Our Favorite Lasagna Recipe

A long, long time ago...before there was Pinterest or I read a blog, I found the best lasagna recipe. I had tried several and I wanted one that had Italian sausage in it.  This one has both ground beef and sausage in it and is delicious!
I can't remember where I found it and I'm sorry that I can't give credit where credit is due.  But my family begs until I make it and the whole pan is gone in two days so I thought I'd share it with you~

Ingredients for tomato sauce:
2 tbls of olive oil
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
1 cup finely chopped carrot
1 tbls minced garlic
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 lb ground beef
1 lb ground Italian sausage
2 cans (28 oz ea) plum tomatoes
2 tbls tomato paste
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

other ingredients:
1 pkg (12 oz) lasagna noodles (I use the ones you don't have to boil)

ingredients for cheese mixture:
30 oz ricotta cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
l large egg
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Make your tomato sauce in a large sauce pan. Heat olive oil on medium heat, add chopped onions and carrots and cook for 8 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper. Cook an additional 30 seconds. Add beef and sausage and cook till browned. Stir in  tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

Cook noodles (if needed) and cool in cold water. Combine ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, parsley, 1 egg, 1/2 tsp black pepper in a medium bowl. Mix well.

Heat oven to 400.  Spread 1 cup tomato sauce in 9x13 pan.  Add a layer of noodles, a layer of ricotta mixture, a layer of sauce.  Repeat layers, ending with sauce.

Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.  Remove foil, cover with remaining mozzarella cheese and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes.  Take out of oven and let set for 15 minutes before serving.  Serves 9-12

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If you have a food processor I would highly recommend using it for the onions, carrots and parsley. I usually make my sauce in the morning and let it simmer for several hours, occasionally mashing the tomatoes.  I will often double the recipe and freeze the second pan for another day.  Saves me lots of work!

The original recipe called for 1/2 lb of sausage and 1/2 lb of ground beef but that was inconvenient and I've always made it with a full pound of each.  I usually have some sauce left over because of this and I set it aside to put over spaghetti another night.  

This is a family favorite and has even won the heart of my son-in-law whose mom is a wonderful cook.  Hope your family loves it as much as mine!

love and blessings~

 But He answered and said, "It is written, `MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' " Matthew 4:4

The Blessing of Pain

None of us get through this life without emotional pain.  The death of a parent, the loss or rejection of a loved one, emotional or physical abuse - all these things are very common in this world - and can cause deep emotional wounds.  If we let them.

I don't propose that we have the power to overcome these things by ourselves - but 'in Christ' we can. And I think we can actually benefit.

How we handle pain can 'make us or break us.'  The old saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger," can be true but sometimes what doesn't kill us, might just make us bitter.  And then the enemy has gained a strong-hold in our lives.

I have had a very painful situation in my life from a very young age - my dad.  Without going into detail and losing the focus of this post, this hurt in my life has shaped me and has had the potential to destroy the calling on my life.  My dad died this past November and the last few months have been very hard.  So I want to propose a new thought - what if pain can be a blessing?

 "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

This is a truth that I remind myself of whenever I am tempted to be discouraged.  And meditating on this thought until it becomes a reality to you can change your perspective on everything.

It's the painful things in our lives that shape us the most.  The Word tells us that Jesus learned obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8) and it's always fascinated me that Jesus, Who was perfect and without sin, had to suffer to learn obedience.  And I confess that I don't understand that at all. But if Jesus had to suffer then I can accept that suffering can be a righteous thing and that God can use it to change us for His Glory.

So in this season, I have talked a lot to God.  For me, this is different than 'prayer.'  Prayer, to me, is to get into the Presence of God, receive His direction and declare the things that He is saying.

But I talk to God all day long.  I give Him my hurts, tell Him what I'm thinking and ask Him to correct me and help me, confess my weaknesses, tell Him how much I need Him and that He is perfect in all His ways.  I depend on God to get through my day.

And in this season, I've submitted to the pain.

I've asked God to use this pain to shape me into the person He's called me to be.  I won't say for one minute that this has been easy.  I have tears in my eyes even as I write this.  And I can't say that I don't 'fear' how deeply this hurt can go.

But I know I have a Saviour.  He is Faithful and True. I know He sees every hurt that's in my heart and He puts every tear in a bottle (Psalm 56:8).  I know He knows me better than I know myself and even more than that, He knows things that I don't know.  He knows what's coming.  He knows what I need.  He knows how to help me and strengthen me.  I yield myself whole-heartedly to His wisdom and love.

This season is still hard but I can't imagine how hard it would be without Him.  Without Him, I would be lost and I would break.  But with Him, I am trusting that I will come out victorious and filled with joy.  I am trusting that someday I will be able to look at this season in my life and see His presence through it all.

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I have been fulling known." 1 Cor 13:12

love and blessings~

"Behold, I have inscribed YOU on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me." Isaiah 49:16

The Trumpet and Small Straws in a Soft Wind

This daily prophecy by Bill and Marsha Burns is always such an encouragement to me!  If you do not already subscribe to their daily emails, I would encourage you to do so!  Today is beautiful.


The Trumpet and Small Straws

THE TRUMPET by BILL BURNS: 

I see and know your whole life. I have walked with you in the valley of the shadow of death. And, even though you may not remember, I have encouraged you to keep going, to keep moving, and to come to this place that I have brought you to so that you are dwelling in a place of liberty under the shadow of My wings. And, from this point on, things will be different. You can experience joy and peace in a fresh way. Renew your relationship with Me and walk with Me as I lead you into the fullness of My kingdom, says the Lord.  Be blessed! Be renewed!

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:   

You are beginning to deal with all kinds of change in your life--from slight to radical.  Change requires adjustment.  If you refuse to be flexible and are unyielding and rigid, it will be a painful experience.  Do all that is necessary to accommodate the process of adjusting to things that are different than they were.  Let this become a time of spiritual growth as you seek Me in all things, says the Lord.  My love for you never changes.  Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.