May highlights a beautiful holiday celebrating mothers, their unwavering love, and everything they do for their families that makes their house a home. Many mothers embrace cooking from their hearts and express affection through delicious meals. If you desire to reciprocate an act of kindness for your mom on her special day, this recipe is just for you.
A local Montgomery mom shares a favorite dish she enjoys preparing for her family. Christy Wright is married to Michael Wright, and they have a blended family of six. The couple has been married for ten years and has four children: Tate (18), Alex (16), Emory (16), and Izzy (15). Christy is an Administrator at Holtville High School, and Michael is a songwriter and talent broker with The Music Garden. The family enjoys road trips, hiking, and game nights. Christy shares, “Having four teenagers all going in different directions with school, sports, and social events, family dinner is essential.”
Family time has always been one of the most important aspects of Christy’s life. She grew up with a close-knit family, and dinners together were always a priority.
“I want my family to experience the love and security I had growing up. Family dinners are a big part of making that happen. So, my inspiration to cook is creating an opportunity for all six of us to sit at the table and spend time together discussing things in our lives.”
With teenagers, there are always fun stories passed across the table and lots of laughter. Like Christy, Michael grew up with a tradition of family meals, but he is an artist by nature and enjoys cooking and creating new dishes. Not only is he a talented performer/musician, but he also knows his way around the kitchen. Christy lovingly says, “Michael can create a sophisticated, nutritious meal out of thin air. I cook strictly by recipes, and he cooks by creating works of art with food. I guess that shows the difference in our personalities.”
Custom Lasagna
Ingredients:
Lasagna Noodles (9)
Spaghetti Sauce
Cottage Cheese (small or large curd)
Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese
Spices: Basil, Cavenders, Oregano,
Pepper, Rosemary, Salt, Thyme
Optional Ingredients:
Hamburger, Sausage, Artichokes, Bell Peppers, Black Olives, Broccoli, Capers,
Carrots, Cauliflower, Garlic, Kale, Mushrooms, Onion, Spinach, Squash, Zucchini
Preparation:
Get the entire family involved! Boil your noodles. Not too long, or they will tear apart. Slice and dice your ingredients. If using hamburger or sausage, first sauté your minced garlic in extra virgin olive oil or butter, then add the meat and brown. One pound of meat should be enough.
Directions:
Lightly brush the bottom and sides of your 9×13 casserole dish with extra-virgin olive oil or butter. Lay three cooked lasagna noodles side by side across the bottom. Spread a thin layer of cottage cheese on the noodles, followed by spaghetti sauce. Swirl the two together and evenly distribute. Add your custom ingredients. Treat it like a pizza. Cover half with some of the ingredients and half with other ingredients if you like. Play with different combinations and change it up until you discover your perfect creation! Add whatever seasonings you choose, and lightly sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan on top. Add less or no cheese for a healthier version. Repeat this process for the second layer. Top off the second layer with three final lasagna noodles totaling nine, and cover with a heavy sprinkling of mozzarella and parmesan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, and allow to stand for five minutes.
