, I don’t know how she did it.
Gram was a wonderful cook. Her three standouts included lasagna, pork chops, and perfectly seasoned fried cube steaks.
Talk about having the ability to elevate flavors. She was masterful.
Gram’s lasagna was the typical meal served at the holidays. Especially Easter. We’d show up to the house in our fancy dresses, white gloves and new lilac knee socks that Mom surprised us with. And Gram would always greet us with her signature warm rosy smile, perfectly coiffed hair, newly manicured nails, and arms wide open.
Dinner at Gram’s was the best…
I’d like to tell you that I inherited the gene for lasagna, the one where once you cut a piece, it stays perfectly shaped, but I think you know the truth of it… so I’ll just keep working on that…
Today’s recipe is made with No Boil – Oven Ready lasagna noodles. It’s a shortcut that works like a charm!
Once you have all of your ingredients assembled – it’s time to build.
You can use jarred spaghetti sauce, or if you luck out like I did, and have a big batch of homemade sauce hanging out in your freezer, you’ll want to use that!
Once you prepare your baking dish by greasing and coating the bottom with your saucy-sausage (meat sauce) mixture – it’s all about the layering.
Repeat after me…
Noodles… Ricotta… Meat sauce… Mozzarella…
Noodles… Ricotta… Meat sauce… Mozzarella…
Noodles… Ricotta… Meat sauce… Mozzarella
Noodles… Ricotta… Meat sauce… Mozzarella…
Top it with a little extra Parmesan and a sprinkling of dried parsley…
Then bake ’til bubbly…
Oh My…
Let stand fifteen minutes before digging in…
That’s what I’m talking about, People!
I do apologize if you have dreams tonight that include noodles, Ricotta, meat sauce and Mozzarella…
Buon Appetito!
Print
Simple Sausage Lasagna
- Category: Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 lb. bulk sweet pork sausage
- 3 heaping cups homemade tomato sauce (or 26 oz. jarred spaghetti sauce)
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 cups Ricotta cheese (32 oz.)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 Tbsp. dried parsley flakes
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 9 uncooked lasagna noodles
- 3 cups shredded part-skim Mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.
- Stir in tomato sauce and water.
- Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine Ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley and eggs.
- Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce into a greased 13 x 9 baking dish.
- Layer with three noodles and one-third of the Ricotta cheese mixture, meat sauce and Mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat layers two more times.
- Cover and bake 45 minutes.
- Uncover; bake 10 minutes or until a browned and bubbly.
- Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
Ciao!
PS) I love cheese.
Great piece, Annie. Gram would be so proud. She always maintained that lasagne was easy.
Good for us that she felt that way. Glad to see the tradition living on with her grand babies.
Mmmmm…
Love you!
Thanks, Dad! Gram has inspired me on so many levels… Love you!
Well, my love for cheese makes perfect sense now…
It’s all my fault!
How much do you wanna make a bet that all your readers are making your lasagna this weekend? I’m going to go ahead and make it (along with your beef bbq recipe) and stick them in the freezer for some of my post surgery meals!!!
PS. I made your fresh corn salad the other day…it was so good!
That is a great idea, Karen! The comfort built into these foods will have you feeling better in no time!! Mmmm, I love that corn salad! Thanks!! 🙂
Wow!! What great memories and your lasagna looked amazing!!! I will never know how her squares were always so perfect! Xo
Such sweet memories…Gram was the Lasagna Queen! Thanks pally! XO