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"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Ephesians 4:2

Friday, March 6, 2009

Dinner with Friends and a Recipe!

We had this crazy, fun couple over at our house for dinner, about a week ago! This is Alisha and her husband Erick. Alisha is my best best friend! We've been friends since our junior year of high school and moved up to Oregon together, right after we graduated! We've been trying to find a time to have just the two them over since we've been married and finally found the night to do it!

Alisha and I always have something to talk about and Mackenzie and Erick are becoming closer friends. So,we had such a great time!

The funny thing is, I actually met Mackenzie through Erick. They grew up a town apart and knew each other from Campus Life events. Anyway, Erick was coming home from a study abroad program in Spain. We through a welcome home party for him, and Mackenzie showed up! I remember he stayed pretty late and we talked about politics with everyone...funny, huh?

So, I made dinner for the four of us, Alisha brought dessert and we talked and played monopoly! That game really goes on forever... We really enjoy having our friends over at our place. I enjoy the fellowship and even the preparations for dinner...I love to cook and bake!

Here's Mackenzie cutting the dessert. He was getting pretty annoyed with me taking so many pictures so, to get back at me, he acted silly in every picture! Man our husbands deal with a lot of pictures for the blog, don't they?

I wanted to share one of the recipes that I made for the dinner with you!

On the menu, Italian Sausage Lasagna, Ceasar Salad, and Rolls.

Here's the recipe for the yummy Lasagna!

Italian Sausage Lasagna – serves 8

1

pound bulk Italian sausage (hot)

1

medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)

1

garlic clove, crushed

3

tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1

tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves

1

teaspoon sugar

2

cups Progresso® diced tomatoes (from 28-oz can), undrained

1

can (15 ounces) tomato sauce

12

uncooked lasagna noodles (12 ounces)

1

container (15 ounces) ricotta cheese or small curd creamed cottage cheese (2 cups)

1/4

cup grated Parmesan cheese

1

tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano leaves

2

cups shredded mozzarella cheese (8 ounces)

1/4

cup grated Parmesan cheese



1.

Cook sausage, onion and garlic in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain.

2.

Stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, sugar, tomatoes and tomato sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.

3.

Heat oven to 350ºF. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package.

4.

Mix ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, remaining 1 tablespoon parsley and the oregano.

5.

Spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture in ungreased rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Top with 4 noodles. Spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over noodles; spread with 1 cup of the sauce mixture. Sprinkle with 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1 cup of the sauce mixture and 2/3 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

6.

Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer or until hot and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.




Now, typically, you would cook the lasagna in a 9x13 pan. However, since it was just the four of us. I decided to divide the recipe into two pans. I bought a square foil pan and put half of the ingredients into it. Then, I froze it for a quick and easy meal down the road!

Have a great Friday! I'm working today and going to relax with my hubby tonight. Maybe we'll watch a movie! Tomorrow, I have worship practice at the church and later, Sharon and I will be going to a jewelry party for one of her co-workers! It should be fun! Praise and Worship Sunday is coming up! I hope you'll join me this week!

By the way, thank you all so much for your input and sweet words about the photo shoot pictures! Also, thanks for all the suggestions on ways to cook the fish! I'll let you know what we try and what we like! :)

16 sweet comments:

Mary Anne said...

Hi Brittany,

Your lasagna looks delicious. The pictures are making me hungry;-) Thanks for stopping by Marigold Manor and leaving me such a nice comment. I hope you'll come back soon. I am going to try to participate in Praise and Worship Sunday this week;-) Have a fun weekend.

Blessings,

Mary Anne

southerninspiration said...

Good food, good friends.....life is good!!!

Suzanne

Alicia said...

Fun!

I've heard that the new international electronic version of Monopoly goes faster - I love that game, but, seriously, who has four hours to play it?!

angi_b72 said...

Your lasagna looks yummy!! May have to try it out!!

Jessica said...

Looks like you guys had a good time! And mmmmm you are making me hungry haha.

Rose of Sharon said...

That looks like such a fun evening! You are so blessed to have so many great friends! I bet your lasagna was awesome! We should make that together sometime as I am intimidated by homemade lasagna! Have a great Friday and I look forward to seeing you Saturday little chick!

Love Mom

Miller Racing Family said...

The lasagna looks wonderful, I will have to try it. I am so with you on having friends over. I love everything from the planning, to the event and sometimes even the cleaning up. It is always great to have fellowship with fellow believers, that turn into great friends.

Sugarplum Garters said...

that lasagna looks delicious! and what a fabulous idea to make it in two pans so you can save half for later! thanks for sharing the recipe!

Barb said...

Looks so good,have a great week-end I am off to paint and sand some more cabinets....Barb

Sondra said...

Looks likes ya'll had a good time! I love board games. Your food looks yummy! I love your new profile picture. You look very pretty.

Elena said...

Your lasagna looks fabulous. That was smart to save some for another meal. I like to do that too! I enjoyed hearing the story of how you met Mackenzie. It is so wonderful to have good friends to fellowship with. Have a great weekend. Elena

Leah said...

How fun! Thanks for sharing the recipe too. :)

Dana said...

Im absolutely going to be using this recipe:) thanks for the sweet comments you always leave.

Anonymous said...

Hi Brittany!
Oh my ~ your lasagna looks deeeelish! I made some last week. Great comfort food, isn't it? I haven't played Monopoly since I was a kid! It's nice you were able to get together w/your friends. Your hubby is too funny! :o) Have fun at the jewelry party today.

Hugs,
Mardell

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

That looks soooo good, Brittany!

Your photos below are just beautiful too.

Rebekah said...

Wow, that looks amazing! I would love to try it.

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