Mile High Lasagna

A huge recipe for lasagna made in a large roasting pan with lots of layers!

This week’s theme made perfect sense to the Bee household. Home for the Holidays could not ring more true than it does this year. My son moved away for school this year. He moved pretty freaking far. We’re in Ontario and he is in Alberta. After we drove him out there this summer it really hit me how far he is and how much I miss him.

I realize hooligans need to spread their wings but Alberta is freaking far. We were missing B-Dude and he was homesick so we made the decision for him to come home for Christmas. Little did we know how expensive it is to fly a hooligan that freaking far at that freaking time of the year. Okay I digress. Back to the warm and fuzzies.

I drove up to Toronto to pick B-Dude up on Monday. It’s cheaper to fly to Toronto than to Windsor. Flying to Windsor is freaking ridiculously expensive. So I hopped in my car and went on a solo mission for 4 freaking hours to pick B-Dude up. Luckily my tummy behaved and the trip was mildly uneventful. Other than having to jump my freaking car hours from home because it would not freaking start. After lots of getting lost and going around in freaking circles me and young hooligan made the 4 hour trek back home. We stopped in London so I could stretch my legs *cough, shop at the mall, cough* a bit. I was so freaking happy when we found out London mall has a Purdy’s Chocolate. I may have freaking freaked a little bit. Then I calmed down and bought all the chocolate sucker Santa’s they had in the store. Oh, give me a freaking break, you would have cleaned them out too. They are freaking awesome.

We got home and ordered some dinner. Pizza and Sonny Fries, although mini-me forgot to say “Sonny” before the fry part when she ordered them so they were just freaking normal fries when got them home. She did not realize Sonny Fries were special wedge fries. She just thought we were being super freaking bossy when we told her to order from Sonny’s and get pizza and Sonny Fries. She must have thought we didn’t trust her to order the food so we had to keep repeating the word Sonny. Apparently we can’t freaking trust her. Who knew?

So I was suppose to make this lasagna the other night. The plan was to make it for mini-me’s birthday. But mini-me had other plans. She wanted pizza from freaking Pizza Hut. So the lasagna got shoved to the back burner. Which is why you are not getting a freaking cooked photo of it till later today. It’s literally our freaking Sunday Supper. So for now you get a freaking unfinished, uncooked, unplated photo. Yup, I’m nothing if not freaking organized and on the ball. But it’s completely not my freaking fault. You can all blame mini-me. She’s used to it. I blame her for freaking everything.

Once I realized I still needed to make the lasagna I vowed I’d be hyper organized on Saturday. But then I realized we didn’t have our freaking Christmas tree yet. So 3 days before freaking Christmas we decided to get off our duffs and go get a tree. The joys of older kids is they are so freaking busy it’s nearly impossible to get everyone together to go pick out a tree. So we high-tailed it to get our tree, but me and mini-me got sidelined by needing our eyebrows done. What? Like you wouldn’t get sidelined by a unibrow? I freaking think you would. So the dudes drove up to a tree lot a friend suggested. Hubs called in a freaking panic wondering where we were and then freaked out cuz this tree place had no nice trees. I told him to slow his roll, and we’d meet them at the other tree lot around the corner. Then I realized I still needed freaking gas. So I stopped so I wouldn’t run out of gas in the middle of freaking nowhere. Then we made a quick, er, not so quick stop at a local place called Canadian Tire. After hubs panicked call about the trees I thought a backup plan was in order. It was almost dinner time and we still had no tree. So me and mini-me scooted into the store and looked at freaking artificial trees. Did I ever tell you how much I hate freaking artificial trees? Well I do. I really freaking do. But desperate times call for desperate measures so after telling the dudes we were almost there when they called a bazillion times wondering where we were again, we spent a long time picking out an artificial tree. It’s freaking ugly and makes sounds like rice krispies in milk. Don’t ask, we can’t freaking figure it out either. We loaded up the snap, crackle and pop tree and went along our merry, albeit, very late freaking way. We got to the tree lot and the dudes looked frozen. I mean that’ll teach them for not freaking dressing warm. Hello, we live in Canada people. Dress appropriately and always assume Lunie is going to be a freaking hour late. The dudes had already looked around and pointed out one they liked. I was sort of distracted by the country craft store so I may have just muttered “yah, whatevs” and wandered off. We paid the nice frozen attendant who seemed to hate me, which I really don’t understand. I mean you work at a tree lot in freaking Canada sir, dress appropriately. Not my fault if you get freaking frostbite while some lady arrives late then wanders off to look at country crafts. If you don’t want ladies looking at country crafts then maybe you shouldn’t have them out where those ladies can see them. Otherwise maybe you need to zip your frozen piehole and let the lady spend all her money on country crap she doesn’t need. Anyhow I digress. We sent the dudes home to set up the tree and we zipped off for groceries and to finish our Christmas shopping. Okay, seriously you guys are so judgemental. If I didn’t have my tree yet, or my lasagna made did you really freaking think I was done my Christmas shopping. Yah, I don’t think so.

