Friends were here to celebrate Christmas this past weekend. In keeping it simple I bought pre-made lasagna. The box said 12 servings. I had 9 people. Perfect!
Or so I thought.
I have a neurotic gene. It works overtime. Will there be enough food? Will they like the it? Do they have food allergies or medical conditions? Will the weather be bad? Yes, all these things danced in my head like sugar plums I wanted to shoot with a water pistol. (Actually something more potent but I am a non-violent person except at a Starbucks drive-through line.)
All was good until the afternoon of the party. I took the lasagna out of the box and looked at it. Oy vay! They call that 12 servings! Sure looked skimpy to me.
Lasagna is weird. With meat you use ounces per person to calculate but how do you calculate lasagna? There’s probably an app for it but I preferred to get my freak on.
I called the beloved husband to look at it. He asked, “What do you want me to say?” I said, “Does this look like 12 normal servings?” He said, “How would I know?”
He took pity and offered to “get another one.” I had already upped the meat and the garlic bread.
The oven times were carefully planned so everything would be done together. That’s a miracle in itself.
The weather was bad in the morning but improved as the day went on but we had two people who didn’t want to chance the travel. Now I had 24 servings for 7 people. Some of the guests were also bringing sides.
Everything went out on the table like a true feast. In the end, we didn’t finish the original pan of lasagna (no need for a second). Only a third of the meat and one loaf of bread was eaten.
It was a Christmas miracle just like the fishes and the loaves (only it was lasagna). I have enough to last well into the New Year if it doesn’t keep multiplying.
I may have started a new holiday tradition.
*If you are not familiar with the miracle of the fishes and the loaves, you can click here.
12? Father and I split the family size !
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🙂 This was the party size so you could probably invite a third person….
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I share the neurotic food-planning gene. The fridge was stuffed to the rafters and the counters groaned from the weight of all the home-made goodness last night. I made enough for 45 people, we had 8. 90% went home with the kids and we enjoyed leftovers today. I really really get you on this topic, Kate!
Merry Christmas – may you have more than enough !!
MJ
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It’s a disease with no cure. Always too much food. The best part is that there is no need to cook for a few days and the parcels sent along with the visitors.
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Loaves and fishes! This one was roll over and fall out of the chair funny. It is the Christmas miracle (and new tradition)
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I’ll send some your way…
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That was hilarious, Kate. Miracle lasagna!! When we have a large crowd, I usually get the portion of the meat right, Then I’m afraid there won’t be enough and kill people with sides. Everyone feels obligated to try a little of everything, and their plates look like little mountains. They roll away from the table glassy-eyed. I’ll never learn to keep it simple.
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I’ve been working hard at keeping it simple and healthy. We didn’t go hungry this time!
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Golly Pete! The old message reappeared! Just so you know, I don’t usually say everything twice. Your post was worth extra comments, though.
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I fixed it.
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My favorite part of the frozen lasagna is the fact that the instructions include letting you know to take it out of the box. I would never have figured that out without someone cluing me in on that!
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Not as crazy as you think. I went to a bridal shower many years ago. There was an odd smell in the kitchen. The hostess had put the pizzas, boxes and all in a hot oven. Cardboard doesn’t smell good when it gets hot. She said she really wasn’t a cook. Pizza? That didn’t classify as cooking.
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You know, I’m beginning to understand how Trump got elected.
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I could write a book…..
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Frozen lasagna is one of those things that seem an easy solution when you want easy. i am always afraid I won’t have enough so I probably would have bought two. Glad you had leftovers! I love leftovers and fortunately Husband does too and will eat most anything.
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We had lots of leftovers!
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I hate to say it, but my favorite part of this was the Beloved’s, “How Would I Know?” I was anticipating that one. I’m glad you had [more] than enough!
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I knew that was coming but I wanted some sort of validation. However, he did volunteer to run for another. If you want some, I’ll send it…lasagna, not validation.
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I never trust the servings that are printed on a box. It seems that they always over-estimate (and it helps them get their per-serving calorie and trans fat count down). It is so hard to estimate servings for a crowd. One time you might get a bunch of ravenous eaters, and the next not so much. Fortunately, leftovers are my favorite food group.
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With garlic bread and a salad, there were 10 servings in a box marked for 12. Now I know! Leftovers are my favorite food group too except that there is such a thing as too much lasagna! That doesn’t happen with pizza or spaghetti.
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Know the feeling. Get the same fear when I see a gateau that is supposed to serve 12. Only big enough for four, and that’s skimping!
These days I only have small pans, so I pack the plates with salad and fresh bread. But then I don’t buy butter, and so the list goes on. Glad it’s just the two and a half of us now. Happy Holidays Kate.
