Easy, Delicious Lasagna

 What's for dinner tonight? Well today I want to share with you a fairly easy recipe that has taken years to perfect, but it's husband approved and kid approved too! My husband is Italian so we have Italian food quite often. He could eat pizza everyday and spaghetti every Sunday if I would let him. My husband grew up eating spaghetti every Sunday after church with made from scratch sauce and meatballs...it's so yummy, however I'm sworn to secrecy on the recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation. Although I won't be sharing that recipe today I am sharing the next best thing! I have to throw a little Italian variety into the menu because my kids are not a fan of eating spaghetti each Sunday. It doesn't bother me because I don't have to cook but the last thing I need is a protest in the house from the kids refusing to eat. The best thing about this recipe is it's simple and easy! So who is ready for some lasagna?

P.S. I promise to brush up on my photography skills

Step 1: Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain noodles and set aside until ready to use. You only need six but I boil extra just in case they rip. 

Step 2: Meanwhile brown ground beef. After it is browned and drained add about a cup of spaghetti sauce. My husband likes a lot of sauce so that is why I buy the big jar of spaghetti sauce but if you don't like that much sauce you can buy a smaller jar. 

Step 3: Make your Ricotta Cheese filling (recipe below) 

Step 4: Cover the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish with spaghetti sauce to keep the noodles from sticking to the bottom. I normally don't use this glass one, however my daughter accidentally broke my favorite casserole dish. You could even buy the aluminum foil ones if you wish.
 
(No picture...oops) 
 

Step 5: Layer 3 lasagna noodles in bottom of dish.

Step 6: Put all your Ricotta Cheese filling onto the noodles in an even layer.  

Step 7: Put half of your hamburger mixture on the Ricotta Cheese layer and pour about a cup of spaghetti sauce over the hamburger mixture (you can skip this step if you don't like too much sauce).

Step 8: Top with about a cup of cheese.

Step 9: Layer with 3 more noodles.

Step 10: Layer with more spaghetti sauce until noodles are covered.

(no picture...oops)

Step 11: Add the rest of the hamburger mixture. 

Step 12: Add the remaining spaghetti sauce.

Step 13: Top with the rest of your cheese. 

Step 14: Bake for 45 minutes. You can reduce this time if you don't like your cheese that browned. My husband loves the crisp of the cheese so that's how I make it.

Step 15: Stuff yourselves full!

FOR A PRINTABLE RECIPE click here

INGREDIENTS

12 oz jar of Classico spaghetti sauce (or any sauce you prefer)

6 Strands of lasagna noodles

2 lbs of ground beef (lean)

16 oz of of shredded mozzarella/provolone cheese blend (or any cheese will work)

2 cups of whole milk ricotta cheese

10 oz chopped spinach (thawed and drained)

2 eggs

1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning

DIRECTIONS

Set oven to 375°

1. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain noodles and set aside until ready to use.

2. Meanwhile brown ground beef. When finished browning add 1 cup of spaghetti sauce. Set aside until ready to use.

3. For filling, combine 1 cup of cheese, ricotta cheese, spinach, eggs, and seasoning in medium bowl until mixed well.

4. Cover the bottom of 9x13 rectangular casserole dish with spaghetti sauce until bottom of dish is barely covered (approx. 1/2 cup).

5. Layer 3 lasagna noodles in bottom of dish.

6. Spread filling onto the noodles in an even layer.

7. Pour half of hamburger mixture onto filling and add about a cup of spaghetti sauce over hamburger.

8. Top with about a cup of cheese.

9. Layer with 3 more lasagna noodles.

10. Layer with more spaghetti sauce until noodles are covered (approx. 1/2 cup).

11. Add the rest of hamburger mixture.

12. Add the remaining spaghetti sauce.

13. Top with the rest of your cheese.

14. Bake for approx. 45 minutes or until cheese is melted.

   

Teens Defining Discipleship

(This logo is one that I created, please do not copy or redistribute)

I have mentioned before that my husband is a Pastor and this year I decided to do something new with the youth. Unfortunately these days many churches struggle to find devoted volunteers and for our church we have been unable to find a volunteer youth pastor(s), therefor if we wanted a youth group my husband and I would have to do it despite our hectic schedules.  Our church denomination rotates pastors on average every 3-4 years, so when we moved here there was no youth group. Having 2 teenagers it was important to me implement a youth program which we have been doing, however it is hard to keep them interested. Youth groups are not the same as when I grew up.

