Lazy Lasagna

In my book, pasta is perfection. This is the one category of grub that I am not picky in. Stuffed shells, ravioli, lasagna, pasta salads, noodle soups, spaetzle, marinara sauce, vodka sauce, cream sauces...

[Side note: What is the best way to clean drool out of a keyboard?]

My mom began making this Lazy Lasagna a number of years ago, and recently we tried freezing it prior to baking. The results? It tastes exactly the same whether it gets frozen or not! This is the first pasta dish that I have successfully frozen, baked, and loved. I'm not yet brave enough to subject my famous homemade macaroni and cheese to the freezer. Baby steps...

Here's a list of what you need to make 1 large (or 2 small) Lazy Lasagna(s).

• 1 lb. box of rotini pasta
• 1/2 yellow or sweet onion
• several cloves of garlic, minced
• 4 cups spaghetti sauce (I usually get Prego through Costco)
• 3 cups shredded mozzerella cheese (Tillamook if possible!)
• 1/2 head of broccoli
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1 can of olives
• Casserole dish(es) you can freeze and bake in

I just love how ingredients look when they are all laid out together! :)

First things first. Shred your cheese, slice your olives, chop your broccoli, mince your garlic, dice your bell pepper and onion. I like to get all of my veggies prepped before I start any cooking.

 STEP 1. Saute 1/2 diced onion and minced garlic in 1 Tablespoon of butter for just a few minutes.

I cannot stress enough how helpful my food processor is with all this chopping, dicing, and shredding. Especially the dreaded shredding! I don't know if I even would have thought to start freezer cooking if I hadn't recieved this awesome food processor from my boyfriend's mama. Thanks again!!! :)

STEP 2: Cook pasta according to package directions. Then drain and rinse with cold water (this seems to help the pasta avoid getting gummy).

STEP 3: Add onions, garlic, broccoli, bell pepper and olives to pasta sauce; No need to heat. Mix the noodles in with the sauce and veggies. Then mix in 2 cups of shredded mozerella cheese.

STEP 4: Transfer to the dish in which you will freeze and bake the Lazy Lasagna. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. I like to sprinkle a little bit of parmasean cheese on the very top as well.

STEP 5: Seal the casseroles up, Label with what it inside and the date it was made, and Freeze! One of these dishes has an air tight plastic lid but for the loaf pan I tightly saran-wrapped it, and then covered in it tin foil.

When you are ready to feast upon your Lazy Lasagna, put it directly from the freezer into a 350 degree oven and bake for about 90 minutes.

[I don't have a picture of the finished (baked) product yet because when I last ate Lazy Lasagna a few weeks ago, I wasn't in the habit of photographing every meal. ;]