yummy things...

I love to cook. Since getting married my ability to throw together a decent meal quickly has really grown. Although we love the quick meals, anything that takes less than 30 minutes, we really savor the meals that take a lot of work to put onto plates. Because I know you all love these things as much as we do, I want to share the recipes we've been using. Most of my recipes start from something found online, like all great recipes, we've added a little here and taken something away there. This is the process in which a good recipe becomes great. I'm not going to claim that my way is the best, I know it can be better. This is why I am sharing it with you, find the things that would improve it ten fold and share it with me so we can enjoy a good quality meal!

Lasagna:

2 medium zucchini, sliced

aprox. 15 lasagna pasta, uncooked (it ends up being a little over half of one box of uncooked pasta)

1 small jar of ricotta

1 lb of shredded mozzarella, divided into 2 equal portions

1 cup of parmesan cheese (shredded or grated, whatever you have)

2 eggs

1 lb ground meat,  (I use a 93/7% beef, italian sausage or turkey would work as well)

1 bell pepper, diced

1 small onion, diced

1/2 cup carrots, diced

1/2 cup celery, diced

3 T itialian seasoning

1 large jar of spaghetti sauce

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. 

In a saucepan cook the ground beef until it is no longer pink. Drain the fat then pour in the spaghetti sauce, italian seasoning, bell pepper, onion, carrots and celery. Let this simmer on low heat until you are ready to start layering.

In a mixing bowl, mix the ricotta, one portion of mozzarella, parmesan, and eggs. 

In a 13X9 baking dish cover the bottom with zucchini. Add a light layer of spaghetti sauce, press in the pasta so that no air bubbles get trapped then spread on the cheese mixture and top with another layer of sauce. continue to layer, after completing the pattern twice, add an extra layer of noodles and sauce then cover with the remaining mozzarella. For added flavor, sprinkle on a little parmesan and italian seasoning, 

Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover and finish baking for 10 minutes.

Let cool and enjoy (It cuts easiest if you let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes after removing it from the oven.)

Our favorite side to put with this is glazed honey carrots:

baby carrots

1 T honey

2T brown sugar

Boil the carrots in water for 20 minutes. drain

Add the brown sugar and honey, mix to coat and cook on low heat for 10 minutes. 

That's it for now. Just another day in paradise eating only the best foods and keeping each other constantly entertained!

XOXO, A. Scott