We hit Costco where people wandered aimlessly. I may have freaking bumped a few people on purpose but seriously they freaking had it coming. Who stands around gabbing and blocking aisles when other people are in a hurry and have lasagna to make. Cripes! Then we went to the mall. I swear that place is a freaking nightmare. I may have started an argument with a young gal in video place but she totally had it coming. I  mean if I can buy Volume 1 and 2 of something for $30 each but you want to charge me $100 for the combo pack then you better be prepared to be grilled like you’re on trial. I may have be heard muttering “you can’t handle the truth” a few times but that was just for freaking fun. We then wandered over to Walmart and let’s just say Walmart’s last minute shoppers are an angry, pathetic bunch. Oh wait, I was one of them. Let me clarify, Walmart’s last minute shoppers are super freaking awesome. We got out of there as quick as possible and wandered over to the Taco Bell drive thru. So what! Who wouldn’t be hungry after a day like that. I may have lost my appetite when I saw the cook wander past the drive thru window in his tank top. Gross! Shame on you Taco Bell, shame on you. Then since mini-me hates freaking Taco Bell I scooted across the way to A & W for her. I swear the girl the took my order was confused where she worked cuz there was some wildly inappropriate response. Apparently she works at a questionable phone line as her “other job” and was confused where she was. I may have laughed all the way through the drive thru, while she took my money and possibly all the freaking way home.

So we got home and the dudes did not have everything ready to decorate. Must have been my penance for making them freeze their…er, tushies off. So we started getting stuff organized to decorate the house and the tree, er trees. Somehow I seem to be blocking out that I have a freaking artificial tree as well as a real tree this year. You know when you put up your tree late the best, most sensible thing to do is buy two so you can really overwhelm yourself. Go big or go freaking home right. So we spent hours putzing and then mini-me got violently ill. So it was an interesting night here at the Bee household. Needless to freaking say the lasagna got shoved to the backburner while we got everything done and made sure mini-me was okay. Poor kid. Meanwhile she has to work in the morning. I feel so freaking sorry for her. She’s having a rough week. As am I apparently. I mean who can’t make a lasagna on time and actually eat it before their post is due. Well, me of freaking course. But it’s made and we’ll have a great Sunday Supper this week. Then I’ll take photos and edit them in for you all. I freaking promise. Unless anyone needs their freaking eyebrows done, or gas, or an artificial tree, or a real tree, or groceries or a trip to the mall. Then all bets are off. Cuz I’m not Wonder Woman people. I have limits. I would however like to spin like Wonder Woman, cuz that’s just freaking cool. I bet she always made her lasagna on time. Freaking superheroes.

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Mile High Lasagna

Super large lasagna recipe made in a roasting pan. Lots of layers of extra ooey gooey cneese!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Servings 16

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds of ground beef cooked
• 2 monster sized cans 2.84 L of San Marzano tomatoes, blended
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 4 tablespoons dried oregano
• 3 tablespoons dried sweet basil
• Salt to taste
• 8 bay leaves
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 red onion chopped fine
• 3 shallots chopped fine
• 2 can of tomato paste 13 fl oz/369 ml
• 2 boxes of lasagna noodles cooked
• 3 kg of mozzarella cheese grated

Instructions

• In a frying pan brown your ground beef until cooked well.
• In a separate pan cook your onion and shallot in a little olive oil until golden.
• Using two large dutch ovens, pour your tomatoes inside and add your spices. Then add sugar. Mix well and bring to a boil. Allow to boil for about 3ish minutes, then reduce to a simmer.
• Add your tomato paste and stir in well. Now cover and allow to simmer for an hour, or up to about 2ish hours. Stir from time to time. Adjust seasonings to your taste as you go.
• Meanwhile put on 2 large stock pots of water, bring to boil. Pop in your noodles and cook to time specified on package minus about 2 minutes.
• Drain noodles but do not rinse.
• Remove bay leaves from sauce.
• Now in a large rectangular roasting pan, you can start to build your lasagna.
• First put down a thin layer of sauce, helps keeps things from sticking.
• Now add a layer of noodles.
• Now add a generous layer of sauce.
• Now add a generous layer of cheese.
• Repeat over and over until you get to the top of the pan.
• Do not panic if the noodles don't fit exactly. I leave a little space around the two ends and pour extra sauce in. That way you get a nice soupy extra bit to nosh on while people are munching on bread waiting for you to get this served up.
• Place in a 350 to 375 degree oven and cook for about oh, say, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Remove, and cut into it.
• Scoop the sloppy super tall ooey gooey goodness on the plates.
• Serve with a big old "I just made enough lasagna for a small army" smile!

