Nothing says family dinner quite like a lasagna around the kitchen table. This month’s recipe is a simple and delicious homemade lasagna brought to us by Amber Day of Mobile County.
“My life revolves around my family,” Amber said, sharing that her family brings her the most joy.
“I have been fortunate to have my parents, grandparents, my sister’s and husband’s immediate family here in Mobile,” she said. “Up until the past two years, I’ve had both grandmothers in my life. They helped mold me into the person I am today.”
Amber met her husband Jonathan during her senior year of high school when her father introduced them. “My dad is a great mechanic. He helped several drivers at Mobile International Speedway, including my husband, who drove a pure stock race car at the time. One night at Sunny South, my dad introduced me to Johnathan.” They married in 2011 and have two children, Johnny (11) and Mary Alice (5).
Amber describes her husband as a true family man. After the birth of each child, he took time off from racing, and he is present and active with the kids and their extracurricular activities.
The Day family does just about everything together. When they are not at the baseball field or dance studio, they enjoy fishing together.
Amber graduated from the University of South Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. After a series of great career opportunities in the area, she returned to South as the Director of Marketing and Communications for Development and Alumni Relations.
Dinner is important to the Day family. “If we have dinner at home during the week, my husband and I usually take turns cooking something quick and easy,” Amber said. “If we slow down and cook on the weekends, we love to cook on the grill – pulled pork and ribs are our favorite. Sometimes, we just boil crawfish and have family over for music and a bonfire.”
This lasagna recipe is a tradition used when Amber’s brother and his family visit from North Carolina.
“My mom has perfected this simple lasagna recipe over the years,” said Amber. “We all pitch in and put together our favorite family dish. It’s delicious and easy to make!”
Amber’s Family Lasagna
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 roll of Jimmy Dean Italian sausage
- 2 jars of spaghetti sauce or 1 big jar
- 1 15 oz. can of Italian tomato sauce
- ½ cup of water
- 2 15oz. containers of ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 6 cups of Italian blend cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Dash of nutmeg
- Dash of garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Package of no-boil lasagne noodles
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Brown beef and sausage, drain. Add sauce and ½ cup of water. Add a dash of garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix ricotta cheese, eggs, 2 bags of Italian blend cheese (4 c.), parsley, sugar, nutmeg, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Pour 2 cups meat sauce into lasagna pan.
- Rinse lasagna noodles one at a time in hot water and place 3-4 of the lasagna noodles on top of the sauce.
- Pour 2 cups meat sauce on top of noodles.
- Dollop half of the cheese mixture by spoon on top of the sauce and tap with back of the spoon to spread evenly.
- Lay 3-4 lasagna noodles (rinsed in hot water) on top of the cheese layer.
- Spread 3 cups of sauce over noodles.
- Spread the remaining cheese mixture over the sauce.
- Place 3-4 lasagna noodles (rinsed in hot water) over the cheese mixture.
- Spread the remaining sauce.
- Cover with foil. Bake for 1 hour.
- Remove foil and sprinkle 1 bag of Italian blend cheese on top.
- Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and let stand for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 17 years. Together they have three incredible children – two boys, ages 16 and nine, and a sweet girl who will be two in August. Gabriele is a full-time Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Gulf Shores.
Author: Gabriele Jones
Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 17 years. Together they have three incredible children – two boys, ages 16 and nine, and a sweet girl who will be two in August. Gabriele is a full-time Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Gulf Shores.