Bringing youth into church is one of my top priorities because of many different reasons. In today's society teens continue to be labeled as disrespectful, lazy, selfish, violent and the list continues and I was unhappy with this label because not all teens are are this way. I was ready to prove to society that teens are not "worthless," in fact with the right guidance they can remarkable people. As an adult and as a church I feel it is our job to guide and direct these youth to be children of God and to be the best that they can be, not just for themselves but in society as well. I find it more important than ever to establish a youth group because of the problems that many youth endure. I wanted them to have a "safe haven" where for a moment they could just be teens, not worry about the struggles they are going through, in some cases the lack of family support or neglect, and have someone they could count on. You never know the impact you can have on a teenager and I find it imperative to be a good role model and be someone they look up to because they may not have that in their life. 

Church is a place to shape people into loving Christians and I have found that even without parents who go to church, youth thirst to find this relationship with God. We have several youth members whose families do not attend church, yet the youth are there...what does that say? It definitely does not say that they are lazy, selfish, etc. it says that families are failing to direct their children to be children of God and this is why our youth a being labeled, not because of who they are but because no one has guided them in the proper direction.

Now this does not apply to all families however being in the counseling field I know that youth are lost. The second leading cause of death in teenagers ages 10-19 years of age is suicide and it breaks my heart. This is why it is my mission to have an impact on youth.  So this year I came up with TEENS DEFINING DISCIPLESHIP. I wanted to bring youth into church and listening to a lesson each week doesn't exactly motivate them to come each week. So this year our goal is to love one another by impacting our community. Each month the youth will create a project and give it to someone in need, the elderly, or someone who needs their day brightened. This year our TEENS will DEFINE DISCIPLESHIP and show the world what discipleship is really about! These teens are Disciples of God and they can make a difference in this world. 

I am sick of adults complaining that teens are vile instead they should be doing something about it. If you are so worthy then you should be the one to help them be the best that they can be because not every child has a good upbringing. If your child has had the "luxury" of a stable upbringing (as my children have had) then they should be the ones who set examples, be encouraging, lead other youth, and most importantly love all youth, you never know whose life they will impact. I'm not saying this to be hateful but sometimes I find that adults are the biggest hypocrites. I am ready to guide and direct these youth to be the best that they can be and I challenge you to do the same.

I would love to hear what you or your church has done to keep the youth interested in church. 

 

Stay tuned to find out about our first project that our youth are doing! We are super excited for our new program! 

Minion Valentine Party Favors for Kids

Who is ready for Valentine's Day? Well not me exactly but it's always nice to be prepared ahead of time so I thought maybe I could help with some ideas if you are one to jump on top of projects. 2 years ago I was in charge of gift bags for Zane's class (2nd grade). I have this little problem called crafting, so when I do something it can be time consuming. As I was making all the stuff, my husband said, "Why do you take so much time to do all this"...I then said "look at Jaden she is already 18 years old, we only get our children for a little while, it is well worth the time and effort." At that time our oldest daughter was 18 and now she is 20 and I am still having a hard time grasping the fact she no longer lives with us. 

So here are some ideas for classroom parties...I did a Minion theme since my son loves Minions.

So the items in the gift bag were homemade Minion mask, Minion Twinkies, bottle cap necklaces, homemade slime, bubbles, and a cupcake parfait.

 You can find these awesome Minion wrappers at HaleGrafx  HERE and HERE
You can also find the heart saying I attached to the back at examiner.com HERE 

 I found a Minion mask on google and used it as a pattern to make these. I then printed up the little saying May I mask you out Minion Valentine?

 For the homemade slime I made I printed up  Slime yours Minion Valentine for the girls and for the boys I printed up Be my Valenslime Minion

 For the bubbles I printed up Just popping in to say Happy Valentine's Day for the girls and for the boys I printed up You blow me away Valentine

 For the bottle cap necklaces/bracelets I found them on google put could not tell you from which website.

 This cupcake parfait consisted up chocolate cupcakes, ganache, banana pudding, banana buttercream frosting, drizzled with chocolate, topped with chocolate covered banana chips and these cute little Minion gummies I found at Walmart.
You can find the cupcake wrapper printable at Oh my Fiesta in English I just added some hearts and a couple of sayings...I'm bananas for you Valentine and on the other side I added You make my heart go bananas Valentine. 

 Here is my handsome little Minion 

And here is the classroom full of Minions! 

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!