Notes

This makes an enormous amount of lasagna. You use a large roasting pan to cook it. So it feeds a ton of people which is perfect for the holidays. You can dial back the spice if you like. We like spicy. You can dial back the sugar if you like. We like the added sweetness.

So I”ll freaking be back after dinner to edit some more food pictures into the post. For now you can enjoy pics of our tree and Malia, demon spawn of Satan, aka our dog. I promise I’ll be freaking back with drool worthy photos. I’d like to know who coined that freaking phrase. I mean do you really want people drooling. Freaking gross.

Other Great Pasta Recipes:

• Easy Cheesy Pasta Bake with Sausage and Peppers from Cravings of a Lunatic
• Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta from Cravings of a Lunatic
• Brown Butter Garlic Parmesan Pasta from Cravings of a Lunatic
• Chicken Mozzarella Pasta from The Pioneer Woman
• Chicken Zucchini Pasta from Pinch of Yum

This Week’s Sunday Supper Recipes:

Breakfast:

• Orange Refrigerator Rolls by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Eggs Benedict by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Holiday Cream Cheese Tea Ring by That Skinny Chick can Bake
• Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake by  Small Wallet Big Appetite

Appetizers & Snacks:

• Chicken Liver Pate by Tora’s Real Food
• Bindaetteok {Mung Bean Pancakes}by Kimchi Mom
• Crab and Asparagus Soup by The Urban Mrs.
• Roasted Chestnuts by Curious Cuisiniere

Sides:

• Potato Salad {Schwaebischer Kartoffelsalat} by Galactopdx
• Italian Orange Salad by Shockingly Delicious
• Sweet Potato Casserole by Magnolia Days
• Lightened up Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes by Real Nutrition
• Carrots au gratin by Juanitas Cocina

Main Dishes:

• Char Siu Bao – Chinese Roast Pork Buns by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Christmas Eve Pizza & Martinis by The Webicurian
• Savory Crepe Cake by Vintage Kitchen Notes
• West Indian Curried Goat by The ROXX Box
• Pot Cheese and Potato Cheese Pierogies by Cupcakes and Kale chips
• Seafood Gumbo and Grilled Oysters: A Louisiana Christmas Tradition by the Catholic Foodie
• Mom’s Paella by What Smells So Good?
• Portuguese inspired Chorizo Crown Pork Roast by The Family Foodie
• Dorie’s Chicken in a Pot by Gotta Get Baked
• New Year’s Eve Buckwheat Noodles with Mochi by The Ninja Baker
• Crab Cakes for Christmas Eve by Daddy Knows Less
• Red Chile Pork Tamales by Home Cooking Memories

Desserts:

• Pizzelles {Italian Wafer Cookies} by Chocolate Moosey
• Fudge by Dinner Dishes and Desserts
• Crescent Cookies by Cookistry
• Christmas Stollen by  Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
• #GlutenFree Cookies for Santa by The Cooking Underwriter
• Pfeffernusse by The Foodie Army Wife
• Creme De Menthe Cake by I Run for Wine
• Panettone Bread Pudding by the Country Girl in the Village
• Spiced Gingerbread Gooey Butter Cake | A twist on a St. Louis Favorite by Daily Dish Recipes
• Chocolate Gingerbread Layer Cake with Eggnog Cream Cheese by Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends
• Jamaican Christmas Pudding by Lovely Pantry
• White Chocolate Cranberry Santa Cookies by Mooshu Jenne
• Christmas Tree Cookies by Damn Delicious
• Old Fashioned Lady Fingers {Creamhorns} by The Meltaways

Drinks:

• Wine Pairings by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
• Cinnamon Infused Hot Chocolate with Southern Comfort Whipped Cream by Mama Mommy Mom
• Mint Chocolate Cocoa by Mama’s Blissful Bites

Thanks for visiting today!

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Toodles! xx