Sunday Supper ​Lasagna

Oh my, is it really the Second Sunday in January? Another week, and we’re half way through the first month of the New Year. Did you know that the second Sunday in January is National Sunday Supper Day? I know, seems like we’ve been having a lot of family suppers these past few years. Personally, I think that’s a good thing.

Once upon a time, Sundays and families were synonymous. And it wasn’t just Mom and Dad and their brood. It was Uncles and Aunts, cousins and close neighbors. Family knew no bounds. Families went to Sunday Service, then gathered at someone’s home to share a meal and talk about current events, or community concerns. It could be something as simple as building a new soft ball field behind the church or organizing a bake sale. Then someone would get out a deck of cards after supper, while the children went off to play outdoors. Sundays gave to us a bonding experience that cemented within us a sense of belonging. Family meant something, as did community. These struck a cord within us that resonated to our very core.

The Sunday Supper Movement was created to reestablish the tradition of Sunday Supper one Sunday at a time. Today is National Sunday Supper Day. And a delicious Lasagna Supper is a great way to honor the day.

Amazing Meaty ​Lasagna
9 Lasagna Noodles
1/4 White Onion
1/4 Red Onion
1/2 Red Bell Pepper
1 cup Baby Carrots
1 can Diced Tomatoes
1 lb Italian Sausage
1/2 lb Ground Beef
1 tablespoon Minced Roasted Garlic
24 oz Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Italian Seasoning to taste
1 (15 oz) tub Ricotta Cheese
1 tablespoon Dried Basil
1 Egg
3 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 cup shredded Italian Cheese Blend

Cook lasagna noodles to desired doneness as directed on package. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Lay noodles out on a baking sheet to keep flat.

Meanwhile, heat oven to 350-degrees. Peel and finely mince onion, set aside. Stem, core and finely dice bell pepper, set aside. Finely dice baby carrots, set aside. Drain diced tomatoes of excess liquid, set aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage and ground beef together, breaking meats apart as they brown. Drain well, return to skillet.

Add onions, peppers, carrots and garlic. Pour in pasta sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir to blend, season with Italian Seasoning. Reduce heat, let meat filling simmer until ready to assemble. No rush, the longer it simmers, the better the flavor.

In medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, basil, egg and the mozzarella cheese; mix well. Set aside.

If necessary, trim lasagna noodles to better fit in the casserole dish. Lay 3 trimmed lasagna noodles in the bottom of the casserole dish, slightly overlapping one another. Spoon 1/3 of the meat filling over the noodles, spread out to cover. Scatter 1/3 of the cheese mixture over sauce. Top with another layer of noodles, pressing down slightly. Top noodles with another third of meat sauce, then more cheese mixture. Top with final layer of noodles, final layer of meat and final layer of cheese.

Sprinkle Italian Cheese Blend over the top of the Ricotta cheese mixture.

Place lasagna on a baking sheet to catch any spillage. Spray foil with cooking spray to prevent cheese from sticking, cover lasagna with foil and place in the oven.

Bake for 30 minutes undisturbed. Uncover lasagna; turn oven to Broil. Continue to cook until cheese is bubbling and just beginning to brown. Remove from oven, let rest 10 minutes before serving.

With a simple toss salad, warm garlic bread and a bottle of wine, this Lasagna is transformed into amazing supper worth sharing with friends we love to call family.

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Just for the record, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is that one Sunday a month, life is going to stop. We will sit down to something special for supper and remember what truly matters in life – each other. Besides, we have that beautiful dining room. Seems a shame not to gather those we love around the table and savor the memories created there.