How to make… Anniversary lasagne

Our anniversary lasagne pasta bake is a firm favourite whenever it comes up on the weekly meal plan, especially when we have home made tomato sauce. The secret to our tomato sauce is cocoa powder. It makes a rich, hearty addition to any recipe.

Ingredients

2		Onions	Chopped
2	stalks	Celery	Finely chopped
1.5	pounds	Minced beef	750g
1	Tbsp	Garlic	Minced
1	cup	Mushrooms	5-6 medium mushrooms, diced.
2	jars	Tomato sauce	1400g (48oz)
1	tsp	Worcester sauce	Optional.  Add to red sauce.
¼	cup	Red wine	Optional.  Add to red sauce.
1	jar	White, béchamel sauce	700g (24oz)
2	Tbsps	Milk
18	sheets	Lasagne noodles
2	Cups	Cheddar cheese	Grated.  Use your favourite cheese, or a combination.
¼	cup	Parmesan	Optional.  Grated.  Spread half over first layer of white sauce and half over top.
½	tsp	Ground nutmeg	Add to white sauce.
1	tsp	Oregano
		Salt & pepper	Optional.  To taste

Preparation

1. Prep your onions, celery, mushrooms and cheese.
2. Pre-heat the oven to 180C / 350F and spray your 9×13″ baking tray with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Fry off the onions and celery for a few minutes, then add the garlic and ground beef, crumbling it into small pieces while it cooks.
4. Simmer or drain off any excess fat, then add your tomato sauceand any options you’re using for the red sauce. Let this heat through.
5. Layer up your baking dish. Add half the red sauce to the bottom of the pan, then add a layer of dry lasagne noodles.
6. Add half your white, béchamel sauce and shredded cheese, then another layer of lasagne noodles.
7. Repeat the layers. Red sauce, lasagne noodles, white sauce, shredded cheese.
8. Bake for 45 minutes until cheese is golden brown and noodles are cooked through.

Makes 6-8 servings. Add a side salad and garlic bread and serve with your favourite red wine.

Watch us make it

Check out our YouTube video below to see how we made our anniversary lasagne this year, and don’t forget to like, and subscribe to our channel while you’re there.

What about you?

I remember that lasagne was a special meal when I was a kid.  My mom’s white layer was ricotta cheese, and she pre-cooked her lasagne noodles and always made several pans that were frozen for future meals. 

Download our free, recipe card and add this recipe to your family’s repertoire, too.

And, if you do make it, share it with us using #lasagne and tagging @parkerlings on your social media.  If you have any questions, just ask, using the form below, and don’t forget to comment and tell us how your family changes it up.  We’d love to hear your ingredient ideas.

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