Do not get alarmed, I have not lost my mind. (well, that is definitely up for debate...)
If there is an easier, faster way to do something... I will try to figure it out, and if you know about it, I want to know about it.
This weekend we had a dinner party with some of John's work friends and their families.
This is not us, but let's pretend it was this luxurious!
It was loads of fun. However... I had to confess that my delicious (if I do say so myself) lasagna :) was a total cheater recipe! And, in my excitement I said that I would post my recipe for all to enjoy. Now, I would have preferred to be thought of as a fantastic cook, using age-old italian recipes from my hubby's italian ancestors, but... there it is.
We love lasagna around here, (that could be part of my weight problem, but that is for another post!) but who has that kind of time? I mean, besides the time, who wants to wash three pots after dinner, either?
Tried the 'no-boil' noodles-- gag me. Totally mushy and grainy. Yuck! So, I invented my own process. I can have the lasagna on the table in 50 minutes. This is not a joke, please to not attempt to adjust your monitor.
Sweet Basil Lasagna
1 lb. ground beef
1 bottle Classico Tomato Basil spagetti sauce
1 can tomato sauce
1 large tub of cottage cheese
4 cups shredded mozzarella or italian blend cheese
1/2 box lasagna noodles
salt
pepper
basil
parmesan
secret ingredient: 2 cups VERY HOT WATER in a measuring cup
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Brown ground beef; salt and pepper the meat; add spagetti sauce and tomato sauce; bring to a boil and turn off.
In a 9x13 glass pan layer:
meat sauce (just a bit to cover the bottom of pan)
lasagna noodles
*pour some hot water down the center of each noodle*
meat sauce (1/2 of it)
cottage cheese (half of it)
2 cups mozzarella
sprinkle with basil and parmesan;
Repeat the layers a second time
Discard remaining water
Cover with foil; bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 5 more minutes or till cheese is a bit browned.
Voila!
At the party, one of the runaway dishes of the night was a delicious apple dip dessert, so I would like to post it, too.
It is from my sweet friend Kelly. It is another super-simple recipe that is magically delicious!
Caramel Apple Dessert Dip
Wash and slice lots of apples; do not peel. She used Fuji, but she says that Red Delicious are yummy too.
2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 jar Smuckers caramel topping
Chopped pecans
Mix the cream cheese and the sugar (I presume with a mixer; I forgot to ask)-- correct me in the comment section, Kelly!
Spread the cheese mixture into the bottom of a glass pie pan, or any pan with sides.
Cover with the caramel topping.
Sprinkle with the nuts.
Garnish with a few apple slices (sticking up in the middle so people know what to do)
Serve beside the bowl of apples as a most delicious dip.
Enjoy!
If you have any crazy-easy recipes, please share!
The Sunny Side: Yummy stuff is easy to make, and people think that you are super-awesome! :)
As many of you already know, one of my fave sites is Tip Junkie. I love it. I am addicted. I absolutely have to check it each and every day. How many of her pool of ideas have I put into action? Doesn't matter. Who are you- the project police? ;)
