Stove-Top Lasagna

It's only Monday and I already feel like it has been a busy week. I am tired with a capital T. Maybe it is the new diet, which is mostly just portion control and walking, or maybe it is the rainy weather we are having. Either way, between that and my super high blood pressure making me dizzy, I did not want to fuss in the kitchen today.

Not wanting to fuss in the kitchen is no problem, except for the fact that I am craving lasagna. Layering noodles, and baking would definitely take more than the 30 minutes I am willing to spend in the kitchen tonight. Heck, even a frozen lasagna takes an hour to bake. Hamburger Helper lasagna is not a real option in our house either. The big kids and I ate way too much of that while I was married to my first husband, and I have lost all urge to eat it EVER again.

So what's a girl to do in order to get the saucy, cheese pasta she is craving? Figure out how to make a homemade lasagna on the stove top, of course. The fact that this is a simple, one pot recipe is a great bonus for an over-tired weeknight meal, because I hate doing dishes.

Looks like Hamburger Helper doesn't it? That's what my 15 year old thought as well when she walked into the kitchen and glanced at the stove. This assumption was followed by the dramatic teenager sigh and the suspicious "You're trying to kill me, aren't you?" glare. I love teenagers. 

She was still skeptical as I sprinkled shredded mozzarella over top and set it on the table to melt and thicken. I on the other hand could hear my stomach growling for food, and was ready to start feasting. Instead I grabbed garlic bread out of the oven, and put a little bit in the baby's bowl so it had time to cool. 

This is seriously far tastier than it looks. The sauce is nice and thick over the noodles. There is a little bit of spice to it, which convinced my daughter it definitely isn't Hamburger Helper lasagna. And the just melted cheese provides a a satisfying gooeyness that I needed today. 

Stove-Top Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (I use 90/10)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb pork sausage
• 16 oz package lasagna noodles, broken
• 1 (10 oz) cans Rotel tomatoes with chiles
• 16 oz can tomato sauce
• 4 cups water
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. In a large pot, brown the hamburger, sausage, onion and garlic over medium-high heat. Once cooked through, drain the excess grease. 
2. Add the lasagna noodles, tomatoes, sauce, water, salt and pepper to the pot. Carefully stir to combine, and then bring it to a boil. 
3. Cover the pot and simmer for 15 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally so that the noodles soften. 
4. Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top. As the cheese melts, the sauce will thicken. 

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	508
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22g	28%
Saturated Fat 7.3g	36%
Cholesterol 121mg	40%
Sodium 1188mg	52%
Total Carbohydrate 38.2g	14%
Dietary Fiber 1.6g	6%
Total Sugars 4.1g
Protein 38.2g
Vitamin D 0mcg	0%
Calcium 38mg	3%
Iron 12mg	68%
Potassium 622mg	13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet.2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Recipe analyzed by

I serve this with a salad and garlic bread to get that Italian restaurant experience at home. 

Let me know your opinion and if you made any changes. 

I hope you like it. 

Until next time, 

Kristie

Introduction

I have toyed with the idea of writing a blog for years. I have even started one or two in the past. Unfortunately I lack the time and discipline involved in writing and posting new material on a regular basis. I am attempting this again, because my anxiety levels are through the roof, and my therapist thinks that writing might help me.

I am busy mom with five kids, three dogs, a husband, a live in mother-in-law and a full time job. I love to cook, camp and read books. My family spends more time on the go, than we do at home. I love my life. I just wish I could slow things down a little more often and stop feeling like it is spinning out of control.

My goal with this blog is to share some the things I love with the world, and maybe help myself find a little bit of focus in my own brain as well. So expect to see pictures of festivals and fairs. Expect to see recipes for yummy food. And expect to see random projects, ideas and book reviews.

DON'T expect me to post everyday. My anxiety only seems to give me limited focus right now. I may write five posts in one night and set them up to post daily. Then I may decide to flip over all the furniture in my living room and clean for days, or binge watch reruns on Netflix and forget I even have a blog to write on for a week.

Hopefully you find something you are looking for on the this blog and check back occasionally. If not I understand and hope you enjoy your net-surfing.

Until next time,
Kristie