Lasagna.... YUMMY!!

So for my birthday this year, I decided to make Lasagna for all my friends. This recipe is really the best recipe I have ever found for lasagna. I took like a year to make (ok, maybe just 4-5 hours) I wanted the sauce to simmer for a little bit longer than the minimum recommended time. It was SO worth it.

Of course, since it was my birthday, I didn't take a picture and think about blogging about this recipe. But the next day when I made spaghetti with the left over sauce (I made 1 1/2 pans) ... I thought dang it, a picture would have been nice... O'well.

Take it from me, if you want to impress with your own sauce this will do it!

 Original recipe makes 1 9x13-inch pan

Ingredients:
 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
 1 pound ground beef
 1 cup chopped onion
 4 cloves garlic, minced (I used my tastefully simple Garlic Garlic)
 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes
 1 (14 ounce) can Italian-style crushed tomatoes
 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
 2 teaspoons brown sugar
 1 teaspoon salt
 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
 12 lasagna noodles
 1 egg
 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
 1/2 teaspoon salt
 1 (16 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

 Directions:
Brown sausage and ground beef with onion and garlic in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat, cooking and stirring until meat is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.

Drain and discard grease.

Stir tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, Italian-style crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, 2 tablespoons parsley, brown sugar, salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese into meat mixture.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer sauce for at least 1 hour (up to 6 for best flavor).
Stir occasionally.

Place lasagna noodles into a deep bowl and cover with very hot tap water; let soak for 30 minutes.

Beat egg in a bowl and stir ricotta cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, into egg until thoroughly combined.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Cover bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 cup sauce. Layer 4 soaked lasagna noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture, 1/3 of the shredded mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese in the dish. Repeat layers twice more, ending with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake until lasagna noodles are tender and casserole is bubbling, about 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake until cheese topping is lightly browned, 15 to 20 more minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.




                                   Recipe adapted from Kim's Lasagna from allrecipes.com

BEST bedding ever!!

I know I have been slacking at posting all of my favorite things I have found.. The first thing I thought of when I opened the package to my new sheets was I HAVE TO BLOG ABOUT THIS!!

These are hands down the best sheets and duvet cover I have ever found. They are SO soft. So great, that when I got my first set in, I put my order in for the other 3 beds in my house. Seriously. And they are so inexpensive it is crazy.

I bought mine off of Amazon. I am a born price shopper and I have rarely found an item cheaper than anywhere BUT amazon.

Here is a link to the sheets and they come in all kinds of colors. When I get all my bedrooms finished, I will post a picture of those too :)







I also bought duvet covers for all the rooms too... Here is a link to those. Both are the same ultimate softness. You will LOVE them.

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Fall Family Session

Fall Family Pose

This was a fun fall family session..many more pose ideas found on my facebook page. Visit it! And "like" it! Click here to get to my facebook page!

Engagement Photo

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=123536531132839&set=a.123536327799526.26509.118753728277786&type=3&theater

Engagement Picture 

This was technically not their engagement picture session, it was for fall pictures..but she wanted some artsy pictures..black and white pictures..and pictures of her ring, because they didn't have engagement pictures taken. Check out the album on my facebook page (click on the link above the picture or Here to see more)

If you like my photo's, please "like" my facebook page. Thanks!

Boudoir Session

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=157345544418604&set=pb.118753728277786.-2207520000.1363720620&type=3&theater

Boudoir Session

Such a great idea to present to your husband or significant other! We got a ton of great shots...but didn't want to be to risky on my facebook page and settled for just posting this one shot. ;) 

If you like my photo's, visit my facebook page (click on link above picture or Here ) and "like" my page! Thanks!

Newborn Boy Photo Session

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=153005541519271&set=a.153005494852609.35237.118753728277786&type=3&theater

Newborn Pose

Who doesn't call their new baby boy Monkey?? Ok, maybe not everyone..but I did and I couldn't resist buying this hat and hoping this little boy will become his momma's little monkey man. :)

If you enjoy my pictures click on the facebook link here and visit my page and "like" it! Thanks!

Birthday Session

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=160654804087678&set=a.160640214089137.37002.118753728277786&type=3&theater

Birthday!!

Who doesn't like to dress up?!?! We had fun dressing Lexa up for her birthday photo session. Check out my tutu selection on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kbkreations219?utm_source=seller_reigstration_welcome_wagon&utm_campaign=shop_open2013_03_07_21_02&utm_medium=email&email_sent=1362690151&euid=mRNALhLBOMOF2B85oVsnQMOAXqS7

If you like my photo, please visit my facebook page here and like it too! Thank you! (Click on link above picture to take you to my page)