31 Days to Bless Your Home: Easy Tips for the Domestically Challenged
Week 4- Developing Habits and Routines to Maintain a Blessed Home
Day 26 – Meal Planning and Awesome Lasagna Recipe
“Anyone too lazy to cook
will starve,
but a hard worker
is a valuable treasure.” Proverbs 12:27 CEV
will starve,
but a hard worker
is a valuable treasure.” Proverbs 12:27 CEV
This week’s challenge: Begin new habits and routines that will help you maintain the blessed atmosphere in your home.
Today’s challenge: Write down what your family will have for dinner each night for the next week, and plan your grocery list accordingly. Leave off anything unnecessary and save money!
Let us round off our week of routines and habits with the most delicious and fun challenge yet! I have learned that meal times are so much easier and less stressful when they are well planned ahead of time. Make it a habit of writing down everything your family will eat for dinner for the next week or two, and write a grocery list accordingly. You will save money by not going out or buying unnecessary junk food, and you will save so much time by not scrambling at the last minute to throw something together.
When you write your menu, consider a wide variety of colors and types of vegetables throughout the week. Distribute healthy choices for each meal. Think of how healthy you will be!
You are in for such a treat this week! I am going to share with you my awesome, to-die-for-lasagna. This is always a hit! Not only is it scrumptious, but you can make it a day ahead of time if you are expecting company. Then, all you have to do is put it in the oven while you are getting everything else ready. It takes the stress out of entertaining!
Shari Lewis’ Awesome Lasagna
Ingredients:
16 oz. lasagna noodles
Sauce:
1 ½ lb. Italian sausage
½ c. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic
16 oz. can diced tomatoes
29 oz tomato sauce (Add another 16 oz can if using oven ready noodles. They really absorb liquid.)
6 oz can tomato paste
1 ½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 tbsp basil
1 tsp. oregano
Filling:
2 eggs
2 ½ c. ricotta cheese
2 tbsp. parsley
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
½ c. grated Parmesan cheese
1 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese
12 slices Mozzarella cheese
Top:
Gobs of Mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups)
Sprinkled Parmesan cheese
1. If using traditional noodles, boil in large pot of water with a bit of vegetable oil and some salt. Otherwise, you may use oven ready noodles. So much easier!
2. Brown sausage with onion and garlic. Drain.
3. Add tomatoes, sauce, paste, and seasonings. Simmer 15 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, combine eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, parsley, and 1 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese for filling.
5. Spray 9X23 casserole dish with nonstick spray.
6. Spoon a small amount of sauce on bottom of dish.
7. Layer half of the noodles in rows.
8. Spoon half of filling.
9. Lay 6 slices of Mozzarella cheese on top.
10. Spoon half of sauce on top.
11. Layer the remainder of the noodles in rows on top.
12. Spoon remaining filling on top.
13. Lay 6 more slices of Mozzarella cheese on top.
14. Spoon remaining sauce on top.
15. Pile handfuls of shredded Mozzarella cheese all over the top.
16. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
17. Cover with foil.
18. Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes.
19. Remove foil and bake a few more minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
20. Or, you may refrigerate overnight and bake the next day at 375 for about an hour.
21. Remove foil and bake a few more minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
This goes great with a Greek salad! Mix together Romaine lettuce, Red leaf lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, banana peppers, black olives, croutons, and feta cheese. Top with Italian or Greek Vinaigrette.
Don’t forget some garlic bread, and you are all set!
Enjoy this weekend! Be sure to spend some quality time with your family; get some great rest; and worship.
Join me next week for great ideas to help us get geared up for a peaceful and meaningful Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.
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Thank you, and God bless you and your home!
Shari Lewis
