Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Making dinner during lunch...crock pot lasagna

I sometimes like to start what's-for-dinner during my lunch hour and recently found a yummy recipe in Woman's Day Magazine that was a big hit. This recipe for crock pot lasagna is a real keeper!
The recipe called for "2 cups of baby spinach roughly chopped" but I chopped it first then measured it. Accidentally adding too much spinach ended up being ok, and when I make the recipe again I'll do just the same.
The recipe said nothing about browning the ground beef first and I was a little skeptical. A friend advised to make the recipe just as it is printed the first time, and I could change it up next time if I needed to. I'm glad I didn't take the time to cook the meat first, it ended up working out just fine!
Layered in the crock-pot, ready to go. {I did spray the pot with some non-stick cooking spray before I started layering the ingredients because I was afraid the edges might stick. I'm glad I did as this became a little crusty around the edges.}
The recipe calls for cooking on low for 4 hours, and mine cooked for about 5 hours so it was just a little dry around the edges - still really good though!And all that spinach I accidentally added? It cooked down and was really good. I even slipped some by my picky-eater-grown-up-kid and she liked it too. {Good way to sneak some veggies past the kiddos!}
What would I do different next time? Well, the recipe calls for 3/4 pound of beef but next time I'll add a full pound. And I was only able to find a 24 oz. jar of sauce (recipe calls for 26 oz.) and I think it really needed the extra 2 ounces...either that or an hour less cooking time.
.
This recipe made a LOT of lasagna and I had enough
left over to put some in the freezer.
Hey...come to think of it...
That's what's for dinner tonight!
:o)

20 comments:

Sian said...

I love my crock pot (we call them "slow cookers" over here) - I always think it is the crafters best friend! And I've never seen a lasagne recipe before - what a clever idea, especially with added spinach. I'm going to have to try this one, thanks Deb!

Cheri said...

looks good Deb - heading over to check out the recipe!

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

It looks good Deb! Definitely one to try and a LOT fewer steps than traditional lasagna. Thanks for sharing sweetie!

Ruth said...

Oh, I'm all for recipes like this ~ my kind of cooking!

Unknown said...

This looks SO good... I love crock pot recipes and I'm always stoked to find new ones for meals I wouldn't normally prepare because of how long it takes. thanks for sharing! Heading to print the recipe now.

Tina said...

I have been wanting to try crock pot lasagna...and now I have even more motivation. Looks delicious! Great post Deb. :) thx

Valerie said...

Yummy---I will have to try it!!! I bet the kids will like it!

Mom said...

To Deb: Great idea and so yummy looking--I love lasagne!

To Valerie: Let me know when it's ready!

Love!! xo

traci said...

i love anything that you can throw in the crock pot and forget about. i will have to try this. i love lasagna. thanks deb.

Jana said...

This looks wonderful. I'll take your recommendation and try it.

Kirsti said...

Mmmh looks lovely Deb...we are having lasagne tonight but it's from Lidl(not sure if you have that supermarket with you)...it's lovely but not homemade!!! Just being lazy tho...

Enjoy.
Kirsti xxx

debs14 said...

Hmmm Spinach in Lasagne, never heard of that before but I like the sound of it. I don't have a slow cooker but I will be sure to try adding spinach to the next lasagne I make the normal way!

scrappyjacky said...

This looks delicious,Deb.....even though I'm not usually very keen on spinach.....I think I'll give it a go.

Anonymous said...

This looks and sounds so good. Right on to the menu list for next week!

MarleneMAZ said...

Looks yummy! what time should I come over? I definitely will go and look at the recipe, thanks!

Maria Ontiveros said...

That looks so yummy. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Rinda

Pure Ella said...

My husband would love that!
Deb, I have you featured on my family friday today!
Go check it out ;)
have a great weekend. xo

dddeeebbbzzz said...

Hello! Thanks for the comment on my blog! Loving the look of the lasagna!!

Kristin said...

I read this on my blog roll yesterday and unfortunately my cold got me knocked out before I got here but it was worth the wait...Yummy!! TFS Deb :) Have a nice weekend!

humel said...

Mmm, that sounds good! I haven't made a lasagne in ages - gosh, I think it was September! I definitely need to make another one soon :-)

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