{MONDAY'S MENU} Tammra's Lasagna

I have neglected you all for the last couple of days. How sad! If it makes you feel any better, I have neglected everything, except for the kids. They have been fed & loved, but that is about it. And it is all because of THIS....OH LAWSY!

It is over 700 pages long and as I push just over the 550 page mark I feel some SERIOUS anxiety! I just HATE finishing a book that I love, especially the last in a series that I have LOVED! However, I am sure that my sweet, patient hubby will be glad! Grateful even!

So let's get to how I made it up to him, shall we. My poor hubby has walked through the door with a tummy rumbling, and how has that rumble been satisfied? Well, by scrappin up whatever he can find (which is usually BBQ chicken, Rice-a-roni, some sort of veggie & bread), which he also kindly serves to the rest of us...one of whom did not deserve such sweetness, but alas, he provided anyway. Thanks babe!

And so last night, much to his surprise, he walked through the door to have a WONDERFUL dinner prepared and waiting for him! Dessert too! All laid out on the table and ready to be devoured. This is one of my favorite things EVER! It is my mom's lasagna. No cottage cheese allowed! I have tried many recipes, but NONE come close to this. It is so simple and yet SO perfectly satisfying! And so, I am passing it on to you! ENJOY!

TAMMRA'S LASAGNA

First of all, bring some water to boil. You know, water boiling never gets to be in the limelight and so I thought I would give it some props for just a moment! Good job water! What a nice boil! Now we will throw an entire box of Lasagna noodles into you, with salt to give a little extra flavor, Olive oil to prevent sticking, and cook said noodles until they are tender, but NOT over tender please! I believe Al Dente' is the correct term. Just leave a little firmness to them.

Now drain the noodles and rinse, just a bit, in cool water. Set them aside.

While you are cooking the noodles, you will want to brown some burger. I use 2 lbs for the whole 9X13, but there are times when I don't use meat, so do what you will.

Now start again with the noodles, then meat, then cheese. Then cover the whole thing with noodles.

Now put it in a preheated 375 degree oven, covered, for 45 min. I know, I know....that is a long time, but it is worth the wait! Go make some green salad or read a good book or something. The other lovely thing about this meal...you can get it to this point and put it in the fridge until later. So if you are feeling like getting dinner prepared in the morning, DO IT, then cook it an hour before you are ready for it!

Wait, now that it has been 45 min. you want to take the cover off and cook for 15 more minutes.

OH MY!! This is SO very yummy! Thanks Jasmine for reminding me that Lasagna exists. Thanks Ry for gobbling it all up and asking for more! It made my heart swell! :) Am I forgiven for all my prior slacker-ness?



VIOLA! Now put some plain sauce (no meat) on top and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on it. Apparently I went a little heavy on the inside. I didn't have very much for the top, but OH WELL! Stress free cooking...that's how I like it!Mix together a 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Sprinkle some of that over the meat. Now mix all of that burger with a bunch of the sauce. Then spread it all over the noodles. Now, spread a little bit of Marinara sauce on the bottom, this helps so that the noodles don't stick to the bottom. Now, let me give you a little side note. Buy Prego. It is the best for this recipe. Just Prego traditional will do. It is SO yummy with this! Buy the BIG jar!

Now lay your noodles across the top of that.