make ahead lasagne

sometimes when you have friends over

you want to forget about the cooking all together and just enjoy their company.

here is one of my favorite make-ahead recipes.

i prep and put it in the fridge thursday night.

get home after work on friday night, pop it in the oven

and am enjoying wine with friends 2 minutes later. perfection.

thank you BHG!

ingredients

12oz italian or pork sausage or ground beef

(i am always generous with the meat, the more the better!

especially if you're feeding boys!)

1 large onion, chopped

2 clovesg garlic, minced

14.5oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 8oz can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 pkg lasagna noodles

1 beaten egg

1 15oz container ricotta cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

6oz shredded mozzarella cheese

directions

1. in a large saucepan cook sausage, onion, and garlic until meat is brown. drain.

2. stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper into meat mixture. bring to boiling; reduce heat. simmer, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. meanwhile, cook noodles for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender but still firm.

drain noodles; rinse with cold water. drain well; set aside.

4. for filling, combine egg, ricotta, and the 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. set aside.

5. spread about 1/2 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 2-quart rectangular baking dish.

layer half of the cooked noodles in the bottom of the dish,

trimming or overlapping as necessary to fit.

spread with half of the filling.

top with half of the remaining meat sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese.

repeat layers. if desired, sprinkle additional parmesan cheese over top.

if you're cooking right away:

6a. place baking dish on a baking sheet.

bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through.

let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

if you're cooking it later:

6b. cover unbaked lasagna; chill for up to 24 hours.

bake, covered, in a 375 degree oven for 40 minutes.

uncover; bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through.

let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

very popular. i think four of us ate this entire dish!

enjoy!