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My mother always said that once she stopped doing all the baking, it became harder because she lost her “knack.” I think once you stop cooking “large” regularly you lose perspective. The other thing is that you eat less as you (and your friends) get older.
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It took months to readjust my quantities when it was just me and Hubby to cater for. I love to cook for other people, which is why when we go to MOH I enjoy preparing our meals. These days though, we both seem to have lost interest in food, so perhaps the holidays will revive that, and we’ll just hope it doesn’t start a craving for all the wrong stuff.
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Losing interest is definitely part of it. Cooking for people who love food is the best.
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Indeed, that’s why I love cooking for Hubby. He’s so easy to please, and it’s a joy to see him enjoy his meals without having to smother it in some kind of sauce as Partner used to despite my efforts.
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We love Stauffer’s lasagna. I’m Italian and should make my own but why bother when she does it so well? I definitely would freeze it and put it toward the back so you don’t find it for a month or two 🙂
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I always made my own but lasagna is one of the things with the cheese that covers a lot of things. Stauffer’s is as good as any homemade I’ve had. I also like that their noodles aren’t overcooked and mushy.
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Ha, that’s me. I’m always sure there won’t be enough food, and so I make more cake, cookies, cream puffs, etc. My husband never makes quite enough, but he’s in charge of the savory. So we always and up with extra desserts.
It gives me a complex.
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My last few parties, I called it close — too close for comfort so I was a little worried. In my family running out of food is unheard of.
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Lasagna is a great casserole for parties ~ and leftovers freeze well in 2 serving portions for quick meals later on.
But if Jill is coming, I’d plan for Baked Ziti instead . . . with NO ricotta. 😀
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I have several portions frozen and we ate it 3 days in a row. I also made my brother take some home. I’ve had enough for a while. It is a great casserole for a party. Easy peasy except trying to figure out how much you really need.
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Now if my better half would only eat cheese, this would be the miracle dish of our season! 🙂
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No cheese? That’s un-American! How does he eat pizza?
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I too had a group here. Only there were 25 adults and 10 children that were supposed to come. Let’s just say I had enough food to feed a small country. I always do that…always doubt myself! I had enough left overs to keep that small country going for at least a week! Wonder if I will ever learn!!!!
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There maybe hope. I remember my former mother-in-law when she was older serving lunch for 8 of us with a half pound of lunchmeat and a quarter pound of liverwurst (gawd! who eats that stuff?) and a half pound of cheese. I think she also had a pound of potato salad. That’s it. Nothing was left. I stopped for pizza on my way home.
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My biped always makes too much food when we have visitors. But that’s good because sometimes I get some leftovers!
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Making too much is part of having a party although this time I really overdid it.
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For some reason, I’ve never been a big fan of lasagna…I think it’s the Ricotta cheese I don’t care for. It’s strange because I love cheese!
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I like lasagna but not as much as spaghetti. I think the cheese makes it rich so I can only eat so much. Needless to say, I have had my fill for a long time.
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I have the most amazing recipe for a quinoa lasagna made in the crock pot if you ever want it. You don’t have to cook the noodles or anything – soooo easy, and we can enjoy it for a few days since it is just the two of us. One of our favorite winter meals.
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That sounds wonderful…could you share it with us?
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Here is is. I add a layer of sliced zucchini to it as well, and I highly recommend using ricotta instead of cottage cheese. http://themessybaker.com/2012/12/11/lazy-quinoa-lasagna/
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Thanks for posting the recipe. It looks really good. I’m not usually a fan of quinoa but this looks do-able.
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Super easy. Takes about 10 minutes to put together. But it does make a lot – fair warning. Marley and I eat it for about three meals. Lasts just fine in fridge for about a week.
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Three meals isn’t bad. We ate the lasagna for 3 days. I froze some and made my brother take some home.
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Thanks, I will be trying it!
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Hope you enjoy it!
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it probably was one of this christmas miracles… we had a salmon lasagne last week… it was weird…maybe there is a reason that fish in french is called “poisson”?
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Salmon lasagna? That’s thinking outside the box!
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So now I want lasagna for breakfast! I am such a pasta/noodle lover!!! Was the lasagna Stouffer’s or something better I don’t know about… except The Mama’s lasagna.
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I’m a noodle gal too, Pix! I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
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Jill, you would love my homemade noodles! I think… 😀
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I’m sure I would! 🙂
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It was Stauffer’s. I had Mrs. Stauffer make it personally and put it in the grocery store freezer for me. I love noodles too. Lasagna is rich so I get tired of it but tomatoes and pasta, or pasta and anything I could eat every day.
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